This is an absolutely awesome boat. I live in Europe so America may be different but I can get on a train or a bus with this kayak and paddle down a river, then get on a train or a bus and get back home. It's perfect, I wouldn't be able to do that with a hardshell kayak. And what's great about this boat is that it actually does perform like a hardshell kayak, which is very unusual for an inflatable kayak.

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Awesome... I wish we had public transport that made getting to the water that easy!

@fredfrond6148

Жыл бұрын

@@PaddleTV I think you just got your answer about what is different.

@kosmatifizik

Жыл бұрын

Same here. You can even bike with that thing on your back. Just remember to inflate the tires for that extra 20kg 😅

@dertypeko

Жыл бұрын

Try Gumotex Boats 😉

@TomSilver_42

Жыл бұрын

​@@dertypeko That one, thanks to drop-stitch tech like on paddleboards, actually looks like kayak. Gumotex boats like Palava, Baraka, Twist, Thaya .. are great for some WW, but they are more like slim raft. For kayak their width is a bit too wide IMHO. That Itiwit or Tomahawk from Aqua Marina they actually looks like real hard shell kayaks! I see a bit downside in this Itiwit that cockpit rim seems a bit flimsy (but it's expected for inflatable) tight for more standard skirts. Hard to imagine doing eskimo in it. Generally, nice touring kayak especially for shorter trips with great portability!

I have been using this kayak for about three years already, and it is really great. Even in winter conditions. I have been using it also in easy conditions on a sea.

@skyak4493

Жыл бұрын

He didn't mention warmth but drop-stich is a great insulator. I was wondering if it is too warm to use the skirt on sunny days.

@rafalurbanski6631

Жыл бұрын

@skyak Indeed, with a skirt, it might be getting hot on warm and sunny days. It is also dependent on water, as on the Baltic sea, it was not an issue (druting a hot summer).

Thanks Ken, no one reviews Kayaks in the informative & comprehensive way you do.

I knew you'd love it! Talking about beginners with the appropriate mindset, I'm one of them. I transitioned from Challenger K1 straight into the x500 Strenfit and I love every minute spent using it! All the kayaking skills I now have are thanks to this boat. 😁 When it comes to the skirt, the Lomo Rebel spray skirt I have has a pretty thick bungee cord. I've never had any difficulties with attaching it to the coaming, though. Yes, it takes a minute because everything is flexible (that's expected) but it's easy. Paired with a wing paddle and sprint technique or a Greenland paddle and its respective technique, opens even more opportunities for fun paddling. 😄 Thank you Ken for reviewing this kayak. Your opinion is almost entirely aligned with mine. 👍

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

I have seen many of your X500 related videos : Keep up the good work! :)

I found the seat a little too hard myself. So I normally use an additional foam seat pad from decathlon hiking/camping set. And it's a game changer for me. I can spend hours in this kayak feeling pretty comfortable.

Thats a very nice and honest review, thanks for that! It almost feels unfair to compare these Decathlon X500 boats to other inflatables, these things are miracles in my eyes - and I cant stop to wonder how nobody else has done this before. But let me explain this for a second: Drop stitch material is two layers of textile material (usually woven) connected by lots and lots of monofilament threads (like fishing line). All these dots you can see on the surface of the material are spots where these connective threads run from one layer to the opposite one. What we first saw being built out of this was SUP boards, which are just plain boards, so no difficulty in shaping there. Then came Kayaks like the ones from Advanced Elements, Aqua Marina and so forth which were basically "boxes", sometimes with bent walls, but no complex geometry. Quite good for a start, but you cant paddle straight without fins underneath and a little wind will shove you around the water. I own an Aqua Marina Kayak with Drop stitch bottom and been touring with that, trust me I know that. Now there comes Decathlon and builds these beauties, single and double kayak and the canoe I own, which look like real boats. But are inflatable, how did thy pull this off? Technically its not a big deal to give these two layers of woven material (with the drop stitch yarns in between) different lengths when weaving them. So you can create curved surfaces. Most of these boats are produced in China though and nobody ever seems to have bothered trying something new as long as you can sell thousands of the old designs. But Decathlon is big, really big and they have the push behind them to make manufacturers do something different. I guess thats the reason why we only now see something different coming from them. Inflatables with the beautiful curves of a real boat shape. Btw, as I mentioned I own the X500 canoe, which is awesome! You should test this, too, it paddles almost like a hardshell boat and is your own canoe in a rolling suitcase you can fit in the trunk of almost any car, take by train or bus or even plane. I've just been on a tour with it, four days down river with my girlfriend, our doggy and lots of baggage. Awesome performance, lighter than a hard boat which was important for portages and its ours, no need to be somewhere at a certain time to return it. :-)

Thanks for reviewing this kayak! It's become my most used among my inflatables and has worked well in choppy winter waves, in archipelago open sea water, in snowy narrow creeks and for traveling to other countries by ferry or plane. My only concern is it tends to hog the videos I upload compared to other kayaks, which might be a bit unfair. Keep up the awesome work!

@TouringKayakGuatape

Жыл бұрын

I thought I'd send you the video, but I realized you've seen it. I think it's very good that it's your favorite inflatable kayak...😊😊😊😊😊

@BroncLander

Жыл бұрын

I hope one day you both join up for an adventure. You have enough gear that if Ken flew to you, he wouldn't need to bring anything on a plane hey?

@AirOnTheWater

Жыл бұрын

@@BroncLander Hehe, thanks for the kind thought. That would be an honor indeed. And yes, you're right, the kayaks have accumulated and there are a bunch of them in Stockholm that are always available for esteemed guests and a joint paddle around the city or archipelago 🙂 Wish you all the best and happy paddles!

I love the X500 and your review, thanks a lot! I have been using it for one year, and I’m simply marveled by its smart engineering and wonderful performance for a portable kayak. It’s amazing value for its price - one of the best toys I’ve ever purchased. Love it.

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Awesome to hear!

Glad you finally got to play with this boat. I have had one for a few years now, and I do level 2/3 river runs.. multiday trips loaded with a ton (80lbs) of gear. Best possible boat for my situation where I couldn't store a hard shell. Love this boat.

After using mine for close to 2 years now there is one important thing i would add. The cockpit is severely cramed if you are not flexible enough as it is in my case :) and it leads to leggs falling asleep. I have never experienced this in other (whitewater and touring) kayaks. This is due to relatively short space between the bottom and top of the boat (forcing you to keep leggs extended) as well as the boat tapering verry quickliy at the front (forcing your feet together) This can become an issue if you are an owner of a long pair of leggs and are not flexible enough. Try sitting on the floor in an L shape. Can you do it without bending your back? If not the kayak might feel uncomfortable. However it might also encourage you to spend more time working on your flexibility.

@lauriebloggs8391

8 ай бұрын

As someone with long legs, I found that was an issue with hardshell kayaks generally...my legs would go to sleep and I'd always fall over when getting out....much amusement for everyone else! One of the reasons I migrated to canoeing...........

Based in the UK, I recently bought one of these as a progression from using one of Decathlon's more entry levels kayaks I'd be using for the past 2-3 years. I'm still very much a relative novice, but I do agree that while it's a step up and sacrifices some stability, as a beginner looking to improve and take the hobby more seriously it really is a great piece of equipment. Great work with the review and all the other content you post 👍

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Anthony!

I've been using this boat for a number of years now. And I would most recommend it. I've taken it on rivers and lakes. It handals beautifully. Loads of space for gear, stove, etc. It always attracts attention even in the middle of a lake. It's a fantastic bot of kit.

I love this kayak, been using it for 4y. The only downside is when you are 1m91cm like me. cramped legs after a couple of hours is quite frequent. But so are most of the other kayaks. Great boat!!

@robp4037

10 ай бұрын

Ah, disappointing to hear this. Could this be solved with longer straps for the footrests? I'm 196cm and liked the look of this as a capable kayak to pack into a small yacht

Thanks a lot for the review, i have been on the fence on this one for a while now, and you are the first one who makes a really good review of it. I am a little surprised by the price in NA as it is rather cheaper over here in Europe though. Keep the great content !

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Cheers!

I got mine a bit over two years ago. I really like it, I agree with everything in the review. I have used if about 40 times. So far durability seems great. Only thing I dislike is that the nylon straps on the side (the handles) take a while to dry, and I would guess that it is better to dry them before storing. Regarding stability : one thing to watch for is that there are two versions of this boat. The first version was much less stable (if you believe the reviews). It is however not produced anymore, but some Décathlon stores might still have some in stock, so you might want to pass on them. Version 2 is better (that's the one I have). There is a label that says "V2" on the pack of version 2. Btw I paid $800 CAD for a floor model with a small tear on the dry bag style closure on the hatch - it was an easy repair using the kit that it comes with.

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

40 times in 2 years is not a lot ?! I wish you a lot more free time to kayak in the future! ;)

@philip771

11 ай бұрын

That's a great tip, the V2 point on the packaging. I'm in the UK and have read that myself in reviews, so thank you!

As usual an excellent and thorough review. This may be a boat in my future.

I always love your inflatable kayak reviews. I'd be interested to hear your views/comparison between this (or the 2 seat version) and the Advanced Elements Convertible kayak

Thanks a lot for the great review. A hundred percent agree with the conclusions. I myself have been using such a kayak since November last year, I live a kilometer from the Mediterranean coast and without a car, this is the best solution. A standard skirt really does not fit. Thanks again.

Never kayaked, I just really enjoyed this review. Very interesting and well delivered review.

A very thoughtful review, well balanced and clear.

Well Ken I know I wasn't the only person last year to tell you to try this yak but I knew you would love it. Quick tip for you when packing it away the pump you was using is the same as mine and it has a reverse side to suck air out and I find if you pull a bit more out of the boat with the pump once you put it back in the bag there is loads of room. Also as for sitting in it I find the seat very comfortable for about 4 hours but then I start to feel it on my bum, so what I've done is got myself one of them gel cushions, but had to cut a couple of inches of the cushion because as you know now the seat in the boat is a little bit narrow, but wow it made all the Difference and now I can paddle quite comfortably for 7 hours or more and my bum is great. One more thing I will mention for anybody thinking about buying this boat it's also great for winter it cuts through Thin Ice that has settled on the River very well. Great review Ken I'm so happy you like this boat and I have a feeling we're going to see it a few more times on your channel.

@6yjjk

Жыл бұрын

Which pump is that? I bought the one Itiwit recommended at the time I bought my kayak, and while it does the job, I hate that I can't fold or remove the handles and footrest. It takes up far more room in the boat than it needs to.

@THE-RIVER-RAT

Жыл бұрын

​@@6yjjk it's called the STAND-UP PADDLE AND KAYAK DOUBLE ACTION £39.99 HIGH-PRESSURE EASY PUMP 20 PSI

@6yjjk

Жыл бұрын

@@THE-RIVER-RAT Nice one, thanks! I see that the footplate unscrews, so I could replace that with a 3D-printed one that folds.

@TouringKayakGuatape

Жыл бұрын

Good tip on the gel cushion. I also use the pump to deflate the kayak more and it is much smaller. Thanks for your videos too.

Great video Ken! I'd love to see a video comparing how long it takes you to set up and pack away your portable kayaks.

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

You can already find many of those on the PaddleTV KZread Channel ;) For the TRAK 2.0 there are about 2 main videos and 2 others in which the kayak appears too!

A really helpful and well rounded, detailed review. Thank you

@PaddleTV

8 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Yay! 🎉 I'm so glad you finally were able to review the x500! Would it be possible to have a head-to-head comparison with the SeaEagle razorlite as a future video? Thanks!

@classicarcadeamusementpark4242

Жыл бұрын

Please do Ken! Also include the 15lbs Aquaglide 110 in your comparison as these are likely the top 3 kayaks that someone looking for something like this sort of kayak would be choosing between.

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

I think it's a great idea! I really like both boats, and they have different pros and cons! Stay tuned....

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

@@classicarcadeamusementpark4242 Sorry, but that thing is a toy compared to the Sea Eagle Razorlite 393RL and even their own Chellan models! :)

One more thing, it seems to me the right kayak to seriously learn to kayak. It has a good instability which makes it faster. I find it perfect for paddling in other countries and taking it on a plane.😊

@6yjjk

Жыл бұрын

I've flown with mine a few times. A backpack cover is highly recommended; the first time I flew with it, a strap got caught on something, and a belt wore a hole through the bag and into the kayak.

I didn't know the background on Decathlon, so thanks for that 👍And i can definitely say they're great, both in choice in shop and quality, and lower prices than other big brands. Everything I've got from them has been better than anything else for the money.

God I love your honest and concrete review.

Love, love, love this boat. The only weak point is the seat. It's uncomfortable after a few hours. If you roll and fill the boat it'll pop off its mount points and won't go back on till you drain the boat. I've had it replaced under warranty when the hinge material ripped with no provocation whatsoever. (Decathlon's customer service rep: "Tired of hearing about this.") And because it rests on the bladder behind the cockpit, any sand or grit whatsoever will rub pinholes into the bladder; after repairing several of those over the winter, I've now glued rubber window insulation strip to the bladder to keep the seat off it. I really hope Decathlon, or someone, comes up with an alternative seat that fixes all these issues. I've a fair idea how I'd do it, but don't have the tools and materials.

Great to see you finally get to this one. I have this boat and love it, but now when I'm considering other boats I can compare what you said about this one to those to help inform my decision! Just FYI anybody reading, they also make a 2 man version of this boat if that's something you're interested in. In Europe (UK at least) it's also around the 600-700 mark on price depending on promotions (699 is full price). Ken - what did you think of the paddle too? I have this paddle and it's the only paddle I have ever used. So when you compare this to other paddles you have reviewed on your channel, what would you say about it?

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

I have seen this Itiwit Strenfit X500 being sold for € 569 or € 589 in November or December 2022 !!!

Sweet. I'm thinking of buying it. Thank you for reviewing it.

Nice review, Ken. Very profesionally done👏🏼

Good seeing you again Ken! It's that season again. Nice fun looking toy there too, finally something to put the SeaEagle RazerLite to shame.

@tonyg3091

11 ай бұрын

How? RazrLite has much bigger capacity.

I have this one too for 3 years, and it's awesome! I use it on a river and it's very funny! one of the best ever kayak that I never bought for sure. I'm pretty happy to see that I'm not the only one in love with the x500 =)

Hey Ken, well after many months trying to make my mind up I finally bought one of these and took it paddling yesterday. Absolutely delighted. Everything you say in your review is spot on. I'd like handles on either side of the cockpit for easy lift and overhead portaging but that really my only issue. I was nervous about the stability but soon got used to it and, after five hours, was very comfortable in it. Love what you do. Keep up the fantastic work.

@SmartPorter

17 күн бұрын

Are you a beginner? is it easy to tip over?

@grahamashby1409

11 күн бұрын

@@SmartPorter No not a beginner but had still heard that the boat was tippy. It has about the same stability as my Story Division 1.

Thank you for the great feedback and experience with this Kayak

@PaddleTV

11 ай бұрын

You bet!

Thank You very much for this review. I hope You do more Decathlon reviews in the future. Tahe Breeze HP2 would be a great one for me

Thank you for the great review (as always)... I own this beauty for 3 years now and I simply love it. I had to repair a small scratch with liquid PVC once and that's all. I'm also surprised for the price difference between Europe 650€ (Spain here) and the US. I've tried it in calm rivers and some rough sea conditions and it really delivers. For new buyers just say that the learning curve is amazing, first day is the hardest one, then you get it and boom... Total fun!

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

Can it surf waves properly ? I have seen it being sold for € 569 or € 589 in November/December 2022 by the Decathlon Webshop in The Netherlands :)

@dansom1975

Жыл бұрын

​@@GTN355 It really can, depending on your ability 😅. Main difference with yours (I read you have an aircanoe 393) is the (non) flat floor. That gives you a great feeling and more stability in waves. About capsizing... I've tried It twice and never got It right 😢, although I think it's posible with a better tecnique than mine. I hope this helps

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

@@dansom1975 That's the reason I am looking at this X500 model : The V-Shaped hull ;)

I really want this kayak now. Been seeing reviews for a year now. This is the second iteration of the boat, being much more stable than the version 1.

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

It's a shame there is no chance for PaddleTV to test the V1 currently, because I am really curious if all those stories about it were true ?! Was it really that bad ?!

Thanks for the excellent review as always. I've been looking for a portable kayak For the cost the features this seems to be a top contender if not the winner.

Muy buen reportaje, con muy buenas conclusiones. Enhorabuena !!!. Llevo un año con el X500 y practicamente estoy de acuerdo con sus comentarios, navega muy bien en el mar, rios,etc.Si que es algo incomodo el asiento cuando estas mucho tiempo navegando, pero el hecho de que sea portatil y se comporte en el agua como un kayak rigido compensa los pequeños inconvenientes.

I finally ordered the boat today largely thanks to this review. I'm four hours from the ocean and at least an hour from river rapids, so I'll mostly use it on flat water, but I wanted something suitable for class 2 occasionally. Already have an inflatable for flat water, and I'm ready to graduate. I'm a little worried about long-term wear, but with only occasional rough water, I'm hoping it'll last with minimal maintenance.

Thanks for the review with which I mostly agree. The price here in Switzerland is USD 649. Why is it so expensive over there?!?

This is my first kayak, I’ve been using it for a little over a year. Great review I completely agree with your assessment. I got this boat as a beginner knowing there would be a bit of a learning curve, but it’s something I could push and grow with. I’ve been all over the lakes and protected bays of Vancouver island with zero issues. I have complete confidence in this boat. Bought it after weeks of research into inflatables and highly recommend it. The biggest issue I’ve had with this kayak is that the seat floats! If you tip this and get water in it it is a pain, the seat will pop out. The rear deck hatch is not water tight if you try to re-enter the kayak after tipping from the rear, the hatch will let a lot of water in. I recommend getting an inflatable paddle float and getting back in from the side. Get back to shore and reset. All that being said aside from the city first day on the water with some decent chop I have not tipped it and am not concerned about tipping it. Worth practicing recovery to build confidence and make sure you know what to do. I’ve read reviews that claim you can roll this kayak. I have not tried it but I intend to after learning how do do it in a hard shell.

@laurentvenet2758

6 ай бұрын

I was wondering if adding some conic inflatable bags to the back would help, though it would prevent using the back hatch ?

Agree, just got it, great and can reccomend! Actually, I love it so much, I got serious with kayaking, got muself full carbon paddles and now it goes like a race car :-) To be honest, love it so much, would buy next if this one dies on me. Thank you for the review.

I have used one of these in big swell and it performed really well. It easily cruises at 3.5 knots and keeps up with "serious" sea kayaks. I fitted two closed cell foam hip pads which locked me into the boat and really improved edging. BUT, here in the UK they had reliability issues, mine had to go back. I spent the refund on a drysuit, but am hoping Santa will get me another x500.

@guesshi1826

10 ай бұрын

May I as what is the reliability issues...just curious

@packraftadventures

2 ай бұрын

I read somewhere there were issues with the seams and the creases where the kayak folds up (probably for those who keep it stored in the bag for long periods, or maybe those who use it a lot for day paddles where you unfold it and then fold so frequently) if you do multi day tours you are more likely to unfold it once, use it for a couple of days, and then fold it back up.. thus limiting the frequency of the unfolding/folding..

This is the kayak I've been for!

Hi Ken, I knew you would like it. I have had it for 3 years, I row in Guatapé Colombia in it and other rigid kayaks that I have and the speed difference is 1 or 2 km/h

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

Which kayaks have you compared the X500 with ?

I think you have managed to make me buy this one with this review, I've been eyeballing it for several months now. If it performs like my hard shell sit-in, for me the biggest reason to buy it would be definitely portability and being able to make trips with train. I am so tired of needing 2 cars all the time. Thanks for the great review, Ken!

@6yjjk

Жыл бұрын

The ability to take it on public transport indeed opens up a world of possibilities! I regularly take mine downtown on the bus, and on the train further afield. It's also small and light enough to check in as hold baggage on the plane, though I'd definitely recommend adding a backpack cover to prevent the straps getting hung up and a hole in your bag (and potentially in your kayak) - guess how I know that >:(

@EckieOutdoor

Жыл бұрын

@@6yjjk good points as well, thanks 👍🏻 In Europe it’s much cheaper, at the moment 50% of the US-Price 🙃

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Hope you love it!

@EckieOutdoor

Жыл бұрын

@@PaddleTV Cheers man

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

@@EckieOutdoor But then again the Pakayak and TRAK 2.0 are a lot more expensive over here : Pakayak : 2000 USD vs. € 2999 TRAK 2.0 : 3000 USD vs. € 4599 OUCH!!! :(

Great review, with the exception of showing the size packed up.

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

There are plenty videos showing that! Perhaps even too many! ;)

Just had my £78 new Intex Challenger blown up in the garden. Already I want this. Off to Decathlon tomorrow to buy a jacket. Hopefully I don't walk out with one of these! 😮❤

I own this Beauty and I simply love it. Feels like a hard shell and is really fast and agile.

Just bought this thing. Performs well. Just have to master packing it back up better.

There is two versions of this kayak. The first was not stable at all so decathlon modified the back shape, the V2 is much more stable. V2 is printed on the transportation bag. By the way the main issu with this kayak is the lack of comfort that come from the fact that the seat is too flat. I own a K1 and a K2 X500. I used these kayaks on long distance trip between 30 to 40km/day but I have to make a break during my day trip as I have too much pain in my buttock. As you say this inflatable kayak is as fast as a hardshell one. I use also bus and train, for instance I was in Venice Italy few weeks ago for a tour around Venice named the Vogalonga, I used the bus from the campground to go to the departure. With a hardshell it took me between 3hrs and 3hrs1/2 to do this 33km tour with the K2 X500 we did it in 3hrs1/4

Very nice Review bro! Good job! I used to paddle a lot surf ski and sea kayak, so all I worry about is the speed for X500，what if compare to normal hard shell kayak? I should be living in apartment for next few years so really dont have a space for hard shell sea kayak storage, so would you recommend me to get a x500?

I've followed Ken's suggestions before and haven't been disappointed. I bought a Bonafide EX123 for fishing and I love it! I'd get one of these Itiwits in a heartbeat if they had a higher max capacity. 275 is too low for a bigger dude like myself. If it was 325 I'd drop the money for it in a heartbeat.

@classicarcadeamusementpark4242

Жыл бұрын

The Sea Eagle Razorlilte 393RL holds 500 lbs, and has lot of room with it's open cockpit design. Also about $300 cheaper once you buy a paddle & pump. Seems fairly comparable kayak, mostly depending on if the buyer prefers an open or closed cockpit.

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

@@classicarcadeamusementpark4242 I think we should not call those two the same or comparable : Flat hull vs. V-Shaped hull is far from the same thing! Don't get me wrong : I like both of them! But comparing a flat water boat vs. one that can do many things is just silly...

The USP of inflateable/ portable kayaks is the option to use public transport, including planes.. You go down river for 2-3 days, jump on a bus, train or plane and get back to you car, or home directly..

Decathlon is great for all sorts of outdoor gear. First started in Europe, Spain I believe and now all over here in the UK. Great prices, very competative and good quality.

@dannyvanswieten2484

10 ай бұрын

It is a French company

Hi Ken, What are your thoughts on this versus the Pakayak? After paddling both where would you put your money, especially considering the X500 is half the cost of the Pakayak.

That was impressive. It seemed to perform well. I am glad you got to see Okeefenokee...I was just there 2 weeks ago. I paddled the canals and walked a bunch of trails. How did you enjoy paddling with alligators? I live in Fl and I am use to seeing them.

I've got the small Advanced Elements single kayak and it's great, this one is on another level lol

Wish I could join you. I live right by the swamp. I always been wanting to paddle that area. Hope you enjoy the trip. Liked the review.

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Amazing 'backyard' you have. I had a trip of lifetime on the Okefenokee! I'll be back.

Thank you very much, Ken!

Thank you for the excellent review. I am definitely considering buying one but am a bit concerned about leaks. I intend to use it a lot on small rivers and streams where I will bump into lots of underwater stuff (branches, logs, etc). Is that an issue?

Nice review, Ken! Also, nice they you've gone down to my US state (I live near Belleville, Ontario now). I know the drive well unfortunately. 🤣 Keep up the great reviews!

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Ha! I'm not looking forward to doing that long haul down I75 again!

@chrismcduffie4888

Жыл бұрын

@@PaddleTV it is rather long, especially if you have 7 dogs and 2 kids with you for the ride in your truck!

Thank you for the video. I will buy the Itiwit x500. . What camera do you recommend? Are there any front and rear waterproof simultaneous recording?

Great review. Love my x500 cost €650 in the Netherlands.

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

Or even less than that : € 569 / € 589 :)

Another thing, when I have traveled by plane with the kayak, I wrap it in another blanket so that they do not damage the bag on the plane. I have paddled in Santa Marta Colombia and it did very well with the swell and with the wind

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

That's a great point... and something that has come up with other portable kayaks. Portable kayak bags are generally designed to get from your home to the water - not to deal with the incredible abuse that bags experience during air travel. The only bag I can think of that is truly designed for air travel is the TRAK bag. For all others, it's a good idea to 'bag the bag'.

@classicarcadeamusementpark4242

Жыл бұрын

I only did that once with the Sea Eagle Paddleski 435ps. In 2014, we flew it for free on South West as luggage, and our full sail rig for it in another bag with our destination of the Florida Keys. We had no problems at all. Now that I have a spare 435ps, I'd be even more likely to want to fly one as I'd be less worried about damage to it, except I can't replace it easily as they stopped this incredible model.

This looks like a great option for a lot of people. I’ll pass along your video. As always, great review. For the back carry case, Decathlon can take a lesson from the Isle Switch. The. Switch bag has plenty of room to hold everything needed for paddling. It came packed with the 11’6” board, 1 inflatable seat & foot brace, 4 piece SUP/ kayak paddle, fin, leash, dry bag, patch kit. I since added a second seat and & PFD’s with room left for the 12v air pump when it arrives.

@6yjjk

Жыл бұрын

Funny, I've never had any trouble getting everything I need into the X500 bag. Maybe I'm just fat enough that I can compress it more!

@lindahardy8713

Жыл бұрын

@@6yjjk Never saw the Decathlon so I can’t comment on what it holds. I was responding to comments he made on the size of the Decathlon bag.

What a nice review, i have one of these for about two years and 100+ hours in it, no white water though. perhaps worth to mention that the peddles will not fit inside the bag. the bag is for me the biggest downside, it is too small and the straps could use a little more padding.

I wish this had been posted a couple weeks ago! I just bought a Oru Bay ST, but this would've been a meaningful alternative choice to consider.

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Sorry! :) I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Bay ST. I like the looks of that kayak too!

@arcanum3000

Жыл бұрын

​@@PaddleTV I got back from my first outing with the Oru a little while ago. I'm not the best person to give a review, as I've only been out kayaking a few times prior, and always in wide, slow rec kayaks. But I'll give my thoughts. I was paddling on a wide, meandering, slow-moving creek, so no rough water observations. Assembly and disassembly aren't too hard. I followed Oru's instructional video in my back yard the first time around, but was able to to do it from memory at the boat launch. I'm still a little slow, but I'll get faster with practice. It's definitely portable. I hauled it to the boat launch strapped to a trailer attached to my ebike. Assembled with all my (probably excessive) crap attached I was able to pick it up and carry it to the end of the ramp. Speaking of attaching crap: I don't love the deck lines. I feel like they should be tighter, and the position and recommended way to stretch the elastic lines makes attaching something like a Gear Lab Outdoors Deck Pod in a useful location annoying. I think I found a workaround to both after the trip: Stretch the elastic deck lines across the boat and hook them to the non-elastic line. That results in better tension on the non-elastic deck lines, and an elastic line at the border of the deck for attaching a deck bag. It took me a minute to get used to the reduced primary stability compared to kayaks I've paddled previously, but once I did I had no problem keeping it stable. Compared to the wide, stubby rec kayaks I've paddled in the past, the Bay ST is a missile. It's fast, it accelerates quickly, it turns quickly, it can be pointed through narrow spaces with a good degree of precision. My only complaint as far as performance and handling go is that it tends to drift left or right (usually right for me) when I stop paddling. Not sure if that's the current or something I'm doing or what, but it's mildly annoying. I wish I could say similarly positive things about the comfort. If I sit on the stock thickness seat pad, my butt goes to sleep pretty quickly, and I'm regularly repositioning my knees from being out to the side under the coaming to being together protruding above the coaming to keep my legs and feet from going to sleep. If I sit on the thicker gel seat pad, my butt is ok, but I can't move my legs around and they start going to sleep even more quickly than my butt did with the thin pad. (Edit: After more consideration, I think that the persistent numbness I mentioned but deleted is from an impact in exactly the wrong place, not just sitting in the kayak.) I have a couple ideas to improve the comfort, and I'll contact Oru's support and see if they have any recommendations, but if I can't resolve the comfort problem I think I'll have to either exchange the boat for one of their open top models so I have more room to change position, or return it for a refund and buy something like the Itiwit X500 or one of Advanced Elements' nicer boats. That would be a shame, because I quite like this boat otherwise, but the comfort issue is just too big to ignore. I'd be curious to see your review. You have vastly more experience both kayaking and reviewing kayaks, and not many people have done substantial reviews of the Bay ST. It's usually the rec boats like the Inlet or Beach, or the Coast, a full-on ocean kayak (or such is the claim).

Great review. It would be a great solution to pack into a yacht. Shame to hear that it may not work for my height (6'5") - could the straps be lengthened, or does it hit against the limits of the rails the footrests sit in, or a bulkhead? I'm a very experienced sea kayaker and see that this could be a hoot.

What’s the bottom line on portable kayaks that are hard-shell-like, if you’re not willing to spend a ton and wait a long time for a Trak 2.0? You’ve tested the Itiwit, the Pakayak and the Oru, and maybe some others. What’s your pick?

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

My opinion : Just don't go for Oru Kayak or other brands selling the same kind of boat and you will be just fine! ;) I have seen/read about people having issues over and over again with those things and still calling them "AWESOME!!!111oneoneone" and IMHO that is just a serious case of the Stockholm syndrome! :(

Been looking into getting a kayak, and portability is definitely a major factor as I don't have a car, just a bicycle (well, 2, one of which I have a trailer for that could carry this....but I digress). I wasn't even considering an inflatable until I saw this video--though it's a bit steep for my budget at the moment. I'll probably end up getting an Oru Lake+. My budget needs to wait a month anyway (which would be nice timing as my birthday is next month)

Interesting pricing, I'm in Europe and I got the X500 a few weeks ago for $830 (picked it up at Decathlon, so no shady business). A rare occasion where the European price isn't 30 % higher than the NA price.

@rocketboards4160

Жыл бұрын

The prices also differ a lot in Europe. From my observations the boats are in France and Germany at least 100$ cheaper than in Austria or UK

@keepitreal1547

9 ай бұрын

​@@rocketboards4160 Huge price differences a over the world for this kayak. The US being the most expensive, South East Asia being the cheapest, the UK & Europe being in between. Get this, the US being more than double the price of South East Asia.

@packraftadventures

2 ай бұрын

In Sweden this is around $800 if you buy from Decathlon, which is weird since our currency is shit (inflation n all).. They do however refuse to acknowledge if you'll get version 1 or 2, which is a little shady in my opinion... If they have stock in the physical store one could check before hand I guess, but still..

@rostislavkaufman8410

2 ай бұрын

@@packraftadventures I don't think you can even get v1 anymore, it's been some time since v2 came out.

I really like it!! I would have liked to hear more comparison to other inflatables… I totally understand there are some trade offs vs ridged boats. But is this the best touring inflatable? …not sure that was answered

Great review, I have been looking for a kayak like this to put on my yacht to explore shallow creeks. Looks ideal. Deal on in U.K. £649.99. Thx. Andy UK

Excellent review How resistant is the fabric against punctures, say thin branches, thorns, sharp rocks, etc.?

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

My feeling is that it will hold up to quite a bit... would love to hear from people who have used one for a while.

I really wish Europe would cater more for me when it comes to inflatable kayaks / canoes to cater for my size and weight, I am 6ft 7 and weight 300 LBS. Most, if not all manufacturers here in the UK do not come close. Still, as a past proud owner of several Sea Eagles I am now looking to buy a 380X. I love this channel as your reviews leave me well informed... I watch to the end, even, as in this case, the Decathlon is not quite suitable for my requirements. Best wishes

Thanks Ken for the enthusiastic presentation. If it's not a personal question, what size are yor feet? You are dimensionally similar to me and I worry about getting my US size 14 feet up toward the bow in one of these.

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

I have the same issue with both feet and legs probably being too large for the X500 so I am hoping to find it in one of their stores as a demo model so I can sit inside it and see if I fit inside it or not...

Thanks for the review! :)

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Cheers!

Thank you for this video. I understand there are an updated version of this kayak. Is it the updated version (V2)?

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Yes. This is the second version. I never tried the first.

@itwithcarlos

Жыл бұрын

@@PaddleTV Thank you! BTW, I enjoy your videos.

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Hi. The boat is ok, but: 0. There is classic leak point behind the seat, where it presses into the "back masik" 1. if capsize, seat comes off every time,you have to attach it additionally for it to stay inplace. 2. you cant start in 1.5-2m. waves without skirt attached: it takes a lot of time because of soft rim, the boat will flood with water from coming waves, in part because of desk shape and time required to secure the skirt 3. no knee pads, I've tried to make custom ones from closed-cell foam. The deck is soft.

@6yjjk

Жыл бұрын

I repaired a few pinhole leaks behind the seat over winter, really stupid design to have the seat rubbing on it. I've now glued some rubber window insulation strip to the bladder to keep that from happening again.

@skyak4493

Жыл бұрын

Yeah that once again reinforces my rule -air must not be required for structure when going offshore. I wouldn't fish in it either. I expect it would be too warm on a hot day, but wonderful in very cold weather.

@DanielSultana

Жыл бұрын

​@@skyak4493 def not a fishing kayak, I own one and it's uncomfortably unstable when stationary. Ok to grab a bite, have a drink, or rest your arms from rowing, but too unstable for longer times, also, there really isn't room for easily accessible tackle and such, so if you hook one, you'd get a new problem of what to do then. It is however a touring kayak, as in, it has enough room to store camping gear (albeit in dry bags) you can easily store a sleeping bag in the bow, further stuff can be stored in the hatch in the back, and decathlon sells a 30L drybag with straps that click to the deck in front of you. I would never recommend this for fishing, but can't be happier for touring a recreational reasons

@skyak4493

Жыл бұрын

@@DanielSultana FWIW, I design kayaks and there might be some simple things you can do to significantly improve stability. Your kayak is plenty wide. If it is pumped up and acting like a solid then either your seat is too high or more likely, there is play (relative motion) between your hips and the boat. I have a Pax 20 race plyak that is under 17" wide at max and it is about as stable as you describe. My seat is carved out of firm foam with no padding thickness at the very bottom. For your inflatable I would make something similar but maybe cut a base out of thin ply or even corrugated plastic (corrugations longitudinal) running tightly full beam.

@st33ldi9ital

Жыл бұрын

@@skyak4493 can just use pvc pipe and pool noodle... cheap, flexible, and works great to add more stability

I saw what looks like a GoPro mounted on some fitting right up near the bow. Can you identify this piece of equipment and rate it? Thanks

Looks awesome, I'll get one.

Would love for you to review the v1 x500 in comparison and give your thoughts having them paddled the 2. Finally put this stability thing to rest Ken 😂

Thanks for this great review. I've searched all over the Decathlon site and can not find warranty info on the Itiwit500. Do you know how many years warranty that it has? Thanks.

@TouringKayakGuatape

Жыл бұрын

I think the warranty is 10 years. When I found out about this, I realized that Decathlon is quite confident in this product. This data is in Colombia.

@anonymous-ir3tf

Жыл бұрын

@@TouringKayakGuatape Thanks!

Looking for an inflatable touring kayak for long multiday trips ....how do you suppose this one compares to the advanced elements expedition elite one, esp. In how you can store gear?

I've been in two minds to selling my pyranah pro white water kayak and buying the x500 mainly due to not having a way of transporting the kayak now l have a different vehicle, so the x500 is number one on my list, its definitely a contender for the rivers and surf at saltburn uk.

Does anyone have opinions about the durability of this kayak? I often kayak where there are submerged trees, do you think the kayak material would be durable enough to survive the friction and snags? Thanks!

Did you try rolling it? Would it be fun in the surf?

Great video! What is the material the kayak is made of. It makes a difference if you have to make a field repair or a DIY repair when you get home. Also, where is the kayak manufactured?

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

The main fabric is PVC, which is a pretty easy fabric to repair. As for where it's made... that I don't know. For the price of it, I'm guessing it's made overseas.

I had one 3 yrs ago in Belgium but it never felt stable unless I was moving. I sold it after a few paddles. I'm 6'2", 220 pounds. I felt top heavy for this kayak and never could just sit back and relax. Too bad as it is beautiful and quick.. I forgot to add that I had version 1. Version 2 appears to be more stable as the hull beneath the seat has been flattened slightly.

Is a good kayak. The Test coming soon of ronactive. Best regards

I tried it and couldn't get my legs in comfortable position (while in store) you are taller than me and yet you found it ok - did you have your legs stright to do it ? (I tend to bend my legs and brace against the kayak). Other thing I really would like is the bulkhead you mentioned missing ;)

Can the tandem version of the x500 be used by 1 person?. Im in the 140kg range, performance would really suffer, but the tandem is built for more capacity, i presume its as long as a sea kayak which is normally 1 man.

Thank you for the great review. I was wondering about durability. Is it going to survive if I'm in a river and smoke a rock I can't see?

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Anthony! Depends on the rock... If it's a sharp rock and you hit it hard - I don't know. Not many inflatable kayaks will handle that. It feels fairly durable, but I will be careful to minimize the rock banging on rivers.

@petersharkey5510

Жыл бұрын

Brilliant review. There’s a great company in the UK that produce the Sandbanks Optimal Style. Be nice to see you reviewing one of these, if they’ll send one to you to test.

This is a great boat. But even more cool is the double version. I ride it with my child. Much more stable, while being easily controlled by one person, fast - I walk alone at the same speed as my son / wife on singles. Everything fits in the car... I would like to add only two things. 1. Think of something with the seat. The back and legs in it become numb after an hour of rowing. 2. I go for 2, 3 days sometimes. And it’s inconvenient to drag a boat + an extra backpack on yourself. Ideally, it would be some kind of more spacious backpack in which you can fit the boat and some things (and so everyone puts things in there, but I would like more)

I keep coming across your videos and I always learn something thank you! I have been looking at two inflatables, the Strenfit 500 1-seater inflatable kayak and the Sea Eagle 393RL 1 seater. I like the Sea Eagle for its cargo capacity (500lbs total) as I mostly plan on doing camping with it and I like the Decathlon Strenfit for it's enclosed sit inside paddling position but only 275 lbs total capacity. My question, if you have the time to respond is. I have never paddled a Kayak, Canoes sure, I would consider myself to be intermediate with canoes, calm water and some class 1 and 2 rough water. I am 6'2" tall and weigh in at around 240 so I am a big guy. I think I know the answer but I was hoping for your opinion. Which boat would be best for me, for my needs. I love the looks of the Decathlon but feel the Sea Eagle would probably be best for camping. Thank you for your review, you are one of the best reviewers on KZread and I always get a lot of my questions answered when watching your reviews. Keep it up, we need good reviewers! Lastly, the price, price is always a consideration. The Decathlon is $1150.00 CAD on the Decathlon Canada website. The Sea Eagle is listed at $1,650.00 CAD, that's a 500.00 difference and if all goes well, I will want to pick up a second one for my wife. My wife will not be doing any tent camping with me BUT she does not want a sit inside kayak so it will be the Sea Eagle for her! So any thought you might have would truly be appreciated!

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Hey Andrew. Thanks for the kind words. It's great to hear you're able to learn from them! Hands down - the Sea Eagle 393rl would be the better choice for you. You'll be MUCH more comfortable and have a LOT more room for camping gear. As for your wife... if she has the same skill level as you, then the 393rl would be a good choice for her as well. The fact that she doesn't want a sit-inside leads me to believe that she might value the stability of a kayak a bit more than you. If that's the case, you might want to look at a different sit-on-top inflatable kayak than the 393rl for her, because the 393 does give up some stability for speed. If that's the case, she might prefer the Sea Eagle 385 Fast Track. It's a very stable kayak - bit.ly/3eYJ8H2. Some other options for more stable kayaks in the same price range would be the NRS Pike: bit.ly/3KZNBsy or the Aquaglide Chelan 120: bit.ly/3N6Czo0 or the Advanced Elements Airvolution. Hope this helps!

@andrewvautour1795

Жыл бұрын

@@PaddleTV Thank you, yep I must admit that is where I was leaning but I guess I need confirmation :) As to the wife, probably the 393RL, not as much experience as me in a canoe but she has had some paddle time. And she wants something easy to paddle and that can keep up. That plus the open concept of the cockpit, I think she will be comfortable in it. I'll be watching mor of your videos sir, thanks again for taking the time to reply!

@PaddleTV I'm circling back around to this because my Oru Bay ST isn't working out? Do you mind if I ask how well your feet fit in the X500, and what size shoes you wear? I worked out most of the comfort issues with the Bay, but my 13EEE(ish; it's complicated) feet don't really fit well in the hull. I'm always having to point my toes or angle my feet or bend my legs in ways that aren't too comfortable and prevent me from really pushing off the foot rest effectively. The Bay ST is having to go back due to being defective anyway, so I'm considering other options.

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

Hmmm. I've got size 10 feet and so I don't know how feet as big as yours would fit. Partly depends on your height. Something you might consider is the Sea Eagle 393rl. bit.ly/3KZxUBA. It's an open decked kayak that performs similarly to the X500 - it offers good performance, but you sacrifice some stability. I did a full review of it a few years ago. Bottom line is that any foot size fits fine... and it has huge storage space for kayak camping!

@arcanum3000

Жыл бұрын

@@PaddleTV I'm about 5'6", so on the short size, and while my normal shoe size is ~13EEE, my water shoe size is more like a 10 or 10.5. My feet are weird. So...maybe they'll fit? I've eyeballed that Sea Eagle and similar boats, though I was hoping for something more usable on rough water. The AE AdvanceFrame Expedition Elite maybe. Anyway, thank you for the reply. It's definitely helpful (as are all your videos, of which I've watched many at this point).

I was wondering about the comparison between this one and the Razorlite 393RL. Is there even any comparison at all?

@PaddleTV

Жыл бұрын

That's a great question, and would be a good comparison. I really like both kayaks, and they both have pros and cons... stay tuned! :)

@GTN355

Жыл бұрын

Flat Hull vs. V-Shaped Hull so I am guessing NOPE.AVI :)