Best Fishing Barrows and Trolleys

Getting your gear to the swim has never been easier thanks to the host of wheel kits, shuttles, barrows and trolleys available on the market today. Match-style trolleys will take seatboxes, and many manufacturers also do wheel kits for their own specific boxes – well worth a look if car space is at a premium.

If you're a chair angler, a speci or carp-style barrow will suit you far better. What kind of ground will you be pushing it over? Four wheels are unbeatable on firm, level ground, but ploughed fields and potholed river banks are best suited to a single-wheel barrow design. An inflatable tyre is smooth to push, but a nightmare if you get a puncture. Look for a solid wheel design, or try puncture-proofing your wheels with products designed for pushbikes.

The best barrows and trolleys at a glance

• Best Fishing Trolley For Capacity - Matrix Four Wheel Transporter

• Best Value Match Fishing Trolley - Preston Innovations Space Station Shuttle

• Best All-Round Carp Fishing Barrow - Carp Porter Big Boy Try-Porter DPM

• Best Carp Fishing Barrow For Mobility - Avid Carp Transit Extreme Barrow

If you struggle to push a normal barrow system then there are motorised upgrades available for some barrows, or you can buy motorised barrows ready to go, some are included in this list. Whatever you need your barrow to carry, you can be sure you'll find one suitable below...

What to look for in a fishing trolley or barrow

When it comes to choosing a trolley or barrow the main thing to consider above all else is, will it be able to accommodate all your tackle? If it can't, then it is of no use to you.

The next thing to consider is, how mobile you are as an angler. If you push your gear to the swim and you plan on staying there for the duration of your session, obviously you have to in matches, then a four-wheel version is great because it is very stable and can generally accommodate a lot of gear. What you will find, however, is four wheels are harder to push than two or single wheel versions, so if you like to stay mobile it would be far wiser to choose a version with less wheels.

Space is also a big concern to many that don't have large vehicles, so it's definitely worth considering a model that folds completely flat during transit.

Glossary

Barrow: A wheelbarrow is a small hand-propelled vehicle, usually with just one wheel, designed to be pushed and guided by a single person using two handles at the rear.

Seatbox: A fishing seatbox is often a box with lots of storage space, with a seat on top to sit on comfortably. Seatboxes can come basic or with things like drawers and footplates.

Bedchair: A bedchair is an adjustable, foldable chair that can be laid flat to create an off-the-floor bed.

Thumb screws: Oversized locking nuts to make it easier to grip and tighten or undo a screw.

Buckle straps: A tie down strap that uses a plastic clip that fastens the two ends together, it can then be tightened if needed via the back of the clip.

Extending frame: The base of the barrow or trolley, where the tackle sits. Can be extended to make the whole structure longer for added carrying capacity.

Extending handles: The handles can be made higher or lower, depending on preference, via locking screws to the base of the handle.

Frequently asked questions of fishing barrows and trolleys

What is better, a barrow or trolley?

When it comes to what is the best, it will vary from angler to angler depending on how much gear they take fishing and how physically strong or tall they are, all factor in to what barrow might be best. As long as your barrow or trolley can easily fit all your tackle onto it and you can comfortably push it, then it will be the best for you.

Are solid wheels better than inflated ones?

If you generally go to fisheries that have hard standing and flat paths, the solid wheel is far superior to an inflated one as it's more robust and will never puncture. If, however, you fish rivers or face longer walks on very uneven terrain, an inflated tyre is far more widely recommended as it is noticeably easier to navigate than a solid one in these conditions.

How many wheels are best?

The simple guide is, the more wheels, the more stable the trolley or barrow will be. If you take a lot of tackle to your swim and don't intend on moving frequently, if at all, a four-wheeled version is always best, as you can load them up more and they have minimal risk of toppling over. The only downside to a four-wheel version is they are harder to push, especially if the ground is uneven. That being said, if you have to push your barrow over uneven ground, less wheels are best in this scenario.

Author Dan Webb first became involved in angling journalism in 2015 and has worked as Tackle Tester at Angling Times since April 2021. He is a fanatical all-round match angler and former England Youth International.