KAYAK DEMO: Itiwit X500 Strenfit! Looking back at my inflatable kayak paddling trips over 3 years

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thanks everyone for the positive engagement and comments! I can see there's an interest in this, so I will be posting a second part not too long after the first video, continuing the look back at previous paddling trips and ways that the Itiwit X500 has come to use 🙂 In the meantime, welcome to check out the Itiwit X500 playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL0N7YXCEhFmfeSHEZapMfPV5rXwRht2Og

[@danerik.westerlind]

Really good summary and thanks for sharing your experience!🙌

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thanks! The second part will follow as soon as I have time 🙂

[@DrMott]

Fantastic

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thanks 🙂

[@engineeronabicycle178]

on my channel theres a few short videos from my trips with the Itiwit. most of them in the Biesbosch, NL. my Itiwit is currently at Decathlon for repairs, hopefully they can fix her up

[@AirOnTheWater]

Nice! Just subscribed. What camera and holder are you using? Sorry to hear about the repairs - hope things work out well and swiftly.

[@engineeronabicycle178]

@@AirOnTheWater oh i use a simple Eken action camera. i mount it either on the front deck or on my vest. i think the vest works best. Also, I just went to pick up my kajak at Decathlon Utrecht, and they fixed both spots under warranty of 'product not meeting requirements". amazing

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@engineeronabicycle178 Good news 😎

[@DueInCammino]

we have the two-seater version, it's huge! Maybe it's because of the larger width compared to the single-seater X500 but I have to say that it proved to be surprisingly stable and easy to paddle. I even had one person get on it for his first ever kayaking experience. Excellent kayak but the material could be better quality and perhaps more robust: it has already been repaired once on the bottom and the air chamber behind the rear seat does not hold the pressure.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@DueInCammino Nice! Yes, I've seen the shocking size of the bag of the tandem in photos 😂 I think I might have seen the tandem as a store demo ex some years ago, but I've never seen it on the water. Nice to hear that it's stable. I don't remember the width from the top of my head (of the 2P version) - do you know the dimensions? During my first year, I used to think that the X500 was almost invulnerable after the extreme use I put it through. Of course, it wasn't, and I did suffer the behind-the-seat air chamber issue after 1+ year, but the first other damage I sustained was my own fault.

[@DueInCammino]

​@@AirOnTheWater The width is 71 cm and lenght is 530. Lately there was another version listed for 70 cm W and 528 L but maybe it was an error on Decathlon site. Oh boy, the bag is huge and really heavy, we had to cart it (on an eckla beach rolly) for about 3 km (on foot) after a 26 km paddle on a river. The worse part was the steep incline (60 meters of positive ascent) for leaving the bottom of the river valley and reach the train station. Not something i'd do again, we just tried once just to say "we did it, it's possible but not advisable".

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@DueInCammino Ah, thanks for the info. That's quite an achievement 😎 You can count yourselves as true portable kayaking survivors 🙂

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Nice one Patrik, I could tell you put a lot of work into this video.

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thank you George! It was a spontaneous idea and implemented right after, but it was fun to make and actually look back. It was genuinely fun to me to work like this because I went by an order (of the folders on the drives) that I wasn't familiar with before and hadn't tried (since the paddles are spread out over different drives).

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

@@AirOnTheWater Worked out great Buddy. Meant to tell you, I think I have found the perfect Dry Bag for the X500 I picked it up for my Scotland trip but I it's no good for my kayak however, I think it will be great for the X500 I'm going to put show it in my next video.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@THE-RIVER-RAT Nice! Looking forward to seeing that 😎

[@imlinhai]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I like it very much. The main feature of this kayak is its portability. In a long trip, you need to carry a lot of water, food, camping equipment, etc. You know that this kayak backpack is big enough. Can you share how you carry so many things to other places without driving yourself?

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@imlinhai Thanks for a good question! I have managed to bring a roller bag plus the backpack with the X500 on journeys to other countries without a car (for example when traveling by ferry or train), even with full winter gear, but that wasn't for expeditions. I have also carried this combo with full camping gear on public transport for some kayaking expeditions when I was on the way to meet other paddlers with cars for those expeditions. However, full expedition gear including water is very heavy. In that situation I would say it's really only convenient or feasible for longer stretches if you use a cart or trolley to transport most of the weight as well. There are some folding carts that can be brought on the kayak as well; I've purchased one that I haven't tried yet but hope to be experimenting with.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@imlinhai When it comes to non-expeditions, e.g. where I don't need to bring tent and camping gear, I tend to just carry the backpack, have two drybags with straps hanging around my shoulders, and the backpack on my back. That goes a long way for trips that need a lot of gear, but wouldn't work for full camping trips.

[@imlinhai]

​@@AirOnTheWaterI didn't expect you to reply so quickly, thank you. I look forward to sharing your folding bike in future videos. I have an idea. I usually carry a spare paddle. If I can modify the folding bike and only keep the wheels and bracket, and use the spare paddle pole as the support frame of the folding bike, this may reduce the storage space of the kayak.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@imlinhai Interesting idea! However, I'd be a bit worried about the pressure that's being put on the paddle and whether that could over time increase the chances of a breaking paddle, which is of course a safety issue.

[@imlinhai]

​@AirOnTheWater This is indeed something that needs to be considered. The pressure is mainly applied to the bracket at the bottom of the folding bike, and the pressure on the side bracket is relatively small. I think fiberglass or carbon fiber paddle shafts have stronger bearing capacity. I have seen many incidents of aluminum alloy paddle shafts breaking, but fiberglass or carbon fiber paddle shafts break relatively less. You can test it with an old spare paddle, or only use it when using the folding bike for short distances. In addition, there is a similar idea. I usually carry a rope, and it seems that using the rope as a side bracket of the folding bike is also feasible. The above are all ideas that I suddenly had just now. I haven't tried it. I think I will try it and tell you the result.

[@davidpoots8362]

Thanks, I plan to use mine and explore a hard to reach area next weekend

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@davidpoots8362 Nice! Let us know it goes!

[@jraymon3]

Nice video. Probably nice trip down memory lane. Side note: on the Decathlon website this kayak is sold out saying a new model in design

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@jraymon3 Thanks! Yes, it was a nice trip down memory lane 😎 Can't shed light on the sold out issue, I'm afraid. Which Decathlon country website are you looking at?

[@jraymon3]

@@AirOnTheWater It was the US site. I was looking before and noticed it. Interesting that there maybe a new design. I do like how they stopped the sale of it with a new version coming out (i assume)

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@jraymon3 Thanks for clarifying. The UK site, for example, still has the kayak active for sale. There have been some reports online of some V3 version samples purchased by users, but can't speak to how official this is.

[@pete2704]

Yes, it was as it looked like a great boat. I get the idea that I'm lifting too much water when I bring the paddle out, so water is hitting the rear of the boat and entering the dry bag fixtures then working it's way into the boat. It's not a big deal but I think it's my doing.....if thus makes any sense lol.

[@AirOnTheWater]

I see. Are you sure you're rolling up the rear hatch as much as possible? I've had a bit of water ingress in repeat heavy side waves over longer stretches, but otherwise not generally. Wasn't sure at the time about whether I hadn't fastened the spray skirt with a complete fit behind me or whether some came through the hatch.

[@pete2704]

@@AirOnTheWater yes, I think water just gets in places no biggy.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@pete2704 I tend to carry a sponge, in addition to a bilge pump for rescue situations of course. Often a bit of water ingress from bringing water into the boat when stepping in.

[@erikyoutube5641]

Thx again 😀 last year i was in sweden with a hardtop. I hope to purchase a x500 for next year multiday camping in sweden

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@erikyoutube5641 Nice! Where in Sweden did you paddle / are intending to paddle?

[@erikyoutube5641]

@@AirOnTheWater Asnens nationalpark. I live in the Netherlands. this was my first kayak trip, so that was far enough. next year possibly a little further in Sweden Any recommendations? thanks for your posts and videos your videos made me decide to buy an itiwit x500 someday

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@erikyoutube5641 Glad to hear you've found the videos helpful! Once you have some paddling experience and feel confident in a bit of waves, Sweden has some great archipelago areas both on the west and east coast!

[@pete2704]

I have been using the x500 for a couple of years now. And to be honest, I feel it would be very hard to replace with any other inflatable boat. I have looked recently to upgrade but am finding it very hard to find another. It is an amazing kayak that can do most things. I've taken it on rivers and lakes in the UK, and it always gathers interested people. If Decathlon brought out v3, I'm not sure how they would improve on an already brilliant design.

[@-Tholos-]

I’d like a better seat. With thigh pads to make rolling easier. Maybe make a fully waterproof rear compartment. Perhaps they could use a more durable fabric. I’ll buy a v3 or a x900 if they ever release one.

[@AirOnTheWater]

I find myself thinking among the same lines. I have a whole fleet of the inflatable kayaks, one of which (the Airfusion EVO) is as fast as the X500, but none that I have can match the combination of speed/ease of setup + versatility of the X500. It's by far the kayak I've used the most - I've become sort of known in Stockholm for paddling around in it, including major events with 100+ sea kayaks. I think further protection could be added perhaps here and there and some improvements to the seat possibly, but mostly the X500 v2 gets a LOT of things right.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@-Tholos- Very good points!

[@MtbPoland]

love it

[@AirOnTheWater]

Glad to hear it 🙂 Thanks for watching!

[@pete2704]

I bought the Razor Lite Pro, but sent it back due to damage from shipping and decided to get a refund. I'm thinking about it now. Maybe some kind of knee brace would be an optional feature, and yes, I agree with regards to the seat. I always find that water comes through the dry bag at the rear, but I get the idea that's from my paddle stroke, not being perfect. So far, I have not seen anyone else in the UK using the x500 when I've been out on the water.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@pete2704 Unfortunate with the damage on the Razorlite Pro. Yes, extra knee bracing functionality would be nice. I've seen people mod this with DIY solutions including using inflatable paddle floats, or velcroing on foam blocks for contact, or adding straps. Do you mean you have water ingress even with a spray skirt and a closed deck on the X500?

[@pete2704]

Yeah I think so.

[@Sedge1962]

I Miss the Videos from itiwit Race 500

[@AirOnTheWater]

Noted, more in the works 🙂The playlists with some existing clips is here: kzbin.info/aero/PL0N7YXCEhFmdVRjzySrSxV6EDsLDtPIjn

[@DavePashley]

Is the itiwit 500 the V2 version now replaced the V1 version ….

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@DavePashley Yes, there could be some local exceptions in some far away countries, I imagine, where in theory there could maybe be an old V1 left, but the V2 has been around for years now so in all major country sales these have replaced the V1 long ago. The V2 is notably more stable although the V1 was a little bit faster, as I understand it.

[@davidzoltan5263]

Hi sir, can you please advise us for a kayak cart trolley for the itiwit x500?😊

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@davidzoltan5263 Hi there! Do you mean to transport the kayak in its backpack on a trolley, or something to use as a kayak cart to roll the kayak (inflated) while on land? The latter you can see in the video and it's something like this. www.soderkajak.se/tillbehor/transport-forvaring/kanotvagn-kajakvagn-kanadensare-seahawk

[@davidzoltan5263]

​@@AirOnTheWaterthanks a lot for your answer and link, it was something like that I was looking for.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@davidzoltan5263 Great! You can google "kayak trolley" or "kayak cart" and check on Amazon etc, though your most reliable option will be checking kayak stores nearby you online - they're likely to have reliable sturdy products (or check reviews before buying).