The handikart is a portage trolley designed to handle both kayaks, Sit On Tops and Open Canoes. I reviewed the Handikart for Ocean Paddler Magazine, these were my thoughts.

Manufacturers Description

Stylish, versatile, and easy to use the new HandiKart sets new standards for the transportation of kayaks & canoes. Light, but rugged, the HandiKart makes the transfer of equipment from the car to the water’s edge undemanding and effortless. Furthermore, the HandiKart folds up into a compact shape that is easily stowed in the kayak or canoe and can be quickly dismantled for when space is really at a premium.

Design & Construction

The Handikart utilises a very different design to many of the folding, V framed trolleys on the market. It comprises of a two piece frame connected by two webbing straps. The end of the two frame pieces clip together and the the frame then fans out with the webbing straps preventing it opening too widely.

The axles on the frame, onto which the wheels are attached, are inclined and pointout and down towards the ground rather than running parrelell to it as seen on other trolleys. The frame is constructed from 304 stainless steel and coated with softex material.

The wheels are hemispherical with a solid hub and puncture proof polyurethane tyres. They use a simple click and lock system to hold them in place.

Two sets of wide ebbing straps are attached to either side of the frame with a buckles attached at the end to pass over the top of the kayak and tie it down to the frame.

In Use

Because the Handikart frame breaks down into two parts storage is very easy. When the kayak was not fully loaded, I found I could slide the two sides of the frame down the rear compartment of my boat, either side of the skeg box. The wheels fitted neatly at the other end of the rear compartment against the bulkhead that divides the rear compartment and day-hatch compartment. Alternatively, the 4 parts that make up the Handikart could be neatly stowed in a drybag and then attached to the rear deck of the kayak if required.

Assembly and dis-asssembly was generally very easy. The wheel hubs have a push lock system. Slide the catch on the hub to the side, push on the wheel and slide the catch back to lock the wheel on. Fitting the two sides of the frame together was similarly easy providing the components were clean and free from grit. However, I did find removing the arm a tad tricky with cold wet hands as it involves pushing a small catch to one side to allow the tubing to slide free.

There is a definite technique to loading and strapping the kayak onto the Handikart. Once you have placed the kayak on top and fastened the rear strap, you need to lift up the front end of the trolley to ensure it is in contact with the kayak hull before clipping the strap together. On by first attempt, I attached the strap and pulled them tight without realising the end of the trolley was still in contact with the ground – this left a 3/4 inch gap between hull and trolly and once I lifted the bow to begin walking allowed the kayak to slew about on top of the trolley.

I also spent a bit of time sorting out the straps and ensuring they were adjusted to the correct length, with a overhand knot tied behind the buckle to prevent the webbing slipping within the buckle, something it had a habit of doing initially.

However, once I perfected the loading technique and organised the built in straps the trolley worked superbly. I tested the trolley on tarmac, rough grass/earth as well as sandy, shingle and muddy beaches. It coped well with all surfaces. It takes, perhaps, a little more effort to pull along hard surfaces compared to standard pneumatic tyres however the very large surface area of the tyres compared to standard wheels mean’t it handled soft surfaces significantly better than any other trolley I have tried. Because the weight is spread over a larger area it does not cut or sink into the ground.

Conclusion

Although the Handikart is a little less efficient over hard ground, it’s versatility on a range of surfaces combined with the fact that it breaks down into 4 parts, is so easily stowed and comes with all the straps you need to get going and will not suffer from punctures make the Handikart a very handy bit of kit. On top of this, those Sea Kayakers who also paddle Open Canoes or Sit On Top kayaks would be able to use the same trolley with their other boats. If you have a need for a trolley, I would highly recommend taking a look at the Handikart.

Further Details

Price: Currenty £59.99 online
Manufacturers Website: Handiworld

Gallery

Energiser Lightsticks

These are simple LED lightsticks, one red and one green, running off 3 x A76 batteries (included). They are made of plastic and use a simple twist on/off mechanism. Threaded through a plastic loop on the top of the lightstick is a simple cord lanyard.

Switched on in the dark they produce a reasonable amount of light and are clearly visible from a reasonable distance.

Energiser Lightsticks

Whilst I have yet to make up my mind if they have a real use for night paddling at that price they are a no brainer. What I need to do now is work out if I can waterproof them suitably with some form of ziplock bag or small dry bag. If I can’t then all I’ve lost is the price of a good Caffè Latte and they might do for a few uses before the saltwater destroys them or as an emergency item in the end of a dry bag.

I’ll leave you to make up your own mind but they seem to be selling fast.

Energiser Glowsticks

Energiser Glowsticks

Energiser Glowsticks

Quick review here of a couple of essentials items for transporting and storing your Sea Kayak. I’ve already reviewed a couple of Lomo items (Kayak Gloves & Aqua Boots) and the over-riding impression you are left with is superb quality for astonishingly low prices. These two smaller items are no different.

Lomo Cockpit Cover

Lomo Deck Cover

In use, the cockpit cover is tight enough to remain in place at motorway speeds, but has more give than a deck making it easy to put on. The security strap is a decent length and I tend to thread it through my deck lines and clip it back to the buckle. When the Sea Kayak stored at home, I use the cover to keep creepy crawlies out of the boat however I do like to ensure the boat is clean and dry inside before using it so I’m not creating a breeding ground for mould.

At £15 it’s good value for money, the sort of money some companies charge for nylon versions. If you are in the market for a cockpit cover it’s well worth a look. Further details via the Lomo website.

Lomo Roof Rack Straps

Roof Rack Straps

The straps use 25mm wide high-strength polypropylene webbing and double-spring cam buckle and are 3.5m long. They are sold singly at £3.50, therefore £7 a set. I’ve been using my set for several months with no sign or any wear. Further details via Lomo website.

Kayalu Gear Kayalite

By now regular readers will know I spend a substantial amount of time paddling at night.

Therefore I was more than intrigued to pick up some buzz about a new product to the market – the Kayalu Gear Kayalite – a removable, deck mounting kayak light system.

Over the last few months I have experimented with a range of cheap and not so cheap LED torches, head-torches and light sticks in a effort to create a simple, robust system for lighting my kayak at night.

Kayalu Gear Kayalite

To date, the most cost effective and reliable system for showing a white light at the rear of the kayak was a simple LED pencil torch lifted from the deck by a rolled up paddle float and held fast under the deck lines.

This provides a continuous white light from the rear of the kayak, however has two main issues. The torch is swamped with water in rougher seas and is prone to failure after a few weeks. Secondly, it sits low down and is single directional – pointing only out the the stern.

Enter the Kayalu Gear Kayalite, a high-visibility LED stern light.

Description

Tektite Mk III Light

The Kayalite features a Tektite Mark III light built into an 18″ mast with a large round base. The base of the unit has foam padding, with 2 grooves cut through it.

The mast has a cleat on one side and running though the hollow mast is a length of bungee cord. This exits at the base where it is attached to a clip and at the side of the mast where it can be fastened around the cleat.

To fix the Kayalite to your kayak you attach the clip to any suitable point (eyelet, deck loop, pad eye, topside drain plug or other fixed point of attachment) then pull the bungee tight fastening it off on the cleat.

Jamming Cleat

The tension causes the light to sit firmly on the deck, with the foam base padding adapting to the contours of the deck. Kayalu provide a eyelet bolt should you wish to fit a permanent fixing location.

The kayalite is switched on/off by rotating the top of the light.

Switching the Kayalite on provides a 360 degree bright white LED light which is designed to run for 200 hours on one set of batteries.

In Use

Fully Assembled

The Kayalite arrived fully assembled so all I was required to do was fit it to the kayak.

I paddle a P&H Cetus and decided to utilise deck lines where they fit through a centrally mounted point just in front of my rear oval hatch. Although an ideal location, attaching to deck lines is does mean that I am attaching bungee to bungee which will reduce the sturdiness of the attachment.

However I was able to create a solid attachment, with only minor ‘wobble’. I have no qualms that attaching to a more secure point would allow you to create a very stable attachment with virtually no movement in the Kayalite. Whether I would be prepared to permanently attach an eyelet to the Cetus needs further thought.

Attaching The Kayalite

The build quality of the unit seems very robust. The black, textured ABS that makes up the bulk of the mast is chunky and substantial and does not give the impression it would snap or break if manhandled.

The use of marine grade stainless steel on the small but sturdy clip is a reassuring sign of careful design.

Switching the light on and off is simple, as is removing the top of the light to replace batteries/bulbs if required.

Once positioned on the rear deck of the kayak, your ability to operate the light single handed will rely on the mounting position you have chosen.

In Position

I experimented before setting out on my first trip and ascertained I could switch the light on and off with a bit of effort – I’m not the most flexible paddler so others will find this easier than I did however I was happy that with my chosen mounting location this would not be a ‘set it and forget it’ piece of kit.

Out on the water, the Kayalite instantly proved worth it’s weight in gold. The height of the unit has been carefully chosen to strike a good balance between visibility and not impairing your night vision. I found my body/head shielded the front of the kayak from the majority of the light thrown out by the Kayalite.

However, it does throw some light out to the sides and under your arms which took a little getting used to – most notably realising that dark shape in the water was actually my own shadow and not something ominous under the surface!

First Outing

During my first paddle I switched between my old method of lighting (a torch tucked under the bungees on the rear of the kayak) and the Kayalite and found that whilst there was no loss of night vision with the torch, there was a very small amount from the kayalite. However, this was minimal and the incredible visibility offered by the kayalite vs the torch make this a vastly preferable system.

I see a few fishermen regularly on one of my night time routes and sought their opinion by paddling a couple of hundred metres out, firstly with the torch, then the kayalite. Their verdict was unanimously in favour of the kayalite – with comments mainly centred on the 360 degree light and extra height. As one quipped, the difference is:

Chalk and cheese, or should I say dark and light!

Testing Kayalite

One aspect to consider should be stowage – the round base is not removable. On one hand this offers a more sturdy design, however if you were using this on a multi-day/night trip it would not quite as easy to stow than if it had a removable base.

The final test for the Kayalite came at the end of the paddle, when I rolled several times with the unit in place. I found that my chosen mounting location mean’t that the Kayalite did not impede my roll. It was also not displaced, despite being attached to the deck lines rather than a fixed eyelet. Each time I came up and the light was still shining brightly.

Summary

To be honest, I fell in love with the kayalite on the first paddle. The Solent is a very busy section of the UK coastline with an amazing amount of traffic at all times of the year and all times of the night. Lights are a must even if only switched on when required. Combined with an LED head torch for the front light (which I switch on when I need to be seen), the Kayalite offers incredible visibility and therefore safety.

The unit has so far proven to be very durable and well made. I will continue to evaluate it’s build quality and battery/bulb lifetime over the coming months and update this review with my findings.

I guess the ultimate question should be ‘Would I paddle at night without one now?’ The answer is a very definite no! And if they were to consider producing a shorter, shielded red/green for the bow, I’d be first in line.

From The Manufacturer

Kayalu Kayalite

Mast
Mast Material: ABS black, textured
Base Cushion Material: EVA foam
Fastener: plated steel breech clip
Mast Hardware: marine-grade stainless steel
Bungee Cable: saltwater-resistant nylon coated
Bungee Rings: marine-grade stainless steel
Locking Mechanism: jam cleat
U.S. Patents Pending

Tektite Mark III (included)
Switch: Twist On/Off
Depth Rating: 1,000 feet (300 m)
Lamp: 1 LED
Lamp Life: 10,000+ hours
Burn Time: 200+ hours
Batteries: 3 AA Alkaline (included)
Materials: ABS and LEXAN
U.S. Patent #6,168,288

General Specifications
Height: 18 in. (45.72 cm)
Weight: 10 oz. (285 g)

Cost
$39.99

Further Details
www.kayalu.com

Lomo Kayak Gloves

The wrists are long enough to cover the wrist seals on cags/drysuits and have a wide neoprene/velcro fastening which is easy to use when wearing the gloves. This provides a good seal around the wrists. It’s also a useful way of securing the gloves to a deck line when you want then handy.

Reinforced Patches

These gloves are a bargain at £10 and when they do eventually wear out I would not hesitate to grab another pair.

Lomo have produced this video showing the features of the Kayak Glove:

I have owned and used the Northwater Peaked Deck Bag for 18 months or so and been very pleased with it (see my review). I was therefore more than happy to get access to the Northwater Expedition Deck Bag for review.

The ‘Expedition’ is the largest deck bag Northwater produce. It has a large zippered opening giving access to the main compartment which holds the bulk of your kit, but is further expandable via side clips, top bungees and optional ‘expansion’ compartments available from Northwater. The shaped is kept true via a removable polyethylene liner. (I have posted a video showing the main features).

Fastening the Northwater Expedition Deck Bag

The Expedition Deck Bag secures to the deck using a different system to the Peaked Deck bag. The bottom of the deck back has a vinyl base & flap covered in velcro. Sliding the flap under the deck lines allows you to then drop the bag down on the velcro securing it in place. This is a lot less fiddly than systems relying purely on straps/buckles and makes removing the deck bag a synch.

In rougher conditions, I did notice some more movement with this deck bag – I imagine this is due to the larger ‘weight’ carried along with the increased surface area. However, the six side clips can be used to secure the bag even more securely and this did cut down the movement.

Expedition Deck Bag In Use

My intial impression of the bag was that it was too large for normal day paddle use as it seemed huge when held however, once in place it is not overbearing and the increased storage has been very welcome. Although designed for expeditions where more equipment is carried, I have been very happy using the Expedition Deck bag for short, day trips.

The Northwater Expedition is not a dry or waterproof bag, so equipment stowed in it needs to be in waterproof containers/roll bags however in calm weather, even with the occasional wave washing over the deck the combination of the vinyl base and position high up on the deck means very little water seeps into the bag.

Large Storage Potential

I tend to stow a flask or water bottle, VHF, gloves and hat and snacks along with a camera in a roll bag which means there is plenty of spare space and it is easy to access equipment. The two sided zip and domed shape of the opening aids easy access and the mesh pocket on the front flap is ideal for a granola bar or similar.

On a longer paddle, I have successfully used a smaller dry bag within the Deck Bag and it is easy to unclip, unroll and access equipment.

The side clips allow you to attach kit to the outside of the Deck bag and I have taken to attaching my Northwater Bilgemaster pump here for easy access. The addition of bungees on the top of the Deck bag allows a laminated chart or other, slimmer items to be attached. I often use this to tuck a hat or gloves or even my paddle float whilst on the move.

Northwater Expedition Deck Bag

Overall I really rate this bit of kit. It is a step up from the smaller deck bags such as the Peaked Deck bag, ad the extra storage is very welcome without dwarfing the deck of my Sea kayak. The build quality is very good and it feels like a robustly made bag. I would have no qualms about throwing this around over a sustained period of time and despite my ‘heavy handed’ testing I have not damaged the bag in any way.

Whilst some people may prefer a true ‘dry bag’ style deck bag, for me the lower cost of the Northwater Expedition Deck Bag makes it a more affordable and sensible option, particularly if, like me, you seem to have accumulated a number of small dry bags over time!

Cost is around £75-£80 which is not cheap but if you have the need for a deck bag worth every penny.

The Northwater Expedition Deck Bag can be ordered from Bournemouth Canoes or check your local paddle store.

From the Northwater Website:

Our largest deck bag. Easily installs using existing deck lines. Webbing and buckles let you attach gear to the sides. Large zippered opening and small mesh pocket in front. It is easy to remove, has loads of cargo space and is contoured to follow the profile of your boat. The unique ‘Non-Slip’ attachment system uses a 14oz vinyl base sewn at the rear of the bag and held with hook and loop. A polyethylene liner shapes it for easy access through the front zippered entry.

The Northwater Peaked Deck Bag provides deck based storage for your sea kayak in the absence of the increasingly popular ’4th hatch’ that is appearing on sea kayaks such as the P&H Scorpio/Cetus and Rockpool Menai 18.

Strapping onto your decklines, it’s contoured/tapered shape sits snugly in front of the cockpit and provides a large single compartment, accessible via a double zip. The outside of the deck bag has 2 mesh pockets fastened by velcro and a criss crossed bungy strap system over the peak of the bag.

The Northwater Peaked Deck Bag is the smaller of the Northwater range and is ideal for holding various items that may be required during a paddle such as VHF radios, GPS, drinks bottles, food and map/chart equipment. It is also large enough to hold a small to mid sized camera. However, the Peaked Deck Bag is not waterproof so waterproof protection for electronic items is required in the form of small dry bags or Aquapac cases.

The Peaked Deck Bag attaches via four straps to your existing deck lines using simple pull through buckles. Once the deck bag is centred on the boat and these are pulled tight I have found it to be very solid and does not work loose or move about to any noticeable degree.

Initially I had a concern that it may impeded a lower paddling style but careful placement does avoid this. I sit the back squarely between the edge of my cockpit and my front hatch, strapping it over the top of my spare paddle blades (adding extra security for these).

The main compartment is easily accessible via the zippered entry. The model I have used uses a single zip however the newer ‘upgraded’ version available has seen this replace by a double zip to provide easier access. This is a welcome update and I can see this enhancing ease of use on the water.

I have used the compartment primarily for a small point and shoot camera which lives in a very small dry bag along with a GPS housed in an Aquapac case, A5 laminated map sheets and chocolate/grenola bars. This leaves plenty of space free, however, I feel too much kit within the bag would cause issue retrieving items at the back of the bag when on the water.

The Northwater Peaked Deck Bag uses a polyethylene sheet to form the curved peak on the top side. This slide into the top of the bag maintaining the domed shape but allowing flexibility in the bag. The sheet is not attached in the model I own so could be removed if preferred to allow a flatter profile. I have found I need to be slightly more careful storing the bag as it is possible to squash and deform the sheet in a heavily laden kit bag.

The small mesh pockets run the length of the bag and fasten with velcro. They include reflective strips sewn along the length for evening/nighttime visibility. They are suitably sized for snack or other smaller items.

Criss crossing the top of the bag are bungies with a simple drawcord tightening system. These are ideal for holding flatter items. For example, I have often tucked a thin windproof cag under these on summer paddles for easy access if the wind picks up or a light shower approaches. It would also be possible to fold and tuck charts, maps under these for very swift access.

The quality of the manufacturing is very good and all the sewn aspects seem well made and durable.

Overall I feel the Northwater Peaked Deck Bag is a very useful accessory. It has provided me with easy access to a number of items during paddles and allows me to keep the ‘bulk’ of my buoyancy aid down as I no longer cram the pockets full. As long as it is carefully placed, it does not impede a ‘lower’ paddling style and with it’s relatively low profile hugs the deck well. It does not provide huge storage (for this Northwater have other offerings we hope to review soon) but it provides a perfect solution for any day/weekend paddler or expedition set up where smaller items are needed on deck.

From the Manufacturers

To make stored items easier to get in and out, we went from a single slot opening to wide mouth, double pull zipper opening to make this popular deck bag even better. Contoured to fit the shape of your deck. Lots of room to keep those top-side essentials organized and tidy. This 420 denier nylon deck bag uses a polyethylene liner to keep the bag’s shape.

This tapered design renders less wind and wave resistance. Criss-crossed bungy straps on top, two side mesh pockets, and a zippered main compartment allow you quick and easy access.

• Made of rugged 420-denier nylon with a shape-saving polyethylene liner.
• Dimensions are 30.5 x 30.5cm (12 x 12in.) at the base, while the front tapers to 17.8 x 7.6cm (7 x 3in.) to minimize wind and wave resistance.
• Criss-crossed top bungee straps.
• Two mesh side pockets.
• Zippered main compartment.

Website: www.northwater.com

The Peaked Deck Bag is available instore or mail order from Bournemouth Canoes