Putting an Itiwit x500 through its paces, user review test

Last year I bought an x500 V1 and returned it within 3 months because it leaked. I have just bought a second hand x500 V2 because I want to paddle in places where I can't take a conventional kayak. Having made a few modifications I paddled the x500 in choppy, windy conditions, tested the handling, did a few rolls and got back in the boat after a wet exit.

[@AirOnTheWater]

Hey David, just noted that this vid has reached 7,000+ views in just a month or so. Shows how appreciated the content is and the knowledge behind it! Nicely done 🙂

[@davidpoots8362]

Thanks Patrik, it certainly shows the interest in the remarkable x500.

[@krzysztofgrasssnake]

Wow I love you greenlad kayak. Magnificent!!!!!

[@davidpoots8362]

Thank you she is beautiful

[@Hiking.and.mountains]

Thanks for the video! Thinking of buying one so it was very helpful to watch 👌🏼 liked & subscribed.

[@davidpoots8362]

Glad you found it useful. The x500 is a Marmite boat, love it or hate it. I actually enjoy it's flaws and quirks.

[@AirOnTheWater]

Truly excellent video, David! Really interesting to see how your modifications and skill allow for this level of management of the boat. Thanks for sharing (and also nice to see you skin-on-frame kayak up close - it's a beauty)!

[@davidpoots8362]

Thanks Patrik, the x500 is close to perfect. I'm very pleased to find it is more than capable of handling rough water.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@davidpoots8362 I find it can be pushed to the side by side waves and "jump" a lot in shorter chop of some size, but it can all be handled with adjustments with the paddle or edging. I've been impressed every time I've out on more challenging waters as to what it's capable of, even if it would be easier to cut through the waves with a fast sea kayak.

[@davidpoots8362]

Patrik you definitely have put in the miles, all I can say is on that short test, when compared to a sea kayak, the x500 performed very well

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@davidpoots8362 It's really nice for many of us, I think, to hear this from you as a seasoned sea kayaker 😎 There are a lot of preconceptions about what an inflatable kayak can and cannot do, and sometimes these are correct, but the X500 turns things upside down a bit.

[@BarndtTom]

Thanks for this video. It makes me confident that it’s a good idea to try rolls with my own.

[@davidpoots8362]

The x500 can be rolled and re-entry is easy. Rolling is a hobby on it's own and it's been fun modifying the inflatable boat just so I can.

[@BarndtTom]

@@davidpoots8362I successfully managed several re-entries already. Even with the V1. But I will have to make the modifications before trying to roll it.

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Great video David and great to see you're enjoying the boat, like your idea with them foam blocks at the side of the seat... I never had a chance to roll it as the spray skirt wasn't a tight fit and I couldn't find a decent one that fit, but obviously you did. Yes as you said in the video she's pretty easy to get back into from the back. So funny you saying you wanted this boat for your Scotland trip. As I did not want to take the x500 to Scotland and that's why I wanted the PakAyaK.

[@davidpoots8362]

Hi George, the Pakayak is more robust but I couldn't justify the cost when I already have a plastic kayak. I only intend taking short trips, don't need to carry camping gear and a puncture wouldn't be a disaster. For me the x500 is exactly right.

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

@@davidpoots8362 I see my friend, and can't wait to see your video of you in Scotland.

[@KayakTropical]

Nice viddeo, thanks for sharing! Nice hacks you have done to your River Rat 2.

[@davidpoots8362]

Experimenting has been fun, I think the hip pads make the biggest difference to handling.

[@danerik.westerlind]

Wow, great review, so nice to see you with all you experience test this kayak and give your opinion!🙌 Tips, add these words in title, user review test.🤗

[@davidpoots8362]

Thanks Danerik, I will do that. I've been having fun with the boat and feel confident it will cope with exploring exposed coastline.

[@denisgilbert1283]

Excellent, really useful, thanks David

[@davidpoots8362]

Just my thoughts on the boat, glad you found it useful

[@KKBG]

great video. in future i hope to see a review for Advanced Elements Airfusion Evo . I speculate you will like it even more. Greetings from Dublin

[@davidpoots8362]

I have looked for an advanced elements fusion but they are never available. Patrik from air on the water has reviewed it.

[@stephenboylandroad]

Great review, every day is a school! Ever thought about treatment for your collecting habit! 😂

[@davidpoots8362]

Sssshh, I don't let J into the garage anymore :)

[@6yjjk]

Very interesting indeed. I've noticed an annoying tendency for my X500's seat to pop off its mounting points and float, whereupon the whole thing can pop out, which is a right pain in the backside to fix from in the water. Those big blocks of foam look like they should prevent that.

[@davidpoots8362]

Yes, that wasn't why I fitted the blocks, but they do keep the seat secure under the cockpit rim

[@Breizhjean22]

Thanks for the vidéo. I have been looking at the itiwit x500 2 place version and thanks to Google, your vidéo popped up on the screen. With a price of 1250 euros new, i’m obviously keen to buy with as much knowledge as possible. The handling of the bigger version is bound to be différent but i can see the quality is there. At 528cms, it’s a bit of a long one. I have little expérience with kayaks but a lot with boats and the sea and the objective is to have something secure and reliable to explore the islands around northern Brittany. I think your vidéo has convinced me that it’s a good buy. The alternative is to buy two 1 place x500 but with the two place, i can go out and i’ve got the place to put my fishing rods😊

[@davidpoots8362]

Thanks, yes at this price, even though they do need maintenance, the x500 is a good buy. I have a two person kayak, but only use it occasionally. Most of the time it is more fun to have two 1 person kayaks. Brittany has a great coast to explore, please carry rescue gear and a phone and stay safe.

[@Breizhjean22]

@@davidpoots8362 Thanks yes, the law here is that to go beyond 300m as far as 2 nautical miles, you need to have the specified équipement required by law.....and specified lengths of the kayak etc to be in conformity....and most certainly à phone. Just subscribed.....will no doubt learn from your vidéos. Thankyou.

[@laurentvenet2758]

@@Breizhjean22hi David. On the French decathlon site and some other countries sometimes the x500 two person is discounted at 800 euros so don’t rush too quickly on buying yours and monitor after the price drop which may occur again.

[@Sugarfoot108]

It would be better to rig a lap belt as used in a wave ski with a quick release buckle and pull toggle ball. I used something similar when I first got into surfskis to enable thigh control and rolling in an open cockpit. I added neoprene to the 2” webbing for comfort where it connects to the thighs.

[@davidpoots8362]

Ian, that is a great idea thanks

[@chrossbone]

Thanks for testing the boat for o fus all that are interested in it. One idea about the strap: maybe you could use something with a quick-release system like the strap on whitewater personal floating devices that hold very reliably but are completely released with one tug on the very visible cord even if the person using it is panicking a little... Then you could maybe tie in a bit tighter to support rolling and bracing more and still fell save enough and confident that you could get out in case you need to...

[@davidpoots8362]

Absolutely, I plan to do something with a simple quick release.

[@kosmatifizik]

Great video! I am a bit hesitant in strapping myself into a boat like that. Do you think same could be achieved by attaching foam thigh braces?

[@davidpoots8362]

I know what you mean, although the thighstrap is loose and I can wriggle out. I have seen someone else using airbags, but I think that was more to help paddling, not rolling. Bottom line, rolling is fun but as long as you can get back in the boat you will be safe.

[@stephenpendrigh]

Very helpful video, thank you! I've tried to roll it inside a pool environment but failed due to the top deck flexing too much. Do you know where I might be able to find the D-rings that were attached to the boat?

[@davidpoots8362]

Thanks, I got them from Amazon, although I had to trim them slightly. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08TX35S5C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@coppershark1973]

Hi David, thank you for a very comprehensive look at the X500. I am going to make similar modifications. Where did you get your foam blocks and what size did you buy? Thanks.

[@davidpoots8362]

Thanks, I bought the foam on ebay, the block was 30x25x20 cm and was enough for two hip pads. Basically I measured the size of the flat area on the side of the seat and made pads to fit that footprint, which were wide enough to make contact with the side of the boat. I'm sure there are other ways to achieve the same result.

[@coppershark1973]

Genius! I’m going to order the same right now. Thank you for replying. 👍👍😁

[@mairnealachamu]

Interesting review. I wonder how durable it is? If you cut a corner too tight and clip a rock, will it puncture easily? If it does puncture, are there multiple air chambers, or will it totally deflate?

[@davidpoots8362]

People who have used them a lot say they bounce off rocks well, but small punctures do happen. Mostly they are let air our slowly and aren't noticeable at the time. There are 3 main chambers so you wouldn't sink.

[@mattomeara65]

Great video, I am looking to buy an Itiwit x500. What is that paddle you are using?

[@davidpoots8362]

They are great wee kayaks, if only reliability were better, but repairs are easy. That's a split Greenland Paddle from Canada. Eastpole paddles sell similar ones in Europe.

[@rca808rca808]

Pyranha thigh braces as used on the surfjet sit on top would be ideal here. They just attach to d rings on the side of the boat.

[@davidpoots8362]

Interesting thought. I have used similar straps on sit on tops and was able to roll the boat, but they tend to slip off. Not sure how successful that would be with a closed cockpit.

[@ivanoutdoors]

Omg you are a man after my own hart! Just with Sea Kayaks. But that Thy strap makes me nervous. Have you thought about the type used with inflatables like a packraft? Guy like you could install the required D rings, and it would give you real knee braces.. Subscribed

[@davidpoots8362]

The strap is certainly not a perfect solution, perhaps because I'm trying to make a small touring kayak into a rough water sea kayak. I have tried those other braces but find they just fall off my thighs. I keep the strap very loose, which gives me support when I need it and let's me exit the boat in a capsize. That's why I tried it when I had friends nearby to do a rescue. It did work but I keep thinking about how to make some foam knee pads, sadly no good ideas yet.

[@ROCKDESTROYER.]

What's that paddle you're using ?

[@davidpoots8362]

It's a split Greenland paddle by Feathercraft. Eastpole paddles also make them. It's v convenient for packing into a bag.

[@CaspCic]

The problem with this boat is, that due to its price range, it's often sold to beginners, with ads showing it going in open seas and large lakes... It's nothing for beginners. It's not as stable as it should be. It's fun for experienced paddlers, but I guess, those have even better, more practical boats available.

[@davidpoots8362]

Interesting point, although I would argue all beginners should have training. Kayaking requires skill and knowledge about trip planning, rescues and what equipment to carry. We see far too many poorly prepared paddlers getting into trouble.