Video · Kayak Reviews
Lightning Strike HD Pedal Kayak: Unboxing and Full Walkthrough
I unbox the Lightning Strike HD, a made in USA budget pedal kayak, and walk through every hatch, mount and hull detail.
What’s in this video
The Lightning Strike HD has been on my radar since it came out. It’s made in the USA, and my buddy Robert Field, who has fished out of a lot of kayaks, helped design it. When I look at it I see a mix of the Hobie Pro Angler, the Hobie Outback and a Bonafide-style hull.
Up front there’s a Pro Angler style hatch with an optional tray, and you can swap that hatch for a twist and stow style hatch. The fin style pedal drive is called the Freedom Drive. The deck is nice and flat, which is good for a tripod, a fish cleaning table or launching a drone. The rudder controller is recessed so it won’t snag, and you get deep cup holders, paddle bungees, track mounts front and back, and rod holders with plugs. Coming from the Midwest, I like those plugs, because trapped water freezes and cracks rod holders. The padding is inlaid into the plastic, and it deadens sound. I think a quiet kayak matters more to fish than color.
Flipped over, the hull has deep grooves that should help it track straight. There’s a recess where the fins sit, so they come up close to the hull and it drafts very little. There’s a plate for your sonar, and the rudder is built into the hull so your line won’t snag on it when a fish runs behind you. Specs are 12 foot 6 inches long, 34 inches wide, 94 pounds rigged and 415 pounds capacity.
Key moments
- 0:00 Introduction and overview
- 2:08 Design and features
- 3:29 Hatch and storage setup
- 5:02 Deck and cockpit layout
- 7:22 Rigging and sound dampening
- 10:03 Hull and underside inspection
- 12:48 Final rigging and setup
Quick takeaways
- The recess in the hull lets the fins tuck up close to the bottom, so it drafts very little.
- The rudder sits inside the hull, so your fishing line won't snag on it when a fish runs behind you.
- The rod holders come with plugs, which keep water from freezing in them and cracking them in cold climates.
- Specs: 12'6" long, 34" wide, 94 lb rigged weight and 415 lb capacity.
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