Does the UpCart help MSers?

Have you seen the UpCart? This looks like a pretty nifty piece of equipment for those who may need a little help while toting groceries, firewood, luggage, or other items upstairs or elsewhere.

This handy little cart, introduced in 2014 and weighing approximately 8.8 pounds, is manufactured in China for Ohio-based Trifold, LLC. The one-axle design features three threaded wheels on each side, which seem to make it glide more smoothly up and down stairs and over curbs than traditional luggage carts, dollies, hand trollies, wagons, or handcarts. This product, constructed of precision-cast aluminum alloy components, folds for storage.

Marketed as “the first all-terrain stair climbing folding cart,” the UpCart is supposed to glide easily across gravel pathways and rough or bumpy ground. (A separate UpCart Beach model, apparently designed to roll in sand, is expected to enter the market by the end of 2016.)

The product, retailing for about $90 (plus shipping and handling and tax), requires no assembly. The non-marking tires are solid polyurethane, needing no inflation. (Think: baby carriage wheels.) The UpCart’s carrying capacity is supposed to be 150 pounds. That means it’s not ideal for moving furniture, construction goods, or heavy shipping parcels.

A user can attach bags, boxes, buckets, or other parcels to the UpCart with bungee cords, straps, or other fasteners. The company also offers a 12-gallon UpCart Upgrade Bag, which retails for close to $40 and fits on the unit for carrying all sorts of items. The bag attaches to the cart with Velcro bands and features a removable shoulder strap.

Shoppers may purchase the UpCart and the Upgrade Bag together for about $130.

The UpCart is not intended to be a substitute for a cane, walker, or other assistive walking equipment. It is simply a convenience for carrying heavier items. It does not offer help with personal balance, mobility, or gait issues, such as those many MSers cope with daily. On the other hand, for those who can walk independently and steadily, the UpCart may be a handy tool for toting heavier items around.

NOTE:  This blogger has no affiliation with any product/s mentioned in this post and received no remuneration from the manufacturer/s or product promoter/s for this post.

Image/s:

 Adapted from public domain artwork

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