Decathlon Itiwit Strenfit X500 Kayak
Summary
Price At Time Of Writing | $1,199.00
Our Overall Rating | 78 out of 100
Pros - Fast & tracks well
Cons - Heavy, uncomfortable, unstable, hard to dry
Overall - Great speed in the water, just unstable and uncomfortable
Technical Specifications
Open Size - 380x64cm
Weight - 18kg
Load Capacity - 125kg
Packed Size - 94x50x27cm
Our Analysis & Ratings
On paper this should be a great kayak. It certainly delivers on the speed and is the closest inflatable kayak in terms of design to a hard shell. It's a bit heavy to carry but the main issue we have is the lack of stability and less than great finish quality of the build.
If you are just looking for something fast in the water and are an experienced paddler this may be a good option. For us though it is just too uncomfortable and unstable.
Performance - Fast and handles well, similar to a hard shell in many ways with its extremely thin width of 64cm. It is however not at all beginner (or intermediate) friendly due to a lack of stability and at times is hard to manoeuvre.
Construction - Great drop stitch features and good small storage compartment. However, the manufacture seems a little rushed as the joins were evident on our test model, and the PVC appears thinner than on other kayaks, which would make it less durable. Little space for extra equipment means you wouldn't want to take it touring.
Setup/Pack down - Setup has five inflation points, which is middle of the road in terms of complexity. We found it hard to dry because of the enclosed design. Some parts soak up water so it does take a bit of waiting time before you can put it back in the bag.
Portability - At 18kg this is one of the heaviest kayaks we reviewed. The two-strapped backpack it comes with helps to carry it but you do notice the extra weight.
Comfort - It's built for speed and the lack of stability and low profile of the seat make it less comfortable than some of the others. Even fairly competent paddlers will spend half the time trying not to capsize.
Overall - Great speed in the water, just unstable and uncomfortable.
