What They Have in Common
Both are three-wheeled electric caddies with remote control, a 24-volt lithium battery rated for up to 36 holes, an umbrella holder, and a cup holder. They list within a dollar of each other. Neither maker lists a follow mode. The remote on each cart steers the thing; you're not walking behind it pushing.
Where They Differ
What the motors actually are
MGI says twin 230-watt motors and calls them calibrated. It also lists a gyroscope to hold a straight line, alongside the full-directional remote. Bag Boy prints the battery as "24v 299w" and states no motor power at all. If you want to know what's turning the wheels on the Volt, the published record doesn't say.
Warranty
Three years versus one. MGI's warranty is three times the length of Bag Boy's. That's not a small thing on a cart at this price.
Downhill and terrain
The Zip Navigator lists downhill speed control and what MGI calls all-terrain rear wheels, plus a foldable fourth rear wheel and a swiveling front wheel. It also has a quick-release brake on the rear wheels. The Volt has no downhill control listed, and Bag Boy doesn't publish whether the front wheel swivels. The Volt does offer an extendable fourth wheel, but it extends rather than folds, and nothing in the Volt's published spec addresses hills.
Bag attachment and what's in the box
The Volt uses Bag Boy's Top-Lok system for bag attachment. It also comes with a storage console and an accessory bag. MGI doesn't publish a bag attachment system or a storage console for the Zip Navigator, but it does include drink, umbrella, and GPS holders as part of the package.
Folded size and weight
The Volt folds to 29 × 16.5 × 14.5 inches, which works out to about 4 cubic feet. The Zip Navigator folds to 27.55 × 18.5 × 16.5 inches, roughly 4.9 cubic feet — about 0.9 cubic feet more. The Volt's longest folded dimension is 29 inches; the Zip Navigator's is 27.55 inches. If you're measuring trunk clearance, those are the numbers to check.
Weight is where neither cart wins on paper, and it's worth explaining why. MGI says the Zip Navigator is 28.6 lbs without the battery, and 34.96 lbs with it. Bag Boy prints 29.9 lbs for the Volt and doesn't say whether that includes the battery or not. Those two figures don't measure the same thing, so there's no honest comparison to make. The Zip Navigator at 34.96 lbs with the battery is the figure you'd actually lift into the trunk — the Volt's equivalent number isn't published.
The Volt's manual mode
One thing the Volt lists that the Zip Navigator doesn't: it converts to a manual push cart. If the battery dies mid-round, you've still got a cart you can push. That's a real backstop, even if you'd rather not use it.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the MGI Zip Navigator if:
- You want a published motor spec and a warranty that covers three full years
- Your course has hills and you want downhill speed control working for you
- You want a swivelling front wheel on the spec sheet — MGI publishes one, Bag Boy doesn't say
- You want to know the full weight — battery included — before you buy
Get the Bag Boy Volt if:
- You want Bag Boy's Top-Lok bag attachment
- The ability to push the cart manually when the battery's dead matters to you
- A folded size that's slightly more compact in volume is a priority for your trunk
- The Volt's extras — the handle-mounted magnetic plate, the lockable remote, the predetermined distance settings — fits how you play
The Bottom Line
These two carts list within a dollar of each other, which means the price doesn't do the deciding for you — the specs do. The Zip Navigator publishes twin 230-watt motors, tells you it weighs 34.96 lbs with the battery in it, comes with downhill speed control, and carries a three-year warranty. The Volt converts to a manual push cart and uses Bag Boy's Top-Lok bag attachment, but it states no motor power and doesn't say whether its published weight includes the battery. At this price, published specs and a three-year warranty carry real weight.
Get the MGI Zip Navigator.