KAYAK TEST: Can the Itiwit X500 keep up with sea kayaks? | Full inflatable / sea kayak comparison

The #ItiwitX500 Strenfit inflatablekayak from @itiwitbydecathlon6708 is one of the fastest inflatable kayaks available. In this comparison video and kayak test, I discuss whether it can be used to paddle together with #seakayaks, what is possible, what to expect, and what my actual experience has been during around 40 paddle trips together with sea kayaks in the Itiwit X500.
This follows a previous much watched, much shorter,video on this topic, here on the channel, that only briefly shows examples of the Itiwit X500 successfully paddles with sea kayaks. As the video received many comments and questions over time, I decided to expand on this with more detail and more examples in this video. The message and conclusions are the same.
This was recorded after a paddle trip / safety kayak exercise and recon ahead of an event together with, among other crafts, sea kayaks, in Stockholm in late August 2023.
The previous video is available here: • KAYAK TEST: Can the It...
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[@danerik.westerlind]

Great video, good explanation!!🙌

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thank you 😎 It wasn't a planned monologue, just a discussion idea that had been pending for a long time and felt like a good time to discuss once out solo paddling on the water after the earlier safety exercise..

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Hi Patrik, loads of great information hear for people who are thinking about getting an X500 but not sure if it would be any good in the sea. Well just like in a lot of your videos you have proven and explained that a great for sea paddling (with practise and experience) Great video Buddy.

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thank you George! Much appreciated. Indeed, I've been surprised to find that the X500 works very nicely for my sea kayaking needs. However, I'm on the Baltic Sea which in most areas doesn't have crazy waves such as paddlers might face on the Atlantic coast, for example, so it's important to note that it's quite alright for calm and even bumpy sea kayaking, with the right experience and safety gear/precautions, but it's not a kayak for extremely rough seas where it's imperative to be able to roll in the kayak, for example.

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

@@AirOnTheWater That right the Atlantic coast can get wild so having the right boat and gear would be an necessary.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@THE-RIVER-RATYep, in significant surf or ocean waves, I wouldn't be going out with the Itiwit X500 - it's not intended or constructed for those circumstances. I have enjoyed a significant amount of waves out at sea with it though as you know 🙂Are you getting a chance to get out on the water soon?

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

@@AirOnTheWater lol Ha ha just about to post a video about that , should be ready any minute.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@THE-RIVER-RAT Excellent! Will look forward to watching.

[@yarpenzigrin1893]

It is really awesome for an inflatable kayak. The difference in peformance compared to a sea kayak is smaller than I expected.

[@AirOnTheWater]

I have been impressed by it over time. It depends, obviously, on the paddler, the paddle, conditions, and sea kayaks around but on many occasions, it works surprisingly well. I have an Advanced Elements Airfusion EVO that is similar in performance, better in a few cases, but takes much longer to set up.

[@anneli1735]

Given I would love go kayaking again, given I don’t have the possibility to store / transport any hardshell (sea)kayak, ending up buying an inflatable one usable anywhere I might imagine - obviously you are telling me this Itiwit would be my best choice! Thanks a lot for your competent insight ❣️

[@AirOnTheWater]

Glad it was helpful! This is the inflatable kayak I've ended up using most often, specifically because I need quick setup and often to paddle with friends in sea kayaks. The factor I would add when choosing though is also transportation as you mention - if you're traveling by public transport, for example, this kayak at 16 kg + 2 kg backpack can be considered heavy by some. I use lighter inflatable kayaks sometimes when traveling, even if I lug this around often as well (and recently brought it by train to Norway from Sweden!). If the weight is ok, and you're ok with stability similar to a sea kayak, this is generally a good choice.

[@JonasAlexanderson]

I don't doubt it's a good kayak, for an inflatable, Patrik. But as you said in the video a 3,81 m kayak can't keep up with one 5,30 to 5,50m, it's in the hydrodynamics. I regularly have a speed of 6,5 to 7 km/h on multi day trips, depending who I paddle with. Sorry if I say this but I think you should be training body rotation when you are out paddling. Both speed and stamina will improve. For you to keep up is probably because you are rather strong, but in the long run a proper paddling technique will help a lot. 💪😊

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thank you Jonas, yes, exactly as you say, I'm not claiming that this or other 3.8m kayaks offer equal performance as a >=5m sea kayak - obviously that's not the case. As I started out with inflatable kayaks before I started playing around with sea kayaks as well, I'm just really pleased that an inflatable kayak can still be powerful enough to be able to join sea kayak group contexts successfully, such as the Swedish Sea Kayak Day or archipelago expeditions, even if a bit more work is needed. Most inflatable kayaks wouldn't work for this purpose. Keeping up with you would be a challenge for many paddlers, I think 🙂6,5 km/h might be doable in this one, but I don't think I or most paddlers could swing multi-day 7 km/h trips in it, especially in a fully loaded heavier kayak. On the other hand, many sea kayak paddlers I know wouldn't be comfortable keeping up a pace of 7 km/h either! 🙂 Thanks for the note on body rotation - always something to practice and improve further. Might be worth noting though that while paddling, when I go into filming I tend to play down torso rotation before switching off by habit - comes from that I usually use a chest mount. I have a head strap and a GoPro mount cap, but my GoPro has a bug, appears to be specific to that unit, where it accidentally goes into time lapse mode which has lost me footage on some trips... quite irritating. Upgrade needed perhaps next year..

[@JonasAlexanderson]

@@AirOnTheWater I can see on the video you sometimes open your upper hand. That is good as you then have to push the paddle in order not to drop it. Then you also have to rotate your body. Think throwing a javelin or a shot put (stöta kula) and notice you take the power from the legs and your rotating torso. If you are thinking in investing in a new camera, better with a DJI Action 3 or 4 or a Insta360 X3. I have had so much problems with my GoPro cameras so I will give up on them now. I've had five of them but I'm probably not buying any more.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@JonasAlexanderson Yes, I have noticed you and some of my friends do some very cool things with the Insta360 X3. I agree with a lot of unexpected GoPro issues, plus I don't find the software too helpful. I take it your DJI Action 3 is doing good work?

[@JonasAlexanderson]

@@AirOnTheWater I just got a remote for the X3, it will be even better. I haven’t had any issues with that one or the DJI Action 3. My Hero 2 was replaced, I gave away my the Hero 4, My Hero 6 has been on my desk unused for two years. Then I have an 8 and a 10. The eight has many issues and the ten is very bad in warm weather or indoors like in a pool. I use premiere pro for editing, the X3 take some time to frame the shots but it’s worth it.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@JonasAlexandersonThanks for the info! I use a GoPro Hero Black 9 and also have an old GoPro Fusion (the pre-Max model), but that's fairly hopeless when it comes to the time and space required to process 360 content. Perhaps you've noted that there's a new Insta360 camera for other purposes, the Ace. Looks interesting in some regards!

[@TheKayakCrew]

Interesting comparison and some great footage as usual. I have not used the X500 but am tempted by it. I have only used sea kayaks on a couple of occasions and did not find them as comfortable as the inflatable kayaks we use because with sea kayaks I felt like I was wedged into the seat/cockpit and my my legs were cramped under the deck. Can you move your legs around under the deck of the X500 or are your legs wedged in on pedals like with a sea kayak? How does the X500 compare to the sea kayaks for stability? Thanks

[@AirOnTheWater]

Hi and thank you for the positive note! If you're referring to the knee braces that are often available on sea kayaks above your knees, so as to balance and brace, those are not present in the X500. You can move your legs around under the deck of the X500, adjusting foot pedals with straps to preferred length. It works nicely but can be cramped for very tall paddlers. If you're much taller than 185 cm I'd advise to try one first. Personally I consider the X500 more stable than most sea kayaks (second version / V2, which is being sold these days). Extra stability can be added at the cost of a little speed by underinflating the central bottom air tube.

[@TheKayakCrew]

@@AirOnTheWater Thanks, that is useful to know. I may get an X500 before next Spring. Have you ever capsized your X500 over (un-intentionally)?)

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@TheKayakCrew Generally, I recommend it as a powerful touring kayak. I have never capsized in my X500 (except for on purpose during re-entry practice), though I know people who have. It's obviously not as stable as a pontoon-style inflatable kayak, but I would consider it as quite stable for an experienced paddler. You can still knee brace a bit against the coaming.

[@TheKayakCrew]

@@AirOnTheWater Ok, thanks. The X500 sounds reasonably stable then. Thanks for the info. We mostly do day touring, could be ideal for us

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@TheKayakCrew Works great for that, given the distances it allows for. I've paddled 42 km in a day at most with it. Also works for expedition paddling, but then it really becomes a bit of Tetris to pack everything and I tend to use a deck bag.

[@davidpoots8362]

Speed isnt everything, the best kayak trips involve exploring hidden places and a long fast boat is usually not maneuverable. No boat is good at everything and the x500 is remarkably versatile

[@AirOnTheWater]

Well said, David! Some of my coolest paddle experiences have been in my slowest shortest kayaks - in places where even the X500 wouldn't fit. There are times where I'd prefer a fast fiberglass sea kayak for long distances, but even then for expeditions you'd want to pick the right kayak with enough space for storage for the trip, etc. For me, the portability of an inflatable kayak provides amazing options.

[@Siravingmon]

No way it can keep up with that width and short waterline, and in really rough conditions the high seat makes it less stavle

[@AirOnTheWater]

Well, if one is talking about racing, then obviously in almost all cases a sea kayak will win. But I've been on 40+ km paddles with friends in faster sea kayaks where I've been the only paddler (in the X500) not exhausted, so that needs to count for something. I also find it to be quite stable, unless you're talking about waves beyond 1-1,5m or so, which aren't the conditions I'm describing. Applies to version 2 though, which I have, not to the earlier version 1. I've been on expedition paddles where sea kayakers in plastic hardshell sea kayaks have been tired and I've waited for them in my Itiwit X500 - but also been easily outrun by fast fiberglass sea kayaks. It's all in the discussion in the video.

[@Siravingmon]

@@AirOnTheWater I suspect you are a stronger paddler than some of your sea kayaking friends, some of whom will be in sea kayaks that are too big (wetted surface area)for them, but the paddler and how good their technique and stamina are is a major factor. E.g. can you maintain a 4 knot average for one hour in flat water on the x500? And what average can you personally maintain in a 16 foot 21-22 inch wide sea kayak? Physics dictates that the longer, narrower waterline with similar wetted surface area will mean a higher cruising speed.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@SiravingmonYep - not sure if you watched the video before commenting, but I discuss exactly that in terms of paddler technique, stamina etc. I don't recall that I've tried a 4 knot average for one full hour specifically, but that would be strenuous in the v2 for most paddlers. I've averaged 3.8 knots over an hour during a 42 km marathon paddle with the X500, but was making sure I wasn't overexerting myself as I hadn't paddled that far in a day at that point. Interestingly, at least one of the friends that was quite tired after a 40 km trip while I wasn't is probably a stronger paddler than me. I had a better paddle than him though, even if he had a better kayak. Factors like a heavily laden plastic expedition kayak can also mean that it can be quite heavy to drive forward over time, giving the 16 kg X500 an advantage in that regard. You're right though - in many cases I'm a stronger paddler; as I mention in the video, I'm not claiming that the X500 equals in performance, I'm pointing out that it's good enough to use side by side with sea kayaks with a bit of extra effort. Nonetheless, it always comes down to a combination of factors, as you mention and as I discuss in the video several times.

[@robertbloch1063]

As they say in aeronautics: "with a big enough engine you can make a barn door fly". Patrik seems big enough to me ;) I think Patrik made it quite clear, everything else equal, hardshells are better kayaks on water. On the other hand, nothing is easier to transport than an inflatable. X500 seem to hit Patrik's sweet compromise spot - allows him to hit water any time / place and on water handles good enough.

[@shadok233]

@@SiravingmonHull shape also plays a role. A V-hull like the X500's (more pronounced in the V1s) is faster (or less draggy) than a flat bottom hull - at the expense of (primary) stability. I know lots of paddlers just look at overall length and then width, but that's an oversimplification. The point is that the X500 is faster than other air kayaks i.e. the Gumotex/Grabner ones - though I have to add that these have other advantages. While a 5+m narrow sea kayak will be faster even with a flat bottom, the difference to most sea kayaks is not so much that you couldn't keep up at touring speed. Top speed is a different thing though, as the X500 hits the wall HARD at some point - where other kayaks can still accelerate, the X500 converts all additional power into a larger bow wave at some 9kph or so. This is not easy to quantify though, I'm just talking out of experience with my X500 vs other touring paddlers in hardshells. But 4kts/7.4kph for one hour without wind on flat water is absolutely possible. I did a 12km roundtrip on a river (so the current cancels out) at 7.2kph avg last year and I was pretty much out of shape at that time. Well I still am, but everything's going to change next year, I swear...