Video · Kayak Reviews
Lightning Strike HD Pedal Kayak: Stability, Flip and Pedal Test
I put the Lightning Strike HD pedal kayak through flip tests, standing tests and pedal drive tests in my backyard canal.
What’s in this video
I explored a local island on the Lightning Strike HD, then brought it back to my backyard canal to test it. Smooth canal water keeps the conditions the same, so I can fairly compare it to other kayaks I’ve tested. It paddles incredibly well for a pedal kayak.
To go in reverse, I flipped the fin drive around in the drive well, like you could on older Hobie models. It worked, though I’m not sure it’s designed for that. Steering is about average and responsive enough for me. Pedaling felt slightly slow, but I’d just been on Hobies with the big turbo fins. The pedaling is smooth, and I barely move my legs to get decent speed.
The hull reminds me of the Bonafide SS127, and stability feels very close, with the SS127 slightly more stable. I’m 200 pounds. I flipped it seated, then stood on the bow, the stern and the side gunnel. It took getting my head and shoulders outside the gunnel to flip it. After all those flips I checked the hatch and the hull, and there was very little water inside, even though the first time it took me a while to flip it back because my seat strap was loose. MSRP was $1,799 at the time.
Key moments
- 0:00 ON THE WATER TEST
- 0:20 Stability & Speed TESTING
- 3:07 BACK TO HOUSE FOR TESTING
- 3:20 Paddling TEST
- 4:01 TESTING THE PEDAL DRIVE!
- 4:11 Pedal Reverse? TEST
- 4:32 Pedal Forward TEST
- 4:53 Steering TEST
- 5:30 $1799 MSRP LINK IN VIDEO DESCRIPTION
- 6:28 Stability Seated TEST
- 7:06 Re-Entry TEST
- 7:54 Standing On Bow TEST
- 8:33 Stability Standing TEST
- 10:20 EXCELLENT BUILD QUALITY
Quick takeaways
- Flipping the fin drive around in the well let me go in reverse, though it may not be designed for that.
- Stability is close to a Bonafide SS127, and it only flipped once my head and shoulders were past the gunnel.
- After several flips, very little water got into the hull through the hatch.
- To get back on, lay across the kayak, kick with your feet near the surface and pull yourself up while keeping your weight centered.
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