Fishing kayaks aren’t getting any smaller or lighter, so the latest generation of kayak carts is ready for the challenge with stronger components and a tougher design. But strength isn’t everything. A great kayak cart has to be easy to transport and store. The best kayak cart goes from the car trunk to the kayak hatch quickly and easily.
NRS
Yak Yak XL
$137.95 | nrs.com
I remember my first NRS Yak Yak kayak cart. The featherweight folding cart was easy to store and transport, but it wasn’t heavy-duty for larger kayaks. The new Yak Yak XL picks up where its predecessor left off. The cart is larger, higher and wider, but it still folds flat and weighs less than any other cart in this review. Three-inch-wide wheels provide traction on soft surfaces. The wide stance and two kickstands provide a solid platform for loading a big kayak. Tie down the kayak with the included NRS straps and you’re off to the races.
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ALTITUDE SPORTS AMAZON AQ OUTDOORS EASTERN MOUNTAIN SPORTS OUTDOORPLAY
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YakAttack
TowNStow BarCart
$250 | yakattack.us
Never has a kayak cart caused as much buzz as YakAttack’s new TowNStow BarCart. To accommodate any fishing kayak, the TowNStow has a 400-pound capacity. The bunks can be configured parallel or perpendicular to the kayak’s hull. I like the twin kickstands to keep the cart upright while I load the kayak. Another cool feature, the touchpoints are colored bright orange which makes it easier to adjust the cart to fit the kayak. The TowNStow has several points to tie down a one-inch cam strap, including loops on the wheel hubs for extra-wide kayaks.
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AMAZON AQ OUTDOORS ECO FISHING SHOP FISH USA SCHEELS WALMART
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Railblaza
C-Tug R with Kiwi Wheels
$130 | railblaza.com
If you look into my pickup truck bed, you’ll see my Railblaza C-Tug R. I’ve been using the Railblaza for years and recently upgraded when they released the new model. C-Tug carts are popular with anglers looking for a compact, lightweight cart. The C-Tug’s no-metal construction means I can leave it in my pickup truck without worrying about rust. Also, the C-Tug is low to the ground, making it easier to lift the kayak onto the saddles. The new C-Tug R includes bunk-style saddles for wider and heavier kayaks. My favorite update is the one-inch strap and cam buckle I can quickly adjust to fit any kayak.
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AMAZON WALMART
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Suspenz
Catch-All Universal Beach Cart with Beach Wheels
$229.95 | suspenz.com
My gear closet is full of Suspenz’s iconic bumblebee yellow and black transportation and storage solutions. Recently, I added Suspenz’s new Catch-All Universal Cart Beach Cart. When it comes to carts up to the task of carrying a full-size, fully rigged kayak over rough ground, Suspenz’s reputation for overbuilt and well-designed carts pays off. The new cart comes with sturdy airless wheels, but to transport my kayak across soft sand, I added the oversized balloon tires. The Catch-All cart has a couple of unique features. First, the bunk-style supports can be rotated to carry the boat lengthwise or across the hull. My favorite feature is the four-way straps to secure the kayak. To keep the straps short and tight, they run out of the ends of the bunks and cross the kayak in two places.
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Wilder Side
Freedom Launcher
$725 | wilderside.life
When is a kayak cart more than a kayak cart? When it’s Wilder Side’s Freedom Launcher. The Freedom Launcher will not only roll your kayak to the water, but you can also use the retractable wheels to stabilize the kayak while you climb aboard. The Freedom Launcher permanently mounts on two gear tracks in the kayak’s stern. To lift the kayak, drop the wheels and lock them in place. Roll the kayak into the water until just the bow remains on land. Then, sit on the seat, back the kayak away from shore and retract the wheels. With the wheels locked parallel to the hull, they are out of the way and still ready to land and load the boat.
Malone
Traverse HD-S
$229.95 | maloneautoracks.com
There’s only one way to get a heavy fishing kayak across soft sand—a set of balloon beach tires. Many kayak carts use low-pressure beach tires, but I like the Malone Traverse HD-S because it is compact and sturdy. Using standard 12-inch by seven-inch low-pressure tires, the Traverse HD-S easily moves a heavy kayak over the dunes and across the beach. Built out of anodized aluminum tubing, the Traverse is sturdy enough to secure the kayak on the roughest surfaces. I leave the bunks in the low position for easy loading. But, larger kayaks and tougher terrain require lifting the bunks into the elevated position. To fit the cart in a small space, I push a button to remove the wheels and pull a couple of pins to take off the bunks.
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NRS YakYak XL is light and compact, but capable of heavy lifting. | Feature photo: Patrick Hayes
