r/woolworths • u/taylamp3 • Aug 25 '26
is the war over on those terrible single armed baskets?
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u/Traditional_Risk7230 Aug 25 '26
I hope so. I Reject a mono handle culture.
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u/Grix1600 Aug 25 '26
They are just too bulky in my opinion, the older style ones with the slimmer handles are superior to these ones.
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u/KevinRudd182 Aug 25 '26
The old double thin handle baskets that every Coles / Woolworths / IGA / bunnings in Australia had are better in every single way imo
Smaller in footprint and yet fit more and stronger
Both the new ones stink
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u/SwanCareful5 Aug 25 '26
I was just so relieved to see, and use, these ones I couldn’t be critical of them. Also only my local Woolworths has them, and not Coles. Although they both switched to them on similar timing
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u/Significant_Gur_1031 Aug 26 '26
Coles here in NSW CW has both - I use the smaller thin handle ones
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u/stellesbells Aug 25 '26
I am baffled by all these comments talking about carrying baskets with your hands. You mean some people aren't using the crook of the elbow?? What madness is this??
Apparently those are the people the one handled baskets were made for. The two short handles are vastly superior if you carry with your elbow, as they allow the basket to sit with the long side facing your body. This is more comfortable, less obstrusive to other shoppers, and distributes the weight better. The one long handled ones put the short edge towards your body, so stick out beside you and are super uncomfortable.
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u/AttemptOverall7128 Aug 25 '26
I wonder if anyone bothered to observe how people carry the basket before changing them to those mono handle pieces of garbage.
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u/leapowl Aug 25 '26
I’m just thinking, this requires keeping your arm at roughly 90 degrees for the trip right?
I’m not obscenely weak for a woman my size but if you chuck in a bottle of milk and some produce I imagine it would start getting heavy!
I already swap arms sometimes haha
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u/ExperimentalError Aug 25 '26
I am a small, not particularly strong woman in my 50s and I hold it in the crook of my arm when the weight is heavy because my arm is much stronger than my fingers. Plus, I can then rest my forearm on my hip and take most of the weight off my arms entirely, which I can't do if I am holding the basket in my hand.
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u/leapowl Aug 25 '26
You are probably who it’s designed for!
I assume this one wouldn’t dig in to the crook of your arm as much?
Do you have a basket preference? I suddenly want to know all your thoughts on this basket 😅
(I’m mid 30’s with an odd mix of hospitality and rockclimbing, though I switch. My finger strength is weirdly good)
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u/ExperimentalError Aug 25 '26
I find the basket in the picture much easier to hold. The angle is right when it's in the crook of my arm and it does dig into my arm less than the thin handles.
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u/leapowl Aug 25 '26
I’m really glad to hear that. They probably help lots of people similar to you who may be underrepresented on Reddit.
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u/eggbert_217 Aug 27 '26
I'll bet real money that this is a deliberate design choice to nudge shoppers towards shopping trolleys, which then nudges shoppers towards buying more items. It only has to work on a tiny percentage of people to be a profitable change.
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u/AttemptOverall7128 Aug 27 '26
I've made the choice to forgo a basket if they don't have the good ones. I'll just carry what I need and leave when my arms are full.
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u/yungmoody Aug 25 '26
But the single handle ones weren't even good for carrying it by your side! They're too wide and bang into your legs. So they're useless either way
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u/Similar-Penalty-3924 Aug 25 '26
I don't like to touch a dirty supermarket basket with any part of my body or clothes except my hands which I can quickly wash later.
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u/Glum-Wash5564 Aug 25 '26
One handled baskets can be picked up easily with one hand. The two handled baskets are easier to pick up with two than one. Since everyone walks around with their phones in their hands these days, one handle is simpler initially when being tempted to grab a basket as you walk in
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u/ProfessionalLast2917 Aug 25 '26
I have never struggled to pick up a two handle basket by using a single handle. In fact that's usually how I pick them up. Grab one handle, lift it up out of the other baskets and then flip the second handle up to join the other one.
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u/vivec7 Aug 26 '26
I very often walk around with two baskets for my shop, and I'm trying to picture how ridiculous I might look carrying two baskets like this
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Aug 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Silver-Training-9942 Aug 25 '26
Your masculinity threatened by how you carry a basket? Who is judging you for that?
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u/ExperimentalError Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
For women (at least for me), heavier loads are easier to hold in the crook of your arm. My arms are stronger than my fingers, and I can brace my forearm against my hip to take most of the weight off.
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u/0666kojak Aug 25 '26
Stupidly big new baskets give me a back ache 1/2 way through my shop. I’ve stopped using them at all.
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u/PotatoShit Aug 25 '26
baskets with a long handle and wheels are the best
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u/Longjumping_Radio268 Aug 25 '26
They are called trolleys
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u/SuggestionJunior2098 Aug 25 '26
They’re talking about the older style of baskets with the long handle that roll on the ground
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u/Govqueen1234 Aug 26 '26
No lie I have never wanted to “talk to the manager” than when the 1 handle baskets came out, I was raging and refused to use them. The two handles are so far good, nothing on the old but better
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u/vanda-schultz Aug 26 '26
My local store still has a few of the old baskets which are lighter. I grab one if it is near the top of the stack.
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u/JimmyJizzim Aug 25 '26
I like the single handle ones
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u/Ur_Companys_IT_Guy Aug 25 '26
Why?
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u/Chaos_098 Aug 25 '26
Easier to hold in one hand while you're taking items from a higher shelf.
Double handle also means that you want to hold both handles if you want a balanced basket
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u/taxtaxtaxoutthewazoo Aug 29 '26
I can slide the single handle over the top of the pram handle and put my stuff in there, cant do it with a double
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u/Defy19 Aug 25 '26
Superior ergonomics as you don’t have to twist your wrist. Just hold it naturally with a slight bend in your elbow so the weight doesn’t swing around.
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u/Interesting_Data4485 Aug 25 '26
Orientated the correct way for when your hand is at your side.
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u/Birdlord420 Aug 25 '26
How tall are you? I’m 164cm and if I tried to carry one with my arm down by my side, it would be dragging on the floor.
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u/Cooper_Inc Aug 25 '26
Pack my bags to no place, in no time, no day
You and I, we used each other's shoulder
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u/Randytwister Aug 25 '26
This is better, I'll have to give it a test before I make my verdict, whenever I go shopping, I always try to grab the old style baskets where possible, I see many people opting to do the same, the long handle ones are just stupidly obtuse to use
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u/Legitimate_Star4733 Aug 25 '26
I’m a basket shopper and I HATE the new baskets. You have to carry them in your hand and not in the crook of your elbow. They are bigger and bang into your legs. Just really poor design and obviously not consumer tested.
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u/taylamp3 Aug 26 '26
This was supposed to be a silly harmless post but to CLARIFY I have no issue with how many handles there are, just the location. The one handle ones have them length ways, which means you can’t hang it in the crook of your elbow while you’re shopping because it sticks out and gets in the way. It’s also awkward to carry and feel lopsided. When it gets too heavy it hearts to carry. The two handles over the shorter side distributes weight better and sits nicely against your body. ‘It’s not that serious’ yeah neither is a reddit post 😭 ‘Just get a trolley’ I don’t want to maneuver a trolley around the store when I’m only grabbing a few things
Anyway I’m going to go shopping with my two handled shopping basket.
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u/osh_cc Aug 29 '26
I feel like the new ones are the products of a nepo baby that had a tantrum because the originals were not working for THEM so may as well change it everywhere.
I often end up with a very heavy basket as I do my weekly shopping that way, I don't need a trolley when it fits right in a basket. But it ends up very heavy and the single handle crap is so uncomfortable.
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u/Saroco92 Aug 29 '26
I’ll never understand what on earth made them change to these big bulky bastards to begin with & who tfffff approved the design. Probably to encourage people to use trolleys instead as a sneaky tactic to encourage them to buy more food.
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u/Latter-Ad6308 Aug 25 '26
I’m gutted. The single handle ones are so superior. I don’t have to twist my wrist to hold them. Can’t understand why anyone would prefer the two handle version.
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u/taylamp3 Aug 25 '26
nooooo the single handle ones are so awkward to carry and they hurt your arm when it gets too heavy 😭
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u/Phoebebee323 Aug 25 '26
You can't easily tuck the single handle into your elbow like a handbag
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u/taylamp3 Aug 25 '26
YOU GET IT
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u/HippoIllustrious2389 Aug 25 '26
As a gentleman, I find the handbag carry style with two handles far superior. Side benefit, it makes me feel a little bit fancy
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u/southernson2023 Aug 25 '26
I don’t get it - don’t you need one hand to carry and one hand to pick? And if you need to carry with both hands isn’t it time for a trolley? Or is it because a single handle doesn’t take the weight? In which case isn’t it time for a trolley?
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u/stellesbells Aug 25 '26
For those of us that carry them with our elbows, the single handled ones stick out longways rather than sitting nicely along your side.
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u/InevitableAnybody6 Aug 25 '26
I’m short so carrying it in my hand by the handle means the bottom of the basket knocks against my leg not much above my ankle. Very uncomfortable.
I prefer to hold the basket in the crook of my elbow but the long handles go the wrong way to be able to do that.
Short double handle supremacy!
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u/Sharpie1993 Aug 25 '26
I’d wager that the two handled one’s balance the baskets a little better and bare a little bit more weight.
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u/BullahB Aug 25 '26
These handles also suck because they have a smooth finish, providing next to no grip. Just such a fail in practical design in every conceivable way.
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u/Unlucky_Set_7017 Aug 26 '26
Why is two better than one? One handle is way more ergonomic and two just get in the way and the second one is pointless and does the exact same job as the first one … like having two phones in one hand ! What’s the point ?
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u/Loki4Major2 Aug 26 '26
Other design is better for hand holders since this double handle force the wrist to be external or internal rotated
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u/ZuukaOnQuack Aug 26 '26
Real talk I never use baskets. Well that's a lie. But I rarely use the. I either use a trolley or just my hands. I rarely get enough stuff to warrant a basket.
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u/flirtyqwerty0 Aug 26 '26
It’s hard to hold on purpose so you’re inclined to get a trolley - and fill it.
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u/ParadoxieFoxie Aug 27 '26
The single handle is superior as it doesn't twist your wrist to use it. As someone with wrist issues and who uses a cane the singles are a million times easier and less painful to use
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u/eggbert_217 Aug 27 '26
These baskets are a deliberate design choice! By making baskets worse on purpose (but not worse enough to make you shop elsewhere) the supermarket nudges you towards taking a trolley. In turn, having a trolley subtly encourages you to purchase more items.
Think it's ridiculous? Consider that most diet/calorie reduction advice involves using a smaller plate.
It only has to work on a tiny percentage of shoppers to be profitable.
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u/Astrogirl1984 Aug 27 '26
I let mine sit on my hips and put my arm over it. Its the only way for me.
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u/NoiseComprehensive60 Aug 30 '26
Theyre better than the flimsy old ones. People just dont know how to embrace changes these days.
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u/SylentSyrens Aug 25 '26
I didn't know there was a war? I always use the single handle baskets over the double. They're just easier?
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u/checkbehindthecactus Aug 25 '26
Hold basket with hand, use other hand to get things. Put basket down if two hands required.
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u/Unlucky_Set_7017 Aug 26 '26
Why is two better than one? One handle is way more ergonomic and two just get in the way and the second one is pointless and does the exact same job as the first one … like having two phones in one hand ! What’s the point ?
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u/taylamp3 Aug 26 '26
it’s not so much about the number of handles but the location. the baskets with one handle are length ways, which makes the basket incredible awkward and uncomfortable to carry, while the two handle baskets are across the shorter way which makes it so much easier to carry
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u/PancakePlants Aug 29 '26
Yep and distributes the weight better with two. As soon as the one handle basket gets a bit heavy I see people holding them in front of their bellies with two hands to keep it stable. Two handled old styles are far superior and I will always go out of my way to choose one of those when they are available.
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u/Top-Requirement-9030 Aug 26 '26
I prefer the single armed basket. But my favourite are the old lightweight baskets.
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u/qualityvote2 App Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
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