Liquid Logic Speedloader 75’ Review By Evan Stafford
The boys at the Liquid Logic factory of dreams have once again found away to make river running easier and safer. Enter the Speedloader 75’ throwbag – an innovative design that makes stuffing your bag easier than ever, coupled with a beefy rope, long enough for use on expeditions. The mouth of the Speedloader opens up to roughly the circumference of an oversized rubber ball, like the ones you used to play kickball with in gym class, i.e. VERY WIDE. It’s amazing that this minor tweak to the design of the throwbag can make packing it that much easier, but believe me it does.
Specs:
I teach swiftwater rescue courses and for my most recent class I got my hands on a Speedloader 75’. We did a little test, and it takes roughly half the time to pack the Speedloader than it does for a conventional throwbag. When you’re trying to teach how to throw a throwbag, and re-packing throwbags over and over and over again, the value of the Speedloader becomes readily apparent. The students using the Speedloader got in more reps and got to re-enact saving their buddy’s backside about twice as many times as the other students, which might translate to them actually saving their buddy if that situation were ever to arise.
When you’re on the river, especially exploring new runs, speed is safety, and the Speedloader makes dealing with situations involving ropes that much faster. The bag itself also appears to be super durable and is made with polyurethane coated nylon interspersed with mesh vents for quick drying. The rope itself is also polyurethane and is thicker than what most other kayak specific throwbags on the market come standard with. This translates to the rope being stronger, and easier to grab and hold onto as a swimmer. The thick rope also gives the bag some weight behind it, allowing you to throw it farther and more accurately. Finally, the bag comes with a cinch strap to compress the whole package, making it easy to fit behind the seat of your boat or in the water bottle holder between your legs. Overall the Speedloader 75’ has taken the throwbag to a whole new level.
Pros:
- Super wide mouth makes packing the bag faster and more efficient
- Thick strong rope facilitates confidence in using it in any situation
- Long rope can be used to reach swimmers in wider rivers and to rope paddlers and gear in and out of gorges and canyons
- Makes practicing with your throwbag easier, allowing for more reps and less time packing
Cons:
- Large and somewhat heavy
- Doesn’t complete the rescue for you – take a swiftwater rescue course, practice with your friends and know how to use your throwbag effectively!