Hi, I'm Christian and love to discover the nature from the water at any time and in an easy way. For this there is nothing better than portable boats, which are now indispensable for me!
The idea of foldable kayaks is anything but new. Folding kayaks have been in use for a long time. That’s why this concept of the kayak type is also very mature. Today, manufacturers of folding boats convince mainly with the use of new materials and better construction methods.
Table of Contents
What is a folding kayak?
The history of folding kayaks goes back long time ago. The concept of a skin-on-frame kayak is actually based on the inuit kayak. At that time the boat skin was made of animal skin stretched over frames made from wood or bones.
So, a folding kayak follows the concept of having a frame that is covered by the boat skin. On the internet there are many websites that don’t differentiate between folding and inflatable kayaks. They often call inflatable kayaks folding kayaks as well because when they are deflated you fold them up for transportation and storage. However, this is wrong. The shape of a folding kayak comes from the frame. In contrast, the shape of an inflatable kayak is formed by the inflated air chambers. That’s something to keep in mind because these two different concepts bring advantages and disadvantages where we talk later about. And in order to be complete, we also have to mention that there are hybrid kayaks, which are a combine elements of an inflatable and folding kayak. And it won’t stop there because innovative manufacturers have introduced the concept of origami kayaks. But we discuss these kind of kayaks later in this article in detail.
Modern folding kayaks look like hardshell kayaks at the first glance
Today, the frame of folding kayaks can be still made of wood. However, a wood frame is pretty heavy and that’s you mostly find frames made of aluminium and plastic. For the boat skin tough fabrics with a waterproof coating are used. And all folding kayaks follow today the same goal to provide paddlers a kayak that is easy to transport and that performs like a hardshell kayak on the water.
The different types of folding kayaks
Nowadays manufacturers follow different designs and concepts. We would classify them in three categories: 1. traditional folding kayaks that follow the concept of skin-on-frame kayaks, 2. hybrid kayaks that are mix of traditional skin-on-frame and inflatable kayaks and 3. origami kayaks come without any frame but only with a plate, which folded to a kayak. Each type comes with its advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional folding kayaks (skin-on-frame kayaks)
Traditional folding kayaks have a long tradition. The modern type has been invented in Germany. In 1897, architecture student Alfred Heurich built a folding kayak from bamboo poles and sailcloth, which he later replaced with ash wood and canvas. He sold the idea a little later in 1907 to the sporting goods dealer Johannes Klepper, who sent the folding kayak into mass production. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the success of the folding boat for the masses.
Folding kayak with wooden frame
Folding kayak with aluminium frame
Today, the company Klepper still exists and sells mainly its boats in the german market. However, their website is also available in English and they do ship their boats internationally. Kayaks from Klepper are still pretty heavy because the frame is still made from wood. However, the boat skin is made of robust TPU material. The production has been moved a few years ago from Germany to Poland. Prices for their kayaks start from 3.500€.
Another manufacturer with a very long tradition in building folding kayak is the French company Nautiraid. They make folding kayaks for over 70 years and similar to Klepper they have boats with wooden frames but also with aluminium frame. Nautiraid has a very good reputation in terms of quality and workmanship. The foldable kayaks start from around 2.000€.
Another brand, which sells its foldable kayak especially in Europe is nortik. They have also a website in English where you can directly order your boat. The boats are made in Russia where they collaborate with an experienced manufacturer of folding kayaks. They offer some very interesting models for expedition paddlers and prices are starting from 2.500€. The frame of the kayaks are made of aluminium to reduce weight. We have paddled already some models from that brand and can really recommend their kayaks.
Paddling a classical folding kayak – nortik argo 2
Folding kayaks are quite popular especially in Europe and that’s why you find here a few more manufacturers than anywhere else. However, there is also a Canadian brand that started in 2006 to build folding kayaks. They claim to make the best touring kayaks and attracted some attentions with their kayak over the last years especially in the online community. It is designed for performance as well as for great transportability. It weights about 19 kg (42 lbs) and with the included transport bag it comes up to 24 kg (53 lbs). This is pretty light for such a folding touring kayak. The kayaks are made in the Philippines, start around 3.600$ and they ship their boat worldwide.
Traditional folding kayaks are the right choice for people who paddle very regularly and don’t wont to make a compromise on driving characteristics and performance on the water. Most of them are touring kayaks that are perfect for long distance paddling tours. Beginners and leisurely paddlers can buy such a kayak as well if they are looking for a really portable kayak that also performs very well on the water. But most of the time there are better off with another kayak type, especially with an inflatable kayak. Traditional folding kayaks are pretty expensive and the assembly requires some time and force. For a short afternoon paddling tour you won’t be happy to spend half a hour for assembling your boat.
Hybrid kayaks
Hybrid kayaks try to reduce the disadvantages of traditional folding kayaks: the long assembly time. Because putting a frame together and stretching a boat skin require especially in the beginning some exercise and a lot of time. You have to like assembling your boat every time you get on the water, otherwise you will quickly end in frustration.
That’s where hybrid kayaks come into play. Manufacturers of those folding kayaks have reduced the frame components to a minimum and use air chambers on the side instead. So, they are a combination of folding and inflatable kayak at the same time.
Hybrid kayaks only have a few frame elements but therefore air chambers on the sides
The most popular brand of these kind of hybrid kayaks is Advanced Elementes from the US. They really reduced the frame to a minimum. The AdvancedFrame kayaks have only built-in aluminum ribs in the bow and stern, which is supposed to slices through water like a knife and rivals the trackability of hard-shell kayaks. Anything else are inflatable air chambers. For the bottom, there is also a backbone (bow-to-stern frame to improve rigidity and thus performance) available, which can be seen as an additional frame element. However, they also offer a drop-stitch floor, which does the same job in terms of rigidity.
Paddling the Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Convertible Elite
Because of the few frame elements the kayaks are considered rather as inflatable kayaks than folding or hybrid kayaks. We have already paddled the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame 1 person kayak and the AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite where you can read the review on our site. They value for money of these kayaks are pretty good.
Aluminium ribs for bow and stern at the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite
The german brand nortik also offers hybrid kayaks and they are pretty popular in Germany and some other European countries. They have more frame elements than the kayaks from Advanced Elements and thus it takes a little bit more time to assemble the kayak. However, the assemble time and effort is still good compared to. traditional folding kayaks. Many folding kayaks are pretty heavy but the hybrid models from nortik are really light. The popular nortik scubi 1 XL weights only 14 kg (31 lbs).
Paddling the nortik scubi 1 XL
Hybrid kayaks solve the issue that many people have with traditional folding kayaks: the long time and effort you need to assemble that type of kayak. Hybrid kayaks are much easier and faster to assemble and are an interesting option for people that are looking for a good performing recreational as well as for an expedition kayak.
Many hybrid kayaks are also much less expensive than traditional folding kayaks and are consequently also a good option for paddling beginners that want to get into the paddling sports seriously.
Origami kayaks
Origami kayaks are actually kayaks folded from paper, because the term origami refers to the art of folding paper. It is precisely this art of folding that some manufacturers take advantage of. The idea is to make a boat from one element by folding it into the hull of a kayak.
Origami kayaks are considered the innovation among folding kayaks in recent years. Thanks to the pre-folded plate, such kayaks are very quickly assembled and ready for use. Due to the possibility of using a solid boat material, origami kayaks have very good driving characteristics. In the folded state, they are also easy to transport and store.
The assembly of a origami kayak is easy
The are different brands on the market that offer origami kayaks. The best known brand is Oru kayak, which have offer different types of origami kayaks. We have reviewed their recreational kayak, the Oru Kayak Inlet. They even have a 2 persons kayak.
Alternatives to folding kayaks
Many people are afraid of the high purchase costs and the often long assembly times of a folding boat. An alternative to folding kayaks can be a hardshell or an inflatable kayak. In addition, it is also possible to consider a canoe or a packraft.
Hardshell kayaks
If you’ve ever paddled a kayak, you’re likely to have sat in a hardshell kayak. Hardshell kayaks are without a doubt the most common kayaks. Rental centers often exclusively have such kayaks, as they are especially durable and long-lasting. For a kayak rental at a lake, even a folding kayak doesn’t make much sense, because the boats almost never need to be transported.
A hardshell kayak is really only an alternative for someone who also has a car and has enough space at home for storage. If you want to take your boat with you on vacation by plane, you will quickly reach your limits with such a kayak. But if you want to paddle exclusively in the region or ideally on the lake near your home after work or on the weekend, a hardshell boat is the best choice.
Most kayak rentals have hardshell kayaks
Hardshell kayaks require a car for transport
Inflatable kayaks
In addition to folding kayaks, inflatable kayaks are also aimed at the same target group. Nature lovers without a car and who still want to take their own boat everywhere. Inflatable kayaks do have a reputation for having poorer driving characteristics than other types of kayaks, but the difference is not that great with really high-quality inflatable boats. We also do not share the concern of many that an inflatable boat is doomed to sink as soon as a small damage occurs to the boat. Good inflatable kayaks are very robust and can take a lot of stress. They also have several air chambers, which ensures the prescribed safety.
Many beginners like to go for an inflatable kayak, as there are also models for beginners in the lower price segment. Compared to folding kayaks, the assembly is much less complicated. Basically, only the air tubes are to be inflated and the paddling can already start.
Inflatable kayaks are easy to assemble
There are also inflatable kayaks with very good driving characteristics
Final notes on the folding kayaks
Folding kayaks have been a real alternative to hardshell boats for many decades. They can be stored compactly and transported without a car. Thus, you have the possibility to go paddling everywhere with your kayak. Due to the higher purchase costs, however, these kayaks are aimed more at expedition paddlers and people who regularly go on tours and want to make almost no concessions in the driving characteristics. The majority of models from established manufacturers are high quality that they promise to last a long time. However, those who are just getting into paddling and are not yet sure how intensively they will devote themselves to the new sport may be better off with an inflatable kayak.
The Itiwit x100+ is an inflatable kayak with a drop-stitch floor from Decathlon, which is aimed at beginners and occasional paddlers for paddling short tours on the water and leisurely half-day trips. It is not the only inflatable kayak from Decathlon. We’ve already had the chance to test the Itiwit Touring 2/1-seater, the Itiwit x100+ 2-seater, and the sporty Itiwit x500. Compared to the popular Itiwit Touring series, the x100+ is a significant development. It costs more, but offers clear advantages from our point of view. Find out more details about the kayak and how we liked the x100+ 3 seater as a 1-, 2- and 3-person kayak on the water in this review.
3 410 cm | 11’1” 102 cm | 3’3” 245 kg | 540 lbs 43 x 20 cm | 1’4” x 7” PVC Tarpaulin, Polyester 18 kg | 39.7 lbs 0.2 bar | 3 PSI (sides), 0.35 bar | 5 PSI (floor)
Produced in:
China
Which model has been reviewed?
Itiwit x100+ 3 seater from 2021
How did we organize the review?
The Itiwit x100+ was provided to us by Decathlon, a French manufacturer and distributor of sports equipment and clothing. Itiwit is a brand for the paddle sport of Decathlon. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or shop and reflects our own opinion of the boat.
How intensively has the product been tested?
low
high 1 bar = 1-3 km paddled (first impressions) 2 bars = min. 1 day/ 2 half-day tours 3 bars = min. 4 tours 4 bars = min. 8 tours 5 bars = min. 12 tours (very intense)
Where have we tested the product?
Whitewater
Calm rivers
Lakes
Table of Contents
First impressions and assembly
The boat weighs 18 kg and can be transported comfortably over short distances to the water or train station with the included backpack. The backpack has wide shoulder straps and two side pockets where the paddles can be inserted. In addition, the lower part of the backpack is waterproof, so a wet boat in the backpack does not soak the backpack.
The boat is quite heavy, but can be carried comfortably in a backpack over short distances
The backpack has a large opening
Additional quick manual
As with all transport backpacks for kayaks from Itiwit, we like the large all-around zipper opening, which makes packing and unpacking the boat much easier. Included are repair materials, patches (for short term and quick repair of holes), a compression strap, three fins for better straight running characteristics, a valve wrench for retightening the valves and an inflation connector for the air pump.
An air pump and double paddles are not included, which is completely understandable for the price. Double paddles in a cheap complete set (e.g. Intex Challenger K2, Intex Excursion Pro, Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura or Sevylor Adventure Plus) have never been able to convince us so far. Both paddles and an air pump can be purchased at Decathlon or elsewhere.
The assembly of the kayak is very simple. On the inside of the backpack there is even a short picture instruction for the assembly, which is very helpful if you sometimes do not have the instructions with you or want to quickly check a step. The boat is first rolled out completely. The inflatable kayak has two side chambers and a separated drop-stitch floor, each inflatable via its own valve. The valves are high quality spring valves that are easy to operate. On the valves there is a label to which maximum air pressure the air chamber may be inflated and which one should be inflated first, second and so on.
The gray Drop-Stitch floor is inflated to 0.35 bar. 0.35 bar is not much for Drop-Stitch, but it is enough to get a sufficiently firm kayak floor. The inflated floor is placed in the boat. In the front and in the back of the boat there is a strap, so that the Drop-Stitch floor is firmly fixed to the boat and cannot slip.
What is Drop-Stitch?
With the Drop-Stitch technology, the upper and lower inner walls of the air chamber are additionally woven with nylon threads. This is the only way to achieve a significantly higher air pressure than with air chambers without the tangled nylon threads. The air chamber thus achieves very good dimensional stability and rigidity. The Drop-Stitch technology is very common for SUP boards (Stand Paddling Boards) and is used more and more for inflatable kayaks. Learn more about this type of inflatable boats, in our buyer’s guide for Drop-Stitch kayaks.
Unfolding the kayak
Boat and separated drop-stitch floor
Attaching the drop-stitch floor
The side chambers are inflated up to 0.2 bar. Considering the price, this pressure is a really good value for air chambers without drop-stitch technology. Thus, the kayak not only has a solid bottom due to the drop-stitch floor but also an overall form-stable hull, which makes a much higher quality impression compared to Intex or Sevylor boats.
Lately, we have been using the Quechua electric pump for inflating inflatable boats, which is powered by a rechargeable battery. The boat’s included valve connector fits the electric pump perfectly. The electric pump manages to fill most of the air chamber with air. We then create the final air pressure with a double-action pump. This means 2/3 to 3/4 fewer strokes are needed with the double stroke pump. This is a very pleasant comfort, especially on hot summer days.
Inflating with an electric pump
The kayak has three air chambers
Inflating the kayak with a double-action pump from Itiwit
After the kayak is fully inflated, mount the 3 small fins on the bottom of the kayak. Each of the fins is inserted into its fin tray and secured with a cotter pin. Fins are common on inflatable kayaks to improve straight-line stability. This is because, compared to rigid kayaks, inflatable kayaks float on the water rather than in it due to their high air buoyancy.
Due to the small size of the individual fins, the Itiwit x100 has a shallow draught even with fins. This has the advantage that you can already enter the boat in shallow water and groundings are reduced in general.
Mounting the fins
When looking at the bottom of the inflatable kayak you easily see that it’s is designed for maximum stability. The bottom is very flat, almost like a board. In addition, the side tubes are mounted very low, so that the kayak has a maximum width on the water surface. This is good for tipping stability but disadvantageous for the performance on the water.
In addition, there are two drain openings in the center right and left. These can be opened from the inside to drain water standing in the boat during a break on the shore. In the stern and bow there is also a drain opening, which are intended for draining the boat before dismantling.
Drain valves at the bow, stern and in the middle of the kayak.
The seat cushions of the seats are inflated via a small Boston valve with an air pump or inflated with your mouth. So you can decide the hardness of the seat cushion yourself. As with the other Itiwit kayaks, the seat has a good height. On the one hand, it makes sitting in the boat much more comfortable and on the other hand, you do not sit immediately in the wet, if water comes into the boat.
Inflating the seat cushion
Placing the seat in the kayak
Attaching the backrest
A 20-30 liter dry bag can be attached on the stern with the bungee cord. There is also room for a larger backpack behind the third seat. This is then no longer completely on the stern, but hangs partly then inside the boat.
Thanks to the bungee cord on the stern you can easily store a dry bag
Review on the water of the Itiwit x100+ 3 seater
The Itiwit x100+ is a 3-person kayak that can also be reconfigured as a 2- or 1-person kayak. We tested all three configurations on the water. The side and front and rear carry handles make the inflatable kayak easy to carry alone or with someone else to the water.
On the water, the kayak has a very high tipping stability in all 3 configurations, making it ideal for paddling beginners. Due to the firm drop-stitch floor the entry and exit is very easy, because the floor hardly gives way compared to traditional inflatable kayaks without drop-stitch floor.
Itiwit x100+ 3 seater as 3 person kayak
… as 2 person kayak
as 1 person kayak
The Itiwit X100+ 3 seater as 1 person kayak
In the 1-person configuration, the rocker of the kayak (the curved part in the bottom of the kayak hull that connects the bow with the stern.) is the biggest, so the waterline is much smaller than the actual length of the kayak. The water position of the boat is significantly worse compared to the 2 and 3-person configuration, as you can see for yourself in the photos below.
Also, like the Itiwit Touring 2-seater or Itiwit x100+ 2-seater, it lacks a footrest if you seriously want to paddle the kayak alone for a longer distance. On rivers, where you want to float down for the most part, paddling from time to time a bit and otherwise just correcting the direction, it may still work. On standing water, we recommend the Itiwit x100+ 3-seater as a 1-person kayak only if you occasionally want to go on a small leisurely paddling tour, i.e. where staying and relaxing on the water is the focus.
If you want to paddle the kayak mainly alone, you are better off with another inflatable kayak
The Gumotex Solar (2+1 person kayak with the same boat length) works much better as a 1-person kayak. You can paddle it solo without any problems and reach a good speed.
The Itiwit x100+ in the 1-person configuration feels quite bulky and unwieldy on the water. The paddle stroke should not be too strong, so that the tracking while paddling still remains in an acceptable range.
The Itiwit X100+ 3 seater as 2 person kayak
With 2 people, the kayak can be paddled much better. However, we have the feeling that you sit quite far from each other, ie the front paddler sits quite far forward and the rear paddler quite far back. This puts weight on the stern and bow, so the kayak lies better in the water and creates a longer waterline.
Nonetheless, we would have liked longer seat side straps and a continuous Velcro strip on the bottom so you can place the seats more variably in the boat. The Velcro strip for attaching the seat cushions to the floor would do the job. This is because the person behind has a lot of legroom, which he cannot use in most cases, and the person in front still has enough legroom, but much less.
When paddling with another person, the straight running characteristic is alright. However, if you stop paddling, the boat drifts quickly. A speed of 4.8 to 5.5 km/h (3 – 3,4 mph) is possible on average, depending of course on your own paddle stroke, the double paddles themselves, the weight distribution and the weather conditions.
It can be well paddled by two people
The Itiwit X100+ 3 seater as 3 person kayak
Although the kayak is quite short for a 3-person kayak with a length of 410 cm, paddling with 3 people works quite well. We (189 cm / 76 kg, 186 cm / 74 kg, 174 cm / 82 kg) did not have enough space to stretch out our legs slightly bent.
Still, the interior of the kayak is wide enough so that you can sit well in a slight cross-legged position. Since the seat cushion is high enough, sitting or paddling cross-legged for several hours is not uncomfortable. Alternatively, you sit in the boat with your legs strongly bent. Regardless of the seating position, we and friends of ours see the Itiwit x100 as a kayak to use for a short and relaxing afternoon trip (2-3 hours).
Paddling the Itiwit x100+ 3 seater close to the max. load
When paddling with three people, it is quite possible for the rear paddler to steer the boat alone. On a lake or very calm river, at least two people should paddle to make reasonable progress. However, on rivers with noticeable current, it is also sufficient for the rear paddler to do some paddling and steer with good foresight, meanwhile the front people mostly relax and enjoy their time on the water. This was much more relaxing for the rear paddler in that case than if all three people were paddling.
When all three people are paddling, the paddlers need to be well synchronized. Otherwise, the rear paddler must not only steer but also constantly compensate for the uneven paddle strokes of the front paddlers. Due to the short boat length for a 3-man kayak, paddlers with their double-bladed paddles will quickly get in each other’s way if they are not paddling in sync. Three paddlers can reach 5.6 km/h (3,5 mph), up to a maximum of 6.1 km/h (3,8 mph). Please consider these values only as rough reference values.
Paddling the kayak with three people
The side cutouts in the middle of the drop stitch floor (where the drain holes are) have proven to be very practical. If a little more water comes into the boat, the water mainly accumulates there and the bottom remains free of water. In addition, the seat cushions are nice and high, so in most cases the seat remains dry.
Also super handy are the pockets on the bow and on the backrests. This gives every paddler the opportunity to store a snack and a drinks bottle within easy reach.
Itiwit x100+ 2 seater vs 3 seater
Itiwit x100+ is available in 2, 3 and 4 seater versions. The kayaks differ in price, weight, dimensions, load capacity and color. Otherwise, the two kayaks are identical in terms of tipping stability, material, air pressure and features.
Itiwit x100+ as a 2 seater (yellow) and 3 seater (blue)
If you are looking for a 3-person kayak, the decision between the two models is already made. But how does it look if you want to paddle the kayak only alone or with another person? Should you buy the 2-seater or better the 3-seater?
The 3-seater has a 50 kg higher load capacity (i.e. 245 kg instead of 195 kg), which means that the paddlers can weigh more and at the same time still carry some extra stuff. There is also significantly more room to stretch your legs in the 45 cm longer 3-seater, especially for the rear paddler. In addition, you have the possibility to place one or two large bags in the middle without disturbing the paddling. For two, the 3-seater is about 0.5 km/h (0,3 mph) faster and drifts less when you stop paddling.
Only because of the slightly better driving characteristics, however, we would not advise the 3-seater. If you really want to have noticeably better driving characteristics, you should rather buy another kayak like the Gumotex Solar (same boat length), which can be paddled very well both alone and with another paddler.
The Itiwit x100+ 3-seater is recommended if you really want to use it as a 3-person kayak, or at least have that option. Also, the 3-seater is recommended if you need a higher load capacity. Then the slightly better driving characteristics are a nice side effect. In the end, from our point of view, both are inflatable kayaks for paddling beginners who are looking for an inflatable kayak with a robust boat skin and high tipping stability.
Dismantling the Itiwit x100+
The big advantage with the Itiwit x100+ over an Itiwit Touring 3-seater is that it is much faster to dismantle. The seats and the drop-stitch floor are removed from the boat. If there is water in the kayak, you can drain it through the screw-on drain holes. Afterwards, the inflatable kayak can be easily wiped dry with a towel. Since the boat is designed very open, you can reach everywhere with the towel.
The kayak has a high rocker
Drain opening at the stern
Dismantled kayak
During dry wiping, we again took a closer look at the bondings. Here we had to find processing problems last year with the Itiwit x100+ 2-seater. The bottom was not cleanly glued to the side tubes. This did not affect the functionality of the kayak, but is still not nice for a new product.
It’s a real pity that we found workmanship issues in this area on this one as well. It’s a pity because the bottom is sometimes the most heavily used area and otherwise the boat is cleanly finished overall. When wiping dry the crevices between the floor and the side tubes, which were still filled with air, it sounded like Velcro was coming loose. Most likely it was the bonding. In the following photos you can see this place where the bonding came loose.
Unclean glueing between bottom and side chambers
The next time we dismantle, we will let the air out completely and then wipe it dry. This puts less stress on the bonding. A stable bonding should still put it away without problems. When asked at Decathlon, the manufacturer told us that such a thing is not normal and can not assure us whether it has an impact on the durability. On the next tour, it had no effect on the functionality and the adhesions did not loosen further. Nevertheless, we advise you to check the adhesions when buying the boat.
Strengths and weaknesses of Itiwit x100+
The Itiwit x100+ is one of the most tip stable inflatable kayaks we have paddled and offers a high level of features for the price (3rd seat included, good seating comfort, drop stitch floor). Overall, the kayak has a good finish. Only the gluing between the floor and the side tubes have small defects. We had the same defect last year when testing the Itiwit x100+ 2-seater.
The material is robust and if the bonding on the inside of the bottom was clean, we could not complain. Nevertheless, the kayak does not come close to the high quality of a Gumotex or Advanced Elements kayak. In the entry-level segment (eg Sevylor, Intex, …), however, the Itiwit x100 offers much more in terms of workmanship and robustness.
Advantages
very easy assembly and dismantling + spacious interior + very high tipping stability + robust boat skin + high air pressure and thus very good stiffness for a boat in this price range + safe entry and exit through drop-stitch floor + Third seat already included + high seat cushion and good seating comfort + replaceable drop-stitch floor + high recreational value (paddling with family or friends) + useful features (paddle holder, side carrying handles, bungee cord on the bow to store luggage, bag on the backrest, …) + transport backpack included + suitable as a bathing boat (due to the high tipping stability entry out of the water is possible) + spare parts can be ordered separately
Disadvantages
wider and flatter hull and therefore slower – the bottom with the side tubes was not sufficiently or improperly glued for our model (so far no effect on the functionality of the kayak) – moderate driving characteristics – least suitable as a 1-person kayak – in 2-person configuration, the two seats can only be variably placed in the boat to a limited extent
Conflusion on the Itiwit x100+ 3 seater
From our point of view, Decathlon has done a lot right with the Itiwit x100+ and developed an inflatable kayak that clearly stands out from the inexpensive inflatable kayaks from Intex, Sevylor and Bestway and, with the drop-stitch floor, offers real added value in this price range.
The x100+ is significantly more dimensionally stable due to the drop-stitch floor and the higher air pressure of the side tubes, it has a significantly more robust boat skin (which can also be repaired if damaged), it has a higher seating comfort due to the high seat cushions and stable backrests, it is more tilt-resistant and it can be easily wiped dry after the tour. In terms of driving characteristics (especially speed, tracking stability, gliding characteristics), the x100+ offers no significant advantages over the boats from Intex, Sevylor and Co.
If you are looking for a kayak with great driving characteristics, which can be used for long day trips (> 20 km), regardless of whether alone, with another paddler or two other paddlers, should take a closer look at other inflatable kayaks from manufacturers like Advanced Elements or Gumotex.
Itiwit x100+ 3 seater
Although the inflatable kayak offers the least space as a 3-person kayak, we liked this configuration the best. It’s just great to have the option to go paddling in a kayak with two other friends for a nice leisurely paddle together. This is also a great way for families with a child to spend time together on the water. Because of the high tipping stability, you can quickly convince friends and family members to come along for a paddle tour. For families with small children, the very high tipping stability is a real plus in terms of safety.
As a 2-person kayak, the Itiwit x100+ 3-seater makes sense especially if you need the higher payload capacity and the extra space for luggage. It is an advantage that you can also paddle the boat as a 1-person kayak. For small and leisurely paddling trips it may be sufficient. However, if you want to go on tours alone with it more often, you won’t do yourself any favors with the boat. The kayak is not designed for that.
The Itiwit Adventure 500 is a packraft from Decathlon that comes with interesting features and at an attractive price. Compared to traditional inflatable boats, with a packraft you can combine, for example, hiking or mountain biking with paddling. A packraft weighs no more than 4 kg (8.8 lbs) and can easily be stowed in a hiking backpack. Packrafts are in general not new, but still a niche in outdoor sports. They are pretty expensive, so many are quickly deterred from packrafting because of the high price.
Decathlon has now set itself the goal of making the entry into packrafting more affordable with the Itiwit Packraft. In this review, we would like to go into the details of the packraft, what it offers for the price and for which purposes we see the packraft well and less well suited. The review is based on our experience with many different packrafts from other manufacturers over the past few years, and the experience we have already gained with the Itiwit packraft.
1 230 cm | 7’5” 90 cm | 3′ 125 kg | 276 lbs 40 x 30 x 25 cm | 1’3” x 1′ x 8”
Material: Weight (Boat): Weight (Complete) Produced in:
TPU/PU coated nylon 2.5 kg | 5.5 lbs 3.8 kg | 8.4 lbs China
Which model has been reviewed?
Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500 from 2021
How did we organize the review?
The Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500 was provided to us by Decathlon, a French manufacturer and retailer of sports equipment and clothing. Itiwit is Decathlon’s own brand for water sports. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or store and reflects our own opinion of the boat.
How intensively has the product been tested?
low
high 1 bar = 1-3 km paddled (first impressions) 2 bars = min. 1 day/ 2 half-day tours 3 bars = min. 4 tours 4 bars = min. 8 tours 5 bars = min. 12 tours (very intense)
Where have we tested the product?
Whitewater
Calm rivers
Lakes
Table of Contents
First impressions and assembly
The packraft comes in a robust transport bag, which is compressed with two packing straps. The pack size and weight of the packraft including accessories is comparable to other Packrafts. The packing straps are sufficiently dimensioned so that you can attach the transport bag to a hiking backpack or to the handlebar of a bike.
In addition to the packraft, the transport bag contains the seat, thigh straps, pump tube and some self-adhesive repair patches. None of this is packed in a PVC film or bag. We really like that. So there is no unnecessary trash.
The packrafts assembly instructions are also sewn into the top edge of the transport bag, which serves as a handy quick reference guide for when you’re on the go, in addition to the actual instruction manual.
Transport bag, which also serves as a inflation and dry bag
user manual attached in the bag
The folded Itiwit packraft
In total, the complete packraft, including transport bag and accessories, weighs 3.8kg according to the manufacturer. We measured the boat and the individual parts ourselves, since weight plays a major role in packrafting.
The packraft itself weighs only 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs). However, you also need to consider the thigh straps with 400g (0.88 lbs), the seat with 400g (0.88 lbs), the transport bag with 550g (1.21 lbs) and the pump tube with 50g (0.11 lbs). The individual components are quite heavy compared to other packrafts on the market but the packraft itself is quite light. Thus, the Itiwit packraft makes it into the typical weight category of a classic packraft, which with equipment weighs around 4kg. For certain uses, you can leave the thigh straps at home and save some weight.
The transport bag is used as a inflation bag, i.e. as a kind of air pump. To do this, you need to open the valve at the bottom of the transport bag and attach the supplied pump tube. The other end of the pump tube is attached to the valve of the packraft or seat cushion. Both the valve of the packraft and the seat cushion are of high quality. Both valves have a check valve so that the air cannot escape during inflation.
Packraft with bag, seat and thigh straps
According to the manual, first the boat and then the seat is inflated and fixed in the interior. However, we find it much easier to attach and place the inflated seat in the interior before inflating the packraft.
On the bottom of the seat cushion there is a strap adjustable in length with two hook buckles (G-buckle) each end. These two hooks are used to secure the seat cushion to the floor. This prevents the seat cushion from sliding forward or folding upward at will in the boat. When the packraft and seat are tightly inflated, the seat cushion sits very firmly in the packraft.
Compared to many other Packrafts, the seat consists of only a seat cushion and has no backrest. The seat cushion is placed so far back in the interior that you can lean against the air tube. We will see how well this works in practice when we paddle it on the water.
Seat with fastening straps
Attaching the seat at the floor
Before inflating the packraft you still have the possibility to stow luggage, e.g. your backpack in the air tube of the packraft. Once the packraft is inflated, you can only access the luggage inside if you let the air out of the packraft. You get access to the inside of the air tube via the waterproof and airtight zipper. Exactly such a TZIP can also be found on very high quality packrafts, which are offered as an optional feature for an extra charge. The Itiwit packraft has the TIZIP already included, which is remarkable in this price range.
However, you should be aware that a TIZIP needs care. Always make sure that it is clean and properly greased with the included silicone grease. You should also not bend the TIZIP when rolling it up.
You can store luggage inside the tube
Storing a 40 L backpack
The zipper is 50 cm long
Actually, packraft are filled with air using a lightweight inflation bag, which is screwed or plugged directly onto the valve. This works well and saves the weight and bulky pack size of an air pump. However, filling a packraft with an inflation bag takes some time getting used to for beginners at first and requires some practice to efficiently fill a packraft with air.
The Itiwit packraft is also filled with a inflation bag, but with a small difference and big effect. The pump tube allows the air-filled bag to be placed on the ground and used like a hand pump. You lean on the air-filled bag and pump air into the packraft. You roll the inflation bag a little bit every time to create a sufficiently high air pressure. The lower green part of the blowbag is much more robust than a conventional packraft inflation bag, so you can put it on the ground without getting holes in it. We have not yet experienced an easier inflation of a packraft. Here Itiwit has made the assembly of a packraft much easier with a small simple idea.
Repeat this pumping procedure several times, more precisely according to the manual “9 – 10 times until the inflation bag no longer allows it”. On the inflation bag 1.0 PSI and the packraft valve 1.5 PSI is indicate. The manual does not say how to get the last 0.5 PSI to the packraft. Usually with packrafts (even with Boston valves like this) you generate the final air pressure with your mouth or with a separate small hand pump. We use the Itiwit inflation bag for this and apply small jerky impacts to the bag to get the packraft’s air tube nice and stiff. So, from our point of view, it is not absolutely necessary to create the final air pressure with the mouth or with a small separate hand pump, as with other packrafts. Here you should be careful not to create overpressure, because otherwise material damage can occur.
We therefore recommend that you create the final air pressure with your mouth or with your own breath during the first set-up, as this will prevent you from creating overpressure. Then reach into the air tube to get a feeling of how the packraft feels with the correct air pressure. You can use this firmness as a reference for later assemblies when you want to create the final air pressure with the inflation bag.
Inflating the packraft with the inflation bag
Connecting the tube with the inflation bag
Boston valves are used
The workmanship looks really solid overall. At first glance, we can’t see any weak points. Aluminum is used instead of plastic for many components (e.g. buckles, fastening hooks, carabiners), which creates a certain high quality. The material of the boat’s skin also feels valuable as well as robust and completes the high-quality first impression of the Packraft.
The packraft itself consists of a coated nylon fabric material. The fabric has a thickness of 420d (= denier) in the bottom and 210d in the side tube (except the orange rear part of the stern, where the TIZIP is also 420d). These are common values for packrafts. Only whitewater packrafts have higher material thicknesses in the bottom, twice as strong. The outside of the side tube and the outside and inside of the bottom are coated with TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), which has a high abrasion resistance and is also used from other packraft brands.
You only need a few minutes to assembly the packraft
The workmanship of the packraft is good
The floor does not give additional protection to the hull
The inside of the side tube, which is not accessible, is covered with a PU coating. If deeper scratches damage the outer coating, the tube is still waterproof and airtight due to the second inner coating and does not need to be patched. However, other manufacturers (e.g. Anfibio, MRS, Alpacka) do without this inner coating in order to preserve the elasticity of the base material (which is made of nylon or polyester) and thus achieve a higher tear resistance of the material.
The bottom is very cleanly and evenly attached to the side tube. Here, however, we would have liked to see the more robust bottom overlap the more sensitive side tube significantly more, thus additionally protecting the side tube (the only buoyancy of the packraft) from ground contact. This is common practice of other manufacturers to protect the side tube and at the same time the only air tube of a packraft. Only with ultralight Packrafts (e.g. Anfibio) we know that the bottom does not generously cover the side tube due to weight saving.
Instead of using the bottom material for the orange part of the air tube at the rear, it would have been better in our view to make this part from 210d and to donate an overhang of the bottom for it, which would protect the side tube.
Carabiner for fastening the thigh straps
Thigh belts mounted in the packraft
The seating position is not variable compared to many other packrafts, because the packraft does not have an adjustable backrest. Instead, the air tube serves as a backrest. You get the necessary support in the packraft via the thigh straps.
The padded thigh straps are attached to the side tube with two carabiners and can be tightened or loosened with a strap. They are quite heavy with the carabiners for a packraft, but very high quality and sturdy. Nevertheless, the 2-point thigh straps cannot be compared to the very individually adjustable 4- or 5-point thigh straps of whitewater packrafts from Alpacka or MRS. Nevertheless, they are a good alternative to the footrest to find sufficient support while paddling.
The Itiwit Packraft is a semi-open packraft and has a front deck
Packrafts are available as open and closed (= with deck) boats. The Itiwit Packraft is a semi-open packraft. It has a front deck. Due to the raised and voluminous bow, the deck is not mainly used as a splash water protection, but to attach luggage or especially a bicycle, without disturbing the footwell.
Packrafts usually have at least four holding loops at the bow and two at the stern for attaching luggage, equipment or a bicycle. The Itiwit Packraft has five carrying handles at the bow and two large carrying handles at the stern, which can serve as holding loops or carrying handles. Thus, you have enough attachment options to securely attach luggage and equipment to the packraft.
The carrying handles are a practical alternative to the conventional holding loops. Whether in a capsize, when pulling the packraft to shore, when two people are carrying the boat on river trips or when you carry the boat alone on your shoulder, there is always a possibility to grab the packraft properly. In our model, however, the front carrying handle is quite tightly dimensioned, so that it is difficult to grab the tightly inflated Packraft.
The transport bag can be attached to the deck
Rolled up, the contents are packed waterproof
The transport bag is quickly and easily at hand
You can either store the transport bag with the tube under the deck or attach it directly to the deck. We like to use this as a dry nag, as it is waterproof when rolled up and with the valve closed, and attach it to the deck. The best way to attach it is via the packing straps on the side grab handles on the deck. This way you have a dry bag that you can access at any time without having to detach it from the deck.
Other small luggage (e.g. a waterproof dry abs with valuables) can be stowed in the footwell between your legs. There are three fastening loops on the floor.
Review of the Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500 on the water
The Packraft is easy to carry to the water. You can either shoulder the packraft or use the thigh straps as carrying handles. If you have loaded the packraft with a lot of luggage, it is still recommended to set up the packraft close to the water. If you paddle with somebody else it is then easier to carry it together to the water. You can use the carrying handles at the bow and stern.
The packraft can be carried easily over the shoulder or via the thigh straps to the water
The interior of the Itiwit packraft feels very spacious, which offers enough room for tall people. We with a height of 189 cm (6’2”), we can fully stretch out our legs, depending on our footwear. This is partly due to the fact that no space is given away by a backrest. Nevertheless, we paddle with our legs slightly bent. In this case the thigh straps serve their purpose well in order to provide sufficient support in the boat. Therefore, we recommend that you always have the thigh straps with you, as in our view they serve as a substitute for a footrest.
The interior offers enough space even for tall people
Experience on lakes and calm rivers
Only for short tours we would omit the thigh straps, so you save almost 1/2 kg in weight. Instead, a dry bag in the footwell can then serve as a footrest, which provides sufficient support while paddling. On longer trips, we consider the thigh straps to be a useful feature.
Overall, we find the seating comfort very good despite having no backrest. We do not miss the backrest. You can find good support for your lower back on the air tube. The seat height is also very comfortable, allowing a clean paddle stroke despite the voluminous side tube. On calm waters, the seat also remained very well in position and did not slip.
In addition to space and seat comfort, driving characteristics are another important aspect we’d like to discuss in more detail. Unloaded (no luggage in the air tube or on the bow), the Itiwit packraft turns very easily, which is common for packrafts of this length without a skeg. With a steeper and less powerful paddle stroke, it can be used well for small tours on the lake or long distances on rivers with noticeable current. Especially on small rivers you will benefit from the maneuverability of the packraft.
On longer tours, the thigh straps are a useful addition, even on calm waters, as there is no foot brace
The packraft also offers high tipping stability. The voluminous sides and stern contribute to the fact that it has a large surface on the water. As a beginner, you will already feel safe in the packraft right away due to the high tipping stability and seating position.
As usual with open packrafts, splashing water gets on your clothes and into the interior on longer tours. Double-bladed paddles with drip rings provide can help to keep some of the splash water out.
In the summer, none of this is a problem. In the off-season, you should wear at least rain pants, and better yet, proper cold weather protection in the form of a dry suit. If you often paddle in the off-season, a packraft with a closed deck might suit you better (e.g. Anfibio Rebel 2K, nortik TrekRaft Expedition). This is because a closed deck serves as protection against splashing water, rain and cold. The Itiwit packraft with its small front deck at the bow cannot offer you this protection.
The packraft offers a high tipping stability
Bikerafting with the Itiwit packraft
We were with the Itiwit Packraft not only on several lakes in Sweden and rivers in Bavaria, but have also done a bikerafting tour. That means we did one section by bike and another section with the bike on the bow of the packraft paddling on the river.
A 13 kg mountain bike on the bow of the Itiwit Packraft
Light as well as moderate forest and gravel tails can be ridden without problems with the mountain bike and the packraft on the handlebars. The 4kg on the handlebars you hardly feel.
The transport bag of the Packraft can be very well attached to the handlebars of the bike with the two compression straps. The bag is dimensioned narrow enough so that it does not cover the brake levers and gear shift. However, the straps of the bag should be properly tightened so that the bag does not hang too far down.
If your bike has a front suspension fork, check that the bag does not touch the tire when it is compressed. If necessary, you should close the fork, pack the packraft even more compactly or put individual parts (seat, thigh straps, …) in the backpack to ensure sufficient distance from the tire.
The packraft on the handlebar
It is fastened with the compression straps
You can easily attach the mountain bike on this packraft
To mount the bike on the bow of the packraft, it is best to remove the front and rear wheels. The bike frame is placed on the bow first, and then the wheels are placed on the frame. To securely attach everything to the carrying handles on the top of the front deck, you will need at least four, and preferably six, packing straps.
Be sure to set up the packraft close to the water, as it is pretty unhandy to carry the packraft with the bike mounted. The best way to put the packraft with bike in the water is to reach under the deck with the palms of your hands and lift it up. Then you reach directly under the center of gravity and keep the best control when you carry it to water.
The bike is attached to the front of the bow
For this you need at least 4-6 straps
On the water, we really like the Itiwit packraft with the bike on the bow. The packraft is still nicely maneuverable and tip-resistant. You feel very safe on the water right away. Although the Packraft with its 2.3m is not longer than traditional packrafts, it feels longer inside. The front deck with its carrying handles allows the bike to be mounted nice and far forward. In combination with the seat without backrest, you get enough distance to the bike so that the bike doesn’t disturb you when paddling.
The packraft is very easy to paddle with the bike on the bow
Where luggage is usually stowed, the bike is located, which is on the bow. A dry bag can still be stowed under the deck, as the interior is very spacious. Nevertheless, we find the TIZIP at the rear really practical, especially when bikerafting. So even tours with a lot of luggage or even longer bikerafting tours are possible without any problems.
From our point of view, the Packraft with the bag, the TIZIP and front deck, among other things, has been designed specifically for bikerafting and thus delivers a really good performance.
We specially liked bikerafting with the Itiwit packraft
Whitewater paddling with the Itiwit packraft
Decathlon claims a suitability of whitewater stage 2. We paddled the Itiwit Packraft on a white water river (whitewater stage 1 and 2) and played with the one or other groundsill and went in and out of quite a bit of eddies.
Compared to calm rivers and lakes, a packraft has to cope with a lot more in white water. Groundings are inevitable in whitewater and much more frequent than in other waters. Especially if the water level is low, you don’t know the river yet or you don’t have much experience in finding the right line in whitewater. That’s why packrafts for whitewater have a generous bottom, i.e. the more robust bottom has an overhang and gives additional protection to the lower part of the side tube (which provides the air buoyancy of the packraft). This is not the case with the Itiwit Packraft. This is not a big issue. However, it has a higher risk of getting a hole in the side tube than a packraft that is designed for white water use (e.g. Mekong Pablo Whisky Bar, MRS Alligator 2S or Alapacka Expedition).
Packrafting on a whitewater river
For regular paddling in whitewater stage 2, we also miss a whitewater deck or drain opening. Without this option, you have to stop and empty the boat more often. The voluminous and raised bow rides many waves well. Nevertheless, especially in white water stage 2, one or the other wave comes into the boat from the front or from the side. The front deck is too short for effective splash protection and hangs down to the interior due to the raised bow. If a wave hits the bow, it will flow into the interior.
For these reasons, we recommend the Itiwit packraft for white water stage 1 and at most for occasional use in white water stage 2. In our view, it is not a packraft designed for regular use in white water stage 2. However, we would now also like to look at the equipment for whitewater suitability. Because here some weak points of the packrafts show up.
On the one hand, the seat cushion does not sit as firmly in the interior as expected. Due to the low water temperature of whitewater rivers compared to the air temperature of the environment, the pressure of the air tube and seat cushion decreases, so that both become softer. This is completely normal for inflatable boats. In this case, you have to re-pump after a short time or you put the boat to the water before the tour, let it “cool down” there and then re-pump.
The minimum length of the strap is still too long, so that the seat can slip back and forth
If the air tube and the seat cushion have too little air pressure, the seat cushion will slide forward about 10 cm the next time you hit the ground with the packraft (even though we have tightened the fastening strap of the seat cushion on the floor of the packraft to the maximum). The cushion is then too far forward and leaning against the tube is no longer possible. You slide with the bottom partly in the gap that has arisen. Paddling is then no longer fun. So, you need then to stop, pump up some air and position the seat correctly.
There would be a way to fix the seat more firmly to the floor with the strap (was mentioned as an idea in the reviews on decathlon.fr). This involves maximizing the length of the strap and inserting the seat cushion upside down (top of the seat cushion on the inside floor of the packraft) so that the strap is on the seat surface. Then the seat cushion sits much tighter, even though the air tube and seat cushion are softer. However, we do not see this alternative as a solution. The strap is very short for this and builds up too much tension at the fastening loops (where the strap is hooked to the floor).
From our point of view, the rear fastening loop for the seat cushion should be positioned further back on the inner floor and, above all, the distance between the two fastening loops should be short enough to prevent the seat cushion from sliding forward.
Another point of criticism are the non-locking carabiners of the thigh straps. With this type, the carabiner can be opened at any time by pressure intended but also unintentionally. There is no danger of a thigh belt coming loose as a result. This is because the carabiner has a kind of nose for this purpose, and it is not possible for thigh straps under pressure to slip out of the attachment loop. The real danger is that you get could get caught unintentionally (for example, with the life jacket or a piece of clothing in a capsize).
Most weaknesses came up on the whitewater usage
If you still want to use the Itiwit packraft occasionally in whitewater, you should replace the carabiners with lockable carabiners or do without the thigh straps and use a dry bag as a footrest instead. In our opinion, the luggage net with its long cord under the front deck is another danger if the cord stopper is not tightened (then there is a large loop in the footwell, which is another source of danger for getting caught in a capsize).
From the driving characteristics, you can definitely use the packraft for whitewater stage 2. It offers a sufficiently high air buoyancy, is very stable in the water, is nicely maneuverable to paddle into the eddies and the thigh straps (with the right carabiners) are a useful equipment to have enough support in the boat.
Repair of the Itiwit packraft
On a tour in Sweden, we unfortunately got a small crack in the floor of the packraft. The shores of the lakes we paddled were covered with sharp rocks. This was unfortunately bad luck and can happen with inflatable boats and that’s why you should always have a patch kit with you.
For small holes and cracks, the packraft already comes with three small and three large round patches that are suitable for quick and long-term repairs. The self-adhesive patches have a 3M 300LSE adhesive, which promises a high initial adhesion and a durable adhesive strength. The material of the patch is sufficiently thick so that the patched area should withstand stresses (e.g. grounding).
Patching the small crack worked very well for us right away, and the packraft is fully usable again with a small cosmetic blemish. However, the bottom did get more deep scratches, which we will observe over time.
Whole in the floor of the packraft
Choosing the right patch
Repaired packraft
Dismantling the packraft
The dismantling of the Itiwit packraft is as usual with Packrafts simple and fast. You open the valve of the packraft and release the air. If you have luggage in the air tube, you can now open the TIZIP.
On the seat you open the valve as well. There is a push button that you have to push in order to be able to push the air out. Theoretically, you can leave the thigh straps and the seat in the boat and fold the packraft like this. We take both out and put them separately in the transport bag.
First fold the packraft lengthwise. Make sure that it is not wider than the transport bag. Then you can roll up the packraft from the front to the rear. This has two advantages. Firstly, the remaining air can flow out of the valve unhindered. Secondly, the TIZIP is rolled up at the end and is not bent. The TIZIP should be closed so that no dirt gets into it when rolling it up, packing it or storing it. Now you can compress the packraft a bit with the included compression strap. The main purpose of the strap is to prevent the packraft from unrolling on its own.
Storing the packraft in the transport bag
When the packraft is folded narrowly, it fits wonderfully in the bag with accessories and can be compressed to the original pack size. To do this, pull the compression straps together. The packraft is compactly packed and compressed as soon as the side click closures on the bag can be closed.
Sometimes you just want to transport the packraft to the car and dry and fold it at home. Since the transport bag is generously sized and can be varied in size thanks to its roll closure, it is no problem to pack the packraft in a less well compressed state. The transport bag can be closed like a conventional dry bag with roll closure at the top and can be used as a handle for transport, unless you use the outer compression straps.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Itiwit packraft
The great strength of the Itiwit packraft is the very good price-performance ratio. It brings many features that are available from other manufacturers only in the higher price segment ( for example, TIZIP luggage compartment). Another strength is the very simple and convenient assembly. The inflation bag, which serves as a transport bag and dry bag, is brilliant.
The biggest weakness from our point of view reveals itself in the Itiwit packraft in white water. Here we lack the necessary robustness, a more effective splash water protection or a drain option and a better attachment of the seat. In addition, the non-lockable carabiners are a potential source of danger for getting caught in a capsize.
The biggest strength of the Itiwit packraft is the price-performance ratio
Advantages
good workmanship + very good price-performance ratio + large and high-quality equipment in the price range (TIZIP, thigh straps, … ) + very easy and fast assembly through the pump bag + pump bag can be used as a transport and dry bag + sufficient carrying and safety handles available + simple but comfortable thigh straps (good padding and adjustable) + very well suited for bikerafting and multi-day river tours + numerous options to attach and stow luggage + good seating comfort + safe handling in calm waters (high tilt stability, high seat cushion, thigh straps, good maneuverability) + self-adhesive repair patches included
Disadvantages
– lower side of the side tube is hardly protected against high stresses – above-average heavy equipment for a packraft (seat cushion, thigh straps and inflation bag) – low splash water protection – only conditionally suitable for whitewater (insufficient seat attachment, non-lockable carabiners for the thigh straps, too little protection of the side tube, no sufficient splash protection or drain possibility) – according to the valve of the packraft 1.5 PSI should go up (unclear when these are reached, no hints in the description)
Conclusion on the Itiwit packraft
Itiwit has managed to bring a well-made packraft to the market at an entry-level price, which in many aspects goes far beyond an entry-level packraft. It is a packraft with a high level of equipment and a good range of applications and its price is a segment where the basic models of other manufacturers only start.
The Itiwit packraft Adventure 500 does not try to be one of the lightest or most robust packrafts for the most demanding packrafting. Instead, emphasis was placed on high-quality and high equipment (e.g. carrying handles instead of holding loops, thigh straps with carabiners, TIZIP, …).
The Itiwit packraft is overall a good packraft
If you want to get into packrafting, you can’t go wrong with the Itiwit packraft in our opinion. It is a good all-rounder for large tours in flowing water and small tours on lakes. In addition, we consider the Itiwit packraft to be really well suited for bikerafting and multi-day river tours with noticeable current due to its luggage compartment and bows.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for a packraft mainly for whitewater use, we recommend another packraft (e.g. from Alpacka or MRS like the Alpacka Expedition or MRS Alligator 2S). The same applies if you want to go packrafting with a very high hiking part. Also in this area there are packrafts (e.g. from Anfibio like the Anfibio Delta MX) that weigh only half as much (so-called ultra-light packrafts) and offer similar driving characteristics, a comparable robustness, a good amount of space and sufficient comfort.
If you travel with your packraft in the off-season, you should also ask yourself when buying whether you need a closed deck to protect you from the cold, rain and spray. The small front deck of the Itiwit packraft does not offer this protection.
Alpacka Packrafts are very popular and have a high reputation in the packraft scene, especially among packrafters who do a lot of whitewater. In addition, Alpacka Raft promises to produce one of the best packrafts. In this review, we would like to take a closer look at the Alpacka Expedition and summarize our experiences with the packraft on the water. In particular, we have reviewed the Alpacka Expedition in size Large and with a removable whitewater deck.
1 246 cm | 8’1” 91 cm | 3′ 159 kg | 351 lbs 43 x 20 cm | 1’4” x 7” 210d high count nylon (hull) 840d ballistics nylon (floor)
Weight: Produced in:
3.8 kg | 8.4 lbs USA
Which model has been reviewed?
Alpacka Expedition with removable whitewater deck from 2020
How did we organize the review?
The Alpacka Expedition was provided to us on a rental basis by Packraft Europe. Packraft Europe is the Alpacka Raft dealer for the EU and delivers Alpacka Packrafts and packrafting equipment to any country within the European Union. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or store and reflects our own opinion of the boat.
How intensively has the product been tested?
low
high 1 bar = 1-3 km paddled (first impressions) 2 bars = min. 1 day/ 2 half-day tours 3 bars = min. 4 tours 4 bars = min. 8 tours 5 bars = min. 12 tours (very intense)
Where have we tested the product?
Whitewater
Calm rivers
Lakes
Table of Contents
Assembly and first impressions
The Alpacka Expedition is available in several color combinations (or custom color scheme for an additional charge), three sizes, and with a fixed or removable whitewater deck. You choose the size based on your required seat length. Depending on the size, the Alpacka Raft has an outer length of 231 to 246 cm. The width is identical for all three sizes.
Of the two deck options, the fixed whitewater deck provides the most effective splash protection and is ideal for paddlers who do a lot of challenging whitewater. For an additional cost, the Alpacka Expedition comes with a removable whitewater deck, giving you the ability to customize the packraft to suit your needs. We’re curious to see how well the removable deck keeps out the water on our model.
Alpacka completely eliminates the need for a plastic bag as packaging and packs the packraft and accessories in a lightweight thin fabric bag that you can use elsewhere. We think the idea of avoiding plastic is really great. A more robust bag for permanent use would have been even better, because the size of the bag is optimally adapted to the packraft and its accessories.
The packraft comes in a thin bag
Scope of delivery of the Alpacka Expedition
The unfolded packraft
The Expedition series is standard equipped with a Cargo Fly (luggage compartment accessible via a T-Zip zipper in the rear). A T-Zip is a waterproof and airtight zipper, which allows you to store your luggage inside the hull dry and safe. You must place the luggage in the inner tube before inflating the packrafts.
T-Zip of the Cargo Fly (inner luggage compartment)
Dry bag (left) inside the hull
The packraft can be inflated with the supplied inflation bag.The dark green inflation bag is lightweight and makes a robust impression. Make sure that the T-Zip is completely closed before inflating.
The valve of the boat makes a very high-quality impression. The screw thread is very easy to handle. The valve can be opened and closed via the blue thread. To inflate with the inflation bag, you have to turn the blue thread slightly counterclockwise and screw on the thread of the inflation bag. Here we are missing the obvious marking that shows whether the valve is open or closed. With the inflation bag you get the packraft filled to about 80% with air. Then you turn the airbag off and create the final air pressure with your mouth. Here you should blow as hard as possible to get a good stiffness. Inflating the packraft with your mouth also works very well. No separate mouthpiece is required.
The inflation bag is used to inflate the packraft
The inflation bag is screwed on the valve
You create the final pressure with your mouth
Then inflate the seat cushion via its air hose. It is best not to inflate it completely so that it is easier to place in the interior. The seat cushion is attached to the floor so that it cannot slip during the paddling tour. Then you inflate the seat according to your desired thickness. This is very easy, because the air hose of the seat is long enough.
The backrest (or back strap) is attached via four attachment points. You can adjust the backrest forward and backward via the two front straps, so you can adjust the packraft to fit your height and clothing (neoprene socks vs. hiking boots). Thanks to the generous dimensions of the seat cushion, there is still enough seating space when you put the backrest all the way forward.
Alpacka Expedition seat cushion and back rest
Packraft without deck
Packraft with deck
The deck is attached via four zippers and two Velcro fasteners. The attachment and removal of the deck is very simple and works easiest when the packraft is not yet inflated or only slightly inflated.
The mounting of the coaming is simple and cleverly solved. The coaming is stiffened with an plastic ring. On the coaming there are two large insertion openings, each of which can be opened via a zipper. Here you can insert the ring, which is a robust plastic tube. The two openings make handling very easy. The second opening helps you to “push” the tube around better. When the plastic tube is back in the first opening, you can connect the two ends of the tube and close the zippers. This will give you a stiff coaming. The plastic tube stays in place and cannot come loose. This concept is very well thought out.
Plastic tube for stiffening the coaming
When using the deck, you don’t have the full length of the interior available. The back rest can be set very far back, but then the deck is in the way, so you would be leaning against the coaming. For tall people, it would have been handy if the seat hatch started a little further back.
When the deck is used, the entire seat area cannot be used
Alpacka offers 4-point thigh straps and a foot brace as accessories for maximum performance in white water. The thigh straps can be adjusted very well. The footrest can be adjusted individually via the air pressure, so that it fills more or less space from the bow.
Optional thigh straps
Optional foot brace
The floor is made of 840D ballistic nylon coated on both sides, which is a high value for a packraft and makes an extremely robust impression. Ballistic nylon is one of the most durable weave patterns, which gives the material a very high tightness and tear resistance.
The hull is made of a 210D nylon, which is coated on one side (i.e. only from the outside). The one-sided coating saves weight on the one hand and on the other hand it increases the tear resistance of the material in contrast to a material coated on both sides (the fabric is not too embedded in the coatings and can react more flexibly when stressed. Thus, it does not tear until later). The only disadvantage of a one-sided coating is that it can leak more quickly in case of damage.
To prevent this, Alpacka has placed the floor very generously on the hull, so that it is additionally protected. This makes perfect sense, as the highest stresses occur on the bottom of the packraft.
The hull material is sewn together, taped and double welded. The bottom is both glued and welded to the hull.
The workmansip is very good
440D nylon (top) vs. 840D ballistic nylon (below)
The bottom is generously placed on the hull.
Dry bags are included in US and available as option in Europe. They can be attached inside the boat tube with a clip. They are used for safe and watertight stowage of luggage in the air tube. In addition, they additionally serve as separate air chambers in the packraft and thus increase the safety of the packraft.
Dry bags for the Alpacka Expedition
you buy the dry bags separately they are a pretty expensive. We could not identify any special features of the dry bags compared to conventional dry bags. We recommend that you do not buy the dry bags if they are not included for the moment and buy them later if necessary. We had stowed luggage in the tube without the dry bags on several tours, which worked without problems. On a multi-day tour with sleeping bag and sleeping pad the dry bags were a useful addition, so that the camping equipment would stay dry in case of a tear in the boat skin. However, inexpensive dry bags are also sufficient here.However, these can then not be fixed inside the boat.
Very practical are also the attached red carrying loops at the bow and stern. Thus, the packraft can be carried comfortably to the water even in fully loaded condition by two persons.
Review of the Alpacka Expedition on the water
We have done very different tours with the packraft (from a small afternoon trip on a lake or river to whitewater tours between WW1-2+ and a multi-day tour with camping and hiking part). Depending on weather and use, we used the packraft as an open or closed packraft.
Alpacka Expedition with the optional Alpacka Bow Bag (24 liters)
If you don’t got whitewater paddling and good weather is announced, you can leave the deck at home. Without the deck you not only save weight (about 300g) and space in the hiking backpack, but also have more space in the Alpacka Expedition as a tall person.
We carried the bow bag (optional accessory) with us on every tour, as it proved to be very practical. It holds 24 liters, is easily accessible on the water and is securely attached to the bow via four carabiners. The bag opens via a waterproof zipper. It is ideal for storing camera, drinks and break snacks that you want to have at hand during the tour.
Without deck and with bow bag
With deck and bow bag
With deck and hiking boots, the interior space is narrow even in size L
The opening of the deck is very large, so that getting in and out is possible without any big problems. With the deck up, we (189 cm / 6’2”) find the footwell a bit small, or just enough. After a while, we mostly paddled with our legs bent so that our knees stuck out. Without the deck, the space is much better for taller people.
Despite the slim back rest, the voluminous rear offers the possibility to lean comfortably.
We initially had to get used to the backrest because it sits very low. For comfortable paddling tours, we would have liked a higher backrest, because we are probably just used to it from other inflatable kayaks. Nevertheless, it is very easy to relax or paddle relaxed in the Expedition, because you can loosen the backrest on the water and thus lean on the tube.
In calm waters, the straight-line characteristic and speed is that of a 1-person packraft usual and does not differ from other packrafts without fins (e.g. nortik TrekRaft Expedition). Packrafts with fins (e.g. Anfibio or MRS) have better straight-line characteristic in calm water.
The packraft offers a lot of space without deck
We had tested the Alpacka Expedition on different whitewater rivers. In this water we liked the paddling performance best. The handling in white water is very good. It reacts more precisely and you can use more technique than, for example, on a nortik TrekRaft Expedition or Kokopelli Rogue. First, you sit higher due to the high seat cushion. Second, the Alpacka is minimally more tippy, but it’s easier to edge as a result.
The precisely adjustable backrest allowed us to adjust the packraft exactly to our height and needs. The thigh straps give even more control from whitewater 2 and 3. In whitewater, we found the interior space to be optimal in combination with the deck. It is a bit narrow, but offers such a good hold.
The Alpacka packraft performs really well on whitewater
Attaching the spray skirt is really easy. It is extremely light and yet it made a robust and high-quality impression. The splash skirt has not slipped off us even once in the white water, even if you push against it with your knees. Nevertheless, it can be pulled down very quickly and easily with the help of the front loop, if it should be necessary.
The protection against splashing water by the removable whitewater deck in combination with the splash skirt is very effective. We had slight concerns at first that some water would get into the boat over time, especially in whitewater due to the water-permeable zippers. In whitewater level 2, we could not perceive any disadvantage to a solid whitewater deck. Although the zippers are not waterproof, the front and rear Velcro covers protect it from water. There is also an additional cover under each zipper so that the water is blocked from entering and is drained away again.
Dismantling the Alpacka Expedition
The seat cushion and the backrest can be removed from the boat very easily. For the seat cushion, you open the air hose and press out the air. You can leave the deck on the boat. Only the hose of the coaming should be pulled out before rolling up the packraft.
Now open the valve of the boat and push the air out of the packraft while folding it. The Packraft can then be rolled up again very easily into its original packing size, so that it fits into the supplied bag again without any problems. However, make sure that the T-Zip is closed and does not bend when rolling up.
The packraft rolls up very well into its original pack size.
Strengths and weaknesses of the packraft
The packraft’s greatest strength is its high quality, which is reflected in the material, workmanship, design and equipment. You can see that Alpacka has the ambition to build the best packrafts. If you look at the manufacturers or dealers website, you will quickly see that it is a boat made by packrafters for packrafters. We could not find any real weaknesses. At most points there are rather things that we liked less. But even that is complaining on a high level.
Advantages
+ very well thought out packraft + high configurability + very high quality workmanship + very robust bottom, which also sufficiently protects the side tubes from below + high quality valve + good seating comfort and fastening + high load capacity + very good performance in whitewater
Disadvantages
– high purchase price – valve position (whether open or closed) not immediately obvious – supplied bag in the long term not usable as a transport bag – complete interior with deck not completely usable and with hiking boots for tall people on long and relaxed paddling tours a bit narrow – holder for an optional fin would be useful
A very well thought out and high quality packraft
Conclusion
The Alpacka Expedition is a very high priced and extremely high quality packraft. The material and workmanship indicate a long life. Alpacka rafts are among the most expensive packrafts on the market. Packrafts generally have a high price, at which outsiders can probably only shake their heads. The question arises whether the extra price is justified here. After testing and comparing it with other packrafts, we can say: Yes, the extra price is justified. You get an almost perfect packraft here, which is hardly anything to complain about. Nevertheless, you should consider whether you really need such a high-end packraft before buying it. It would be a shame if it is only used once or twice a season.
If you only want to paddle calm rivers or lakes, you can also choose a cheaper Alpacka Raft or packraft of another brand. However, for those who will use their packraft a lot and will put a lot of stress on it (e.g. whitewater), the Alpacka Expedition is a good choice.
Packrafts have become increasingly popular in recent years. These small, practical inflatable boats are particularly popular with adventure travelers. But many people living in big cities are also slowly acquiring a taste for these practical boats. Packrafts require almost no storage space, can easily be carried in a normal hiking backpack and are ideal for transporting on public transport. They offer many people a way to paddle without a car and a lot of space at home and to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city.
What is a packraft?
A packraft is a very light, compact and stable inflatable boat, which can therefore also be carried along when hiking or biking. In fact, a packraft is a backpacking boat that can be used during a hiking or biking trip to cover parts of the trip with a small inflatable boat.
Thanks to the good maneuverability and tilt stability, they are often seen on white water and are also quite suitable for this use. Nevertheless, packrafts are mainly used to have a small boat with you on your expedition.
For a small inflatable boat, the purchase cost is very high. Well equipped packrafts with a robust boat skin can cost up to $1000 and more. But the possibilities you have with a packraft are enormous. Nevertheless, you should ask yourself in the beginning if you really use the possibilities of a packraft. From our point of view, a packraft is the right inflatable boat for you if the following aspects are important to you:
If you want your inflatable boat to be as portable as possible. Packrafts have a very low weight as well as a small pack size and therefore offer the best portability among portable boats at all. There are even ultralite packrafts that are no bigger than a beverage bottle. You can plan your trips with a packraft much more spontaneously and also more flexible, because it is a real “always with you boat”. It can fit in any daypack, luggage, trunk or campervan. Decide on the spot or during the day if you really want to go paddling. After the paddle, you can dry the boat on the clothes rack at home. When dried, a packraft will fit in any closet. Thus, a packraft is perfect for adventurous spontaneous city dwellers and travel enthusiasts.
Packrafts are extremely compact when rolled up and can be stowed in almost any backpack.
If you are a nature sportsman or outdoor enthusiast and want to go on land-water tours. With a packraft in your backpack, you have the opportunity to discover nature from a new perspective. Because of the easy transportability of packrafts you can combine paddling with another outdoor activity and your tour planning is almost unlimited. You use your packraft where the trail ends and the shore begins. So you can paddle to an island, cross lakes or hike upstream and paddle back downstream with the packraft. Packrafts are not only very transportable, but you can carry a lot on the bow of a packraft itself (e.g. a bicycle). It’s not for nothing that the term bikerafting has become established.
Hiking first and then paddling downstream by boat? No problem with a packraft
If you want to paddle mainly flowing water or even whitewater. Packrafts have a high buoyancy due to their voluminous side tube and have a wide short hull. These characteristics make packrafts very stable and very maneuverable on the water. That is why packrafts are popular in white water as well as on small and swiftly flowing rivers. Here, the slowness of a packraft is hardly noticeable due to the current of the river and obstacles can be avoided very easily. Especially on whitewater rivers, a packraft opens up new possibilities because you can reach riverbanks that are only accessible on foot. In addition, the problem of having to catch up with the car after the tour is eliminated, since you can walk to the next stop at the end of the tour and take public transportation. If, on the other hand, you want to go on long tours on standing water, a packraft will not give you much pleasure in the long run. Most of the 1-person packrafts are too slow.
Packrafts enjoy a great popularity in whitewater
Whitewater packrafting
Even though packrafts are very beginner-friendly compared to traditional whitewater kayaks and therefore forgiving of many technique mistakes, the water still remains unchanged. Paddling on whitewater requires appropriate safety equipment (e.g. life jacket with sufficient buoyancy, helmet, throwbag, signal whistle, …), the correct assessment of the current water conditions when planning the trip (esp. water level and discharge), safe maneuvering of the packraft and early danger recognition on the river. These aspects and others should not be underestimated.
If at least two of the above points apply to you, you should definitely continue reading this article. Because there are numerous tips waiting for you, which we could collect in the last years with packrafts.
If only one or none of the points apply to you, but you still feel like paddling, you should consider the other types of inflatable boats (e.g. inflatable kayak or inflatable canoe). For example, a solid 2-person inflatable kayak costs between $500 and $900. This begs the question of why packrafts are more expensive.
Equipment that is very light yet sturdy is known to cost significantly more. The cost of materials is higher. In addition, most of it is made by hand and in small series compared to other types of boats. The margin on a packraft has to be higher so that suppliers can make a living from manufacturing and selling them. This is because packrafts are still a classic niche product today. For the price of a packraft you already get a solid inflatable kayak with good paddling characteristics, which you can paddle alone and with a friend.
The best packraft for your needs
As mentioned at the beginning, the possible uses of a packraft are almost unlimited. If hiking tours with packraft are in the foreground, a small pack size and weight are important. For bikerafting, you should make sure that the packraft has a sufficiently high load capacity, a large bow and sufficient attachment options.
In addition, you should consider which waters you will usually paddle. In principle, packrafts are much better suited for flowing waters than for large lakes and seas. If you only want to do small, leisurely tours on a lake, you will still be happy with a packraft. If you want to do tours of several hours on calm waters, you will paddle much better with a long 2-person packraft. Lakes can be paddled well with a long 2-person packraft. For whitewater you should pay attention to the right equipment, which we will discuss below.
Some 2-person packrafts can be paddled solo as well and offer better paddling performance on calm water
1-person vs 2-person packraft
1-person packrafts: This size of packrafts is the most common. Here there is the largest selection of models. They are very compact as well as maneuverable and therefore very popular especially in white water. If you want to do packraft tours alone, this is the right packraft for you. But even if you are paddling with other packrafters, a 1-person packraft has its advantages: you determine your own paddling pace, develop your own paddling technique and can make one or the other detour independently of the others, for example to look at something close to the shore. 1-person packraft are available in numerous lengths, so that even for tall people there are sufficiently large 1-person packrafts.
Did you know …?
Manufacturers, such as Alpacka Raft, MRS and Mekong, offer their 1-person packrafts in different sizes. So you can choose the packraft according to your body size. Especially if you use the packraft in whitewater, the right size is important. If a packraft is too big, it offers too little support in white water. Alternatively, an inflatable footrest can help. If you like it cozier and more comfortable, you can also choose a slightly larger packraft for calm water and light whitewater.
Many manufacturers also have 2-person packrafts available
2-person packrafts: This size of packrafts could be interesting for you if you want to paddle often with someone else in the same boat and like to travel on calmer waters. On the one hand, the purchase costs and the weight per head are lower with a 2-person packraft. On the other hand, 2-person packrafts are longer, i.e. they have a noticeably better straight-line characteristic and are faster on the water. Plus, you can take turns paddling with your paddling partner. A majority can be paddled with a double paddle or with a single-bladed paddle as a canoe. Families with children also like to prefer 2-person packrafts over 1-person packrafts.
Packraft features
In this section, we will discuss the different features so that you can make a better decision about what you need and what you do not. The good thing is that most of the equipment can even be added later on. However, keep in mind that each additional feature will increase the weight of your packraft.
Bottom: Compared to inflatable kayaks, the majority of packrafts do not have an air chamber in the bottom. Instead, a robust “tarpaulin” is tightly attached to the underside of the tube. In whitewater, however, there are now some models with an integrated (e.g. Alpacka Forager) or insertable bottom chamber (e.g. Kokopelli Nirvana Self Bailer). Such an air chamber in the bottom offers some advantages especially in whitewater: It provides additional buoyancy and cushions groundings better. Some open packrafts even have a bottom with a self-bailer, so that any water that enters can drain away on its own.
Seat: An inflatable seat gives you an elevated seating position, making it easier to stick the paddle in the water. In addition, a seat isolates well from cold water. If you’re going on long trips and value comfort, you should also look for an inflatable seat with a backrest. For white water paddlers, packrafts with a variably adjustable backrest (in the form of a back belt/strap) are recommended. This design can be found on many Alpacka and Kokopelli packrafts. If you want to travel lighter, just leave the seat at home. The first packrafts with their minimal equipment did not have a seat. In fact, you can do without a seat because you can lean directly on the air tube and use a backpack or big dry bag as a seat. For a river crossing it is quite sufficient.
Some packrafts come with a seat net
Packrafts with adjustable backrest
Inflatable seats are ideal for long river trips.
Interior luggage compartment: Due to their small size, Packrafts offer little space to store luggage inside. Luggage must usually be secured to the bow or stern with straps or cords. Especially the bow offers space for a large backpack (up to about 60L or more). This is quite enough for a day trip. If you’re on multi-day trips, additional storage space can be a big advantage. Additional storage space (depending on the model 100 – 140L) is provided by internal luggage compartments, where you can store your luggage safely and dryly in the air tube of the packraft. During the ride, however, you can not get to your luggage, unless you let the air out. There are different names for the internal luggage compartments depending on the manufacturer (e.g. Cargofly for Alpacka, TubeBags for Anfibio, ISS [Internal Storage System] for MRS, T-Zip for Kokopelli and Mekong). Where T-Zip refers to the waterproof and airtight zipper. Internal luggage compartments can also be another security feature. Manufacturers offer special dry bags for the luggage compartments, which can also be used as air bodies. Interior luggage compartments always come at an extra cost and increase the weight of the packraft. An interesting alternative would be a larger Packraft, so you can stow your luggage in the footwell. Because of the length, the packraft also runs better.
Interior luggage compartments
Luggage stowage with dry bags in the bow with T-Zip
Deck: If you’re paddling whitewater or in the colder months, a deck is almost essential (unless you’re paddling with a drysuit in a self-bailing packraft). A deck protects you from weather, splashing water and waves. Very common is the deck with a seat hatch and coaming, to which a splash skirt can be attached. This way the packraft is completely sealed like a whitewater kayak and keeps you very well dry from waves in whitewater. In calm waters, it can be paddled without a splash skirt, and still keeps the interior dry from splashing water. In addition to the deck with seat hatch, there are also decks with an integrated spray skirt. For entry and exit, these have a zipper and Velcro closure, so they don’t seal completely. They still protect you well from cold, splash water and dirt. The zip and Velcro fasteners allow the deck to be rolled up. So you have an open packraft in no time. If you want to go paddling regularly in white water, we recommend a deck with a seat hatch. There are now also variants that can be reconfigured as an open and closed packraft with a zipper.
Deck with seat hatch and sealed with a splash skirt
Deck with an integrated splash skirt
There are decks with seat hatch that can be removed via zippers
Fin: Still little established but very practical is an attachable fin. Some models from Anfibio (e.g. Anfibio Delta MX or Rebel 2K) and MRS have a fin holder included to attach a directional fin. A skeg noticeably improves the directional stability of the packraft and thus increases paddling efficiency. The packraft is less likely to turn, so it is ideal on rivers with sufficient water depth and lakes. Regardless of the model, you can also install a fin yourself. Taking pictures in a packraft with a fin is much more comfortable. The boat drifts slower when you stop paddling. Fins are not suitable for whitewater use, as they reduce maneuverability. Also, depending on the water level, you would unnecessarily touch down with a fin.
Depending on the water level you can use a fin.
Typically, the fin in is mounted on the tail.
Materials and workmanship
At first glance, you might think that the boat material of a packraft can’t be very durable, as it feels relatively thin. However, the material of a packraft has nothing to do with the cheap PVC inflatable boats you can buy in supermarkets. Packrafts can be used in white water, and for that reason alone must be able to resist high stresses.
In principle, there are two main elements: a bottom hull and an outer tube. The outer tube goes all the way around the boat and is inflated with the help of an inflation bag and by mouth. The floor, on the other hand, is not inflated, but is simply a strong tarpaulin.
Materials used: For the boat skin of packrafts, usually a coated fabric material (polyester or nylon) is used. Rarely, packrafts are made of PVC film, which is much heavier and less tear-resistant.
Material thicknesses: The strength from the fabric material is expressed in denier (abbreviated as D). The higher the denier number, the thicker the fiber and the more durable the fabric. For example, a 420D nylon is more abrasion resistant and sturdy than a 210D material, but the 210D packraft is lighter. The bottom has the highest stress, so this is usually made of a stronger material than the side tube. Nevertheless, the robustness can be derived not only from the material thickness, but from other factors (eg coating, processing, construction, …).
440D nylon (top) vs. 840D Ballistic nylon (bottom)
420D nylon (top) vs. 210D nylon (bottom)
Coatings: Urethane, polyurethane (PU) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are usually used as coatings. The thickness of the coating is specified in g/m². The floor is coated from both sides, as it is subjected to stress from both outside and inside the footwell. For the tube, it differs depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers coat the tube on both sides so that if the outer coating is damaged, the material will still hold tight thanks to the inner coating. Other manufacturers, on the other hand, coat the tube on one side because this allows the fabric material to yield better and distribute the “tearing stress” over several fibers when stressed. As a result, the fabric material remains more tear-resistant.
Packraft manufacturers
There are now many manufacturers in the niche market of packrafts. To make your research easier, we would like to introduce some of the most important manufacturers here.
There are many different packrafts brands on the market
Alpacka Raft is the first manufacturer of today’s modern packraft and an established brand among die-hard packrafters, especially in whitewater. Alpacka Raft offers packrafts with a very high quality of workmanship and robust boat skin, designed and manufactured in the USA. Alpacka offers from ultra-light packrafts with minimalist features to whitewater packrafts with the highest possible performance. In Europe, they are distributed through Packraft Europe and Canoe School Versam. We have already paddled a Alpacka packraft and loved it. Read our review about the Alpacka Expedition.
Anfibio is the private label for ultralight packrafts of the German online retailer Packrafting-Store. The packrafts are not manufactured by the company itself, but in cooperation with a manufacturer in China. Thereby, the retailer acts strongly in the conception and accompanies the development up to the production. Due to their low entry price (compared to other Packrafts), very low weight and very compact pack size, the packrafts are aimed primarily at beginners, occasional paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts who want to combine their activities with paddling.
Itiwit is the brand for watersports from Decathlon. They are known for their affordable entry-level produtcs with a solid quality.They offer inflatable kayak for a pretty long time and extended the product range to packrafts recently as well. Their first packraft was the Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500, which we have already reviewed. Regarding price it’s the perfect packraft for beginners but in terms of workmanship, material and features it also attracts more advanced packrafters who love bikerafting.
Kokopelli is an American packraft brand. The boats are designed in the U.S. but manufactured in China, resulting in the lower price for the Packrafts compared to Alpacka’s Packrafts. Within a short period of time, Kokopelli was able to gain a high level of recognition in the outdoor industry. Kokopelli’s range covers all areas of use from white water to sea paddling. The manufacturer continuously improves its packrafts and constantly expands its product range.
Mekong is one of the youngest and few manufacturers of packrafts that develops and produces in Europe. Currently, there are still few experience and models of the French manufacturer Mekong. However, the available models are configurable and seem to have a good price-performance ratio.
MRS stands for Micro Rafting System and also offers a variety of interesting packrafts. The manufacturer produces in small series in China, also in cooperation with the Packrafting-Store. Although the Packrafts are developed and produced in China, due to the high price of over 1000€ and exclusively positive reports on the Internet, it can be assumed that the Packrafts are of high quality. For example, MRS is the only brand to offer a 2-person packraft with a deck as well as the longest 1-person packraft currently available with a hull length of 295 cm.
nortik is a brand for “backpack boats” of all kinds from the company Out-Trade. Among paddlers the brand nortik has made a name for itself and stands for high quality portable boats. Ideas as well as developments are generated and implemented in Germany. A large part of the nortik brand is produced in St. Petersburg, Russia at the long-standing Out-Trade partner Triton. In 2014, the first nortik Packraft named “TrekRaft” was launched. Packrafts from nortik are aimed in particular at price-conscious prospective customers who are looking for a functional and robust packraft.
The biggest cost factor for packrafts does not come from the materials used, but in the manufacturing process itself. Packrafts are handmade, and that makes a big part of the costs. DIY packraft sets offer you the possibility to build your own packraft at low cost. The kits contain the pre-cut materials that need to be ironed together to make a packraft. Prior experience is not required for the DIY Packraft. Depending on experience and kit, it can take over 40 hours to build. Compared to the packrafts from big-name manufacturers, the DIY do not sew the tubes and bottom together.
DIY Packraft
DIY Packraft is not a manufacturer of packrafts, but makes you the manufacturer of your own packraft. Only the materials, such as valve and boat skin, must be purchased. Thereby the components of the boat skin are already pre-cut. The main tool is a special welding machine, with which you close the seams. Step by step videos then explain how you can then make your own packraft. And when you look at the results, you have to say that the boats look like they were bought from the store. This does not only fills you with a lot of pride at the end, but also saves you quite a bit of money. The material for the cheapest model currently costs about 180€. They ship worldwide and takes between 15 and 25 hours to build the packraft, according to the site.
Long-term experiences can be found on the English-language blog michaeldeckebach.com. After numerous uses of the self-built Packrafts, the blogger is convinced of the construction and the material of the boat. At the same time, however, he points out that the seams are the packraft’s weakest point and that the boat therefore needs to be repaired at regular intervals. For a professional sealing of the seams you would need, according to the opinion of the blogger, a high-performance iron, which packraft manufacturers use but for the construction of one or two boats that would be too expensive.
Iron Raft
The British supplier Iron Raft also offers a kit to build a packraft yourself. The kit is available in three different sizes, depending on the size of the paddler. To assemble the packraft, the company recommends an iron that can apply a constant heat of at least 220°C.
Strengths and weaknesses of packrafts
The great strength of packrafts is undoubtedly the extraordinary flexibility thanks to the small packing dimensions and low weight. However, since most packrafts are quite wide and short, they don’t have the best straight-line characteristic and don’t reach the speeds as conventional kayaks.
A packraft is very compact and light to transport
Advantages
+ ideal for long tours thanks to high payload + extremely light and compact + very easy as well as quick assembly and disassembly + very robust boat skin
Disadvantages
– high purchase price – vulnerable to wind – most models are rather slow and do not have the best directional stability
Inflatable and folding kayaks as alternatives
Have you always wanted to buy a kayak or canoe, but you just don’t have the space to store it or the car to transport it? A packraft would eliminate all of that and allow you to enjoy your paddling hobby. But not only packrafts offer you this possibility. If you want to use your boat exclusively for touring on lakes and rivers, without combining it with hiking or biking, then conventional inflatable kayaks or folding kayaks may be a better choice.
Inflatable kayaks have a better performance on the water than packrafts.
Inflatable kayaks or inflatable canoes are the same in shape as the rigid-hull variants. They are definitely heavier than packrafts, but can still be transported on buses or trains with a backpack. They have the better running characteristics and more comfort, especially on lakes. In addition, there are high-quality models that are far cheaper than packrafts and are therefore more affordable for most beginners.
Those who attach great importance to the fact that the handling of their boat is close to that of a solid kayak should go for a folding kayak or folding canoe. Such boats have a very good stiffness and really good paddling characteristics. In terms of price, most folding boats are more expensive than inflatable boats.
Decathlon promises with the Itiwit x500 a hardshell-like kayak at an attractive price, which is still easy to transport. It should not only be light and robust but also quickly assembled. The Itiwit x500 is a full drop-stitch kayak that is inflated to 0.7 bar. Drop-stitch kayaks are a big trend among inflatable kayaks in recent years. A special feature of this kayak is that it has an integrated cockpit and the boat is only 64 cm wide. This speaks on the one hand for good running characteristics and on the other hand for a use of the kayak over the whole year, because the cockpit can be closed completely with a spray cover. In this review, we would like to take a closer look at the kayak, report on our first experiences on the water and give an assessment of who the kayak is suitable for.
1 380 cm | 12’5” 64 cm | 2’1” 159 kg | 200.4 lbs 43 x 20 cm | 1’4” x 7” PVC coated Drop-Stitch
Weight: Pressure: Produced in:
16 kg | 35.3 lbs 0.7 bar | 10 PSI China
Which model has been reviewed?
Itiwit x500 from 2021
How did we organize the review?
The Itiwit x500 was provided to us by Decathlon, a French manufacturer and distributor of sports equipment and clothing. Itiwit is a brand for the paddle sport of Decathlon. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or shop and reflects our own opinion of the boat.
How intensively has the product been tested?
low
high 1 bar = 1-3 km paddled (first impressions) 2 bars = min. 1 day/ 2 half-day tours 3 bars = min. 4 tours 4 bars = min. 8 tours 5 bars = min. 12 tours (very intense)
Where have we tested the product?
Whitewater
Calm rivers
Lakes
Table of Contents
First impressions and assembly
The Itiwit x500 comes with a large backpack, which makes a rather bulky impression. 16 kg (incl. backpack 18 kg) is not little for a 1-person inflatable kayak. However, here you must not forget that it is a full drop stitch kayak with an integrated cockpit.
A transport backpack is already included.
Although the backpack is kept simple, it is very functional and completely sufficient for transporting the kayak to the water. Compared to the included backpacks of many other inflatable boats, the backpack even has a waist and chest strap that make transporting the kayak to the water much more comfortable.
The shoulder straps even have load straps so you can adjust the position of the backpack on your back. So you can decide for yourself whether you want the backpack close to your back and tighten the straps for full control (for example, if the launch site is on the rocky shore), or loosen the straps for more freedom of movement and air at the back.
There is also a side pocket on each side to put your double paddle in. The orange strap not only compresses the backpack from the outside, but also holds the paddle extra tight.
The backpack has a waist and chest strap, as well as side pockets for the paddle.
Folded backpack
Kayak with seat and footrests
The opening of the backpack is pretty large. The kayak is compressed inside the backpack with another strap. In addition, the backpack contains the seat and footrests.
The Itiwit x500 has a total of five air chambers. Three of them form the kayak hull and the other two form the cockpit. The air chambers are inflated via spring valves that are easy to operate. They are similar to the valves on other high-quality inflatable kayaks (e.g. Advanced Elements).
What is Drop-Stitch?
With the Drop-Stitch technology, the upper and lower inner walls of the air chamber are additionally woven with nylon threads. This is the only way to achieve a significantly higher air pressure than with air chambers without the tangled nylon threads. The air chamber thus achieves very good dimensional stability and rigidity. The Drop-Stitch technology is very common for SUP boards (Stand Paddling Boards) and is used more and more for inflatable kayaks. Learn more about this type of inflatable boats, in our buyer’s guide for Drop-Stitch kayaks.
To pump air into the air chamber, you push out the orange pin. Then turn the cap of your air pump. The valves for the air chambers of the kayak hull are located at the back of the stern, which you can reach through the roll-up closure of the luggage hatch. First, inflate the bottom chamber and then the side chamber up to 10 PSI (0.7 bar), which is a common value for the operating pressure of a full drop-stitch kayak.
We used the Itiwit high pressure pump for inflation, which is a double action pump. You pump up the first 0.35 bar in double action mode (i.e. double stroke). This way you pump a lot of air into the chamber in a very short time. The last 0.35 bar you pump up in single mode. In this mode, you generate the necessary pressure of 0.7 bar. Inflation was very fast with the pump, without really having to use force. Not every air pump creates this necessary pressure of 0.7 bar, which should be considered when buying the air pump.
For the hull, pump up the three separate air chambers.
The valves are easily accessible via the roll closure opening.
Inflation was super easy with a double action pump.
Side and bottom chambers of the kayak are glued together and additionally taped. In the area of the valves, where the tape ends, the chambers are glued together uncleanly or at least too much glue was used (see photo above). According to initial assessment, it is not a detriment, but nevertheless, excessive glue residue testifies to careless processing.
Next, there are two small air chambers in the cockpit in front of and behind the seat hatch that also need to be inflated. These air chambers shape the cockpit and create a slight upward bulge.
Air chamber on the cockpit behind the seat hatch
Compared to other inflatable kayaks, the x500 does not require a single strap to secure the seat. The kayak seat is made of a firm foam. The seat surface is 50 x 25 cm. On the bottom of the seat there is a recess on the left and right respectively, which are placed on two wedges in the interior. The backrest, which has a height of 25 cm, is pressed under the coaming and held in position by the air chamber under the cockpit. The backrest closes with the coaming in such a way that the cushion of the backrest still protrudes slightly.
Neither the seat nor the backrest can slip. Especially with the backrest, you have to tighten the straps from time to time with other inflatable kayaks on longer tours. This is not necessary with the Itiwit x500. However, this also eliminates the possibility for individual adjustment of the backrest. The position of the seat and the angle of the backrest is therefore fixed.
The seat is placed on the wedges.
Then the backrest is pressed under the coaming.
The footrest is slid onto a rail and secured with a strap.
In the footwell, there is a rail on each side for sliding in the footrest. In addition, the footrest is attached to the side wall via a strap and buckle, via which the footrest can be adjusted on each side. We (186 and 189 cm) do not use the full length of the rail and strap by far. The assembly of the footrests worked very easily.
Due to the thin drop-stitch side walls, there is still enough space in the rear for the large air pump or a 40-liter dry bag. The opening of the luggage hatch is large enough to easily place luggage inside. Although the roll-up closure of the luggage hatch closes like a dry bag, it is unfortunately not waterproof according to the manufacturer.
In the rear there is enough space for a 40 L dry bag.
The opening is sufficiently large.
Closing the luggage hatch.
Unfortunately, our brand new model has two small holes in the roll closure of the luggage hatch. Although it is very easy to repair, holes in the material of a new product are very annoying. That’s a pity!
Holes in the roll closure (luggage hatch in the rear of the Itiwit x500)
The lower hull of the Drop-Stitch kayak is very well shaped. There is a clear keel line between the bow and stern, forming a V-shape. This promises a good straight-line stability on the water.
A clear keel line can be seen on the lower ship
The keel line is additionally reinforced with PVC material. In the bow and stern area, the reinforcement is even more pronounced by a black rubber-like strip. Thus, the most stressed areas of the kayak are well protected when touching the ground and when landing on the shore. Here you can see that the manufacturer has not saved on material and wants to focus on durability.
In addition, under the black keel stripes are an integrated plastic strip, which protrudes slightly along the entire keel line and thus forms a kind of track profile.
In addition, the bow is nice and sleek, so water resistance is minimal. Other manufacturers of full drop-stitch kayaks also use similar designs, such as hard shell elements (e.g. BIC YakkAir) or aluminum rails inside the boat (e.g. Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame), to create a pointed bow so that the kayak cuts the water better.
The x500 has a well-shaped bow.
Black keel stripe
Additional PVC material on the keel line
Overall, the kayak is cleanly finished from the outside at the many glued joints. The material makes a robust impression. Nevertheless, we noticed a few small details. On the one hand, the black keel strip disappears under the boat skin. However, the material and boat skin do not seal 100% at the closure point. This does not lead to water ingress, but in the long run to unnecessary dirt accumulation. Secondly, the additional PVC material on the keel line consists of two parts that are glued overlapping in the middle. The overlap should have been glued in reverse (i.e. correctly from bow to stern). So there are two uneven spots on the lower hull in the direction of the current, which can be a weak point especially in shallow flowing water with unfavorable grounding, unless they are 100% glued.
Carrying handle at the bow
Life lines on the side
Both the bow and stern of the kayak has a carrying handle, so that the kayak can be carried by two or alone with the help of a boat trolley over some longer distances. For short transport or putting the kayak into the water, we use the coaming as a carrying handle.
In addition, there are two safety lines on each of the two outer walls to hold on to the boat in case of capsize. This is especially important on open water. These are also very handy for pulling the kayak to shore. For carrying the kayak to the water on these safety lines alone, we find the position of the handles too far apart. In that case, you carry the boat to the water with your arms stretched wide. Therefore, the safety lines are less suitable as carrying handles.
The best way to carry the assembled x500 alone is over the shoulder
Review of the Itiwit x500 on the water
Stability of the Itiwit x500 kayak
The Itiwit x500 is clearly more tippy than most inflatable kayaks (e.g. Advanced Elements Advanced Frame, Gumotex Rush, nortik scubi 1 XL, …) but from our point of view not more tippy than e.g. the Gumotex Framura or BIC YakkAir.
Due to numerous reviews in the Decathlon store, we were prepared to capsize with the kayak. However, this didn’t happen. On the one hand, there is a revised version of the kayak since mid-2020, in which the tipping stability was increased. The V-shape has been flattened in the seat area.
On the other hand, you can significantly increase the tipping stability by sitting correctly in the kayak. To do this, adjust the footrests so that you have a total of five points of contact with the kayak with your feet on the footrests, your knees on the cockpit, and the lumbar region of your back with the seat, all under slight pressure. Then the tipping stability is really good for such a narrow inflatable kayak with a pointed keel, so that even rapids in rivers are no problem.
With the right seating position, the Itiwit x500 is sufficiently tilt-resistant
Nevertheless, you can also adjust the footrests on the water, e.g. loosen them on calm waters to stretch out the legs. In this case, the kayak will feel more tippy and hasty movements should be avoided.
Space and comfort
Thanks to the drop-stitch sidewalls, the kayak has a spacious interior despite its small external width of 64 cm. For a day trip, the luggage volume of the kayak is very good. For multi-day trips, however, it will be tight if you don’t have compact camping gear. There is enough space in the stern for the large air pump, the kayak’s transport backpack and small dry bags. If the air pump is not in the rear, a larger dry bag (40 liters) also fits in the rear.
Alternatively, a backpack or dry bag can be attached to the luggage net at the front of the bow. There is no way to attach luggage on the rear cockpit. However, you can use several tension straps to attach luggage to the rear side safety lines. D-rings or loops on the cockpit would have been a better solution though.
Some luggage can be attached to the cockpit at the front.
The Itiwit backpack (optional accessory) has extra straps to attach to the canopy
So items are stowed safely and dryly and can still be reached quickly on the water
The footwell is sufficiently long so that even tall paddlers have enough space. However, the cockpit limits the height of the footwell. Paddlers who have at least a shoe size 45 and also go paddling with sneakers should test sit in the store beforehand, or alternatively, when ordering online, before the first use in the water at home, to see if the height in the footwell is actually sufficient.
Compared to most inflatable boats (e.g. Gumotex, Advanced Elements, …), the seating comfort is lower due to the harder seat and lower backrest, but higher than hard shell kayaks. Those who mainly want to paddle comfortably reclined in the kayak will quickly complain of back pain and have little pleasure with the x500. Since the backrest is only 25 cm high, most life jackets usually do not provide additional padding either, so that this does not result in increased comfort.
The Itiwit x500 requires an upright sitting position.
A backrest rising above the coaming would conflict with the concept of a sea kayak (e.g. because of simplified re-boarding in the event of a capsize). However, if you take care of a straight upper body and sit properly on the seat (i.e. with the bottom up to the backrest), you do not need a high backrest. The backrest does not serve to lean in (nevertheless possible for a short time or breaks, but uncomfortable in the long run) but as a relief for sitting upright and as a further fixed point between paddler and kayak. Considering a correct paddling position, we find the seating comfort of the x500 good.
Seat hatch, coaming and spray skirt
The cockpit has a sufficiently large and oval-shaped seat hatch to get in and out of the kayak without much effort. Even without a splash skirt, the cockpit provides good splash protection. Due to the two air chambers under the cockpit in front of and behind the coaming, the cockpit is slightly curved so that splash water immediately flows away from the cockpit and does not accumulate or flow into the seat hatch.
The seating hatch is oval and spacious.
The seat hatch can be closed waterproof with a spray skirt. This allows you to use the kayak in the cold season and in coastal waters. Attaching the spray skirt is not fun at first and takes a lot of getting used to. Compared to the fixed coaming of a PE kayak, the flexible coaming of the Itiwit x500 requires some technique and a little patience to attach a spray skirt.
Especially in the beginning, attaching the spraydeck is quite difficult.
We used the Itiwit neoprene spray skirt. The edge of the spray skirt is sewn so that the rear part can be pushed under the coaming. It is important to put the back part of the spraydeck in first. The remaining edge of the spraydeck must be pushed under the coaming. To do this, you need to bend the coaming up a bit. After several failed attempts, the fingers hurt and it becomes a real fumbling. In winter, with cold hands, we imagine that this is even more difficult. With a little practice, however, the attachment of the spray skirt works better and better. Instructions for attaching the spray skirt are available on YouTube from the manufacturer.
If the spray skirt is attached, it sits very well and does not come off by itself. Nevertheless, the spray skirt can be easily detached from the coaming with a handle (at the loop). Therefore, we find the spray skirt a useful addition to the kayak to be able to close it completely.
Once the spray skirt is attached it does not come off during paddling.
Paddling performance
We paddled the kayak with the Itiwit Carbon double paddle (210 cm long), which worked very well for us. A 230 – 240 cm long double paddle, which we usually use with our inflatable kayaks, would be significantly too long with the narrow Itiwit x500.
The narrow kayak width and the pointed keel contribute to the good paddling performance.
For an inflatable kayak, it has really good dimensions thanks to the drop-stitch side chambers. We have never paddled a narrower air kayak. The positive effect of the narrow hull width in combination with the pointed keel can be felt immediately when paddling.The kayak runs well through the water. The kayak accelerates quickly. Speeds of 3.7 – 4 mph are possible without effort with a light paddle stroke over longer distances. We paddled the Itiwit x500 at a maximum of 5.4 mph, at which point a bow wave forms and paddling is no longer efficient. Note that these are approximate values.
The kayak has very good trim on the water and forms a high effective waterline with its short rocker. For a 380 cm long inflatable boat without fin, the straight-line stability during paddling is very good. If you stop paddling and drift, the kayak will drift just slightly in either direction instead of keeping track. However, this is completely normal for inflatable boats. We only know similar good paddling characteristics the AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite.
The Itiwit x500 is noticeably less maneuverable due to its V-shaped lower hull. For small blocked and winding rivers, the x500 is clearly at a disadvantage due to its design.
The Itiwit x500 has a good trim on the water and a short rocker
Compared to the inflatable kayaks tested so far, a significantly better upper body rotation is possible because the fixed footrests on the side chambers support the rotation of the upper body during the forward stroke. The stroke force when paddling is thus higher, without the boat constantly pulling to the left or right at the same time (which is normally the case with inflatable boats). With the Itiwit x500, overall significantly more paddling technique (e.g. weight shifting to make turns, …) is possible than with a conventional inflatable boat (e.g. Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame).
A skeg for the x500 is not necessary from our point of view. The straight-line stability is already good enough. If you are a fan of a steering system, you will miss it on the x500. Steering systems are mainly practical to countersteer in wind and current without having to paddle against it all the time. However, we have to say that we would not prefer a steering system, especially on this model. If the steering system could be operated via the footrests, they would be movable and lose the necessary resistance when paddling.
Steering pedals in the middle on a rail, on the other hand, would unnecessarily increase the weight and price of the boat. However, an optionally available steering system from Itiwit would be an attractive option.
You can make use of paddling techniques like for hard shell kayaks
Dismantling the Itiwit x500
After paddling, the footrests and the seat can be easily removed from the boat. There is a recess in the seat. You reach in there and lift the seat. This way the backrest comes off the coaming without any problems.
You usually have to reassemble the kayak at home (at least inflate it slightly) and let it dry. The boat skin is quick-drying, so it is easy to wipe it dry with a towel. However, we do not consider the entire boat to be quick-drying for two reasons. First, the two carrying handles and four safety lines soak up water due to the material (especially the side safety lines). Second, you can’t wipe the footwell dry through the cockpit because you simply can’t reach it (unless you don’t make the interior footwell wet).
You should let the kayak completely dry at home
Due to the integrated cockpit with coaming, the PVC coating of the boat skin and the drop-stitch material, the kayak is not only bulkier but also stiffer when folded. This is especially noticeable in the off-season when the waters are still very cold.
The kayak should be folded in 4 equal parts so that it fits back in the backpack. The lower part of the backpack is coated so that the bottom of the backpack does not get soaked. So you only need to roughly wipe the folded kayak and pack it in the backpack.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Itiwit x500 kayak
The biggest strengths of the Itiwiti x500 are the very good paddling characteristics and the very simple and fast assembly. The kayak can be assembled within 5 min and you get a kayak that glides really well through the water. It comes closest to the paddling characteristics of a hard shell kayak among the inflatable and drop stitch kayaks.
The workmanship of the kayak makes a solid impression, but it doesn’t seem as high quality as more expensive inflatable kayaks. There are details (small holes in the luggage hatch, partially unclean gluing) where we would have wished for a cleaner finish. However, these do not indicate any functional impairments at first glance.
Advantages
innovative inflatable kayak (many things rethought) + very simple and fast assembly + very good and flexibly adjustable footrests + extremely good paddling characteristics for an inflatable kayak (ideal for experienced paddlers and sporty paddling beginners) + very good price-performance ratio + good transport backpack included (without problem 30 minutes transport on the back) + good stowage of luggage in the stern and bow + plenty of legroom for large people + robust boat skin ratio + good transport backpack included (can be transported on the back for 30 minutes without any problem) + good stowage of luggage in the stern and on the bow + plenty of space and legroom for tall people + robust boat skin + finally a full drop-stitch kayak with a cockpit (thus usable throughout the year, also for paddling near the coast)
Disadvantages
– kayak can not be wiped completely dry after the tour, but footwell and safety lines must dry – for small and fast flowing rivers too long and too little maneuverable – no kayak for absolute paddling beginners, who are also less agile and less sporty – more tippy than conventional inflatable kayaks (due to construction) – workmanship could be better in some places – no optional steering system available – little space and attachment points for luggage on multi-day trips (here D-rings on the canopy would have been handy) – only repair material but no repair kit (incl. glue) in the scope of delivery – luggage hatch not waterproof
Conclusion on the Decathlon Itiwit x500
We enjoy paddling the Itiwit x500 a lot because it runs really well on the water without much effort.
For large waters, the Itiwit x500 is very suitable.
With the Itiwit x500, Decathlon addresses a very specific target group: Athletes who see kayaking as a sporting activity, and experienced paddlers who want to make only minor sacrifices in terms of paddling characteristics in an inflatable kayak. Both people are united by the need for easy transportability and storage. In addition, the x500 is very quick and easy to set up, so spontaneous and short paddling trips are always justified.
Recreational paddlers or leisurely touring paddlers are, in our view, better off with another inflatable boat. The Itiwit x500 is not a kayak to lean into and paddle along. It is also not a kayak to chill out on the water, but a sports equipment. You can take it on leisurely tours, but with the appropriate posture.
The Itiwit x500 will definitely still take on numerous tours and expand or update the test article with long-term experiences at the latest at the end of the season.
The lower hull of the drop-stitch kayak is very well shaped. There is a clear keel line between the bow and stern, forming a V-shape. This promises a good paddling characteristics on the water.
Intex is a well-known manufacturer of inflatable boats and inflatable kayaks in the low-price segment. In this article, we would like to introduce you to the manufacturer’s product series and discuss for whom these affordable entry-level products are suitable and what alternatives may be available.
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Manufacturer profile of Intex
About the company Intex Recreation Corp. can not be found so much on the Internet. There is an official website of the manufacturer. Here, however, the product presentation is in the focus. But you can’t find any information on the website where and how Intex manufactures its products.
The American company has been on the market for over 40 years. At first, it was still called The Wet Set® and mainly produced water balls and air mattresses. Later, the company changed its name to Intex, started producing its first inflatable pools in 1997 and now sells its products in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Since most of Intex’s products are very cheap, it is safe to assume that they are not produced in the USA. The Intex kayaks we’ve paddled have always labeled with “Made in China”. This suggests that Intex is mass producing the products with a partner in China and then selling them in numerous countries around the world. The boats are also not available in outdoor or paddling specialty stores, but are primarily available through Amazon and other online stores.
What is the quality of Intex boats and who are they suitable for?
Since we have already paddled several Intex boats ourselves, we can judge the quality of the products quite well. Intex primarily uses a PVC film for its boats, which strongly resembles the material of an air mattress. Nevertheless, this is significantly thicker than conventional air mattresses. Other inflatable boat manufacturers, however, tend to use coated fabric materials or give their boats an additional nylon cover.
Here, however, we also have to be fair and say that for the price, you can’t expect more than that. Finally, it must be taken into account that Intex offers its inflatable boats and kayaks in a complete set, which means that a paddle and an air pump are already included. And this is exactly the target group that the manufacturer is aiming at with its products: entry-level paddlers who want to start paddling immediately and rather enjoy small tours on sunny days on the lake.
The bestseller kayaks from Intex
Inflatable boats from Intex
Inflatable boats from Intex are extremely popular. They are handled much like a rowboat. If you simply want to get out on the water on a small lake with your family or friends and then relax in the sun, you can’t go far wrong with an Intex inflatable boat in most cases. Intex clearly dominates the market here, as there isn’t really any other manufacturer offering such inflatable boats in this segment either. Similar inflatable boats are only occasionally on offer at Walmart, Aldi or other big stores.
For chilling out with friends or family on a lake, inflatable boats are really great
Among the inflatable boats Intex has mainly four different product series: Challenger, Seahawk, Excursion and Mariner. The first three product series are aimed at beginners and are also very affordable in price. The Mariner inflatables, on the other hand, are already more high-end and cost more, although they are still cheap compared to many other inflatables.
The Intex Challenger is the classic inflatable boat, which is available as a 2 person and 3 person version. The 2 person boat is quite cheap, but there are no separate seat cushions, instead you sit on the floor of the boat. The Challenger inflatable boats are also quite light (8 kg | 17.6 lbs and 11 kg | 24.3 lbs respectively). So the boat can be carried in your bag without too much trouble and fits in larger backpacks.
The Intex Seahawk range is also aimed at anglers. Due to the fishing brackets and the preparation of a motor mount, the Intex Seahawk can definitely be used as a fishing inflatable boat. The Seahawk is available as a 2, 3 and 4 person inflatable boat. The 2 person boat has no seats, but for this it is quite light at 9kg. The 3 person version has seats and is also quite compact at 11kg. The larger 4-person boat with 17 kg | 37.5 lbs is already quite heavy and a transport with the bag is only reasonable on short distances.
The Intex Excursion is one of the most popular and best-selling inflatable boats of the manufacturer. It is equipped not only with seat cushions, but also with inflatable backrests. It is available as a 4-seater and as a 5-seater boat and also has fishing holders. At 19 kg | 41.9 lbs and 22 kg | 48.5 lbs respectively, the inflatable boat is quite heavy. Especially the opportunity to use an outboard motor makes the Excursion very comfortable for longer stays on the lake. If you buy a motor for your Intex boat, you should also not forget to buy the appropriate mount and a battery as well as a battery box.
In the Intex Mariner series, the PVC boat skin used is thicker and the overall workmanship is also more robust. Considering the price-performance ratio, the Intex Mariner are still cheap, but they just do not appeal only to beginners. The boats have solid seat cushions, fishing mounts, preparation for mounting an outboard motor, a pocket for the battery, and a solid insert floor so you can stand in the boat as well. The Mariner have a high load capacity, but in return they are really heavy. The Intex Mariner 3 weighs 33 kg | 72.8 lbs and the Mariner 4 37 kg | 81.6 lbs. Transport by car is therefore mandatory here, alternatively a canoe trolley would also be a possibility.
The included oars are not very high quality and robust. It is recommended to invest in better oars. The air pump does its job, but due to the small volume you pump very long with it. It is recommended to choose a larger air pump for inflatable boats, with which the boat can be pumped up faster and easier.
Inflatable kayaks from Intex
Besides inflatable boats, Intex inflatable kayaks are also very popular among paddling beginners. In online stores, these are also quite well rated by customers. A majority of buyers assess the boat already after the first paddling, the long-term experience is rarely expressed in such reviews. In addition, many beginners have never paddled a high-quality inflatable kayak and consequently can not draw a comparison. Among inflatable kayaks, the product line of Intex is quite manageable. There are a total of 4 different models here. For those who want to travel alone with their kayak, the Intex Challenger K1 comes into question with priority. It is quite compact and not too heavy. The integrated luggage net on the bow is very practical for small tours to store shoes and a backpack. The paddle is not very high quality, but ok for short tours. From the paddling characteristics and speed you can not expect too much here. Same with the material used and the processing quality. You can’t expect to get a kayak that can compete with an inflatable from Advanced Elements, which by contrast costs much more of course.
Almost identical to the Challenger K1 is the Intex Challenger K2. It is longer and designed for 2 people. The third entry-level kayak from Intex is the Explorer K2, which looks quite different from the two Challenger kayaks. In general, the Explorer K2 differs very little from the Challenger K2. The Intex Explorer has a drain valve, which makes the kayak easier to clean and dry. In addition, the carrying handles at the bow and stern are very practical. We have already paddled these kayaks and you can find all the other details in our test articles. In a separate comparison review, we even compare the Challenger K2 and Explorer K2.
Paddling with the Intex Excursion Pro
As with the inflatable boats with the Mariner models, Intex also has a model in the inflatable kayaks, which is somewhat higher quality. The Intex Excursion Pro looks very similar in construction to the Explorer K2. But it is about twice as expensive. For this you get more stable handles at the stern and bow and better attachments of the seats and adjustable footrests. The boat skin consists of a polyester fabric with PVC laminated on both sides. This makes the boat much more robust. In addition, the Excursion Pro has a higher air pressure (0.8 bar | 11.6 PSI instead of 0.69 bar | 1 PSI) than the other Intex air kayaks, which promises better paddling performance on the water . The paddles included in the set are the same as those included with all other Intex kayaks. The pump is slightly better because it can be operated with both hands.
We ourselves have already paddled the Intex Excursion Pro. From the material it is the best Intex inflatable kayak. From the workmanship it is very similar to the other boats of the manufacturer. Those who want to paddle with the kayak often longer tours and be sporty on the water, should invest in better double blade paddles in any case.
Alternatives to inflatable from Intex
The market for inflatable kayaks is quite big and consequently there are also other manufacturers offering similar or completely other products. If you look for entry-level kayaks then you should consilder Sevylor, Itiwit or Sea Eagle because they have also pretty affordable kayaks available.
Let’s stay with the manufacturer Sea Eagle because they cover actually the whole range of inflatable kayak. They have entry-level kayaks as well as high-quality kayaks for demanding paddlers and drop-stitch kayak, which feel like hard shell kayaks.
For the last few years, drop-stitch kayaks have become more and more common on the market and are increasingly establishing themselves in the field of inflatable kayaks. There are different designs of drop-stitch kayaks. There are models where only the floor, only the side chambers or for the complete boat is made of drop-stitch material. By using this technology, the air kayak is much stiffer and the driving characteristics are said to improve, according to the manufacturer. In this article we would like to discuss, among other things, the advantages and disadvantages, the different construction methods and a few selected drop-stitch kayaks.
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What is a drop-stitch kayak?
The drop stitch technology found its way into water sports, especially in stand up paddling boards. Without a rigid air chamber, standing on the board would not be possible. Exactly this technology is also used in drop stitch kayaks.
A fiber fabric (polyester or nylon) is used. Here, the upper and lower inner walls of the air chamber are interwoven with thousands of textile threads of the fabric material. This technique makes it possible to inflate the air chamber with a much higher air pressure, so that the air chamber appears as stiff and flat as a board.
A single or multiple waterproof and airtight coating (PE, PVC or rubber) is applied to the fabric, which enables its use in water.
classical inflatable chambers (I-Beam floor)
inflatable kayak with drop-stich floor
kayak with drop-stitch floor and side chambers
So a drop-stitch kayak is nothing more than an inflatable kayak. However, unlike traditional inflatable kayaks, they are similarly dimensionally stable as a hardshell kayak. Usually, you don’t even need a special air pump, as the usual double-stroke pumps for inflatable kayaks can produce the increased pressure without any problems.
In the context of drop stitch, the term “high pressure air chamber” is often used. This has the background that air chambers made of Drop-Stitch allow a higher pressure. Thus, the air chambers are significantly stiffer than conventional air chambers. Manufacturers of drop-stitch kayaks like to distinguish their high-pressure chambers from tradtional air chambers with the term “low-pressure chambers.” However, the transition between air chambers without drop stitch (currently between 0.069 and 0.35 bar) and air chambers with drop stitch (currently between 0.34 / 4.9 PSI and 1.03 bar /15 PSI) is rather fluent. As you can see, there is no fixed air pressure at which point an air chamber is considered a high-pressure chamber, or what air pressure drop-stitch chambers have. The air pressure varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Advantages and disadvantage of drop-stitch kayaks
From our point of view, drop-stitch kayaks will not replace the classic inflatable kayaks, but will complement them more strongly. The biggest advantage of a drop-stitch kayak is that the boat can be inflated with a significantly higher air pressure. The inflatable kayak is said to be closer to that of a rigid hull kayak, especially in terms of driving characteristics. It is true that this gives the inflatable kayak better stiffness and, depending on the hull shape, better performance on the water due to the use of drop stitch. It should not be forgotten that drop-stitch kayaks also have a higher buoyancy than hardshell kayaks due to their air chambers, and thus float on the water rather than in it. Therefore, the big disadvantage of an air kayak remains: the susceptibility to wind.
If you take a look at the hull of the inflatable kayak you can easily see whether there have been any drop-stitch elements used or not.
without drop-stitch
with drop-stitch floor
full drop-stitch
Another look at the interior of the kayak shows also the difference between the different drop-stitch constructions. The drop-stitch floor eliminates the typical I-beam floor of an inflatable kayak. The fixed floor allows you to get in and out of the kayak more comfortably, as the floor does not give way as in traditional inflatable boats. Also, an inflatable kayak with a drop-stitch floor appears higher quality and “cleaner” inside. At first glance, you would think it is a rigid hull kayak.
without drop-stitch
with drop-stitch floor
full drop-stitch
What is is an I-Beam floor?
An I-Beam floor is an air chamber divided into several segments. Any inflatable boat without the use of drop stitch needs such a construction, so that the bottom remains flat during inflation. Otherwise, the air chamber becomes as round as the side tube of the inflatable boat.
Inflatable kayaks with drop-stitch floors and wide side tubes (e.g. Gumotex Thaya, Gumotex Rush, Itiwit x100+, AE AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite, …) are more stable on the water than traditional inflatable kayaks due to the flat and stiff drop-stitch floor. However, the stability depends also on other factors, such as the width of the hull. In addition, if not only the floor but also the side chamber is made of drop-stitch, the side walls are thinner than in traditional inflatable kayaks. Thus, you have more space in the interior. However, with such full drop-stitch kayaks you also have a higher risk of capsizing than with traditional inflatable kayaks, because the side tubes are thinner and the capsize point is reached earlier.
If you paddle in rough conditions (such as whitewater and swells), you will have some disadvantages with a drop-stitch kayak. The majority of drop-stitch kayaks (except Gumotex Rush and Itiwit x500) do not have a canopy. Since a drop-stitch kayak does not have an I-beam bottom, water cannot collect in the grooves of the i-beam floor. The water stands in the boat faster. Also, the kayak floats on the water, and behaves like a board in small waves. The boat rides the waves less smoothly, but really slaps up. Therefore, there are only drop-stitch kayaks up to a maximum whitewater class of 2. Not to mention that drop-stitch kayaks are clearly more complex in terms of construction. Therefore, drop-stitch kayaks (even if they are produced in Asia) are usually more expensive than traditional inflatable kayaks.
Inflatable kayaks with drop-stich floor
In these drop stitch kayaks, the floor consists of a drop stitch chamber and the sidewalls of traditional air chambers. The flat drop-stitch floor and the wide side tubes make the kayaks particularly stable against capsizing. There are kayaks with removable and fixed drop-stitch floor. We want to present in the following some concrete kayaks with drop-stitch floor.
One of the cheapest inflatable kayak with drop-stitch floor is the Itiwit x100+ from Decathlon. The drop-stitch floor is removable, which is inflated to 0.34 bar (5 PSI). The side chambers are inflated to 0.2 bar (3 PSI). It can be paddled as an open 1- or 2-person kayak. It’s very stable due to its wide hull and flat drop-stitch floor. In favor of stability, the paddling characteristics are only moderate as a 1-person kayak, and slightly better as a 2-person kayak. It is aimed at beginners who are looking for a portable recreational kayak for short trips on the water. The robustness as well as workmanship and the equipment of the kayak are very good for the price. The Itiwit x100+ is also available as a 3-person kayak: Itiwit x100+ 3-seater.
A big name among inflatable boats is the manufacturer Sea Eagle. They sell their kayaks in set where paddles and the right air pump is already inlcuded. You just need to get some PFDs. Their drop-stitch kayaks are high-quality and that’s why they cost a bit more.
A pretty well-known manufcaturer of inflatable kayaks in the US is Aquaglide. They have a wide range of different kayaks and also some drop-stitch kayaks. The Navarro is available as a 1- or 2-person kayak and comes with an integrated cockpit. This is very useful because it protects you from splashing water and waves, so that you get less wet when paddling.
Full drop-stitch kayaks
Inflatable kayaks with a full drop stitch construction have both the floor and the side chambers made of drop stitch material. They are also called full drop stitch or high pressure kayaks. They are significantly less stable than inflatable kayaks with I-Beam or drop-stitch floor only, due to the thin sidewalls.
Sea Eagle has also full drop-stitch kayaks where the floor and side chambers are made of drop-stich. The Sea Eagle 473rl is an open kayak, which is even equipped with adjustable footrests. You can get this kayak also as a 1 person kayak.
Aqua Marina is especially very well-known for it’s SUP boards but they have also inflatable kayak and the Aqua Marina Tomahawk is their full drop-stich kayak. Regarding design it’s pretty similar to the Sea Eagle kayak but it’s a bit shorter.
The Itiwit x500 is a development of Decathlon, which is aimed at ambitious paddlers. It is a very narrow cut kayak with a very high air pressure of 0.7 bar (10.2 PSI). This promises good paddling characteristics on the water. Due to the narrow design, it is much less stable than traditional inflatable kayak and less suitable for beginners. In addition, the kayak has a canopy with coaming, so it can be completely closed. Thus, the x500 is also suitable for paddling in the cooler season. The x500 is also available as a 2-person kayak.
In general, the models of the brands are very similar in construction and differ mainly in the technical specification and details (except for the Itiwit x500). Presumably, the kayaks of the different brands come from the same producer Woosung from South Korea. The company produces drop-stitch boats in China with its SelyTech material. Due to the similarity, it is difficult to make a correct selection at first glance. That is why we would like to discuss the differences in general at this point.
Paddling a full drop-stitch kayak: Itwit x500
Each brand speaks of a very robust material. The fiber fabric of a full drop stitch material is coated with PVC in almost all models. The single and double coating are the most common, but often not specified by some brands. However, the weight of the kayak gives the first indication. If two kayaks have almost the same dimensions, the kayak with the heavier weight has several coatings.
The weight of a full drop-stitch kayak can therefore vary greatly depending not only on the dimensions, but on how many threads are used inside the chamber and how many PVC layers are used for the outer skin by the manufacturer. A drop-stitch kayak for 2 people can thus weigh between 15 (33 lbs) and 25 kg (55 lbs). The heavier kayak will be more robust, but also heavier to transport.
The air pressure also differs between models. The air pressure determines the stiffness of the floor and side chambers. Air pressures of 0.5 (7.3 PSI) to 1.0 (14.5 PSI) bar are common. Even from 0.5 bar (7.3 PSI), the kayak is very dimensionally stable, so it has a well-formed bottom for solid performance on the water. Some manufacturers additionally provide the kayak with hardshell elements at the bow and stern tip, so that typical V-shape is created and the paddling properties of the kayak are improved even further.
Most drop-stitch kayaks come with fins
Floor and side chambers are made of drop-stitch
Some full drop-stitch kayaks come with hardshell elements at the bow and stern
Thanks to the thinner side chambers, there is more space inside the kayak
For better straight line stability in deep water, most kayaks can be equipped with one or more skegs, which are included. If you paddle to travel quickly, you should make sure that the chosen model is as long as possible. Most 3-person kayaks, which are particularly long, can also be paddled by two people.
Full splash protection with a canopy is offered only by the Itiwit x500 or the Jaybay.Zone kayaks. The other models are open kayaks and have only small splash guards at the bow and stern. The open design and thin beveled sidewalls allow more splash water to enter the interior than traditional inflatable kayaks. Open full drop-stitch kayaks are therefore mainly intended for lakes, wide and calm rivers, and in nice weather. Thus, the kayaks are less suitable for paddling in rough weather, waves, or whitewater.
In addition, full drop-stitch kayaks differ in terms of features. If you want to have a lot of space in the kayak, your model should have front and rear luggage nets. Then you can attach backpacks or dry bags (up to 40 liters) there. If comfort is important to you, you should pay attention to the seats. Seats with high backrests and high seat cushions are comfortable. A high seat cushion also prevents you from sitting in the wet immediately if water gets into the boat.
Hybrid kayaks with drop-stitch
In addition, there are hybrid inflatable kayaks with drop-stitch floor or side chambers. These kayaks consist of a construction of a frame (folding kayak) and air chambers. In the process, the frame forms a shape of the kayak. In our opinion, these kayaks offer really good paddling characteristics.
Advanced Elements offers an inflatable kayak with removable drop stitch floor. The drop-stitch floor is inflated to 0.41 bar (5.9 PSI) and the side chambers to 0.14 bar (2 PSI). In addition, the AdvancedFrame kayaks are equipped with aluminum ribs in the bow and stern,. This gives the inflatable kayak a more defined keel and the bow cuts the water better. We find the paddling performance of the AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite (2-person kayak) really good. With a length of 460 cm (15’1”), it is one of the fastest air kayaks that we have paddled so far, and also convinces with a very good straight line stability. The boat skin is also robust and the workmanship of the boat solid. Disadvantage is the long drying time because of the nylon material and the high weight of 23.5 kg (51.8 lbs) for a 2-person kayak.
The AdvancedFrame is available as a 1- and 2-person kayak. The 2-person version can be paddled very well solo or tandem. The AdvancedFrame can be optionally equipped with a canopy and rudder.
Advanced Elements AirFusion EVO is one of the latest models from the manufacturer. With a width of 61 cm (2′), it is the narrowest inflatable kayak we know. The side chambers are made of drop stitch and are inflated to 0.41 bar (5.9 PSI). The kayak has no air chamber in the bottom, but a keel rod. The drop-stitch seat is mounted on the keel rod, so you can sit comfortably in the kayak without feeling the keel rod.
The AdvancedFrame is available as a 1- and 2-person kayak. The 2-person version can be paddled very well solo or tandem. The AdvancedFrame can be optionally equipped with a canopy and rudder.
The nortik Scubi 2 XL consists of two side air chambers that can be inflated to 0.35 bar (5 PSI). The Scubi 2 XL has not only a keel rod, but consists of a frame, a keel rod with stern (stern and bow rod) and transverse ribs that span the bottom widthwise.
The kayak can also be equipped with an optional drop-stitch floor, which has an air pressure of 0.7 bar (10 PSI). The floor gives a firm bottom and, according to the manufacturer, should result in even better riding characteristics.
The nortik scubi 1 XL with optional drop-stitch floor
The Itiwit Touring kayak from Decathlon has become a classic among inflatable kayaks for beginners (in Australia the product name is Itiwit Cruising). The kayak is available as a 1-, 2- or 3-seater. We have tested the 2-seater. We paddled it both in pairs and alone on a lake and river. In this test report, we would like to introduce you to the boat and report on our experiences on the water.
Decathlon has recently introduced a new inflatable kayak series, the x100+. It’s available as a 2 and 3 persons kayak and comes with a drop-stitch floor, which promises again more stability and better performance on the water. In addition to that, it has thicker boat skin and doesn’t need the polyester cover anymore. We have paddled and reviewed the Itiwit X100+ as well.
high 1 bar = 1-3 km paddled (first impressions) 2 bars = min. 1 day/ 2 half-day tours 3 bars = min. 4 tours 4 bars = min. 8 tours 5 bars = min. 12 tours (very intense)
Where have we tested the product?
Whitewater
Calm rivers
Lakes
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First impressions and assembly
The kayak comes with a large backpack. Double paddle and life jackets must be purchased separately. The backpack is good for short transport to the water. For longer trips, the shoulder straps are too thin and not padded, so it quickly becomes uncomfortable. Nevertheless, the transport backpack makes a robust impression and can be opened wide with the surrounding zipper. In addition, even a pump for inflatable kayaks can be attached to the outside of the side.
For storage and short transport to the water, the backpack is quite sufficient.
The backpack is well made. On the side you can even attach an air pump.
The kayak consists of three separate PVC air chambers, which are located in a polyester cover. The air chambers each have a Boston valve, which is very common in inexpensive inflatable boats (e.g. Sevylor, Intex, Bestway, …). A Boston valve is a 2-way screw valve that keeps the air in the chamber. When you remove the pump tube after inflation, it prevents the air from flowing out of the chamber.
The kayak is quite short for a 2-person kayak with its length of 3.4 m. However, it is not the shortest on the market.
First the floor and then the side chambers are pumped up.
The boat features three boston valves
To inflate the boat, unscrew the upper cap of the valve. First you pump up the floor and then the side chambers to 0.1 bar. We used the Itiwit double stroke air pump 2 x 2.6 liters, which has an integrated air pressure gauge. In our view, this has a good price-performance ratio and its size allows the kayak to be inflated quickly as well as comfortably. If your air pump does not have an air pressure gauge, as a rough guideline you should inflate the air chamber until the wrinkles have disappeared from the polyester.
The air chamers are inflated to a maximum of 0.1 bar.
Inflation takes less than 5 minutes. You place then the seats on the bottom of the kayak, where they are attached with Velcro. The seat cushions have a mini-Boston valve and are also inflated with the air pump. So you can decide for yourself how soft or hard the seat cushion should be.
The backrest is attached to the side wall of the kayak with a strap on each side. The straps allow you to adjust the position of the backrest. The backrest itself is not inflated. This would unnecessarily give away a lot of legroom in the interior, as the boat is already quite short as a 2-person kayak. Overall, we really like the seats and their attachment from the first impression.
The seat cushions are also inflated with the air pump (max. 0.1 bar).
On the bottom of the kayak is marked where to place the seats in a 1 or 2-persons configuration. Nevertheless, depending on the size of the paddlers, you can vary the seats forward or backward on the long Velcro strips. The only limitation are the buckles for the backrest straps on the side walls.
The seats can be variably positioned in the interior.
On the other hand, if you want to paddle the kayak alone, place a seat in the middle of the kayak and use the middle buckles on the side panels (near the side carry handles) to secure the backrest. The long Velcro strip inside allows for very flexible positioning and also prevents the seat cushion from slipping away while paddling.
The Itiwit Touring 2-seater in its original configuration.Itiwit Touring 2-seater is very quickly reconfigured into a 1-seater.
The inflatable kayak has four carrying handles. The rear and front carrying handle is for carrying the kayak with two persons. However, if you want to carry the boat to water alone, for example because you go kayaking alone, you use the two side carrying handles. This works really well because of the light weight. We miss such side carry handles on pretty much all other inflatable kayaks.
Rear carrying handle
Using the side carrying handles
The spray covers at the bow and stern are mainly there for the carrying handles. The spraydeck at the rear is large enough, so that it comes with a luggage net. So you can not only stow the air pump or a small dry bag behind the rear seat, but also have the possibility to attach luggage.
Luggage can be stored under the spray cover at the rear
Thanks to the luggage net, a dry bag can also be paced on the spray cover
Before you take the inflatable kayak out on the water, you should attach the fins. There are three directional skegs included in the scope of delivery, which provide a better tracking stability. These are very small, so they can be used in shallow water (e.g. near the shore) and do not cause unnecessary grounding. Due to the small size, all three fins should be attached, so that an improvement in tracking stability and thus a better straight line is achieved.
Three more fins can be added to the bottom of the kayak for improved straight-line stability.
Review of the Itiwit Touring kayak on the water
The Itiwit kayak is very stable on the water due to its wide hull and voluminous side chambers. You can get into the kayak without any worries. Even jerky movements in the boat can not make it capsize so easily.
We don’t like just the stability of the kayak but also the seats right away. The seating comfort is often a big weak point in cheap inflatable kayaks. The high seat cushion of the Itiwit Touring allows a good paddling position and prevents wet buttocks if some water does get into the boat. In addition, the backrest provides good support so that you can paddle upright. Even after prolonged paddling or by leaning hard into the backrest, it did not buckle backwards. The backrest can also be easily adjusted on the water.
As a solo kayak, the dirving characteristics on the lake are not so good.
In 1-person use, the actual water length is much shorter, as the boat is only slightly in and more on the water. In this configuration, the kayak offers a lot of attack surface for winds, so it is only intended for paddling in nice weather. Still, with the three fins, reasonable paddling is possible, even if only with moderate straight-line speed.
The driving characteristics are better with two persons. Nevertheless, we would not speak of good performance on the water here either, as Decathlon describes it. When we stop paddling, the kayak immediately loses significant speed and glides only slightly through the water. After a short time, it also drifts. With two of us, we reached a speed of 4 to 4.5 km/h. However, it is well suited for small and leisurely tours of two to three hours.
The disadvantages of susceptibility to wind, low straight-line stability and low speed are natural disadvantages of an inflatable kayak. Any inflatable kayak performs worse in these categories than a rigid hull or folding kayak. Nevertheless, there are higher quality inflatable kayaks that can do much better than the Itiwit Touring. But these kayaks also cost more than twice as much.
The big advantage of the kayak is the stability
For two tall persons (over 1.80 m), the interior of the kayak is clearly too small. In the back, we could adjust the seat as we wanted, but the space for the long legs was not enough. It was much more comfortable to paddle cross-legged. The front paddler, on the other hand, has more legroom. But here, too, the wide side tubes mean that the foot space is too tight for the front paddler in the long run.
We used 230 cm double paddles and found the length to be comfortable. This length is also necessary because of the width of the boat to be able to easily poke into the water with the paddle blades. For smaller people, we would even recommend 240 cm long double paddles to avoid scraping or grazing your hand on the side tube with each paddle stroke. Alternatively, you could also paddle the Itiwit Touring with a single blade paddle, as the seats offer a sufficiently high seating position.
For tall people the kayak doesn’t offer a lot of leg room
On a river tour, the moderate driving characteristics of the kayak are less noticeable. Here, the current of the river supports, so you can definitely take a half or a day trip on the river. Compared to the even cheaper Intex inflatable kayaks (e.g. Intex Challenger K2), the Itiwit Touring offers much better protection against grounding. The maneuverability is quite sufficient for rivers that are easy to paddle. It feels with its “sensational” width of 103 cm more like a “steamer” on the water.
We paddled the Itiwit Touring without fins and have to say that paddling without fins is also possible. The big difference is the drifting when you stop paddling. The kayak without fins drifts or turns away much faster than with fins.
The kayak is more fun on calm rivers
The space is very good for one person. Behind the seat you can stow the transport backpack with all your gear. The lack of footrests once again clearly shows that the Itiwit Touring is not a real touring kayak. As a 2-person kayak, the interior space is so tight that footrests are not necessary and the interior space is too small for tours lasting several hours. Here it is actually recommended to buy the Itiwit Touring 3-seater. In the 1-person configuration of the 2-seater, a footrest would have been handy to provide sufficient support in the boat. However, a footrest is not necessary for leisurely and occasional tours on the water.
For one person the interior space is completely sufficient
Dismantling the Itiwit Touring 2-seater
The inflatable kayak has a drain valve at the bottom of the stern. If you get a lot of water into the boat during your paddling trip (e.g. a wave from a passing motorboat) and the water is standing in the interior, this opening makes it easier for you to empty the boat.
The kayak has a drain valve.
On a hot summer day, the boat dries quite quickly in the sun. However, you should let a large part of the air out of the side chambers before so that you don’t to risk overpressure from the sun. Since the cover is made of polyester, it is also relatively resistant to UV radiation. The black underside of the kayak is easy to wipe dry. If you’ve gotten a lot of water in the boat, you can even remove the inner floor chamber along with the cover so that it dries even better.
The floor chamber including the polyester cover is attached with Velcro for easy removal.
However, on long and splashy trips, the water pulls through the polyester. Here we actually recommend to let the kayak dry at home over night or longer. Also on cloudy days or who has no time after the tour for drying, must unfold the kayak again at home. Otherwise you risk that the boat soon rubs and molds. If you don’t have space at home to let the boat dry slightly inflated, we don’t recommend it. Unless you use the kayak exclusively on sunny summer days and let it dry afterwards.
Packing the kayak back into the transport backpack worked very well. The kayak is easy to fold and easy to stow again thanks to the large opening of the backpack. When folding, make sure you start folding on the opposite side of the valves. In this way, the remaining air can escape from the open valves. In addition, the skeg holders should not be bent when folding.
It’s easy to fold the boat and pack it again in the backpack.
Strenghts and weaknesses of the Itiwit Touring
In our opinion, the biggest strength is the price-performance ratio. You get a well-made and stable kayak with very good seats in this price range.
Beyond occasional use, we don’t see the kayak as suitable. Due to the very wide and short hull, the kayak is quite slow for longer tours. The interior is also too small for two tall people due to the short length and bulky side chambers. In addition, the long drying time would be annoying in the long run if used frequently.
Advantages
very good price-performance ratio + stable + a total of four handles to carry the boat + for the price, the seats are comfortable and provide sufficient support when paddling + solid workmanship + good air pressure in this price range + practical luggage net at the rear + transport backpack included + spare parts are available
Disadvantages
low recommened load capacity – wide as well as flat hull and therefore slower – moderate straight running chracteristics – long drying of the polyester cover – too little space for two large people – wide side chambers can be annoying (small person with too short double blade paddle) – releasing air pressure via valve only possible with difficulty (often you then have the whole valve in your hand)
Conclusion on the Itiwit Touring kayak
For an entry-level kayak, the Itiwit Touring makes a well-thought-out and high-quality impression. Compared to similar inflatable kayaks from other brands, the Itiwit is the better one. In our opinion, the kayak offers the best price-performance ratio, has an air pressure of 0.1 bar on all air chambers and is equipped with good seats.
The outer cover seems sturdy and reliably protects the inner PVC air tubes, yet it comes with the major drawback of long drying times. The polyester cover can not simply be wiped dry, but must dry at home or after the tour in the sun.
However, we find the term touring in the product name somewhat misleading. Because a touring kayak it is definitely not. With a width of 103 cm, it is the widest kayak we know. As we know, the wider a kayak is, the slower it is. On the other hand, the Itiwit kayak is very stable against capsizing. Here you can also see the target group. The inflatable kayak is aimed primarily at beginners who want to take small and leisurely tours in the summer. For larger tours (from half-day tours), the driving characteristics are not good enough and the interior space is too small. Therefore, we agree with Decathlon’s statement that the kayak is designed for a two- to three-hour tour. So, if you are looking for a cheap inflatable kayak and occasionally want to paddle small tours on the water, you can go for this boat.
In some reviews in Decathlon’s store, customers report cracked welds, which can be caused by overpressure or production defects. Even if Decathlon replaces the chamber during the warranty period, the boat is not ready for use for a certain time or the tour cannot be started.
Alternatives to the Itiwit Touring 2
There are also other kayaks from Itiwit, which could be the better choice for you if you find want more space or if you don’t like the long drying time. In case you want to go paddling with another tall person and you want more space, then we recommend the Itiwit Touring 3 Seater, which can also be paddled by two persons. You just have to remove the third seat. In case you want a kayak that is easy to dry, you should have a look at the x100+ series, which is available as a 2 and 3 persons kayak.
Another brand that offers similar kayaks is Sevylor. The Sevylor Adventure Plus for example has also a nylon cover that protects the air chambers from damage and space for up to three persons.
Manufacturers of inflatable canoes have improved materials and construction a lot in the past years. That’s why inflatable canoes are considered as fully adequate canoes nowadays. This article explains you in more detail what an inflatable canoe actually is, the differences to full-solid and folding canoes and the preferred uses of an inflatable canoe. No matter if hobby or enthusiastic paddler, we show the best available inflatable canoes for every need.
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What is an inflatable canoe?
A canoe is boat which is driven by one or more seated or kneeing paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle. Originally, canoes were used by north American Indians as a means of transport and is known as a recreational boat all over the world today.
Inflatable canoes consist of several air chambers that are inflated with a high output air pump to obtain the right form and stiffness. Even though inflatables never reach the same stiffness as solid-hull canoes, inflatables offer other advantages due its small pack size and weight. Canoes are usually paddled by two people. The person in the front is a sort of motor and the person in the back supports with paddling and is responsible for steering the canoe. Solo canoeing is possible as well but requires more practice. Inflatable canoes consist of tear-resistant tissue material which are coated with a rubber material.
Inflatable canoes are equipped with two or more seat benches where the paddlers either sits or use it to knee on the floor of the boat. Canoes are spacious and perfect for longer trips with a lot of gear. Today canoes are especially for camping- or family excursions, expeditions or white-water adventures. Canoes mainly attract paddlers who like to paddle in company and to explore the nature on longer trips. But canoes are also well suited for adrenalin junkies willing to paddle whitewater up to level 4.
Manufacturers of inflatable canoes
The number of manufacturers of inflatable canoes is quite small and this market is much smaller than the one for inflatable kayaks. And there are also geographical differences. Some brands are only known in Europe as well as in the UK and other brands only in the US.
In Europe long-standing manufacturers are the Czech company Gumotex (called Innova in the US) and the Austrian company Grabner, which offer various models from white water to touring canoes. Both manufacture the boats in their respective home countries and not in Asia, which we find very good. Gumotex inflatable canoes have, in our view, a very good price-performance ratio and convince with their robust boat skin. Grabner boats have at least twice the purchase price but they have a very robust boat skin and an incomparably high quality of workmanship. All Grabner boats have a 7-year warranty on the boat skin. In comparison, Gumotex boats have a warranty of 2 years.
In the US we can name AIRE and Sea Eagle as known brands for inflatable canoes. AIRE has a strong focus on inflatable whitewater boats. When producing boats for the whitewater purpose, there can’t be any compromise regarding quality and material. They make their boats in the US. Sea Eagle has a strong focus on inflatable kayaks from entry-level to high-quality. They sell a drop-stitch canoe, which is perfect for paddling tours on lakes or rivers. Thanks to the drop-stitch chambers, the canoe has pretty good driving performance on the water.
And finally, there is the brand Itiwit, which belongs to the French sporting goods retailer Decathlon. Decathlon is expanding a lot in the past year and you can find stores and their online shop nearly for every country. The Itiwit x500 Canoe is a new inflatable drop-stitch canoe from them.
Compared to inflatable kayaks, there are no inflatable canoes in the low-price segment on the market. There are inexpensive entry-level inflatable boats, such as the Intex Explorer K2 or the Sevylor Adventure, which at first glance give the impression of a canoe, but are not canoes. These are sometimes supplied with a single blade paddle. However, these inflatable boats do not have a canoe-typical design and benches, nor do they offer much space or a high payload, which is typical for a canoe.
For those who are not yet confident with the sport of paddling, such beginner inflatable boats can be a recommendation. Inflatable canoes in the true sense start only from a higher price range of over $1000. These have a high load capacity and consist of a robust material. The boats presented here are particularly suitable for longer tours on flowing water or for trips on lakes in calm conditions.
Uses of inflatable canoes
Among the air canoes, there are various areas of application for which this type of boat is particularly well suited. Basically, the areas of use for inflatable canoes can be divided as follows.
Inflatable canoes for whitewater
Paddling an inflatable canoe in the whitewater
Inflatable canoes are great for white-water paddling. Due to its wide hull and thick inner tubes, canoes are very stable. Compared to hard shell canoes, the material of inflatables is more elastic and can easier pass over obstacles. For whitewater, only high-quality inflatable canoes should be used. These are characterized by a tough material. In whitewater a firm hold in the boat is required. That’s why most of these canoes feature thigh straps, best with safety clasp. The use of the thigh straps should be always practiced before using them, to make sure you can quickly get off the canoe in case of flipping over. Inflatable canoes with a raised rectangular bow and stern are made for difficult whitewater (up to whitewater class IV) and inflatable canoes with a pointed bow and stern are better for longer trips on rivers and lakes. They reach a higher speed due to its pointed hull.
Inflatable canoes for camping trips and expeditions
Inflatable canoes offer a quite spacious inner room for your gear on camping trips and expeditions. Paddlers sit on seat benches and there is no cockpit covering the boat. For these reasons, you have more space for your equipment, compared to kayaks. That’s the reason why a canoe is better suited for multiday trips. Since an inflatable canoe is easy to transport, you can also take your own canoe on holiday. You can explore different regions. The focus of a canoe is not the speed but to explore the nature and make longer trips on waters. It’s for sure that paddling in a canoe is a more relaxing paddling. Getting in and off the boat is quite easy, the same with packing your gear into the boat.
The great advantage of canoes is the load capacity
Inflatable canoes for family trips
Inflatable canoes are very stable and therefore perfect for family trips. You must be very clumsy go capsize your inflatable canoe. As well, inflatable canoes have high side tubes which keep kids safe in the boat. Kids can even sit on the floor of the boat and are even more safer against dropping into water. Nevertheless at least one parent should sit behind the kids to keep an eye on them. Finally, families have much more gear with them on a trip. That’s another reason why a canoe is best suited for families. In comparison to kayaks, canoes are available in sizes up to three and more persons.
Canoes have often space for more than just two persons and are perfect for family trips
Air pressure and the use of drop-stitch material
The air pressure of an inflatable canoe is an important criterion for the stiffness and form stability of the boat. Personally, we find an air pressure of 0.2 bar (2.9 PSI) perfectly adequate. A higher air pressure also comes with a higher purchase price of the boat, because the hoses must be processed even higher quality.
Recently you can find a few canoe models with bottom and sidewalls made of drop-stitch material. Among the inflatable kayaks there are already numerous drop-stitch models. The Drop-Stitch technology makes it possible to produce high-pressure air chambers, so that the air chambers (depending on the manufacturer) can be inflated to an operating pressure of well over 0.3 bar (4.3 PSI). In drop-stitch technology, the upper and lower inner walls of the air chamber are interwoven with textile threads. This gives the canoe very good stiffness. However, wind susceptibility still remains with drop-stitch canoes.
Driving characteristics compared to folding and rigid hull canoes
Compared with rigid-hull and folding canoes, inflatable canoes tend to float on the water because of the air buoyancy. With their voluminous side walls, they offer a lot of surface area for wind to attack and are difficult to paddle in windy conditions, especially on lakes. Here, folding and rigid hull canoes have a clear advantage, especially since these boats have a better formed stern and bow, and thus glide better through the water. Therefore, you should be aware that an inflatable canoe is slower and paddling in windy conditions can be very tedious. However, inflatable canoes are still good for leisurely tours on a nice day on the lake.
The situation is different for flowing water, for which air canoes are best suited in our view. Small to medium rivers are protected from the wind by their bank slopes and they offer a pleasant support for progress due to their current. Due to the air buoyancy you can pass very shallow river passages with the boat, where a folding or rigid hull boat would touch the ground. Whitewater rivers are also very suitable for inflatable canoes, as the air tubes ride over the obstacles in the water. A fixed-hull canoe would capsize faster, and a folding canoe can quickly damage the boat’s skin.
Inflatable canoes are great for river tours
Comfort and space of inflatable canoe
Among inflatable boats, an inflatable canoe offers plenty of space for paddlers. Inflatable canoes come in 2-, 3-, 4- or even10-person versions. Like in a rigid hull canoe, you can paddle an inflatable canoe both sitting and kneeling. If you paddle kneeling, it is much more comfortable than in a rigid hull canoe. The air bottom gives slightly and is gentler on the knees. Also, in low water temperatures, the air bottom insulates well from the cold water.
Due to the air buoyancy, inflatable canoes have a very high load limit. Some models can be loaded with up to 450 kg / 992 lbs (e.g. Grabner Adventure or Gumotex Scout), and do not have to hide behind a hard shell canoe. However, due to the air tubes, the interior of an air canoe offers less space for luggage than fixed hull or folding canoes. If you want to go on one to two week trips, you need to stow the luggage well and prioritize what comes with you when packing.
Side chambers take away some of the space
A folding canoe offers more space
Drop-stitch canoes offer more interior space compared to classic air canoes because the side walls are less bulky.
Pros and cons of inflatable canoes
Everyone who buys an inflatable canoe will be impressed how extremely practical it is. An inflatable can be stored in the apartment or in the basement with no need of a huge storage areas. In case of transporting the canoe to the lake or river, you can just load it in the trunk or take it with you on public transport. Before deciding for the right canoe, you will probably wonder if a hard shell or folding canoe is not the better choice. A hard shell canoe is only the better choice if you have a car and enough storage space at home or in your backyard. In this case, a hard shell canoe is the better choice. It’s more durable and resistant. But don’t forget that you need a roof rack for your car or a trailer to transport your boat. The same with holidays abroad. You can just take an inflatable much easier on your flight to your next holiday destination and explore new areas. Folding canoes have better performances on water regarding speed. But folding boats are much more sensible to groundings. A folding boat also require more assembling and dismantling time as well as maintenance. One disadvantage of inflatables compared to folding and full-solid boat is the sensitivity to head and side winds due its lower draught and voluminous air chambers.
Advantages
+ easy to get in and out + high loading capacity + easy to load luggage + easy to transport and space-saving storage + very comfortable to paddle kneeing
Disadvantages
– high purchase price – relatively slow – sensitive to wind and waves – majority of models are pretty heavy for an inflatable
Inflatable canoes are available at higher prices only. But inflatable canoes fit 2 or 3 persons and are characterized by high quality and ruggedness. You don’t have to look for rental stations and can make your expeditions in all waters, independently of season and opening hours of the rental stations. Additionally, an inflatable canoe can be taken on holiday without any extra effort and costs. Everyone who is not sure about buying either an inflatable canoe or kayak, should read the article Canoe, Kayak or Canadier – Where is the difference?. And if you are not sure about the size of the boat you should buy, we definitively recommend you to read our article 1, 2 or 3 person canoe – What is the right boat size? which provides you some helpful tips.
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Hi, I'm Christian and love to discover the nature from the water at any time and in an easy way. For this there is nothing better than portable boats, which are now indispensable for me!
