The All-Round Package

Once upon a time, a wheelbarrow was just that: a wheelbarrow. Nothing more, nothing less. Nowadays though, they come with more bolt-on features than Darrell Peck caught whackers during his summer trip to Lac D’Orient. Fat tyres, thin tyres, high-torque motors, super-clever space-saving pannier bags. Yes, all marvellous, but aren’t we all forgetting something: how easy is it to push the damn thing?

Whilst everyone’s been focusing on those added extras, Go Outdoors have sneaked in with this: their new Trojan—the equivalent to a hot hatch on steroids. It’s super competitively priced, it’s big enough to take all your kit, and thanks to the clever design, it now has an extended ‘sweet spot’, meaning it’s much easier to push and makes it ideally suited to anglers of all heights and builds.

We hear this all the time—‘it’s easier to push’—so how’s this any better?
It’s all about that ‘sweet spot’, and by that we mean getting more weight over the load-bearing front wheel. Achieve this, like Go Outdoors have with the Trojan, and you’ve got a barrow which just needs guiding on its way, making it effortless to use, even with the most ‘challenging’ of payloads (think: a ‘two-tripper’ in one go).

But how have they achieved that then?
With a combination of clever design tweaks. Firstly, because of the adjustable handle height, it can be pushed at the optimum ‘barrow angle’, irrespective of the height of the user. The low centre of balance makes for very stable loading and use over a variety of terrains, plus there’s plenty of ground clearance at the front of the barrow to reduce the chance of snagging during transit.

So the big question: will it go in my Focus?
Yes—and it’ll pretty much fit into any other boot thanks to its clever fold-away design. Remove the wheel and handles and then the whole thing basically folds in on itself. 

Is it all plastic furnishings?
Absolutely not. Starting with those removable handles, these are not only super strong but they also allow for a wider and steadier grip. Large thumbscrews have been used throughout for ease of locking and tried and tested ‘Twist & Lock’ knobs ensure that the barrow rear legs lock into position during use. Oh, and back to the handles, these feature moulded, ergonomically-designed EVA hand grips that function in all conditions.

Anything I should know about?
How does two carry bags which are located either side of the wheel grab you? Or the large under bag which is perfect for waders and other clothing? Then there’s the front cooler pannier, which will keep yours or the carps produce fresh and to hand. 

Are there any downsides then? 
Just a few minor niggles, like a lack of built-in loops to attach your bungee cords to, and those carry bags don’t feature side zips to make accessing them easier. However, that said, they are minor issues, and overall it’s a very well built barrow which performs extremely well and offers great value for money.