Clicgear 3.5+ Golf Cart: Range Review

New for 2013, the Clicgear 3.5+ Golf Push Cart is Clicgear’s latest contribution to the game of golf. Built for those of us who’d rather walk the golf course and take in our surrounding while getting some actual exercise – the 3.5+ push cart has some subtle improvements over Clicgear’s previous 3.0 model, including: a larger storage net, larger cup holder, an improved bag strap system, improved umbrella holder storage bracket, and an improved positive lock braking system. They didn’t reinvent the wheel this time around, but they’ve taken what many have called “the Cadillac of push carts” and maximized it’s potential… at least until version 4.0 is designed. Take a moment to scroll over the image below to see all of the features the Clicgear 3.5+ Golf Cart has to offer!

Clicgear 3.5+ Key Features:

How does it work, is it simple to use, and where can I buy one? If these are questions you’re asking yourself you’ve come to the right place. Because recently we hooked up with our good friends at Clicgear USA to fully test and review their newest push cart model – the 3.5+ in-depth! Today we’re happy to share the results with you. Enjoy…

Design: 

The Clicgear 3.5+ is everything you could ever ask for (and more) in a push cart. It’s made from strong over-sized aircraft grade aluminum tubing which is both highly durable and excessively lightweight (the 3.5+ is 18 lbs. total). When folded up the 3.5+ is incredibly small and easy to carry, making it great for storage and transportation to and from the golf course. We also discovered that this push cart will fit just about anywhere when folded up. From the back of a Jeep Grand Cherokee (easy pickin’s!) to the dainty hatch back of a Toyota Prius with two golf bags comfortably. Not only is the Clicgear 3.5+ lightweight, sturdy and compact(able), but it’s also packed with features that are thoughtfully placed and intuitive. Some features that caught our attention during testing were the upgraded braking system, center console and storage net. The braking system functions with a simple pull of a lever (located below the handle bar) to stop the push cart from taking off on you when parked on declines by locking the front tire securely. Pro Tip: Always remember to disengage the brake before attempting to move forward after hitting a shot. If you’ve never operated a push cart with a braking system it’ll take some getting use to. First of all you’ll need to remember that you have a brake system, and then you’ll need to remember to take it off when you need to move again. Forgetting to disengage the brake is neither good for the braking system nor your ego! We also really liked the center console of the Clicgear 3.5+. The console itself is somewhat large, with room for quite a few items. The console is made from hard plastic and seals shut nicely. On the outside it has room for three tees, and has an integrated scorecard and pencil holder that utilize small bungees to secure your score keeping paraphernalia. On the inside you’ll find three golf ball holders and plenty of open space for any items you that you’d like to keep protected from the elements (cell phone, wallet, etc…) We played in the rain on one occasion and no moisture entered the inside of the console. Which makes it a great place to keep your score card on damp and dreary days. As for the storage net… this thing is just awesome. Everyone has that massive junk drawer in their house… right? (I know I do!) Well, the Clicgear storage net is quite similar to that drawer and it’s BIG. The storage net is a catch-all for everything you need easy-access to during a round of golf. By the end of a round it was common for us to find a few golf balls, wallet, GPS, ball markers and tees in the storage net. Just remember to empty the net before breaking down the push cart and folding it up. Otherwise you’ll have a mess on your hands. Trust us! *Additional included equipment: umbrella holder and cup holder. (Optional accessories like umbrellas, coolers, shoes brush etc… are available through the Clicgear website as well.)

Setup / Breakdown: 

Amazingly there is absolutely no assembly required and with the included directions setup and breakdown of the Clicgear 3.5+ is actually pretty simple really. In all – you need to learn six steps to become a pro at it, but we  suggest keeping the directions with you for the first few times you plan to use it. While these six steps become second nature after several rounds of golf it does take some time to master. Not mention – this push cart is very impressive to other golfers when you first set it up, it’s almost transformer-like, but struggling with the mechanics of the levers and buttons can quickly take all the glory out of it. Practice makes perfect just like in golf. To see the folding and unfolding of a Clicgear push cart in action check out these videos. Upon initial setup (after un-boxing) you’ll unlikely have to to tinker with the front wheel alignment, but if you find that the cart begins to drift to the left or right over time there are adjustments that can be made to counteract that. Luckily we had no issues with alignment with our push cart, but if you notice that the cart is drifting right or left, you can adjust the alignment screw at the front wheel assembly. All that’s required for this adjustment is a wrench (or 3/4″ socket), flat and phillips head screwdrivers and only takes a minute or two to dial-in.

Functionality: 

The Clicgear 3.5+ does exactly what it’s supposed to. It carries your golf bag and clubs securely and effortlessly. Maneuvering this push cart couldn’t be easier. It’s nimble and has an impressive braking system that won’t send you running down a berm chasing after it. We were also happy to find that the bungees which secure the golf bag to the cart were durable and highly adjustable to fit a wide range of golf bags. We did however notice that larger cart bags are a better fit for the Clicgear 3.5+ rather than slimmer stand bags. Stand bags seem to rotate throughout the course of a round and have an overall less secure fit in our opinion. (Note: not all golf bags are created equal. The bag we noticed issues with was a super-lite OGIO stand bag. Most standard size stand bags will fit nicely in the 3.5+.) The ability to fold the 3.5+ into a  23″ by 15″ by 13″ cube when not in use is truly shocking. Most people when first seeing it can hardly believe it. It’s diminutive footprint makes storage easy and transport worry free.

Value: 

Priced at the higher end of the spectrum when it come to golf carts, the Clicgear 3.5+ is in our opinion very fairly priced for the durability and function it provides. After owning a Clicgear push cart you’ll never want to switch to another brand, and you’ll likely never have to. If you think about it – a push cart actually pays for itself over time. If you play enough rounds you’ll save loads of money that would have been spent on cart fees. Do the math!