PowaKaddy Compact C2i GPS Electric Trolley

PowaKaddy Compact C2i GPS Electric Trolley Review - Joel Tadman tests out the latest feature-packed electric trolley from PowaKaddy

PowaKaddy Compact C2i GPS Electric Trolley Review

The Compact C2i GPS is the second electric trolley from PowaKaddy to offer integrated GPS capability, following on from the FW7s GPS model. Read more about the technology here.

It shares the same frame design as the Compact C2i, which ensures the trolley takes up minimal space when stored at home or in transit when folded down and can be erected quickly in a couple of simple moves.

With practice, the assembly process is simple to execute – the yellow sections the trolley show which parts need to be pressed or unclipped and while they are a touch fiddly at first, it comes with a handy instruction card to help grasp the process.

It’s also lightweight and easy to carry thanks to the integrated handle.

The other thing you might need to do before you take it for its first spin is adjust the handle height. There are three options and should you need to deviate from the middle that comes preloaded, you will need a screwdriver. It is a little fiddly to carry out, but will certainly be worth it and you only need to do it once.

On the course, it only takes a few quick steps to go through the settings and select your course from the list to get the GPS distances to appear. You can change holes manually using the smaller grey buttons either side of the main shiny button but we found they advanced automatically most of the time.

Press and hold the right button and you’ll see hazard information in a list view, featuring either sand or water icons.

This certainly comes in handy when plotting strategy and club selection for the upcoming shot, although the distances are only to reach the hazards, not carry them. Also, if there are hazards left and right a similar distance away, it isn’t obvious which hazard the numbers are referring to.

That said, the front, middle and back distances are accurate, quick to update and surprisingly easy to read on the display, even in bright sunlight, which was a minor complaint of the FW7s GPS.

You've got lots of other useful information displayed too, like the hole number and par, your current speed selected as well as a battery meter and trip distance.

We tested it alongside the SkyCaddie SX500, regarded as one of the best handheld GPSs on the market, and the distances were always within one or two yards – they were often exactly the same – which was very reassuring.

The handle unit itself has lots of useful features, like a compartment that holds two balls as well as tee and pencil holders.

The Compact C2i GPS doesn’t have the level of features of the FW7s GPS, which has a scorecard and shot measurement function, but the screen is a lot clearer despite being a little smaller.

Also impressive was the battery life. After 18 holes around our relatively flat course, the 18-hole battery still had just under half a tank of juice left. The battery itself is light, easy to slot in on arrival to the course and can be left in situ when folding the trolley down.

You do need to turn it off or turn the speed down to zero beforehand to make sure you don’t accidentally knock of the main button and leave you flustered and embarrassed in the golf club car park trying to stop the spinning wheels.

Golfers will also appreciate the more seamless course updating system via the PowaKaddy app and also how quiet and smooth the trolley is. It really does require minimal effort and you haven’t got to worry about putting off your playing partners while in motion.