Over the past couple of years, I’ve killed two foldable wagons used exclusively for toting shooting related gear and refreshments at range trips for matches, classes, or good old fashioned plinking. As the first one was getting ready to give up the ghost, I paid attention to the other carts and wagons the regulars were using. They varied from foldable wagons commonly found at the local big box sporting goods store, like the one I was using, to heavy duty all metal gardening or landscaping carts with the occasional custom built gun stroller. When it was time for the second cart, I stuck with another foldable wagon. Even after ponying up a few extra bucks for a heavy duty one, it remained the more affordable option. Given a similar life span on the second cart, I started wondering if this was really the more frugal option in the long run. That’s when I started noticing the S3 Range Carts long time regulars were using. After some discussions with several folks, I decided to give one a try.

I’m going to preface this by addressing the elephant in the room that everyone will notice. The S3 Range Carts aren’t inexpensive. As of writing, the current, 3rd, generation of the cart starts at $395. That’s just shy of two to four times of what one can expect to pay for a foldable wagon or a landscaping cart. Or as much as one might expect to pay for a similar over priced wagon decorated with a licensed sports team logo. As such and even though the S3 Range Cart is specialized for shooting sports, my expectation is that the cart will have a life span that is two to four times longer than a generic cart (corresponding to the price difference). If this turns out to be the case, then the investment will have turned out to be more than worthwhile given the specialized nature of the cart for me. This is a slightly unfair value proposition given I have failed to account for the cost of additional items that it also replaces like a range bag and a portable chair. Regardless and unfortunately, I won’t be able to confirm it until 2028.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about the cart that is manufactured by Saratoga Shooting Sports, a division of Saratoga Horseworks Ltd.

The Cart

The foundation of the S3 Range Cart begins with a rebranded Zuca Transit Cart, which were popularized by disc golfers, minus the original integrated bag. It retains the frame with a flip top lid, the telescoping handle, the two adjustable bottle holders, and the tubeless foam tires.

Weighing in at 15.6 lbs, the cart is lightweight. Combined with the flip top lid, the cart doubles as a portable seat that is sturdy enough to support up to 300 lbs. I found the portable seat to be a compelling feature since it replaces the foldable tripod chair that I usually lug around. However, I found the cart to not be as comfortable as that foldable tripod even with the included padded seat cover. Don’t get me wrong, it works as a seat. You can take the weight off your feet, but without a back and the smallish seat surface larger individuals won’t be taking a load off. Still, one thing less to lug around is a fair compromise in my opinion.

The telescoping handle can extend to a length of 51″ without much effort. Additionally, a pair of clamps and an internal tube’s spring loaded peg and center tube’s positional peg holes can lock in the perfect telescoping position with minimal effort.

The two adjustable bottle holders leave something to be desired in my opinion. They are flimsy and call for frequent readjustment. I even managed to bend the snot out of one on the cart’s first outing. I have yet to break one and I do use it to transport a 36 ounce Yeti Rambler. So there is that and I guess it says something.

The real stars of the show are the tubeless foam tires. It’s not just the tires which make easy work of typical outdoor shooting range terrain, but the open wheel design that helps with wet conditions. Just about every other cart that I have seen becomes a real drag in wet conditions where the result is wet clay that sticks to everything and builds up. Most carts, including the two that I have killed, build up clay around the wheels that eventually lock up when the clay reaches the fenders and the fenders start acting like brakes.

The downside to the open wheel design is that muddy clay gets everywhere. Especially on any accessories that have been attached to the side of the cart. However, I’ll hose down a dirty cart later over dragging a wagon with locked up wheels in wet conditions now any day of the week.

You might be thinking that a lightweight cart that functions as a portable seat with an open wheel design can probably be found or built for less. And I suspect that both of those possibilities are true, but the cart is only part of the package. Let’s keep going and look at the rest.

Range Bags

Two range bags are included with the S3 Range Cart made with 1000 Denier Nylon which are available in various colors and patterns including Multicam which I opted for. The bags are designed to fit precisely and securely inside of the cart frame. They do that just fine.

The lower bag, which measures 14″ (width) by 11.5″ (depth) by 6″ (height), is quite simple. The wide zippered mouth opens to the front and fits a good bit of stuff. I use it to transport items that are less frequently used with the exception of a CED pistol pouch that transports my match pistol. Still the pistol pouch is usually only retrieved and stored twice per range trip – once to gun up and again after gunning down. Even with the other items I store in there, which we will get to momentarily, sufficient room probably remains to store a second pistol pouch with a backup pistol in there. However, that’s not something I’ve attempted yet.

The other items that are I keep in the lower range bag include:

• A boo-boo kit
• Spare paster rolls
• A shower cap to keep rain off the optic in climate weather
• A magazine brush
• A field firearm maintenance kit

The top range bag, which measures 14″ (width) by 13″ (depth) by 10.5″ (height), has a gigantic top opening mouth for the main compartment which I use to keep all of the items that are retrieved and stowed with high frequency or items that benefit from fixed predictable placement. These items include, but are not limited to:

• Ammunition
• Magazine loader (MagLulas are amazing)
• Paster gun
• Shot timer
• Sunblock
• Hand chalk
• Ear and eye protection
• Hat camera (currently rocking a Insta360 Go3 which replaced the old GoPro)

The inner rear wall of the main compartment has two zippered mesh pockets which are useful for keeping small loose items in place. The other three inner walls are lined with a wide elastic band sown at varied points creating a collection of different sized elastic pockets that come in handy for keeping things organized and in place.

The top bag has an additional front exterior compartment that is lined with a loop panel along the back wall. Attached to it by default is an included magazine panel that holds eight magazines.

The front of that exterior compartment is also lined with a loop panel and functions as a morale patch panel. Unfortunately, that panel is black regardless of the selected range bag color. While I don’t find it to be a big deal, others, who place a higher value on aesthetics, might. It would have been a nice touch for the loop fabric to be the same color or pattern as the bag.

The two outer side walls of the top range back have MOLLE compatible PALS webbing. Unfortunately, like the black morale patch panel, the webbing is also always black. Again, webbing of the same color and pattern as the bag would have been a nice touch.

While it’s not part of the bags, I figured I would mention the rig strap that doesn’t need a dedicated section in this post. The strap is found attached to the front of the cart frame. It’s a small adjustable strap that is intended to secure a competition belt. Most competition belts are too stiff to coil into a small enough form factor to fit inside of either compartment. This strap will also work well for a tactical battle belt.

The aesthetic flaws notwithstanding, the range bags work really well and appear to be durable enough to take the abuse regularly used range bags usually take. Having a virtually integrated range bag in the cart eliminates the need to lug around a range bag in addition to a wagon which is another thing I found compelling about the product.

Accessories Galore

There are several accessories available directly from Saratoga Shooting Sports for the S3 Range Carts. I’m not going to cover them all since anyone can browse the current offerings directly on their website. However, I will cover the accessories I opted for with my order in addition to other accessories I immediately attached to the cart when it arrived.

The first optional accessory I added to my cart was the umbrella holder & sleeve set. I’ve yet to put them to use given the weather hasn’t called for them yet, but I really like the idea of being able to easily set up some shade to sit under as the summer approaches. I’m not completely certain that the holder will keep the umbrella from being blown over on really windy days, but I have high hopes for it.

The next accessory I opted for was a fast access first aid kit adapter. I figured this would be useful in keeping the ASP Range First Aid Kit visible and accessible when it isn’t otherwise on my belt. So far it’s worked, but not as well as I had hoped. First off, it feels cheap. Not the good frugal kind, but the bad you get what you pay for kind which makes sense given it was only an additional $13. It does hold the kit in place and it is quickly accessible, but it doesn’t lend itself well to one handed operation. Basically when the quick-release buckle is released, the kit falls to the ground if it isn’t secured by the hand that didn’t operate the buckle. Depending on how and where the hand that secures the kit before the buckle is released there is a chance that you may have to play hot potato with the kit to get completely free of the adapter. It simply doesn’t seem like the adapter was well thought out to me. I’m going to end up replacing it with a different MOLLE first aid kit and retain the existing first aid kit for belt attached use.

Right next to the first aid kit adapter, I slapped on a Toor Knives phantom grey Mullet T, which y’all will hear more about on a future post, with a Molle-Lock. I figured a beefy fixed blade knife might come in handy here and there. Plus, it looks cool. And looking cool has its merits.

Opposite to the side where I mounted the first aid kit adapter and the knife, I’ve added a general use pouch and attached a Leatherman multitool. I use the pouch to keep small items that are used semi-frequently like gloves, batteries, business cards and electrolyte packets.

This combination of accessories is about what I want for my typical range trips. I may consider adding a long gun scabbard at some point in the future, but I’ll wait for a while and see how things work out with the cart before investing more into it.

Closing Thoughts

I like the S3 Range Cart a lot. Sure, there are a few things that I think would have made it a little nicer. However, none of those things change the functionality.

My experience with the cart has been completely positive so far. My arrivals and departures to and from the range have been more efficient. All I have to do is put the cart into the truck and take it out of the truck. Everything stays put as ready to go. I no longer have to get a wagon, unfold it and put all of the things into it before I can go participate in whatever activity. Nor do I have to reverse that process before I can skedaddle to wherever I need to go when I’m done.

There is a caveat that hasn’t been a problem yet, but it may become one later in the year as the weather warms up. That caveat is that the cart can’t carry anything else. At least in its current configuration. One additional thing that I have already had to lug around separately is a drink cooler. I can probably do without the cooler now while the weather is cool if I use another water bottle in the second bottle holder. However, that isn’t going to cut it during the Texas summer. Especially during activities that take up the entire day.

While lugging around a small cooler in addition to the range cart isn’t a big deal, I haven’t given much thought to how I’m going to transport the portable job site fan that I like to bring along for the hottest of days. I’m sure I’ll figure something out and it will all be fine. At least until I forget one of these additional items and leave it behind, which is bound to happen after three o’clock stupid on a hot day. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

Tradeoffs. That’s what I’m dealing with here. However, I have a strong feeling the tradeoffs will be worth it. But only time will tell and the count down has already begun.