Itiwit - Kayak Strenfit X500

[@sutashiku]

Les ingénieurs français sont a la hauteur, comme toujours! bravo!!! et merci a Decathlon pour avoir fait tant de choses accessibles!

[@ryancooper3629]

This is probably the nicest looking inflatable I've seen so far so kudos on that. That said, my experience with inflatables has always been that they aren't worth the effort. They are always marketed as easy no effort but in reality that is NEVER the case. You end up paying a premium for a poorly performing boat this is a pain to use. It may be easy to set up but you can't just fold it up and forget about it when done, you have to go home, unfold the thing then painstakingly dry out all the creases and crevasses or they will attract mould. You also have to be careful about everywhere you take the thing, you can't just slide up on the beach, you can't take it where the water may be shallow, etc because even the most "bomb proof" inflatables are not actually invincible. Puncturing them is still pretty easy so expect to regularly be patching your boat. (and I say this having experience with top end inflatables that cost triple what this one does) Inflatables are great when you need that portability, but that is their only winning point and it isn't like these are light. there is a big difference between say this and a packraft. I'm not sure what this thing weighs but my guess is that is is in the 45lb range? (aka similar to a hard plastic kayak of a similar size) The biggest one though is physics, no matter how solidly the drop stitch technology makes the boat hull you still have a hull filled with air. (which means the hull itself wants to float). This means the boat will always sit higher in the water and track poorly compared to a hardbody kayak. Drop stitch is certainly a step forward, but it is still a mile behind a good touring kayak. You are going to paddle twice as hard to go half as far and as soon as wind shows up, have fun! ;)

[@mostlybroadbandbandit]

Just bought this one. Honestly it is significantly more durable and better performing than any other inflatable Kayak I've used. The setup time is virtually nothing, drop stitch kayaks have extremely small air chambers, 7 or 8 pumps per chamber will bring it to full pressure. (In my experience - using a high volume pump). In total by the time I get my kayak packed/unpacked I would have only slightly more time than you would have unstrapping a properly secured kayak from a trailer/truck. That said. Drying has always been a bit of a chore with some of the other inflatables I've used. This one is significantly easier due to the material. Its not a fabric type like you see on some of the advanced elements kayaks, but a smooth vinyl-esque material. Easily towel dried in a few minutes. (I also live in AZ and things dry out EXTREMELY well here. So take that with a grain of salt) Durability is still not as good as a hard body though, just due to the nature of having an inflatable rig you will never get the same Durability. But it stands out as a cut above the rest. I wouldn't run it up on shore at full speed, but I'm not afraid of it grazing a low spot in the water.

[@barredfrompup]

Sounds to me like you haven't had much experience with them recently. They have improved a lot. Easy to set up, just as easy to pack away, and anything that would puncture my inflatable I wouldn't want to hit with a hard board either. Plus the main reason so many people get inflatables that you are forgetting about; storage and transport. For someone who can't get a hard kayak from to and from places to use it, these new inflatables absolutely are a sound alternative. Had mine 2 years and used a lot, been in shallow sea scraping the floor, Welsh lakes with random sharp rocks just beneath the surface, canals with old rusty metal edges. Never had to patch it once (hopefully haven't just jinxed myself)

[@ryancooper3629]

​@@barredfrompup My most recent inflatable was brand new as of August 2020 (Aquaglide) which I bought after reading much of exactly what you just said. It is one of the highest rated and also expensive inflatable options on the market. I had two patches on the thing before my second trip. I didn't abuse it at all. No rocks, no whitewater. Just flat lake paddling. But too bumps became two holes. I totally agree on the storage thing, thats why I bought it but spending $2000 on a boat that is super fragile and performs poorly just doesn't feel worth it. In retrospect, I wish I had just spent the extra money and bought an Oru instead which takes up less space and performs way better in the water. (Though I doubt it is very resilient)

[@barredfrompup]

@@ryancooper3629 Maybe it's different with kayaks and paddleboard due to pressure. But as I say, had mine 2 years, using at least every weekend, and honestly, I really HAVEN'T been that careful with it at all. Even dragged it across a welsh slate mountain because I couldn't be bothered to inflate it again, and I haven't used a single patch. If you have used 2 patches before your second trip, maybe it's down to you and not the kayak/paddleboard Oh! And my paddleboard cost $400 and hasn't skipped a beat. So yeah, I think you just have more money to throw around than the rest of us! Happy Paddling!

[@mdc123-v2v]

This is why you buy a Sea Eagle.

[@vincentleung7697]

Finally saw a drop stitch inflatable kayak in the market. I immediately bought one from the internet. I used to wondered why no one manufacture something like this until. I myself homemade folding kayak and hybrid inflatable kayak. I also have a Advanced Elements Airfusion 1st version. But all of them need at least 20 min to set up. On my first try, Itiwit x500 needs only 4 min to inflate. I tried it on a calm lake today. The GPS told me my average speed is about 3.7 mile (5.9 km), and fastest is over 5 mile (8 km). Not as fast as my Current Design Gulfstream, but faster than my Advanced Elements Airfusion and similar to my Greenland style folding kayak. Many people complained about x500's stability, but there are two stabilities, primary and secondary. Of course, the V shape bottom causes unstable on the primary stability, but the V shape bottom actually have a lot of advantages. It helps the boat going straight, so I seldom need any corrective stroke. The V shape should have less influence by wavy water too. With it, I can edge the boat easily and perform low brace turn without much effort. Thanks for the V shape, I have pretty foot room for my 11 foot size. Although it is unstable concerning the primary stability, but its secondary stability is quite good. Certainly, x500 is not for beginner, but you will like it if you are on next level. If I have to say something about the con, I would say about the seat and lack of deck line for my spare paddle. Probably because the seat is bend when I sit on it, the pressure point moves to the side and make my butt uncomfortable. I will try insert something under the seat next time. Above all, x500 took the convenience of inflatable boat and performance of hard shell kayak.

[@AWildBard]

You could put a spare breakdown inside the kayak.

[@Siravingmon]

Vincent Leung Good to read such a well-informed informed review, so thanks for this. Great to hear it assembles so quickly - this must be the main advantage over the air fusion. I’m not surprised it’s faster than a fusion because the water line length will be greater (the bow of the affusion sticks out of the water a lot, as you know, reducing the waterline length hugely). However, I can’t see it being as stable in rough water as a narrower folding or hybrid kayak, or an Oru, despite the extra width. Unfortunately you just can’t get away from the fact that that thick drop stitch floor puts your bum substantially higher and therefore makes the boat less stable than a folding or hybrid kayak where you just have a frame tube and thin seat pad under you (PS if you want to sell an air fusion 1040 let me know 😊 I sold mine to friend )

[@michaelsimkin]

Advanced elements kayak takes same time to set up as this one. It is in a bag, not a backpack, though.

[@gerardsss1]

@@michaelsimkin The Advanced Elements has 7 separate air chambers to inflate. It takes much longer than the X500. My Point 65 Mercury GTX modular kayak takes under 3 minutes once you learn how it assembles/snaps together. It can actually take under 1 minute with some practice. The advantage of the Mercury over this inflatable is that it's well designed as a true performance kayak by the same people who design and make "normal" high performance sea kayaks, with built-in rudder and skeg and has been around for over 7 years so there's a lot of testing/experience behind it.

[@codewalters]

Love Decathlon. Now I'm in India and good kayaks are yet to be introduced.

[@FFF-tm4uh]

RIP Grabner, RIP Gumotex. Thank you for many years without Innovation

[@davidepetteno2889]

Grazie mille 👍

[@AWildBard]

pretty nice design

[@gerardsss1]

Interesting!!. Advanced Elements makes a very well regarded inflatable sea kayak similar to this one but with a rigid aluminum keel that supposedly makes it track better. Frankly for US$ 790 that this X500 costs you're better off with a Point 65 Mercury GTX modular kayak for about $300 more. it's a real performance-oriented kayak and breaks-down into three 18 lb sections that fit in the back of a hatchback car like my Mazda 3. It's very fast and very stable, specified for up to 3 foot waves. 13.5 feet long, 23.5 inches wide (!!) and polyethylene shell designed by top notch swedish performance kayak designers.

[@OlegCapovani]

I am a happy user of this amazing kayak, highly suggested!

[@maze400]

Does it roll?

[@paul0z]

Ive had mine for about 6 weeks now and it feels quite unstable and thinking of replacing it, any suggestions as to how I can stabilise the kayak would be welcomed.

[@OlegCapovani]

It depends only by you. I needed 3 times to get fully confident with it, if you have the right skills your body will automatically balance it.

[@paul0z]

@@OlegCapovani Been out two more times since the last post and so far I have not capsized it. So things are getting better as I get more confident.

[@nickt2754]

it is terribly unstable .... you can put two small cylinders on the sides .... but the speed drops significantly .... I tried to pump the bottom to 5psi .... the speed also drops ... stability grows, but not a lot ...............

[@caferratti]

Adorei a mini saia!

[@AS-xi6lp]

😂😂😂😂😉😉😉

[@MrSabil]

Is this strenfit x500? what is the maximum weight load for this? i already own an itiwit 2-person, but i only ride alone, because sometime i brought along my osprey aether 70 ag backpack with me. This is a good design. i hate carrying kayak on the vehicle roof, keep up the good work and improvements. Subscribed

[@thetigerandthepig6957]

Seemed like a lot of pumping for such a short ride 😜

[@simon8089]

The Tiger and the Pig that’s what she said!

[@johnstewart8849]

I counted 51 pumps in the main, then 3x 10 pumps in sides, 4 pumps in deck...about.

[@jackmcandle6955]

John Stewart and that’s while wearing his vest and spray deck 😰

[@slabbyrider8665]

We have an Intex explorer K2 but we're upgrading to 2 plastic kayaks.

[@HateRedStephen]

when plastic kajaks fill up with water, you're in a world of hurt. buy wooden. they cost about 1000-3000 euro's but they are a massive improvement.

[@slabbyrider8665]

@@HateRedStephen ? Sealed bulkheads and a bilge pump.

[@slabbyrider8665]

15ft touring kayaks with bow and stern hatches. Can't go longer coz of storage but will get longer when that issue changes.

[@HateRedStephen]

@@slabbyrider8665 tell that to the renting company. my kayak went down like a metal hammer

[@slabbyrider8665]

@@HateRedStephen what kayak?

[@themaskator]

Can anyone compare it to Gumotex Seawave. I had it and was very satisfied but it explode one very hot and sunny day so I'm looking for replacement. Lot's of people complain about stability, is it serious problem?

[@sabugdalantx]

Nice only thing that I can't stand with any inflatable is deflating them! I can't ever get all the air out and by then I am already tired or it's been a long day at the lake or something.

[@georgewilliamssr5230]

They have two stage hand pumps. Put the hose on one side, it inflates. Connect the hose on the other side, it sucks the air out. Works great, and fast.

[@johndoe-fs7ib]

is it a drop stitch construction?

[@ronactive]

Das Boot macht einen sehr interessanten Eindruck. Würde es schon sehr gern mal testen. Habe aber leider bei Decathlon noch keine Möglichkeit gefunden.

[@riomonicacuerpoyalma]

Hey! I m in Argentina. Where can I get one? 🙋👌

[@DigiPal]

We can buy them at Decathlon (sporting goods kind of store), but I saw some very too overpriced on Amazon...

[@johnswanson6790]

Looks like it weighs maybe 45 pounds? Too heavy?

[@alessandrochiostri1299]

Ok , the guy puts the pump inside the kayak but what about the backpack ?

[@catriel424]

Este año compré un doble.....la falta de quilla hace que derive permanentemente a babor.

[@michaelsimkin]

How much does it weight?

[@cesarsoto852]

How much does it weight? It seems to ride nicely.

[@DanielSultana]

Kayak 16kg, + bag 2kg = 18kg

[@taouffikouakkat1094]

On peut aller sur mer avec ce kayak

[@rosawang6994]

Good

[@elmedindidic9272]

I like Music

[@szaroburski115]

👍😊🐱

[@ーーー-v9k]

日本でも販売してほしい

[@gallaouedermaez8336]

J en veux un et sans burqa Decathlon

[@fokses88]

Цену скажите

[@LV_free-life]

23900грн

[@papuaoshi]

49тыр в декатлоне

[@stxib3859]

.

[@hollowbagoogiesboy8740]

Didnt even roll it! And people please just buy a non-inflateable a "real" kayak

[@majkthegolddag-z1613]

Gówniane Packraft lepszy

[@guillaumepeter3335]

Haha 😂

[@jovalanga]

Un Kayak gonfiabile col vento ti porta dove vuole il vento!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!