Big Max Blade IP2 Review: The Right Cart For The Right Golfer

The Big Max Blade IP2 is the most premium push cart Big Max has built to date — a solid step up from the original IP and flatter folding than the Trio with a more useful console area.

After pushing the Blade IP2 out of the parking lot, over slopes, side-hills, gravel, and turf — I know what this cart is about.

In our Big Max Blade IP2 review, I’ll walk you through what Big Max got right, where they could improve, and — most importantly — whether you’re the buyer it’s built for.

A good push cart shouldn’t make you think. You unfold it. You load your bag. You walk.

Good ones are like an extension of your hand.
Bad ones remind you they exist on every slope, every turn, every time you wrestle them back into the trunk.

The Blade IP2 mostly disappears. Mostly.

It rolls beautifully on flat ground. Materials and build quality lead the field. It folds flat as a pancake for easy transport and easy storage.

I find the narrow handle more difficult than it need be to maneuver the cart. Pair that with a fixed front wheel, and it’s more work than I like.

That’s not a flaw — Big Max designed the cart this way on purpose.

Judging by customer reviews – many golfers love the IP2 and don’t share my complaints.

Question is, which golfer are you.

Build Quality & Construction

Like other Blade carts, the IP2 is a beauty. You could almost display this thing.

Very well designed cosmetically and functionally.

Powder-coated aluminum frame. Minimal plastic. Tight tolerances on every joint.

Big Max says it’s made of aerospace-grade aluminum — and I have no reason to doubt them.

Very intentional design. Very high quality build. Visually unique and attractive.

Frame and finish

Sturdy aluminum frame with a minimal amount of plastic. Robust materials down to the bungee cord fasteners.

Wheels and brakes

The custom-molded foam wheels roll true and smooth.

The dual foot brake is a nice to have.

Both rear wheels lock firmly when you step on either pedal — useful on slopes, useful in the rough, useful any time the cart needs to stay exactly where you parked it.

Top bracket and bag cradle

The top bracket is wide enough to handle a full-size cart bag without. I tested it with the Datrek Lite Rider 2.0 and Big Max Dri Lite Prime — both real-deal cart bags — and the cradle wrapped it tight with no flex, no wobble, and no need to re-cinch mid-round.

As mentioned above, the lower bungee straps are robust and function well. The integrated rubber pads on the cradle arms protect the bag and add grip.

Performance on the Course – Maneuverability & Stability

This is where the Blade IP2 sorts its buyers.

On flat ground, it’s a solid push cart. Straight ahead, straight back, smooth fairway or cart path — the IP2 rolls fine. Rolling straight isn’t hard for any decent cart, and the IP2 doesn’t make it hard.

Uneven terrain or one hand operation is where the picture changes.

The Handle

The handle is the IP2’s biggest functional limitation, and it’s worth understanding why.

It’s a small handle. Comfortable, padded, height-adjustable, sits where it should — but small.

On flat ground that’s fine. If you’re doing nothing else it’s fine. If you’re using two hands, it’s fine.

Because so few golfers walk in my neck of the woods, I have to get going once I’ve hit a shot or putted out.

With that, I grab my sky caddie with my right hand. I grab the handle with my left, and I take off.

I’m trying to enter my score. I’m marking my location to track distances for my clubs. I’m looking for yardages to hazards, and what not.

So, I’m quite often using only one hand to steer and maneuver.

Small handles make this considerably harder than larger handles.

Moving up and over hills and on side hills is also a bit of an adventure.

The fixed front wheel

Though not a deal breaker, I opt for a swiveling wheel when I can.

A good cart that’s stable with a well-built ergonomic handle mitigates this quite well. The Nitron Auto Open is a fine example of this.

The Blade IP2 front wheel is fixed, not swiveling. So, there’s a fair amount of lifting the front end to change directions or adjust course.

On flat ground, a non-issue.

On undulating terrain, it means the cart wants to track straight while the slope tells it to do something else — and you’re the one resolving that argument.

Pair the fixed wheel with the small handle and undulating ground becomes steady, tedious work.

Stability

It’s fine going straight uphill.
It’s fine going straight downhill.

You’ll have to hold on a bit tighter on sidehills or awkward twists and turns or undulations.

The dual foot brake is genuinely good. Parked on a slope, it locks both rear wheels and the cart stays put.

The wheelbase is on the narrower side. It never felt unstable, but a wider stance gives more security on side-slopes, and going over curbs you want to be deliberate — take them straight and slow.

The bottom line on performance

The less maneuvering the better for the IP2. So, I prefer it for flatter courses and I hesitate to recommend it for hilly courses.

Big Max built a clean, minimalist cart on purpose, and the small handle is part of that design philosophy.

The tradeoff for the look is steering that works you on undulating ground. Whether that’s a dealbreaker depends entirely on where you play.

Storage & Accessories

The IP2 carries an XL organizer panel — Big Max’s headline storage upgrade over the original Blade IP, and it’s a real improvement.

Note: XL is there term and is very subjective in this case. It’s XL compared to the original IP, which isn’t saying much. But, it’s big enough.

The storage console

The main storage pouch is biggish — ample for a round’s worth of small gear. The console has dedicated spots: a phone holder that works as advertised, a scorecard clip that holds a card, GPS ports built into the top.

The phone holder fits a phone and keeps it put. The scorecard clip is functional.

Accessory access

The console has a slot to put your phone, or in my case, my skycaddie.

You can put your rangefinder in the mesh basket rather than a dedicated cradle. You’ll need to find places to hang your glove(s) and or towel

Cupholder and accessories

The IP2 does not include a cupholder. It’s a separate purchase — part of Big Max’s modular accessory system.

One minor irritation – you have to buy all accessories. None are included with purchase. That said, the accessories are high quality and worth the investment. Especially the umbrella holder (for me at least).

It’s sold separately. In Houston heat or more importantly, sun, I don’t consider it optional.

Ease of Use – Folding, Unfolding & Storing

This is the IP2’s calling card.

Folding and unfolding

The fold is fast and smooth once you know it. First time through, you could glance at the instructions, but it’s more intuitive than most carts. Unfolding is the same — quick, no fuss.

The folding action itself isn’t class-leading — a Bag Boy Nitron’s auto-open mechanism is simpler to operate. But it’s good, and it’s quick.

Compactness

This is where the IP2 separates itself. It folds genuinely flat — Big Max’s “under 5 inches” claim seems about right (I didn’t/won’t measure it).

It fits in the back of a van with no trouble, slides flat into a closet, and stows where bulkier carts can’t.

Carrying and storing

The carry handle is high-quality rubber and plenty functional for moving the folded cart around.

One thing to know: folded, it stands upright on its foot brakes like a kickstand.

Blade IP2 Alternatives

I’ve got a couple Editor’s picks and cart similar to the IP2 for you.

Bag Boy Nitron Auto Open – If you want better all-terrain control (and the easiest opening and closing cart on the market)

The Nitron has a bigger handle, more stability, more storage, equal accessory access, plus their Top-Lok system for BagBoy compatible bags.

Bag Boy Nitron Swivel (Also auto-open): This one’s brand new on the market. I just got it in a few days ago. A doppelgänger of the original Nitron, but with a swiveling front wheel.

They fixed the only knock I had on the Nitron.

Note: I have not completed full testing, but I’m highly confident it’s a boss.

Big Max Blade Trio: Similar cart for a few less duckets

Similar to the IP2 — but with a bigger, more robust handle. The Blade Trio doesn’t fold quite as flat. Less money for most of what the IP2 does.

Customer Reviews

Average owner score: 5.0/5 across 7 reviews₍₁₎

• Folding & compactness: Near-universal praise — easy fold, ultra-flat, fits where other carts don’t.
• Weight: Owners call it one of the lightest carts they’ve handled (14.77 lbs).
• Stability: Owners who wanted flat-fold without flimsy say it delivers.
• Setup: At least one owner had to tighten the arm tension screw and adjust the front wheel out of the box.
• Cupholder: Owners who bought the add-on like the modular system — the “no cupholder” knock doesn’t bother them.

Final Verdict on the Big Max Blade IP2

The Big Max Blade IP2 is a beautifully built, beautifully finished push cart.

It rolls great on flat ground, the build quality is second to none, and it folds flatter and stores easier than just about anything on the market.

It’s also a cart with a specific buyer. The small handle and fixed front wheel mean undulating terrain takes steady attention.

So this comes down to fit. If you play flat or flatter courses, store your cart in a tight space, travel with your gear, and care about owning something genuinely well-made — the IP2 is a strong pick.

If your course has real slopes, or you want a cart you can steer one-handed without thinking about it, there are better tools for that job.

The right cart for the right golfer. You just have to know which golfer you are.

Thanks for checking out our Big Max Blade IP2 review.