Member Reviews: Sun Mountain Reflex Push Cart

[mvmac]

We have four members writing reviews for these push carts from Sun Mountain. This thread will serve as an ongoing mini-blog for reviewers to post pics when the carts first arrive, share initial impressions or answer questions.

https://shop.sunmountain.com/2015-reflex-cart-17715-detail.html

Here are the reviewers.

@SavvySwede

@jsgolfer

@vasaribm

@Ernest Jones

[SavvySwede]

Boomshakalacka!

Looks and feels solid. Folded and unfolded pretty quick. Can't wait to take it out for a spin tomorrow!

[mvmac]

 

Looks and feels solid. Folded and unfolded pretty quick. Can't wait to take it out for a spin tomorrow!

Nice!

[SavvySwede]

Walked 18 with it today. Very smooth ride, bag didn't slide around or anything. In and out of the trunk quickly. Only wish would be that the top compartment were a little bigger so I could fit the laser in it more easily.

[vasaribm]

Arrived!

 

[jsgolfer]

Received the cart Tuesday night, thank you TST and Sun Mountain.  Here are the pictures that I took while opening and a couple at the course when I used it yesterday.  Took me about a minute to get it set up, and it's just as easy to take it down.  

Thoughts after the first use below.  

Very compact and light-weight. Fit with ease in my trunk.  I didn't have to do anything to the cart to use it right out of the box.  Once it has been set up and the clubs added (And it fit my stand bag well), the cart was very stable during the round. I went down and up some side hills and never thought that the cart was going to tip over.  I also liked the bottom strap which held the bottom of the bag well, never thought my bag was going to bounce out. 

The cup holder isn't quite made for a normal bottle of water, would've been probably better if the cup holder was deeper or someway to tighten it.  But it looked like it would be perfect for a can of beer. The only other comment I had after the first use was the handles.  The handles are very easy to set to the way you like them, you pull them out and then rotate to your liking.  However, I was going down a pretty steep hill and I actually pulled out the handles from grip pressure like I was going to move them, it's not like I was losing the cart, just an observation.  It only happened once as I didn't grip it as tight the next time I went down a steep hill.

Overall, after first use this is a great cart. I'll use it a few more times and post a final review.

Edited October 9, 2015 by jsgolfer

[Ernest Jones]

Hi all,

 

Sorry in the delay in getting my thoughts out. I'm still figuring out the mobile version of the site and haven't had time to use the desktop as my free time is mostly on the commuter train right now. I couldn't get the pictures to upload from my phone.

My first thoughts on taking it out of the box were, "Wow, it's kinda big!" I quickly realized that it was just because I am so used to my "broomstick" folding 2-wheel pull cart. In actual fact, this cart takes about 2/3 of trunk space that old one took. For reference, the tiles in this picture are 13"x13".

Once opened up it's pretty evident that this is way better than a pull cart. Much more solid feeling and clearly more stable. I really like the fact that it comes with two storage areas as I can be a bit of a pack rat - my bag's pockets are typically stuffed to near bursting as I tend to empty my pockets into the bag and rarely return all of it to my pockets at the end of the round. Which probably means that the storage areas on this cart are destined to be overstuffed as well!

Looking forward to trying this baby out this week as I play the last few rounds of fall golf before the courses close. 

The only possible negative I see so far is the umbrella holder. It looks like it will work just fine however, it would have been nice to have a convenient place to store it when not in use. As it is, it seems the choices are to leave it in place all the time - which isn't the end of the world but looks a bit funny when not in use, or sacrifice the lower storage bin as a dedicated spot for it as the holder is big enough that you can't really put much else in there with it. My brother in law has a similar trolley (Callaway branded, not sure who makes it though) that has a clip on the side, similar to the water bottle clips you see on bicycles, for storing the umbrella holder when not in use.

In my review, I'm going to post a picture of the trolley folded up next to my old pull cart to give readers a better sense of the comparative space it takes up.

I should have some more thoughts to add this week as I get some rounds in and should be able to finalize my review by weeks end.

Who are you guys liking it so far?

 

Edited October 19, 2015 by Ernest Jones

[vasaribm]

The only possible negative I see so far is the umbrella holder. It looks like it will work just fine however, it would have been nice to have a convenient place to store it when not in use.

I agree with the umbrella holder, and have a similar feeling with the bottle/drink holder.  I can't seem to collapse the cart and have the drink holder stay on, it pops right off every time.  Maybe it's me...   

I will probably default back to the drink holder on my bag, as I don't want to keep track of a plastic cup.

[Ernest Jones]

Hi all,

 

Sorry in the delay in getting my thoughts out. I'm still figuring out the mobile version of the site and haven't had time to use the desktop as my free time is mostly on the commuter train right now. I couldn't get the pictures to upload from my phone.

My first thoughts on taking it out of the box were, "Wow, it's kinda big!" I quickly realized that it was just because I am so used to my "broomstick" folding 2-wheel pull cart. In actual fact, this cart takes about 2/3 of trunk space that old one took. For reference, the tiles in this picture are 13"x13".

Once opened up it's pretty evident that this is way better than a pull cart. Much more solid feeling and clearly more stable. I really like the fact that it comes with two storage areas as I can be a bit of a pack rat - my bag's pockets are typically stuffed to near bursting as I tend to empty my pockets into the bag and rarely return all of it to my pockets at the end of the round. Which probably means that the storage areas on this cart are destined to be overstuffed as well!

Looking forward to trying this baby out this week as I play the last few rounds of fall golf before the courses close. 

The only possible negative I see so far is the umbrella holder. It looks like it will work just fine however, it would have been nice to have a convenient place to store it when not in use. As it is, it seems the choices are to leave it in place all the time - which isn't the end of the world but looks a bit funny when not in use, or sacrifice the lower storage bin as a dedicated spot for it as the holder is big enough that you can't really put much else in there with it. My brother in law has a similar trolley (Callaway branded, not sure who makes it though) that has a clip on the side, similar to the water bottle clips you see on bicycles, for storing the umbrella holder when not in use.

In my review, I'm going to post a picture of the trolley folded up next to my old pull cart to give readers a better sense of the comparative space it takes up.

I should have some more thoughts to add this week as I get some rounds in and should be able to finalize my review by weeks end.

Who are you guys liking it so far?

 

Some thoughts to add (review and more pics to come).

1. Umbrella holder makes a good headcover holder.
2. Cup holder is a bad design. Water bottles rattle all over the place and gatorade bottles fit too snug, the cup holder tends to pop out with the bottle if you don't take care.
3. Parking break would be more intuitive if it was on one of the grips - bicycle stye.
4. An upper bag strap would be helpful for guys like me that see a LOT of varied terrain when golfing...

Very small negatives, but worth noting. All in all, it's a great trolley. I'll have full review up by end of week.

[boogielicious]

Some thoughts to add (review and more pics to come).

1. Umbrella holder makes a good headcover holder.
2. Cup holder is a bad design. Water bottles rattle all over the place and gatorade bottles fit too snug, the cup holder tends to pop out with the bottle if you don't take care.
3. Parking break would be more intuitive if it was on one of the grips - bicycle stye.
4. An upper bag strap would be helpful for guys like me that see a LOT of varied terrain when golfing...

Very small negatives, but worth noting. All in all, it's a great trolley. I'll have full review up by end of week.

I agree with the umbrella holder and mentioned that in my review, Reflex Review. The previous model, the Micro Cart, had a clip on the side of the top area to store it. But they had to remove it so the cart would collapse smaller.

I also agree about the cup holder. The previous model had a mess holder that worked better.

For the upper bag strap, I just use a bungee and wrap it around the post and clip to the back of my bag. That works great. The Reflex does a better job of keeping the bag from rotating than the Micro Cart.

Lastly, my wife now has the Reflex and I use the Micro Cart! 

[jsgolfer]

I've been nothing but impressed with the cart, I should have my review up by the end of the week.  I have used this for about 5 rounds now, this is definitely a well built cart.  I have the same issue with the cup holder, but it a small annoyance that's about it.  I usually use the side pocket of my bag anyways.

 

[Ernest Jones]

Yeah, I figured I'd be rigging up a bungee cord. Funny thing is, the first time out with the cart was on a pretty flat course and I remember being really impressed with how well the bag sat without any upper strap. Second time out was on a more difficult course with more varied terrain and I really noticed the lack of an upper strap.

[jsgolfer]

Sun Mountain Reflex Cart

Pros

Easy Setup and Fold Down

Small Footprint when folded down

Stability due to wider tire width

Stand Bag Fits Well

Cons

Cup Holder

Handles (at times)

Scorecard Holder

Review

I have now used the cart for several rounds and this cart is great.  It is extremely easy to setup and take down.  It has a small footprint when it is folded up, smaller than other carts that I have used.  Fits with all of my other golf stuff easily, which I have a lot.  I pretty much carry nothing but golf items in my car.

                                                              

It is also very lightweight (17 lbs.) and yet nothing about the cart would lead you to believe that it is not well built to last.  And there is plenty of storage with the dual padded accessory trays.  

This is the first push cart that I have used that fits my stand bag correctly.  Even though it only has a lower strap to secure the bag, I never feel like the bag isn’t secured tightly, as it doesn’t move when rolling through any terrain that I have encountered at my home course.  The handles are easily adjusted to whatever configuration that fits your walking style and comfort.

On the course, this cart rolls across all different terrains without a lot of effort, I thought the smaller wheels might make me have to push harder, but it wasn't noticeable to me.  With the wider wheel base, this thing is very stable, much more than any other cart I used.  

The cons, noted above, are more annoyances than anything to do with the use of cart.  The cup holder doesn’t quite hold a normal water bottle very well.   It bounces around a lot.  I used it once and took it off.  An adjustable holder would've been better.  The handles, at times, come out as if I’m adjusting them when I walk down a steep hill.  And I tried to use the scorecard holder, but the elastic band that secures the scorecard kept pulling out.  However, none of these would sway me from using the push cart.

Overall this is an excellent cart; it is well built, very stable, compact and very easy to set up and take down.  I would recommend this push cart to anyone who likes to walk and needs a break or can't carry a golf bag on their back. 

Thank you again Sun Mountain and the TST for the chance to review.

                                                                  

[Valleygolfer]

Haha @jsgolfer your car looks like mine did.

I have had two Reflex carts, one had to be returned due to defects. Although I like the way it rolls and hauls the bag, the carrying of extraneous items is awkward. My micro cart was much more convenient in this department with it's undercarriage nylon bag which also held divot sand nicely.

So far both carts have had brake issues. The first one quit engaging regularly and the second "ticks" all the time. The first cart had gotten knocked out of alignment and was impossible to keep in alignment afterward with the chincy allen wrench, let alone a professional one.

This cart does do somewhat of a better job supporting the top part of the bag and not breaking down the dividers but it still gets into the softer part of the bag instead of the collar (and I have the Sun Mountain Cart bag) which makes club removal and return difficult at times.

I do like the quality of the rolling chassis and look of the cart. It would be nice to have some of the bugs worked out, larger and tighter cup holder fit as well as better electronic device mounting options.

Edited October 31, 2015 by iacas
Fixed @mention

[Ernest Jones]

Sun Mountain Reflex Golf Trolley

Pros: very small footprint, very stable, quick and easy folding
Cons: minor design issues with accessories

I have had the good fortune to be selected to do a member review of Sun Mountain’s newest push cart offering, the Sun Mountain Reflex. This opportunity couldn't have come at a better time as my old, two-wheel pull cart is starting to show its age.

I walk 99% of my rounds and really only take a riding cart at the odd annual get-togethers or scrambles where everyone is in a cart, so I was quite excited to review a cart that is miles beyond my old two-wheel broomstick.

My initial impression once out of the packaging was, “My goodness, that is big!” However, I quickly realized that this was a false impression created by the ruggedness and extra weight that the beefy little number has in comparison with my old stick cart. When placing the two side by side it becomes quite apparent that the Sun Mountain takes up considerably less space the old one despite being much bigger, much more stable and much more rugged when fully deployed. In fact, when placed in the trunk of my car where the old one once sat it is quite clear that the Sun Mountain takes about 2/3 of he space that was once home to my two-wheel POS. For reference, the tiles in the above picture are 13”x13”.

Here’s a picture of the two carts side by side.

The differences in size does seem negligible in the photo, but trust me, it makes a big difference when you put it in the trunk of a car.

Deployment

The SM Reflex unfolds quickly with two simple latches. No complicated sequence of operations and pinched fingers. Simply unlatched the lower latch, pull the unit upwards and lock it in place. Unlatch the push bar and set at your preferred height and lock it. Presto – done. Just as quick and simple as the old pull cart was, but without the aggravation of constantly tipping over until the bag is installed to balance out the handle. (man, I didn't realize how much I hated my old cart until I tried something better!)

On the course

The wide base of the unfolded cart gives it substantial stability and I had no problem navigating the wide variety of terrain that a high handicapper such as myself typically encounters during a round of golf. I was a little concerned by the lack of an upper strap to hold the bag in place (the Reflex only straps the bottom of the bag) and although the bag stayed in place with no issues when playing on a fairly flat course, the second time out it did not fair as well on a more undulating course. I would think that the next generation would add an upper strap. In the meantime, adding a 50-cent bungee cord will take care of that.

Extras

I’m a bit of a pack rat, so having not one, but two storage compartments is definitely a bonus! Just be aware that the lower compartment has a gap at the bottom when open, so thinner items like an iPhone or pencil could slide out when open. Just keep smaller items in the upper compartment and you’ll be fine.

I am also a little wary of the elastic bungee thing to hold the scorecard in place. I think they could have provided something a little more durable, but my concerns may be unfounded. Time will tell.

Some of the other accessories could use a re-think; the beverage holder is an odd size (as noted by several other reviewers) that is too large to keep a water bottle from rattling around and too tight to easily accommodate a Gatorade bottle. In fact, I kept having the cup holder come off whenever I grabbed my Gatorade bottle.

The umbrella holder does its job, but it would be nice if there were somewhere convenient to store it when not in use. It does, however, serve as decent head-cover holder so I can live with it staying in place.

Some other minor complaints; I would prefer to have the parking brake on the handle, bike style, so it’s more intuitive. For the first few rounds I kept forget to disengage it and, as a result, I gutted myself a few times trying to push a locked cart – ha ha. May be less of an issue if you’re not a slow learner!

Conclusion

All things considered, this is a great quality push-cart that will last many years thanks to rugged materials and design. The few small cons are far outweighed by the positives and I would recommend the product to anyone looking for push-cart that takes up minimum space when stored.

Thank you Sun Mountain and TST!

[SavvySwede]

Sun Mountain Reflex Review

by Vincent Dugan TST Staff

I had the privilege of reviewing the Sun Mountain Reflex push cart. First, a little background. I walk regularly and previously had an old aluminum pull cart I had picked up at the local thrift store. It served me well but it turned out I was missing out on quite a bit more than I had previously thought. Had me wishing I made the switch to the push cart world a whole lot sooner.

Ease of Use

The Sun Mountain Reflex takes only a minute to unfold and load you bag. The bottom platform on which the bag sits hold the bag in places securely and prevents it from twisting. There is only one strap but it can be used on either the top or bottom of the bag depending on what works better for your setup.

 

Direction "manual" had only two steps- two levers and done

 

On the Course

Very stable and smooth ride. Nothing quite like giving it a little shove off the first tee and strolling down the path unencumbered like a country club member with his caddie pushing ahead. Then when you get up to the green you can simply grab the putter and give it a little shove towards the next tee box. The two top compartments conveniently hold your balls, scorecard, and tees. I wish the top compartment was a little bigger so that I could fit my rangefinder in it more easily but the lower compartment did the job just fine. As others have noted the removable cup holder was a bit too removable and could be easily dislodged if bumped into. Overall the Reflex provides a truly pleasurable golfing experience. The only inconvenience coming after the round when you need clean the dirt out of the tire treads before placing it back into the trunk.

Additional features

Umbrella holder- Never got the opportunity to use it but it appears well built and mounts securely.

Adjustable handles- I preferred them in the level position but it was a nice option to have. They mainly serve to help shrink the Reflex's already small footprint for storage.

Parking brake- Keeps the cart in place just fine on steep slopes. Bicycle style would be more intuitive but that would probably interfere with the adjustable handles.

.Conclusion

The Sun Mountain Reflex is a great ride and a product I'd recommend to anyone. Durable, stable, and it won't dominate precious trunk space.

 

Did I mention she's a beauty?

[mvmac]

Great stuff @SavvySwede!