A Hero Wagon can truly make a difference in a child’s day when they are spending days on end inside a hospital room. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. The 45 foot (13.7 m) tall Coaster Boy wood and plaster statue of a young boy and wagon was constructed by Radio Flyer for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, Century of Progress. The BABY JOY Foldable Stroller Wagon can carry up to 110 pounds, weighs a light 37 pounds, and is easy to assemble. Here are our recommendations for the best kid wagons of 2022. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process.
This tricycle showcases a classic look that defies the test of time. With the tricycle’s steel frame construction, this little tyke rider can be passed down from razor ride ons generation to generation. The 10-inch wheels on this tricycle are combined with rubber tires that provide durability and stability to last for many years.
The Radio Flyer wagon was the unlikely brainchild of Antonio Pasin, the son of a cabinetmaker, who was born in Venice, Italy in 1898. In 1913, when Pasin was just 16 years old, the family sold off their cabinetmaking tools and bought passage on a ship bound for the United States. When business was slow, Pasin built pianos, dug ditches, and washed celery to earn extra money. For Emma – a 2-year-old Leukemia patient at Mercy Children’s Hospital St. Louis – riding in the Hero Wagon is her favorite way to pass the time during her hospital stays, according to both her parents and caregivers. The wagon enables her to easily tour the halls with both her toys and IV pole in tow, giving her a much-needed reprieve from the confines of her hospital room. One hospital staff member said that for kids like Emma, the Hero Wagon is a welcome distraction and can even reduce anxiety among patients awaiting treatment.
They work best with half-inch axles, which should not be confused with the axles that are 7/16 inches. The hubcaps are not designed for the folding or plastic wagons. The Radio Flyer company creates a wide range of wagons, as well as tricycles and accessories. The items maintain the iconic red color and often have the name of the company marked on the side of the items.
In the next room, beyond the drill presses, is the Bone Yard, containing dead husks of doomed ideas; you are not allowed to see inside. Still, a peek reveals a large warehouse space lined with cinder block walls and many, many variations on toy wagons and toy cars and toy riding horses. Antonio’s wagons are still fine-tuned daily inside its prototype shop, which is found behind a large white door at the end of a long white hallway.
Fast forward to the 1950s, when Sputnik and “I Love Lucy” came on the scene. It was during this time, when fear of communism loomed, that the little red wagon cemented its status as an American icon. The massive art deco structure housed a kiosk, inside of which Anna helped work a mini assembly line putting together tiny steel wagons that sold for just 25 cents each—$4.56 today. As the Baby Boomers became “wagon aged,” Radio Flyer launched some new designs to appeal to this generation.
The wheelbarrow is ideal for children interested in gardening and can hold up to 25 pounds. This gardening accessory is recommended for children older than 3 years old. Accessories help provide additional comfort and ease, frozen ride on toy from helmets to protect the kids to hubcaps that guard the integrity of the wagon wheels. The range of accessories has expanded over the years and is compatible with Radio Flyer stroller trikes, wagons and more.
The June 24, 2013 episode of Let’s Make a Deal parodied this wagon as a Zonk being offered under the name “Zonk Flyer”. In 2016, Radio Flyer introduced a new partnership product, the Tesla Model S for Kids. The first and only battery powered ride-on for kids with Lithium Ion Technology.
The plastic red wagon can be used as a walker, as the handle locks into place. The handle can also be adjusted into a pull position so that the toy can be used in a fashion similar to that of the original wagon. It is recommended for children older than 1, and it includes a weight limit of 35 pounds. I have an original Liberty Coaster wagon I used to play with as a child.
If your collapsible wagon isn’t free of pinch points, be especially cautious to fold it down when children are not nearby. This foldable, portable wagon is easily stashed in any corner until you’re ready for your next walk outside. Highly durable, the BABY JOY Foldable Stroller Wagon can carry up to two passengers, has anti-slip wheels and excellent shock absorption for successful use on various terrain. It also provides an open canopy with side shading to keep the sun out for napping and offers five-point safety belts for added security. Wagons are the ideal way to stroll if you’ve got little ones, especially if they get tired while out and about. But it’s important to examine each wagon carefully before purchasing to ensure it’s safe and suitable for the ages and abilities of the children riding.