I reviewed the Sun Mountain Club Glider Journey golf travel bag a while back. The Club Glider series features FOUR wheels, two of which are retractable. The system makes lugging golf club bags and clubs around airports as easy as can be. Now Sun Mountain is putting that same four wheel setup into luggage.
Soon I’ll be putting this bag to the test and posting my review. I’m thinking perhaps a trip to the Bahamas would be a good test for this bag… Stay tuned.
There’s quite a story behind this four wheeled Sun Mountain Micro Cart getting to me. The unit I have is the fourth one which was sent to me. Unit #1 I received months ago, but FedEx had trashed the box and broke the mount for the valuables tray. Unit #2 was shipped as a replacement but I never saw it. The box was never found and FedEx couldn’t tell us where it went. I’ll tell you where it went. It went to a golfing FedEx employee’s garage. Unit #3 was tracked closely but never delivered. FedEx told us that they actually had the unit, but they didn’t know exactly where it was. They searched for over two months, me calling them every week, but nothing ever happened. So after months and months of dealing with shipping issues, my Micro Cart finally made it.
Sun Mountain Micro Cart Overview
The Micro Cart basically is a four wheel push cart. But that simple description doesn’t do it justice. The cart has many cool bells and whistles which make it fun to use and very functional. The coolest feature perhaps other than that it has four wheels, is that the thing folds up into a little ball and barely takes up any trunk or garage space. As much as I love my Sun Mountain Speed Cart, folded up it takes up probably over 2x the space the micro cart does.
Features
As mentioned, the four wheel setup makes the cart very stable and easy to push. Despite having one more wheel than a typical push cart, the unit is very light since it is made out of anodized aluminum.
The Micro Cart folds up in a very small space and is easily carried. I carry the thing with one hand and my bag in the other and it is easy. I leave the MC in my trunk because it doesn’t take up too much space. I always have it just in case an emergency happens and I have to play a quick round of golf. Below I shot a short video showing how the unit folds and unfolds.
The handle is designed very well, right where your hands want to be positioned. Some push cart handles were obviously not tested by real golfers but the Micro Cart was. The handle also has two options as far as positioning goes. One high and one low, for those who have different preferences on where they like to push from. The adjustment is easy, no tightening of wing nuts.
Adjustable smart brackets clamp onto the golf bag at the top to hold it in place, without using straps. The brackets are tightened by two small screws. This is probably the one critique I have on this unit. I’m not a fan of this design, especially with a small bag like the one I typically use.
The valuables tray is perhaps the coolest one I’ve seen on any golf cart. First, the casing is transparent. So I can see what is inside. If my iPhone is in there I can see text messages or info from my GPS through the lid. There is a very strong magnet which holds the scorecard to the top of the lid (also in the video above). It looks weak, but it is very strong and would hold the scorecard down even in very high winds. The inside of the tray is padded too, so valuables like glasses, GPS or phones won’t get scratched.
A built in umbrella holder is terrific. This helps not only in rain (or snow around here), but can help keep you cool in the hot summer by providing shade.
Speaking of the hot summer, a swiveling drink holder is located right beneath the handle for easy access of water, sports drinks or beer on those rough days.
Critiques
As mentioned, the way the cart clamps onto the bag with the smart brackets could probably have some improvements. My bag is so small that I have to screw the screws down almost all the way. Sometimes the bag can rotate if there’s a lot of weight on one side. I imagine some kind of lock, like the handle height adjustment, would be better at securing the bag.
Final thoughts
I’ve logged about 50 rounds with my Sun Mountain Micro Cart now. Had I not had all the problems with FedEx it would probably be 80. The cart is fun to use. It folds easily and takes up very little space. Clubs are easily accessed. Playing golf with the Micro Cart is enjoyable and easy. I can worry about my game and not fussing with my cart or accessing my belongings. I have FIVE push carts to choose from in my garage. The Micro Cart has earned a starting position, which is saying something.
The hip thing in the last couple of years in the golf world is the three wheeled push cart. Gone are the old days of the Bag Boy pull cart. I own several Bag Boy pull carts, including a deluxe model that comes with a seat.
I’m a golf purist, but my bad back doesn’t want me to throw my bag over my shoulder and carry like a purist does. The awkwardness of having my arm behind me and pulling the two wheeled cart is almost as bad on the back.
Last winter I had a couple hundred bucks in prize money to cash in, so the pro told me to pick up a Sun Mountain Speed Cart. I’m sure glad he suggested the Sun Mountain cart.
The push cart has actual rubber tires with inner tubes and comes with a pump. The cart glides very smoothly and goes easily over rough terrain for those times you miss the fairway. You stand up straight and push the cart which is much better than leaning over and pulling it. “It’s better to push a cart than to pull it.” Sounds like an old Volkswagen commercial.
Since the cart stands up on it’s own 3 wheels, it has a brake just like the ones on your bike. You must use the break on a hill or you’ll get some extra exercise chasing your cart.
There is a small storage bin for you to put keys, power bars, wallet, cell phone etc. On top of the storage bin is a bracket that holds your score card and a pencil. Below the bracket is a drink holder. You can adjust the height of the push handle and of the front wheel to your taste, which makes pushing the cart very easy.
Most of my golfing buddies have the Sun Mountain push cart. I have the yellow one. We compete on the golf course to see who can push their cart down the fairway the farthest.
Your golf bag mounts very easily to the cart. When you’re done the cart folds into a compact shape to fit in even smaller trunks. The trunk in my car is quite small and the cart and a medium sized tour bag fit just fine.
A note about Sun Mountain’s excellent service: When I purchased my Speed Cart it was a floor model from the pro shop. Someone had stolen the pump and also bent the door to the storage compartment. I called Sun Mountain and they gladly shipped me the parts at no charge. Not only that, they didn’t even ask me for a receipt.
I’d rate the Speed Cart an 8/10. It is one of the best pieces of golf equipment you can buy and is extremely well built and solid. I’ve seen cheaper models from other companies. Side by side the Speed Cart blows them away.
Sun Mountain
http://www.sunmountain.com/
MSRP $210
There’s quite a story behind this four wheeled Sun Mountain Micro Cart getting to me. The unit I have is the fourth one which was sent to me. Unit #1 I received months ago, but FedEx had trashed the box and broke the mount for the valuables tray. Unit #2 was shipped as a replacement but I never saw it. The box was never found and FedEx couldn’t tell us where it went. I’ll tell you where it went. It went to a golfing FedEx employee’s garage. Unit #3 was tracked closely but never delivered. FedEx told us that they actually had the unit, but they didn’t know exactly where it was. They searched for over two months, me calling them every week, but nothing ever happened. So after months and months of dealing with shipping issues, my Micro Cart finally made it.
The valuables tray is perhaps the coolest one I’ve seen on any golf cart. First, the casing is transparent. So I can see what is inside. If my iPhone is in there I can see text messages or info from my GPS through the lid. There is a very strong magnet which holds the scorecard to the top of the lid (also in the video above). It looks weak, but it is very strong and would hold the scorecard down even in very high winds. The inside of the tray is padded too, so valuables like glasses, GPS or phones won’t get scratched.
Final thoughts
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