Customer Reviews

dbest #00-024 Out and About Roller Storage Tote and Folding Chair

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

THE VOYAGE:
Today I took the Out and About Roller Storage Tote and Folding Chair (tote/chair) out for it's first spin. I took it to downtown Denver Colorado on the RTD Mass Transit system -- the test of all tests! (okay, maybe not)
ME:
I should mention that I'm tall -- 5'11 and probably of average weight -- NOT! Let's just say slightly above what the charts say. That is average in America... isn't it? Enough about that...

THE HANDLE/PULLING:
Pulling the Tote/Chair on the sidewalk took some practice. If I could change one thing about the tote/chair, I would make the handle a little longer. I have a short stride, long legs and long arms but somehow this thing kept clipping the back of my heel. I learned quickly to pull it alongside me rather than directly behind me. It still worked if I pulled it behind me but I had to concentrate so as to avoid the heel-clipping. This short handle bit might not be a problem for someone of below-average or average height/stride etc,, but it's the reason I took off a half-star.

CONTRAPTION SIZE/FOOTPRINT:
Empty, the tote/chair barely fit (flat) in front of my knees on the bus. It barely fit down the bus aisles --- but it made it. This speaks to the size of the tote/chair -- it's a good thing because while it JUST fit - -it DID fit! While it was (mostly empty) it was entirely manageable to be lifted. There were several occasions when I just picked the thing in order to maneuver on the bus, up stairs or to haul-butta across a cross-walk before the light changed.

THE TERRAIN/WHEELS:
I dragged the tote/chair to my favorite bookstore (you know the one!! TATTERED COVER!), down lumpy-bumpy sidewalks and through a couple neighborhoods. I'd say that I put about 1.5 miles on the wheels and they appear to have held up well. There are a few dents but nothing unexpected. The wheels fit on with a sort of clip. After about the first 1/2 mile of walking this puppy, the wheels started to squeak. I was starting to get some nasty looks in the bookstore. So being the creative person I am, (smile) I stopped in a restroom and slathered some hand soap at all the points on the wheels that might have had friction -- it stopped. Tonight I'll wash that off and add some white grease. Should you choose this, you might want to add some appropriate lubricant when you snap the wheels on. Your choice.
The tote/chair made it over curbs, grass, and sidewalk and significant sidewalk cracks/holes with not much of a problem (again...except for that short handle).

HARDWARE/SHORTCOMINGS:
There was one "feature" I noticed -- there is a small rubber latch that (pretends) to set over a bolt to hold the chair closed while you are rolling the tote/chair.
That latch doesn't have much of a lip on it. So after hitting about 4 big bumps or 10 small bumps on the sidewalk, the chair would open on it's own. It didn't fly open but rather it slowly opened until I felt it resting on my calf as I walked. For a while I decided to hold it shut with my thumb while I was walking -- that got to be pretty annoying pretty fast. Although I mention the "bumps" in the walk, the latch is really pretty lame. Even without the bumps it worked it's way loose a couple times. Come the end of the day, I'll be adding a strip of velcro to hold it shut when I'm in motion. I took off another half-star for this.

THE (all important) CHAIR:
I rolled from my bus stop to a place called "INK" and grabbed a cappucciono (BTW - the coffee was great but that mug cost TOO MUCH!). I then had to sit at a bus stop that had -- you guessed it, NO BENCH! Fortunately I was prepared! The seat on the tote/chair is actually fairly ample. It's longer than most will likley need. Is it wide enough? Come'on! It's $30!! Actually, it's "so-so". I sat in it for about 20 minutes and while I could feel the bars on the sides, it was not terribly uncomfortable. There are no bars that run horizontally under the cloth seat -- which would make it really uncomfortable. Since some lightly padded fabric is the only thing that supports the tushie, I wonder if it might stretch after a good bit of use.

After my jaunt downtown, I took the tote/chair to the grocery store.
I had concerns since it barely fit in front of my knees when empty.
.

THE HAUL:
I loaded this sucker up with 2lbs carrots, a head of iceberg lettuce, 1 dozen eggs, 1 gallon milk, 16 oz cheese, 4 banannas, a 2lbs of asparagus, 2 lbs tomatoes, a 3lb cantelope -- all in a very large rectangular insulated bag. Then I added another very substantial reusable shopping bag that contained a tall can of oatmeal and a small bottle of mustard. I put ALL of this, a flattened rain slicker (you know, the cheapie ones), and a book from the bookstore, plus a scarf into the center pocket. Oh -- and I had a coffee cup and a water bottle in the front pocket. By the way, don't do that unless you have some jerry-rigged way to keep it upright or a leak proof container (sigh).

Well, needless to say, the tote compartment was FULL! I had to extend the belt/snap assembly all the way to the end to close it. All that stuff was also really heavy. Only then did it occur to me how much of an inconvenience it would be to have one of the wheels give out -- well, they didn't!
Suprisingly (except for the darned short handle again) it was not much more difficult to pull. I even had to pull it uphill to catch my connecting bus (which I missed by the way). The wheels did great! Because it was sunny, I openeded my umbrella, rested my book and umbrella-holding arm on the handle of the tote/chair and was quite comfortable while I read and waited for the (next) bus.
Since the tote/chair was pretty full, I had to sit in the front row. That's not always going to be possible. So for me, I'll ensure that I grocery shop at low bus-occupancy times

Summary:
I think that I've covered everything. If my opinion on this contraption is not clear, I'll conclude with this... I'm ordering another one, just to have it as back-up.
Lndh777

Not for it's intended use. Believe it or not, I bought the roller storage tote to haul my fifty pound range bag around during weekend shooting events. Target specifications included being able to fit in the trunk of a car and heavy duty enough to be pulled over rocky terrain. The fold out chair is a plus. Did it work? Yes, and no. This roller tote was designed for shorter people. I had to pull it from the edge of handle so that it wouldn't bump the heels of my feet. The plastic hinge lock for the chair won't stay closed on bumpy terrain and had to be secured with a velcro band. So far the wheels have held up and the chair will support 190 pounds. It would be great if I could find a bolt on extension handle, but I believe I will give it to my mom and buy one of the fold up wagons I've seen here on Amazon. So much for trying to expand the horizons of this product's intended market.

I am a senior citizen taking an exercise class.. At the facility we use, there was no place to sit when changing clothes so this just fit a need. Not only is it useful for transporting clothes and exercise equipment, it gives a place to sit to put on shoes, etc. I had an idea of what I needed, and was pleased when appeared in my search.

The chair is great if you need a quick place to sit down - the bag is handy if you have things to carry. However, it is heavy to drag around and low to the ground so even for someone petite in size, it's a strain to pull.

I bought this item for attending my grandson's baseball/football/swim meet games. I have used it approximately 4 times and the last time I used it the SEAT RIPPED away from the aluminum bar to which it was attached. I do not weigh anywhere near 250 pounds. I am totally disappointed in this as the chair part was very uncomfortable to sit in for a very long period of time, and the fact that it tore so easily. At that price it should have lasted for YEARS. I am very very disappointed. I am usually very happy with my purchases from Amazon, but this one is not something I would ever consider buying again.

The product does not live up to the manufacturer's claim. They say that it supports 250 pounds that is not true. When I got it, the first time that I took it to the supermarket it broke. I was rolling it down a short flight of stairs in my apartment building when the left wheel broke. The wheels are made of cheap plastic and they are not strong or sturdy. I had 80 pounds of groceries in it at the time that this happened. Their claim that it can support 250 pounds is a lie! I have tried to contact the manufacturer to get a replacement wheel but they do not give any contact information so I'm stuck for a loss of $ 53.00!

My use is specialized. I'm over seventy, a very active amatuer photographer. I have replaced the supplied shopping bag with a camera case and will be doing additional modifications to carry other photographic equipment. So far I have used the folding chair on three different photoshoots and it has been a lifesaver. I can take a break when needed and I can carry my equipment without undue discomfort. The seat also serves as a "table" when changing lenses and doing other duties that requires sitting the camera down. I have taken it on Metro to the photoshoots. Just wish I had purchased it much sooner. Very well pleased. The only two problems I have experienced is the latch that holds the seat folded. I have had to replace that with a velcro strap to be more secure. Being over six foot tall I do wish that the handle was longer.

the product was easy EVEN for me to assemble without using any tools.

I have used it in public transportation system and pushed it on pavement for a few blocks to reach
the supermarket without problems.

All in all, i would recommend it.

I just received this product. It is very good quality, very easy to use. I like it very much.