When you’re about to make a big purchase, you do your homework – it’s what any frugal parent does.
Up to your eyeballs in baby gear purchases – and diapers and formula and sippy cups and spit-up bibs – a little (a lot) of due diligence just makes you a wise consumer (look at you, smartie pants).
Many stroller wagon brands understand mommy sleuths typically spend hours researching these products before they pull the trigger – which is why they shell out big bucks to show up repeatedly on your social feeds and chase you all around the internet.
“Come back – check out our (insert current month) sale!”
“We can’t keep it a secret much longer – we’re running out of stock!”
Once parents start digging into the details (and getting bombarded with stroller wagon ads), we’ve found many eventually land on two heavy hitters – Veer and Wonderfold.
So, we figured it was time to take off the gloves.
Which stroller wagon is really king of the jungle?
Prince of the playground.
Squire of the stroller wagons.
If you just want my honest opinion without the fluff, buy a Veer Cruiser and stop crunching numbers.
If you’re interested in how personal experience plus years of attending Baby Gear Expos (nerd alert) led me there, well saddle up smartie pants, let us dare to compare.
The Final Boss
We’ve tallied up every stroller wagon under the sun in the Best Stroller Wagon Guide.
To me, it’s more about Wonderfold’s marketing than the products themselves that earn them recognition – there are other brands (at lower price points) we actually recommend over Wonderfold.
After researching for hours (years?), getting lost in the land of stroller wagons, the top two brands we find parents vying between are typically Wonderfold and Veer.
So, let’s get down to business.
Key Differences between Wonderfold and Veer Stroller Wagons
1. The Mucky Titles and Names
Understanding the entire stroller wagon ecosystem of products and the many options out there – trying to sift through it all and compare apples to apples, is an arduous task.
New lingo for new product lines – it’s all very hard to decipher and wade through the details.
For us, simplicity is king – which is why Veer wins this point straight away.
Veer has two stroller wagons, Cruiser and Cruiser City.
Both are offered in the standard two-seat as well as the larger XL (four-seat) version.
Boom.
Done.
Got it.
Wonderfold, on the other hand, shows 15 results on their ‘shop all’ stroller wagons page.
We’ve got six-seaters and Superman themed rides – low walls, high walls, trap doors. It’s a lot to take in.
Riddle me overwhelmed and confused straight out the gate.
For the purpose of this stroller wagon battle, we are focusing on Wonderfold’s most popular, the W series.
We’ve also done our stand alone Veer Cruiser review and Wonderfold W4 review if you want all the specifics.
2. Maneuverability Becoming a Liability
I promise, I wasn’t trying to bury the lead, but this is the key takeaway.
If you get nothing else from this Veer vs Wonderfold stroller wagon showdown, here it is:
Maneuvering the Wonderfold, filled with kids and packed with gear, is going to be a nightmare.
I’m sorry, but this is the harsh truth.
Hear me out though, because I don’t want to be all Negative Nancy.
If your neighborhood consists of straight, perfectly paved sidewalks, then Wonderfold can function flawlessly.
If you only plan on using this thing on well-groomed, properly manicured trails – minimal bumps, bonks, and elevation changes – it is going to work just fine.
But if you get off the beaten path, it’s danger Will Robinson.
Like, never going to get stuck in that situation ever again, why did I buy this thing in the first place, kind of a nightmare.
Veer has this reputation for being ‘all-terrain’ (and believe me, it is) – but the true gap in overall maneuverability between Veer and Wonderfold cannot be overstated – that gap is about as wide as an ocean.
Some people think Veer is only for families with visions of hiking up mountains – and unless you plan on ascending Mt Kilimanjaro with your kids you probably won’t need this super duper adventurous stroller wagon.
Bungie jumping – parasailing – hardcore adventure-type of people only here.
That’s not the case.
Just because they’ve got a reputation for all-terrain doesn’t mean you have to be an adventurous family to fall in love with Veer.
The truth is, you’re going to come to a curb with your loaded Wonderfold – like, the curb at the end of your driveway type of curb – and not be able to comfortably manage pulling or pushing this behemoth up the driveway to your garage.
The secret sauce has to do with the handle attachment point.
Lower on Veer, down by the wheels – higher on Wonderfold, at the top of the stroller wagon.
The physics of the low-attachment point on the Veer Cruiser handle evades me (this momma knows baby gear, not science). But however weight and gravity are at play here, the fixed handlebar, up higher on Wonderfold, makes pulling the wagon more strenuous and much more difficult.
The reason you should be getting a stroller wagon is to take it anywhere with you, and the maneuverability of Wonderfold is going to become a liability when you get stuck down a hill that’s a little too steep.
Or in the middle of a turn that’s a little too tight.
Or, let’s get real, something as simple as gravel – as straightforward as walking through a doorway.
Wonderfold tries to compensate for this by including a Pull Strap with your stroller wagon purchase – and the sad truth is that the pull strap will quickly become your most used accessory – for all the times you get stuck upstream without a paddle.
They also sell a Pull Handle for the W series. For an additional $90 you can buy a feature that you don’t need if you go with Veer.
The point is, Wonderfold should not be getting extra stars in your book because it comes with a pull strap – or offers the option to buy a pull handle. It’s more like the Veer stroller wagon functions so flawlessly that having either of these accessories is unnecessary and irrelevant.
So before we break down any further, by far the one attribute that sets Veer apart is its incredible mechanics and agility – smooth like silk – Cruiser is king in controllability and freedom of movement.
3. But Weight, There’s More
I’ve met more than one parent who said they purchased a Wonderfold, and had issues physically picking it up and putting it in the car.
Too heavy. Too Wonky.
Especially for petite mommies.
It ended up sitting in the garage collecting dust because it was too much of a headache to bring it along.
Horror stories aside, when you break it down, the numbers speak for themselves.
Wonderfold W Elite Pro stroller wagon (2-seater) comes in at 45.2lbs.
Veer Cruiser weighs 32.6lbs.
That’s almost 13lbs of difference – the weight of a large bowling ball – before you even factor in the wheels.
Popping the wheels off a Veer Cruiser is incredibly easy – push a button, give a tug, and they slide right off the frame.
Taking the brake bar and the front wheels off a Wonderfold seems possible (I had to dig to find the video of someone jailbreaking their ride), but Wonderfold certainly doesn’t promote doing so – and you will probably need a screwdriver to get this accomplished.
Remove the wheels off a Veer stroller wagon and now it weighs 24.6lbs.
That’s over 20lbs lighter than what you’ll be picking up to wrestle into your trunk if you go with Wonderfold.
Two gallons of paint. A big bag of dog food. 20lbs of dead weight is significant – and it’s another reason Veer stroller wagons win on weight.
4. Fold Me Over
Veer measurements folded up: 37” x 20” x 9” (wheels removed)
Wonderfold W folded: 40.5” x 25” x 19”
Perks for Wonderfold is that the sunshade actually slides down into the frame, you don’t actually have to remove it when folding.
Same with some of the storage compartments on the Wonderfold – since they are physically attached to the stroller wagon itself, there’s nothing to remove before stowing.
But that’s about where the perks end.
I’ve folded up the Veer Cruiser stroller wagon countless times.
Detaching the foldable storage basket is as simple as detaching the wheels – pop a button and it loosens right off. You also don’t have to remove the Veer storage basket, it’s foldable.
Most accessories, like the Veer sunshade or canopies either fold into or detach and fit snug inside the folded up Veer stroller wagon – the sidewalls collapse to make it compact, and it stands up nicely all on its own.
The bottom line is that Wonderfold shouldn’t be earning points in your research for the ability to fold securely without removing the sunshade and seats.
It’s good from far but far from good.
Once you move beyond this seemingly great attribute, you’ve got a stroller wagon that’s 20 pounds heavier and takes up about 18 more inches of cubic space.
Before you swipe right, get a tape measurer, lock it at 40.5”, and take a hard look at how deep and wide the trunk of your car is – because if you want to travel with your stroller wagon, 40.5” is non-negotiable for quick, painless transitions.
If you don’t plan on taking the stroller wagon in the car, it’s not an issue.
If you own a huge van with ample trunk space, it’s certainly not a deal breaker.
I have watched a mom put a Wonderfold W series into an economy size vehicle, so yes, it is possible. But she had to remove the wheels (again, you’ll need a screwdriver) and also physically detach the handlebar from the frame.
Trust me, just because it is possible, doesn’t mean it’s pleasant.
The time consuming jerry-rigging you’ll need to pull this off is not what you want to be dealing with in the middle of a busy parking lot with rowdy children waiting in the car.
With a quick, compact fold, the point goes to Veer.
5. Low Ride. Take it Easy.
Part of the reason Wonderfold W series is a bit heavier and clunkier is due to the high wall design.
Veer Cruiser stroller wagons feature a low wall design.
I can’t place this as a negative or a positive, just an important feature that’s worth noting before you make a purchase.
For our family, low wall stroller wagons are the way to go, for a few reasons.
In our opinion, lower walls allow kids to be more ‘part of the environment’ rather than closed off and cooped-up.
The kids can smell the flowers. They can pet the dog – all while remaining seated in the stroller wagon.
I do however have friends with special needs children who would completely disagree. They argue the higher walls offer solitude and privacy.
To each their own, both have their pros and cons.
We also prefer the low walls on the Veer stroller wagon because kids can climb in and out on their own.
This means one less backache trying to pick up your growing toddler and hoist them over a high wall into the stroller wagon.
Wonderfold W series does have an opening at the narrow end of the wagon, so kids might be able to enter and exit unassisted – but typically some type of parental assistance is required to unzip the side hatch and unclip seats to get children settled.
The L Series from Wonderfold has sort of a hinge door side opening – but again, kids will typically require the help of a parent to get in and out due to the higher wall setup.
Compare this to the Veer Cruiser.
Our two year old has no problem walking right up to the stroller wagon and climbing inside – quick seat belt check, and off we go.
I’m not picking him up.
I’m not unclipping seats or opening trap doors.
The low walls equal less transition time, less back ache, and more doing.
We can call the difference in wall height a wash, no point needs to be awarded – just a big difference between Wonderfold and Veer stroller wagons.
6. Clean Machine
Children are little spill monsters.
Happy accidents follow toddlers wherever they go.
Another top consideration is how you will clean your stroller wagon once the grit and grime inevitably beat up on your ride.
And it won’t take long.
One ice cream cone.
One bag of chips.
With kids it all can happen pretty quickly.
Great perk for Veer Cruiser – it’is completely hose washable.
Maybe you’ll want a damp cloth or mild detergent, but for the most part, all you really need is a hose and about 5 minutes.
So after a trip to Costco, when it’s covered in ketchup and pink lemonade, I pop off the wheels and hose it down in the driveway before stowing.
It doesn’t matter what kind of dirt your kids’ been running through, or what disgusting liquid gets spilled all throughout the Veer Cruiser – all you need is water and pressure, then move on with life.
Wonderfold (and pretty much all competitor brands) are made with fabric that needs to be disassembled in order to clean properly.
‘Grunt work’ if you will.
Not my favorite phrase.
Cleaning a W series wagon will require unclipping and removing the seats.
Taking out the all-weather floor mat (if you have one, as it is not included with purchase).
Then you’ll remove the velcro padded mat, as well as the two stabilizer boards inside the padded mat.
Unbutton and unloop the entire carriage fabric to release it from the stroller wagon frame.
Now that everything’s off, you can choose to machine wash, or, since it’s not recommended by Wonderfold, you should instead spot clean the whole kit and caboodle.
Once you’re done, allow everything to air dry before reassembling the fabric and reinstalling the seats.
Or…door number two…go with Veer and never do any of this.
One of our first big posts was an article on cleaning a Nuna Car Seat.
Some of the worst funks and gunks known to man somehow end up melted into the gear used to house children – strollers, car seats, bassinets, cribs.
The stroller wagon is no different – this thing is going to get used and abused, in some of the worst accidents you can fathom.
The ability to hose wash the entire Veer stroller wagon cannot be adequately put into words (super magical?) – although I hope this section somewhat did it justice.
7. In it for the Long Haul
Wonderfold is a fine product, but when it comes to longevity, Veer again has the edge.
The day will come when children grow up (but, do they have to?) – a bit too tall to fit comfortably inside the Wonderfold W without developing knee pain.
A bit too big to crawl through the trap door or too heavy to be lifted up by a parent into the wagon.
There will be a time when Wonderfold has served its purpose, and you either donate it to a new parent or it goes into a heap with the rest of the outdated baby gear.
With Veer however, the longevity factor shines, and you’ll find it is more for lifetime use rather than just the baby or toddler stage.
I’ve attached coolers to the Veer stroller wagon and went tailgating.
I’ve shown up to the beach bonfire locked and loaded with beverages, chairs, and blankets.
This thing can be extremely useful when no kids are even in the equation (did someone say cold drinks and no kids?).
I’ve rolled it into Home Depot to fill it with big bags of salt and wheel them back out to my car.
We’ve raced our Cruiser XL up and down the driveway, loaded with 4 children ages 2-10 years old.
This thing has the ability to be used from the days of diapers, to the door room, to life after children (does that actually exist? I can’t remember a time).
And everyone I talk to says the same thing – they use their Cruiser as a shopping cart at the grocery store or for hauling bags of mulch around the garden.
The Veer stroller wagon is a tank, and since its look doesn’t scream “I’m baby gear”, it quickly morphs into an all-purpose wagon that’s going to outlast the baby stage – serving your family for years.
Longevity points, Veer.
8. Accessorize Your Ride
Ok, so this is the part where most parents start from, and honestly, I can’t blame them.
But there is a reason we saved the extras and add-ons for last.
When you first begin comparing and contrasting stroller wagons, this is one of the first things you find yourself indexing.
What accessories come with the purchase?
What accessories are offered overall?
And this is completely normal for any big purchase.
This car comes with leather seats – that one has a cloth interior.
This stroller can hold two if you get the seat adapters – that one can only carry one child.
This diaper bag includes a changing pad (shout out No Reception Club) – that one doesn’t.
Accessories and add-ons are how our brains are wired to categorize and rank these sorts of things.
More must be better, right?
With the stroller wagon however, accessories honestly come last for a reason.
First and foremost, the Veer stroller wagon vs Wonderfold stroller wagon showdown is about overall maneuverability than anything else.
It’s about how this big piece of equipment we’re entrusting to safely transport our child, is going to function out in the wild.
It’s about the weight, a compact fold, and a product that will stand the test of time.
Last, on purpose, are the perks included with your purchase, and the accessories you’re gonna buy to create the stroller wagon of your dreams.
Which brand has the best accessories?
Spoiler. It’s Veer.
It’s Veer by a long shot.
Yes, Wonderfold does come with the canopy and basket, which Veer Cruiser does not.
Style points for the leather handlebar, I must confess.
Wonderfold also has these awesome magnetic seatbelts – super helpful and super cool.
The seats have the ability to recline, and be adjusted to face different directions – a feature not found with Veer.
They’ve got a Buddy Rider. Kind of like a tricycle with a canopy you can attach to the side of a Wonderfold – as if the stroller wagon’s not bulky enough already, strap a kid in some sidecar onto it.
They also offer a Buddy Board. Kind of a cool idea – this is a floor board attached to the front of the wagon for a child to stand.
If your family is anything like us however, your kid’s not going to love being sandwiched between parent and the stroller wagon handle for any extended amount of time.
Or they will goof off.
Or they will get injured.
Or all of the above.
This is where the list ends for me.
That’s pretty much where the magic stops in terms of Wonderfold accessories – other than more Superman fabric and oriental themed sunshades.
For us (for everyone), it’s unfortunately more fashion than function.
It’s a lot of style with no substance.
We’ve been to the ABC Kids Expo multiple times (I know, we’re dorks). Wonderfold is typically unveiling a new comic themed fabric – “wait til the final day of the show and we’re revealing the new marvel character wagon”.
Meanwhile, Veer is showcasing something new and exciting. Something with purpose that’s going to work for families.
The first ever stroller wagon beach wheels.
Coolers that attach right on the wagon.
A nap system that turns the stroller wagon into a JPMA safety certified bassinet.
Last year they unveiled Veer Valet – like Ship Stix but for parents – a concierge service that transports all your baby gear right to your vacation doorstep.
These are useful extras. These are never before seen products and services with real-world functionality.
Yes, Batman and Volkswagen are cool – but the fabrics themes get old – and they are not value-add accessories.
When you’ve wowed your friends and family that one time (“cool, Batman!”), and your kid grows out of marvel, you may feel a bit cheated.
Veer stroller wagons offer an extensive list of accessories that are going to allow you to kit Cruiser out however you want.
They are so neat, and well designed, we actually wrote an entire post dedicated to just Veer Stroller Wagon Accessories.
Read the post, dive into the Veer ecosystem of products, and never look back.
Stick a Fork in Me
Well, like Angela Landsberry, that’s all she wrote.
Wonderfold is a nice stroller wagon. In our opinion, Veer is just a better stroller wagon.
They are the ones that started it all for a reason.
I would encourage any parent to find a store where you can actually test and try out these stroller wagons.
Rent them for a weekend or ask a friend to borrow their wheels for a day.
Get your children involved and push it around with your family to see what makes everybody happy, because at the end of the day, what they like most is going to tip the scale heavily.
My hope is that before you tally up the storage space or leather handlebars, you first feel the difference in overall maneuverability.
Factor in the weight and height difference on Wonderfold and Veer stroller wagons before focusing on price or perks.
A few bucks one way or the other is worth it to get the wheels you want.
Happy hunting, smartie pants.
