PowaKaddy FX5 electric trolley review
How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Nicola Slater has everything you need to know about the new Powakaddy FX5 electric trolley
With so many golf trolleys on the market all with different features on offer it can be quite overwhelming when it comes to choosing which one best suits you. The FX5 is PowaKaddy’s flagship electric trolley, designed for those golfers who want a bit of tech on their trolley. I took it out for a spin to see how it performed…
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PowaKaddy FX5 electric trolley review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
The PowaKaddy FX5 is the flagship model in the FX collection. Unlike the FX3 baseline model, the FX5 has an upgraded larger screen providing more information for those golfers who are after a little more from an electric trolley.
The FX5 also comes with a handy USB charging port for keeping the battery life of your devices topped up mid-round.
PROS
- Looks great
- Lightweight
- Quick and easy to unfold
CONS
- Offers more tech, but GPS would be more useful
First Impressions
The Freeway series from PowaKaddy has been a popular trolley choice for many years. Renamed in 2019 the Freeway series became known as the FX collection. The FX5 is one of the newest additions to the family.
A few months back I tested the Powakaddy FX3, the baseline model in the FX collection. The FX5 is the upgraded version aimed at those performance golfers who want a little more from their trolley. The FX5 comes with a slightly larger 3.5 inch display screen. Like the FX3, the FX5 has a sleek-looking built-in battery and low-profile sport wheels, completing the modern look.
The FX5 model is available in Premium Gun Metal Metallic, featuring classic grey handle grips and yellow PowaKaddy detailing. As well as being easy on the eye, it was easy to assemble with just one click folding system unfolding the whole trolley.
PowaKaddy FX5 electric trolley: NCG Review
I took the FX5 for a spin around Ganton during a 36-hole match. One of the first things I noticed was how lightweight the handling of the trolley was. The frame weighs in at 9.6kg, which is the lightest electric option offered by Powakaddy. My bag at the time was fairly light but I’m sure this wouldn’t be affected too much with a heavier load. The bungee straps on the FX5 are part of Powakaddy’s Key-lock™ Bag System which kept my bag very secure, not once in 36 holes did I have to re-adjust how it sat.
When it comes to storing the FX5 it is certainly not PowaKaddy’s smallest option but with the one-click folding mechanism, it is one of the quickest and easiest. In comparison to former FX models, the FX5 folds up 20% smaller. However, if this is still taking up too much room the back wheels are easily removable.
PowaKaddy’s Plug ‘n’ Play battery is featured in all of the FX and CT models this year. The lightweight battery is very compact and sits nicely in the frame. An added button allows you to turn the battery on and off, which is ideal if you want to leave the battery in whilst the trolley is folded up.
The detail you’re probably after knowing is what does this trolley actually do? Unlike the FX3, the FX5 includes a USB port, handy for charging your GPS or smartphone if you’ve forgotten before the round. The FX5 also includes ADF (automatic distance function), a fancy way of saying you can send it 15, 30, or 45 yards ahead. The LED screen also has a handy clock and round timer.
The screen at times displayed many different numbers, I can’t say I knew what they were all for or meant. Approaching the 27th hole, I figured out that the trolley could record how far I had walked, which I didn’t find particularly useful. The screen also displayed calories burnt which seemed an odd feature for an electric trolley to have.
PowaKaddy FX5 electric trolley: Final thoughts
For me, this trolley is a bit of a middle ground. If you’re after an electric trolley to use for the purpose of an electric trolley then you’re better off with the more basic, no-frills FX3. But, if you’re wanting course info, you might as well spend a little more and get the CT or RX GPS trolleys, which offer a full-hole view and measurements.
Like most Powakaddy trolleys the FX5 comes with a two-year warranty and a five-year warranty on the battery.
PowaKaddy FX5 electric trolley: The Details
Available: Now.
RRP: £699.99
More information: PowaKaddy website
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Nicola Slater
Nicola recently graduated from Stirling University where she studied Sports Studies, she wrote her dissertation on barriers to participation for women in golf.
Nicola plays her golf at Hickleton and she currently plays off +3. Having played for Yorkshire Ladies and has represented England at junior and senior level, she will soon be beginning her professional career on LETAS.
