CORRECTION: In the video I said 10 bar, but I meant 10 PSI. Brain fart! (Not that you would accidentally inflate to 10 bar anyway, that would take a lot of effort!)
Hi Steve. Just a little advice: in the waves, it is better to lean towards the wave than towards the beach. And with a skirt, it's better too! Bye bye.
I like the fact you can get a train , get in the sea, sail around the coast a bit and you don't have to go back for your transport. Very cool Kayak. Thanks for sharing.
I've had mine for a year. Taken it out often. The longest trip yet, was a multi-night camp trip where we paddles 17km to reach a small island where we camped. During the days did some kayak fishing, and ventured out into the straight (Georgian bay, open water). I am surprised more 'best of inflatables' type sites don't feature this boat. Its really great. Everyone that sees it for the first time is shocked its an inflatable.. many assume its a hardshell. By far the best boat I could have purchased to help keep me out and active during the pandemic.
Thanks Ryan, it's true everyone is always surprised when they realise it's inflatable! I'm really looking forward to taken it out camping now the weather is starting to improve. Cheers!
It's completely unsuitable for a tourer in anything but flat water. A flat bottom on hull on an inflatable tourer is a no no. It doesn't even have a class rating. Nearly all of its complaints are stability related. Look at Sea Eagle FastTrak/SE 380X as examples of proper tourers.
@@mdc123-v2v I have looked at the sea eagle, I wasn't a fan. The x500 has a V shaped hull which traks very nicely, and I really didn't want an open top. I am able to pack around 80 lbs of gear into/on my x500 and paddle out to camp. I find it very stable. And when it's not loaded up I take it into the surf (great lakes) for some fun.
@@joelelias2556 I've done it, but I wouldn't recommend it generally. It's faster than the standard fishing kayak, due to the V shape. So there is a trade off.
I have one and it's great. Really like it. Agree with pretty much everything you said. It's very stable and tracks well especially when moving quickly. The weight of the pack means it isn't suitable for long walks but short distances (of a few hundred metres) from transport to water are absolutely fine. It packs away fine once you get the hang of doing it right. Folding it correctly and using the fastening strap to keep it folded tight is key. If done right it's quick and neat. I've had it for a few years now, and although it is expensive, I've found it great value for money. I live in a flat with no garage or garden, so can't have a rigid, so this has proved perfect for me. 😊
Great video, I have an X500 and agree with everything you said. I've taken it on day trips, club trips and for my BC awards, and it's been excellent - a few people thought I was mad at first using an inflatable (lumping it in with all the dingys you see in summer), but you soon see that it's perfectly suited to inland touring.
Nice one. Saw this and your packing guide, subscribed! Word to the wise: Don't expect that bag to protect the kayak if you're checking it in. One trip through Helsinki airport put a filthy black streak down my bag, and a hole right through it and into the rubber of the kayak itself. ("Special handling", they call that.) Purely cosmetic, easily fixable, but when you're bringing it home from the shop and haven't even got it wet yet, quite galling. Given that I've bought this with the intention of taking it abroad, I'm going to need to find something tougher to put the whole lot in before I let HEL's bag smashers have another crack at it. Looking forward to getting out in my new X500 and doing some multi-day trips with it in northern Finland - once the lakes melt. I've done similar trips in an Intex Challenger K1/K2, but this X500 seems like it's much more suited to the job. I'm impressed by just how much stuff you managed to fit into it.
Finally a proper video review of the x500 in English, thank you for that 👍 Now I know I am ready to get one (was a bit worried about stability and me not having enough skills/technique to paddle it). I'd still love to see it live one day before buying. Pricey, yes - I found out that for some reason this one was the most expensive in the UK. So far, anywhere else I checked (several EU countries and across the ocean) it is cheaper. Once again, great video! Greetings from Crawley.
Thanks Tomasz, I paid for it in three installments which eased the pain a bit. Totally worth it though, I can see myself getting many miles out of this kayak
@@MyChannelcloud Hi, if your question was to me, yes, I eventually bought one in November 2021 but I'll be able to say anything about stability in spring when it finally gets warmer - I can't paddle in cold weather unfortunately. 🥶 I'm holding Stevie partially responsible for my purchase, haha - his review was too good 😂🤣😂
@@MyChannelcloud I took it out to River Wey in the UK yesterday (Saturday 26th March) and I don't know what to say... this was the most pleasant day I've had so far in the UK. The kayak itself is fantastic. It is tippy but if you have at least basic sense of balance then you'll handle it well (this is the upgraded v2 with reshaped hull). 👍 It took me a while to get used to it. I've been trying to use the correct paddling technique I've been studying over the winter, and half-way through my journey I noticed a significant difference to my paddling and speed as I figured out some last bits to apply correctly. Today I'm resting a bit after having covered 15 miles on my first outing. I haven't tried to edge it yet - not experienced enough to try on a cold river in early spring. 😅 Pricey but nicey, definitely yes... but I'd give it 5 stars. 😉 Oh... if you intend to use either a wing or a Greenland paddle, make sure you have a spray skirt. Wing paddle that is 210cm long is perfect for it.
Very nicely filmed and reviewed! High quality vlogging right there. I enjoyed this and your video on bringing camping gear with the X500. Good packing skills there! Good to see someone else also carrying this on public transport and trains - I've tried the same from Stockholm, Sweden to nearby cities for multi-day paddles which has worked great (but with quite a bit of effort as you say). I'm also really impressed with the X500 in terms of performance and overall quality.
Thanks so much Patrik! Yes I'm getting quite used to taking it on the train now, and I always get funny looks from people! It's worth it though. On the water I forget that this is an inflatable. Cheers
Thank you for this wonderful review! I have a small car, and carrying two hard kayaks on the roof would be impossible, that is why I intend to buy the inflatable version. Your video really helped me with the final decision. ❤ Thaaanks!
Fantastic review i look forward to ya doing more. I liked how you gave real world opinions of the kayak and hope to see alot more of your videos. One thing that really really bugged me is that when you paddle you only use your arms and dont paddle with your core if you had better padding techniques you could paddle 5 times longer then you do now and with less effort. I would highly recommend taking some paddling classes if you can it will make your kayaking experience just that much better.
Just ordered one, and hopefully getting it within two weeks! So excited to try it out, haven't paddled since I was a kid, so hope this will give me joy for many years. :) Great review!
I've thought about these as an easy to store alternative to a rigid kayak and it seems to perform pretty well. Thanks for the review, looking forward to seeing you using it on a longer trip sometime soon.
That's a good point about storage actually. I keep my rigid in the garage, but the x500 I keep packed up in a cupboard indoors. As one friend put it; 'a kayak suitable for apartment living'
In 1970, I found myself on Ross Lake (Northern WA) in my 16 foot, square end, canoe with a 3 hp motor. Aboard, were my wife, two kids, dog and camping gear. It was Sunday and we had transported to launch into the lake on the previous Thursday. We had been on Jerusalem Island at a reserved campsite. My buddy was in his Norwegian Kayak (home made) with wife and 2 year old. I was at risk, running between whitecaps and the kids were bailing the water that was coming over the gunwales. I swore to myself, if I get out off this lake I am going to build two Norwegian kayaks. Each boat was capable of taking all of us but much safer and all around better with two boats. Later we went on river trips with blow up boats, each person with their own boat/bed. There is truly safety in numbers. And, much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground. Iguana
I just saw this video and cancelled my order for the x100 and went for this instead. Great video. Was apprehensive as its says its for intermediate but you have mentioned before its fine for beginners
Thanks for a thorough, well filmed review. Good points made. One minor niggle is the relentless background lift muzac: it's really not needed and distracts attention the commentary
Brilliant review, well balanced. I bought one earlier in the year when they finally came available again. I love it, and you are right with all your review points. Keep up all the reviews and trip reports. Been out on the Thames, Mole and Wey plenty of times with the X500.
✨Great job with this video✨ Man i wish i found this review last year. I bought this kayak ”blind” 1 year ago, but i had checked everything i could about it so i felt rather confident i made the right choice. I took it out a handfull of times and it was scary due to my non existing experience haha but it worked better then i thought. I accually got in a 3 day camp trip along our local river and it worked perfect! The one thing that kind of bothered me was the pump is so BIG. It takes up much space cause you need to pack it with you. I wish the made it at least thinner so it packs better. But overall a great kayak for me. A 100% beginner living innan apartment on the eastcoast of Sweden🔥 Can’t wait for spring/summer so i can have another go😃
I 100% agree about the pump! I've been looking for something much smaller - I don't mind if it takes a lot longer to inflate the kayak - but haven't found anything yet. It's like... 5 minutes to inflate the boat then you have to carry this thing around everywhere! Thanks for watching and your nice comments, and let me know how it goes when you're back on the water. You should film it and put it up on RUclips, Sweden is beautiful!
Liked your review on this kayak, this kayak was one of a few considered by myself just over two years ago.... Like yourself needed a kayak that could fold for transportation , storage, Gumotex , Bluewave Glider , and this one were my choice of many..... Gumotex came top for backpacking , transportation, storage... but was a lower PSI/ Bar pressure hence wasn't like a hard shell... This one looked really good , ticking almost all the boxes. Unfortunately reviews said it was tippy in open water.... Spending a lot on time on the Scottish North Sea coastline in and out of caves, I wanted something a bit stable... So Bluewave Glider at 10psi gives me the portable of a inflatable.. but the hardshell feel on the water..... Although always open to new versions of kayak's Have fun , stay safe, enjoy 👍
Thanks Ian, yeah I mostly use my X500 on rivers and canals and it's perfect for that. I don't do much coastal in it. I'll check out the Bluewave Glider, that sounds really interesting. Cheers
loved the review - bought one and its perfect - have sold by Dagger Charleston 14.0 that ive had for many years but needed the portability this offered
Liked the review. Forgot to add cleaning and drying part… I liked - Difficult but doable, it is true. But easier if you have a trolley. I have rubber (hypalon/nitrilion) material IK what weights 30kg. With all gear, clothes, food, water for multiday river tour the weight can easily exceed 50kg. I would suggust to invest in Eckla beach rolley. It’s literally 3 in one. To carry your bag, to carry your kayak and chair to sit on. Bloody expensive but durable german engineering. Had it many times overturn with my kayak and gear on steeper uneven banks or stairs, smashing against ground and cement. No issues at all.
You're absolutely right - my brain said PSI but my mouth said bar -d'oh! I've posted a correction at the timestamp. Can't believe after 25K views you're the first to spot this, thanks Andi 🙏
Brilliant Stevie - loved the review and your camera work. Well done. will definitely put this on my list to consider - first time Kayaker.... All the best from Australia 👌👌👏👏
Great video and review, dumbfounded you don’t have more subscribers. Great camera work and music . It’s a big 👍🏻from me . That’s me subscribed. Let ok forward to watching your other videos.
decided to watch your other review (I probably should have looked at both of them before ordering a pair of X500's from decathlon last night in the store?),but you've massively re-assured me, thanks.
Lovely video 🤩 I'm looking for a kayak and I will definitely get this one. I also have a question, because I'm a beginner what stuff do I have to take with me? I know life jackets and dry suits depending on the weather. But like what else? Yes water bottle too. And? It would be nice to see a video of a guide to know what to take with me.
Stevie, I've seen all your videos on this kayak & as a result was all set to buy one recently but they've been pulled from sale, with no reason why. Do you have any idea for this as I've not been able to find any information about the current situation? Cheers for all the useful info.
Don't know anything for definite, but from the X500 owners forum it sounds like there's been some problems with the latest batch. Mine is still going strong so hopefully they'll sort the issue and roll out a new batch of X500's soon
Really enjoyed your review and people's comments . It's very useful as I'm looking for a something similar as I've just returned from a trip to Norway and Sweden with my motorbike towing a small camping trailer with my bicycle but would love to be able to take a kayak as well. I'm just a beginner any suggestions as need to keep weight and size down.
Great video. I'm completely new to kyacks and know absolutely nothing about them. I'm definitely looking into doing a training course to learn how to paddle safely. I thought rivers, lakes canals and the ocean would require 4 different types of kyacks. This kyack seems very versatile. Ideally I'd like to paddle around calm coastlines such as Arran and Bute on calm days and on the Union canal. Rivers seem a bit too fast paced for me. Thanks for this review . Good luck
@@chrisandrews7201 yes, really happy with it. It's become my main boat over my rigid Islander kayak because its more portable and performs just as well. It's also a comfortable boat to paddle. Pretty sturdy too.
Very nice review. We're looking at maybe buying the double version. We've got the Itiwit X100 which is a nice little kayak but we're sort of outgrowing it a bit. It's sluggish and quite susceptible to winds and waves. I hope the X500 would allow us to move around with less favourable circumstances. I am a bit worried though about whether it's prone to capsizing and how you'd get back into it with two people.
Not the shorty, I have a longer one for October. The water temperature is still warmer than in spring as it takes a while to cool down. I'll probably get a thicker winter wetsuit for the end and beginning of the year though
Thanks very much Marcin. I filmed those scenes on the River Thames in Molesey and Hampton Court, quite near Hampton Court palace. Hurst Park nearby is great for paddling. You can park and launch there easily
RE: Looks great...I have an Aquamarina Tomahawk...I find it to be quite tippy on a lake...looking to go to do some kayaking on the ocean...well in the MED...wondering if you found the Itiwit to be stable for ocean/sea expeditions..as well is there a waist cover? Many thanks!!
Thanks John, yes the X500 was great when I took it paddling on the coast in Wales. They are designed and developed in the South of France where Itiwit is based, so are literally tested on the Med 😀 There is a neoprene spray skirt for it from Decathlon too
@@johndoe-fs7ib No they are sold separately, but there is a bundle of the boat and the recommended paddle and pump on Decathlon's site. It's the X500 paddle and the 10psi black pump. I bought my X500 paddle long before I got this boat, and used it with my rigid kayak doing long distance tours. Love that paddle
Thanks so much for the fantastic review of this great Kayak Stevie!Would you or anyone else know the dimensions of the packed backpack? Our main limitation on getting a pair or these is being able to stack them in the boot/garage of a campervan we travel in. Thanks and happy paddling!!
Hey! love your video. I am also thinking about buying the ITIWIT X500 since i live near a big big lake. and there comes my question, are some waves a problem for it? since i heard it tends to tip over easily. my second question is if its able to be stored like half pumped. since i do not need to pack it everytime. Tho i do not have the space for a usual plastic one sadly. Thank you in advance!
Thank you Stevie. Great review and I'm now subscribed! I liked your later clip as well about storage, which I had not realised. I'm going to see if I can inspect one first before buying. I am reassured by your comments about this being "well okay really" with regard to being too tippy. Did you look at anything else before buying? I'm also looking at the KXONE Slider 375 and the Aqua Marina Tomahawk Air-K 375.
Thanks Martin! I didn't really look at anything else at the time as this was the only sit-in inflatable I was aware of in the UK. As for the stability, I found out from Decathlon that the recent models, such as the one I have, are 'version 2' which have a flatter bottom under the seat making them more stable. Explains why I didn't encounter the stability problems I'd heard about from others. There is a white tab on the backpack that tells you which version it is. Having used it a while now I've got used to how the boat moves, so stability has kind of become second nature. I'm really enjoying this boat
@@StevieWyatt Thank you for getting back to me Stevie. I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the boat. Please can you describe where the tab is on the backpack? I assume you must mean the pack that the kayak is packed up into. Does it say version 1 or version 2? Lets hope it gets warmer soon so you can take it out again.
Hello, I am not sure anyone else noticed for the inflation pressure but did you say 10 bars? That is well over 140 psi. Are you sure you can even get that much pressure from a hand pump? That seems like a lot to me.
My brain said psi but my mouth said bar 🤪 There should be a correction card that flashes up now at that part of the video. The recommended pump for this kayak these days is Itiwit's black 10psi pump, it inflates it really quickly. Cheers, Stevie
03.27 - Did it come with the paddle that appears when you are pumping it up at the waterside? Or is this an optional (🤣) accessory, like the spray deck?
Thanks Axel. You would definitely fit, but I think you'd have the foot-pegs pushed down a lot further than I have them. It just means you wouldn't be able to store much in the bow, but there's plenty of room in the back anyway. If you can get to a Decathlon store they sometimes have them set up so you can try the fit.
Long shot but by chance do you have a rough idea of the box dimensions? Looks waist high on you and maybe 60cm width and depth. And the weight, 40lbs? Thank you
Thanks so much Jure. Time will tell but I feel pretty confident in the durability of the boat. It's very well put together and you can tell the quality of materials is of a high standard. It's in a different league compared to some of the standard PVC inflatables you see for about half the price. I can see this boat lasting for many seasons
Hi Stuart, I treated myself to that paddle for my previous kayak, about a year before I bought this boat. I wanted to upgrade from the £40 basic Amazon aluminium paddle I had. £200 for a standard Werner paddle seemed a big leap, so the £80 Decathlon one seemed like a reasonable upgrade without breaking the bank. Huge difference in performance and comfort from my old paddle! If you have long days out in the boat or want to do long trips it's definitely worth the money
That’s a really useful video. Been looking at these for a while. Wish I’d bought last year as they seem to have shot up in price. How did you find the foot rests to fit and then adjust? Others I’ve seen just have a plastic & foam bar which don’t support very well.
Awesome review matey. Now you have owned it for a while I have to ask because I'm thinking of buying one is it quite stable because I have heard some horror stories. Any information will be very much appreciated. Cheers
Thanks George, yeah I find it really stable actually. I paddle it on mostly rivers and canals and because the latest versions of the X500 have a flatter bottom around the cockpit they don't tip like the old ones used to
Thanks very much Dirk. I use Itiwit's X500 paddle which is adjustable. I set it at 114cm which feels most comfortable for me. I feather it at 60 degrees.
Cool! Having watched most of yours vids now, a video without you ending up in the drink would be weird!😄 when and where is the next trip? The river Wye, maybe?
I’m someone that’s done a fiat amount of kayaking but I’ve never owned my own. I therefore don’t know too much about what to look for when buying my first but I keep seeing reviews for this one. I’ve got the storage for a rigid kayak and a car to transport one but it would be a pain and I like the idea of the space this would save. Would you recommend it for someone like me especially considering the price? I could pickup a decent condition used rigid for £200-300. Would love to hear your thoughts!
Just did a test paddle with this kayak and was disappointed. Reasons: I would say it's max paddler weight would be someone 200lbs and under. I'm 6-2/230 and it rode too deep and was sluggish. Tracking and glide was barely ok and it's not able to run a rudder and has no skeg. Build quality was ok, very little room and not a fan of the way they used the folding flap to cover the front hatch. Cockpit is way small for a bigger person. It's designed for someone under 200lbs and max 6' tall IMO. Final note: this is not a big water kayak like the Advanced Elements Expedition Elite which has a better design (deeper V hull) and longer and wider. Rock steady. This X500 has a place, but not for a bigger person.
Great video, thanks. Rest Bay, Porthcawl! Down the road from me in Neath. How do you think it would cope on a choppy sea? I probably do 60% sea and 40% river/canals.
Thanks! It's not too bad on choppy waters, but I got thrown around quite a bit in the surf down at Westward Ho and capsized (enough to lose my GoPro 😔). I think after a bit of experience and confidence with the boat it would be fine though. On rivers and canals it's a dream, especially if you are going long distance and need to put stuff in the back. My mum lives in Porthcawl so I'll definitely be making more videos in the x500 down there in the future. I want to do Rest Bay to Ogmore by Sea, but will probably wait until spring/ summer 🚣♂️
@@StevieWyatt I checked them out on Decathlon, for rivers and canals it looks perfect, as you say. The narrowness (64cm) would concern me in terms of stability on some of the choppier seas that I often end up on down west Wales. Rest Bay to Ogmore would be a nice run. You can go up the river to Ogmore castle if the tide is in. If you are doing a circular route, then the problem would be you would have to go against the tide on one leg of the journey unless you timed it so that you reached the turn around point at high tide.
I haven't tried the Aquaglide so can't have an honest opinion on that. What I can say about the X500 is that three years of owning it and it is still my main boat. Love it, was out in it today in fact
It seems to sit too high in the water, does not look very stable even on calm water. Good reporting but I think I will stick with my rigid kayak. Happy kayaking to you and everyone else out there
I can't myself. I've heard that some experienced paddlers have managed to roll an X500 but personally it's a little bit too wide for me to roll. That makes it good for stability though, and it is sold as an intermediate kayak
CORRECTION: In the video I said 10 bar, but I meant 10 PSI. Brain fart!
(Not that you would accidentally inflate to 10 bar anyway, that would take a lot of effort!)
do a test to see if it can take it :)
That would make a very loud bang😀
Hi Steve.
Just a little advice: in the waves, it is better to lean towards the wave than towards the beach. And with a skirt, it's better too! Bye bye.
I like the fact you can get a train , get in the sea, sail around the coast a bit and you don't have to go back for your transport. Very cool Kayak. Thanks for sharing.
I've had mine for a year. Taken it out often. The longest trip yet, was a multi-night camp trip where we paddles 17km to reach a small island where we camped. During the days did some kayak fishing, and ventured out into the straight (Georgian bay, open water).
I am surprised more 'best of inflatables' type sites don't feature this boat. Its really great.
Everyone that sees it for the first time is shocked its an inflatable.. many assume its a hardshell.
By far the best boat I could have purchased to help keep me out and active during the pandemic.
Thanks Ryan, it's true everyone is always surprised when they realise it's inflatable! I'm really looking forward to taken it out camping now the weather is starting to improve. Cheers!
It's completely unsuitable for a tourer in anything but flat water. A flat bottom on hull on an inflatable tourer is a no no. It doesn't even have a class rating. Nearly all of its complaints are stability related. Look at Sea Eagle FastTrak/SE 380X as examples of proper tourers.
@@mdc123-v2v I have looked at the sea eagle, I wasn't a fan. The x500 has a V shaped hull which traks very nicely, and I really didn't want an open top. I am able to pack around 80 lbs of gear into/on my x500 and paddle out to camp. I find it very stable. And when it's not loaded up I take it into the surf (great lakes) for some fun.
So it’s stable enough for fishing?
@@joelelias2556 I've done it, but I wouldn't recommend it generally. It's faster than the standard fishing kayak, due to the V shape. So there is a trade off.
I have one and it's great. Really like it. Agree with pretty much everything you said. It's very stable and tracks well especially when moving quickly. The weight of the pack means it isn't suitable for long walks but short distances (of a few hundred metres) from transport to water are absolutely fine. It packs away fine once you get the hang of doing it right. Folding it correctly and using the fastening strap to keep it folded tight is key. If done right it's quick and neat. I've had it for a few years now, and although it is expensive, I've found it great value for money. I live in a flat with no garage or garden, so can't have a rigid, so this has proved perfect for me. 😊
"Difficult but do-able" might have to be my new tinder bio 😂
Great video, I have an X500 and agree with everything you said. I've taken it on day trips, club trips and for my BC awards, and it's been excellent - a few people thought I was mad at first using an inflatable (lumping it in with all the dingys you see in summer), but you soon see that it's perfectly suited to inland touring.
Thanks Dominic, it really is impressive for an inflatable, I'm looking forward to doing a lot of touring in it 🚣
Welcome to my first ever gear review, I hope it is useful. I would love to hear in the comments about other people's experiences with the x500
Nice one. Saw this and your packing guide, subscribed!
Word to the wise: Don't expect that bag to protect the kayak if you're checking it in. One trip through Helsinki airport put a filthy black streak down my bag, and a hole right through it and into the rubber of the kayak itself. ("Special handling", they call that.) Purely cosmetic, easily fixable, but when you're bringing it home from the shop and haven't even got it wet yet, quite galling. Given that I've bought this with the intention of taking it abroad, I'm going to need to find something tougher to put the whole lot in before I let HEL's bag smashers have another crack at it.
Looking forward to getting out in my new X500 and doing some multi-day trips with it in northern Finland - once the lakes melt. I've done similar trips in an Intex Challenger K1/K2, but this X500 seems like it's much more suited to the job. I'm impressed by just how much stuff you managed to fit into it.
Finally a proper video review of the x500 in English, thank you for that 👍
Now I know I am ready to get one (was a bit worried about stability and me not having enough skills/technique to paddle it).
I'd still love to see it live one day before buying.
Pricey, yes - I found out that for some reason this one was the most expensive in the UK. So far, anywhere else I checked (several EU countries and across the ocean) it is cheaper.
Once again, great video! Greetings from Crawley.
Thanks Tomasz, I paid for it in three installments which eased the pain a bit. Totally worth it though, I can see myself getting many miles out of this kayak
Hi. What is the stability like? Did you buy one? thinking of doing so myself although I am low intermediate.
@@MyChannelcloud Hi, if your question was to me, yes, I eventually bought one in November 2021 but I'll be able to say anything about stability in spring when it finally gets warmer - I can't paddle in cold weather unfortunately. 🥶
I'm holding Stevie partially responsible for my purchase, haha - his review was too good 😂🤣😂
@@TomKledecki Yeah too cold at the moment. I'm almost certain to buy one as well, maybe in spring. I'd be interested to know how you get on.
@@MyChannelcloud I took it out to River Wey in the UK yesterday (Saturday 26th March) and I don't know what to say... this was the most pleasant day I've had so far in the UK.
The kayak itself is fantastic. It is tippy but if you have at least basic sense of balance then you'll handle it well (this is the upgraded v2 with reshaped hull). 👍
It took me a while to get used to it. I've been trying to use the correct paddling technique I've been studying over the winter, and half-way through my journey I noticed a significant difference to my paddling and speed as I figured out some last bits to apply correctly. Today I'm resting a bit after having covered 15 miles on my first outing.
I haven't tried to edge it yet - not experienced enough to try on a cold river in early spring. 😅
Pricey but nicey, definitely yes... but I'd give it 5 stars. 😉
Oh... if you intend to use either a wing or a Greenland paddle, make sure you have a spray skirt. Wing paddle that is 210cm long is perfect for it.
I really enjoyed this video. The format and the cinematographics are top-notch!!
Thanks 🙏
If this is your first review, that’s pretty impressive
Thanks so much. I nearly didn't post it, thought it was gonna bomb!
Very nicely filmed and reviewed! High quality vlogging right there. I enjoyed this and your video on bringing camping gear with the X500. Good packing skills there! Good to see someone else also carrying this on public transport and trains - I've tried the same from Stockholm, Sweden to nearby cities for multi-day paddles which has worked great (but with quite a bit of effort as you say). I'm also really impressed with the X500 in terms of performance and overall quality.
Thanks so much Patrik! Yes I'm getting quite used to taking it on the train now, and I always get funny looks from people! It's worth it though. On the water I forget that this is an inflatable. Cheers
Thank you for this wonderful review! I have a small car, and carrying two hard kayaks on the roof would be impossible, that is why I intend to buy the inflatable version. Your video really helped me with the final decision. ❤ Thaaanks!
Fantastic review i look forward to ya doing more. I liked how you gave real world opinions of the kayak and hope to see alot more of your videos. One thing that really really bugged me is that when you paddle you only use your arms and dont paddle with your core if you had better padding techniques you could paddle 5 times longer then you do now and with less effort. I would highly recommend taking some paddling classes if you can it will make your kayaking experience just that much better.
I was surprised at how quick and easy it was to inflate this kayak. I had it ready to go in no time and was out on the water enjoying myself!😍
Just ordered one, and hopefully getting it within two weeks! So excited to try it out, haven't paddled since I was a kid, so hope this will give me joy for many years. :) Great review!
Thanks Magnus, good luck with it. I love mine, you're gonna have a great summer I'm sure 🙂🚣♂️
I've thought about these as an easy to store alternative to a rigid kayak and it seems to perform pretty well. Thanks for the review, looking forward to seeing you using it on a longer trip sometime soon.
That's a good point about storage actually. I keep my rigid in the garage, but the x500 I keep packed up in a cupboard indoors. As one friend put it; 'a kayak suitable for apartment living'
In 1970, I found myself on Ross Lake (Northern WA) in my 16 foot, square end, canoe with a 3 hp motor. Aboard, were my wife, two kids, dog and camping gear. It was Sunday and we had transported to launch into the lake on the previous Thursday. We had been on Jerusalem Island at a reserved campsite. My buddy was in his Norwegian Kayak (home made) with wife and 2 year old. I was at risk, running between whitecaps and the kids were bailing the water that was coming over the gunwales. I swore to myself, if I get out off this lake I am going to build two Norwegian kayaks. Each boat was capable of taking all of us but much safer and all around better with two boats. Later we went on river trips with blow up boats, each person with their own boat/bed. There is truly safety in numbers. And, much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground.
Iguana
Thanks Iguana, that's a great story. I hadn't thought of using the inflatables as camping beds, that is an excellent idea 👍
I just saw this video and cancelled my order for the x100 and went for this instead. Great video. Was apprehensive as its says its for intermediate but you have mentioned before its fine for beginners
I think this boat is absolutely fine for beginners. It's a great boat, enjoy
Thanks for a thorough, well filmed review. Good points made. One minor niggle is the relentless background lift muzac: it's really not needed and distracts attention the commentary
Brilliant review, well balanced. I bought one earlier in the year when they finally came available again. I love it, and you are right with all your review points.
Keep up all the reviews and trip reports. Been out on the Thames, Mole and Wey plenty of times with the X500.
Thanks so much 🙏🚣♂️
Excellently made video. Professional quality, very much appreciated.
Thanks very much Aaron 🙏
For being your first video review this was great
Thanks so much 🙏
✨Great job with this video✨
Man i wish i found this review last year. I bought this kayak ”blind” 1 year ago, but i had checked everything i could about it so i felt rather confident i made the right choice.
I took it out a handfull of times and it was scary due to my non existing experience haha but it worked better then i thought. I accually got in a 3 day camp trip along our local river and it worked perfect!
The one thing that kind of bothered me was the pump is so BIG. It takes up much space cause you need to pack it with you. I wish the made it at least thinner so it packs better.
But overall a great kayak for me. A 100% beginner living innan apartment on the eastcoast of Sweden🔥 Can’t wait for spring/summer so i can have another go😃
I 100% agree about the pump! I've been looking for something much smaller - I don't mind if it takes a lot longer to inflate the kayak - but haven't found anything yet. It's like... 5 minutes to inflate the boat then you have to carry this thing around everywhere!
Thanks for watching and your nice comments, and let me know how it goes when you're back on the water. You should film it and put it up on RUclips, Sweden is beautiful!
Love the applause!! Big hand Stevie!!
Great review! You can really tell you spent a lot of time making this video
Thanks very much mema 🙏
Liked your review on this kayak, this kayak was one of a few considered by myself just over two years ago....
Like yourself needed a kayak that could fold for transportation , storage,
Gumotex , Bluewave Glider , and this one were my choice of many.....
Gumotex came top for backpacking , transportation, storage... but was a lower PSI/ Bar pressure hence wasn't like a hard shell...
This one looked really good , ticking almost all the boxes.
Unfortunately reviews said it was tippy in open water....
Spending a lot on time on the Scottish North Sea coastline in and out of caves, I wanted something a bit stable...
So Bluewave Glider at 10psi gives me the portable of a inflatable.. but the hardshell feel on the water.....
Although always open to new versions of kayak's
Have fun , stay safe, enjoy 👍
Thanks Ian, yeah I mostly use my X500 on rivers and canals and it's perfect for that. I don't do much coastal in it. I'll check out the Bluewave Glider, that sounds really interesting. Cheers
loved the review - bought one and its perfect - have sold by Dagger Charleston 14.0 that ive had for many years but needed the portability this offered
Liked the review. Forgot to add cleaning and drying part… I liked - Difficult but doable, it is true. But easier if you have a trolley. I have rubber (hypalon/nitrilion) material IK what weights 30kg. With all gear, clothes, food, water for multiday river tour the weight can easily exceed 50kg. I would suggust to invest in Eckla beach rolley. It’s literally 3 in one. To carry your bag, to carry your kayak and chair to sit on. Bloody expensive but durable german engineering. Had it many times overturn with my kayak and gear on steeper uneven banks or stairs, smashing against ground and cement. No issues at all.
Thanks so much Kris, that's a great tip about the trolley, I'll check out the Eckla. Thank you 🙏
3:50 - you talk about Bars but these numbers are in PSI - its a huge difference
You're absolutely right - my brain said PSI but my mouth said bar -d'oh!
I've posted a correction at the timestamp. Can't believe after 25K views you're the first to spot this, thanks Andi 🙏
Thank you for the content. Cheers from Oz
My pleasure, thank you 🙏
Brilliant Stevie - loved the review and your camera work. Well done. will definitely put this on my list to consider - first time Kayaker.... All the best from Australia 👌👌👏👏
Thanks very much Martin 🙏
Great vid mate, had to do a double take when I saw Molsey boat club
Thanks Jonathon, that boat club has made quite a few cameos in my videos now 🙂
Great review! I love kayak camping, too!
Thanks very much!
Great video and review, dumbfounded you don’t have more subscribers. Great camera work and music . It’s a big 👍🏻from me . That’s me subscribed. Let ok forward to watching your other videos.
Thank you so much 🙏
Good review, enjoyed it, think I’ve found the kayak for me.
FYI, you said recomended pressure is 10Bar, it is actually 10 PSI which is 0.7Bar. 10 Bar would make for quite a pop!
decided to watch your other review (I probably should have looked at both of them before ordering a pair of X500's from decathlon last night in the store?),but you've massively re-assured me, thanks.
saw in the last second you're pumping water.... I use those blue magic mop spongers. Just put it inside and squish it occasionally
Great tip, thanks!
Great review, mate. thank you. greetings from Russia!
Thanks so much 🙏
Lovely video 🤩
I'm looking for a kayak and I will definitely get this one. I also have a question, because I'm a beginner what stuff do I have to take with me? I know life jackets and dry suits depending on the weather. But like what else? Yes water bottle too. And? It would be nice to see a video of a guide to know what to take with me.
Stevie, I've seen all your videos on this kayak & as a result was all set to buy one recently but they've been pulled from sale, with no reason why.
Do you have any idea for this as I've not been able to find any information about the current situation?
Cheers for all the useful info.
Don't know anything for definite, but from the X500 owners forum it sounds like there's been some problems with the latest batch. Mine is still going strong so hopefully they'll sort the issue and roll out a new batch of X500's soon
Cheers.
Really enjoyed your review and people's comments . It's very useful as I'm looking for a something similar as I've just returned from a trip to Norway and Sweden with my motorbike towing a small camping trailer with my bicycle but would love to be able to take a kayak as well. I'm just a beginner any suggestions as need to keep weight and size down.
Hello Steve
Great reviews. Thanks!
What beach were you on?
Thanks Gary! That was Rest Bay in Porthcawl, South Wales
I like a beautifully made video very much.
Greetings from Germany
Thanks so much 🙏
Well done Steve. 👍👍👍
I thought about getting one of these as an upgrade to my Jive…..but went for a bigger rigid kayak. Another great video Stevie. 👌
Thanks Paul
Great review! I like the look of where you’re paddling, where is the location?
YES more content !!!
Great to be back in the game :)
Great video. I'm completely new to kyacks and know absolutely nothing about them. I'm definitely looking into doing a training course to learn how to paddle safely.
I thought rivers, lakes canals and the ocean would require 4 different types of kyacks.
This kyack seems very versatile. Ideally I'd like to paddle around calm coastlines such as Arran and Bute on calm days and on the Union canal. Rivers seem a bit too fast paced for me.
Thanks for this review . Good luck
Great review buddy.
Thanks!
Thanks for the great information Steve. Is the boat in this video the V1?
Thanks, no this one is the V2
@@StevieWyatt Thanks Steve. You've had this boat for 18 months now; are you still happy with it? Any problems?
@@chrisandrews7201 yes, really happy with it. It's become my main boat over my rigid Islander kayak because its more portable and performs just as well. It's also a comfortable boat to paddle. Pretty sturdy too.
@@StevieWyatt Thanks Stevie.
Very nice review. We're looking at maybe buying the double version. We've got the Itiwit X100 which is a nice little kayak but we're sort of outgrowing it a bit. It's sluggish and quite susceptible to winds and waves. I hope the X500 would allow us to move around with less favourable circumstances. I am a bit worried though about whether it's prone to capsizing and how you'd get back into it with two people.
Good job Stevie.. Thank you..
You're welcome, thanks for watching
Very cool videos mate keep it up
Thanks so much 🙏
Tnx. Very helpful review.
You're welcome, thanks for watching
Awesome review
Thanks 🙏
Muy buen video, mucha información y de gran utilidad .Enhorabuena !!!!
Thanks very much!
Thanks, nice review man.
Thanks very much!
Do you find the wetsuit is enough for october weather>
Not the shorty, I have a longer one for October. The water temperature is still warmer than in spring as it takes a while to cool down. I'll probably get a thicker winter wetsuit for the end and beginning of the year though
Great review! Looks a super kayak
Thanks Esther, it is! 🛶
V useful, I am looking into these more premium inflatable kayaks. May I ask where you filmed the opening river part? Very scenic and calm water…
Thanks very much Marcin. I filmed those scenes on the River Thames in Molesey and Hampton Court, quite near Hampton Court palace. Hurst Park nearby is great for paddling. You can park and launch there easily
@@StevieWyatt thanks for the tip, will check out Hurst Park
RE: Looks great...I have an Aquamarina Tomahawk...I find it to be quite tippy on a lake...looking to go to do some kayaking on the ocean...well in the MED...wondering if you found the Itiwit to be stable for ocean/sea expeditions..as well is there a waist cover? Many thanks!!
Thanks John, yes the X500 was great when I took it paddling on the coast in Wales. They are designed and developed in the South of France where Itiwit is based, so are literally tested on the Med 😀
There is a neoprene spray skirt for it from Decathlon too
@@StevieWyatt great thx!! btw....the paddle and the pump are included??
@@johndoe-fs7ib No they are sold separately, but there is a bundle of the boat and the recommended paddle and pump on Decathlon's site. It's the X500 paddle and the 10psi black pump. I bought my X500 paddle long before I got this boat, and used it with my rigid kayak doing long distance tours. Love that paddle
@@StevieWyatt I wonder if another pump works with the Itiwit kayak?
Thanks so much for the fantastic review of this great Kayak Stevie!Would you or anyone else know the dimensions of the packed backpack? Our main limitation on getting a pair or these is being able to stack them in the boot/garage of a campervan we travel in. Thanks and happy paddling!!
Hey! love your video.
I am also thinking about buying the ITIWIT X500 since i live near a big big lake.
and there comes my question, are some waves a problem for it? since i heard it tends to tip over easily.
my second question is if its able to be stored like half pumped. since i do not need to pack it everytime. Tho i do not have the space for a usual plastic one sadly.
Thank you in advance!
lovely location on the river. Can i ask where that is please ? is it Henley ?
It's near Molesey lock, not far from Hampton Court
@@StevieWyatt much appreciated
Suitable as the first kayak for recreational use? Rivers, lakes and bays for a freshman?
Absolutely! That's mainly what I use it for and I'm certainly not an expert kayaker. This would be great as a first kayak
Great video 👍😀
Thanks very much 🙏
Thank you Stevie. Great review and I'm now subscribed! I liked your later clip as well about storage, which I had not realised. I'm going to see if I can inspect one first before buying. I am reassured by your comments about this being "well okay really" with regard to being too tippy. Did you look at anything else before buying? I'm also looking at the KXONE Slider 375 and the Aqua Marina Tomahawk Air-K 375.
Thanks Martin! I didn't really look at anything else at the time as this was the only sit-in inflatable I was aware of in the UK. As for the stability, I found out from Decathlon that the recent models, such as the one I have, are 'version 2' which have a flatter bottom under the seat making them more stable. Explains why I didn't encounter the stability problems I'd heard about from others. There is a white tab on the backpack that tells you which version it is. Having used it a while now I've got used to how the boat moves, so stability has kind of become second nature. I'm really enjoying this boat
@@StevieWyatt Thank you for getting back to me Stevie. I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the boat. Please can you describe where the tab is on the backpack? I assume you must mean the pack that the kayak is packed up into. Does it say version 1 or version 2? Lets hope it gets warmer soon so you can take it out again.
Hello, I am not sure anyone else noticed for the inflation pressure but did you say 10 bars? That is well over 140 psi. Are you sure you can even get that much pressure from a hand pump? That seems like a lot to me.
My brain said psi but my mouth said bar 🤪
There should be a correction card that flashes up now at that part of the video.
The recommended pump for this kayak these days is Itiwit's black 10psi pump, it inflates it really quickly.
Cheers, Stevie
@@StevieWyatt Ah ok, thanks for confirming I'm not going crazy, I had to check the conversion table twice. It was an excellent review otherwise.
I'm going to carry this on a bicycle to nearby lakes and just keep paddling all day long, and sometimes even nights.
Very good review, but PLEASE drop the percussive music, especially when it's over narration.
03.27 - Did it come with the paddle that appears when you are pumping it up at the waterside? Or is this an optional (🤣) accessory, like the spray deck?
Thanks for an informative review. How would this kayak work for a 1.94m person/6.4feet?
Thanks Axel. You would definitely fit, but I think you'd have the foot-pegs pushed down a lot further than I have them. It just means you wouldn't be able to store much in the bow, but there's plenty of room in the back anyway. If you can get to a Decathlon store they sometimes have them set up so you can try the fit.
I shouldn't have seen this video...now I need one 😂
What is the pump thing you put in the front under the rope?
It's a bilge pump, basically a hand pump that bails water out when the cockpit gets flooded e.g. after a capsize. I never leave home without it!
Long shot but by chance do you have a rough idea of the box dimensions? Looks waist high on you and maybe 60cm width and depth. And the weight, 40lbs? Thank you
Hey Bro!
Is the Start from the Video in Scotland?
😃
Hi thanks for the review! Any thoughts on long term durability?
Thanks so much Jure. Time will tell but I feel pretty confident in the durability of the boat. It's very well put together and you can tell the quality of materials is of a high standard. It's in a different league compared to some of the standard PVC inflatables you see for about half the price. I can see this boat lasting for many seasons
hi Stevie what is there itiwit paddle like is it worth 85 quid in your eyes thanks stu
Hi Stuart, I treated myself to that paddle for my previous kayak, about a year before I bought this boat. I wanted to upgrade from the £40 basic Amazon aluminium paddle I had. £200 for a standard Werner paddle seemed a big leap, so the £80 Decathlon one seemed like a reasonable upgrade without breaking the bank. Huge difference in performance and comfort from my old paddle! If you have long days out in the boat or want to do long trips it's definitely worth the money
in which city u live? looks really cool!
That’s a really useful video. Been looking at these for a while. Wish I’d bought last year as they seem to have shot up in price. How did you find the foot rests to fit and then adjust? Others I’ve seen just have a plastic & foam bar which don’t support very well.
Thanks Andy. I find the footrests really good. Quite solid and fully adjustable. Check out my video about setting up the X500 for a closer look
@@StevieWyatt will do Stevie.
Awesome review matey. Now you have owned it for a while I have to ask because I'm thinking of buying one is it quite stable because I have heard some horror stories. Any information will be very much appreciated. Cheers
Thanks George, yeah I find it really stable actually. I paddle it on mostly rivers and canals and because the latest versions of the X500 have a flatter bottom around the cockpit they don't tip like the old ones used to
@@StevieWyatt very interesting cheers mate you have given me a lot to think about.
Thanks for the review. What paddle length do you run?
Thanks very much Dirk. I use Itiwit's X500 paddle which is adjustable. I set it at 114cm which feels most comfortable for me. I feather it at 60 degrees.
How wide is the cockpit? (hole where you enter)
Cool! Having watched most of yours vids now, a video without you ending up in the drink would be weird!😄 when and where is the next trip? The river Wye, maybe?
Thanks Darren. Yes the Wye is high on my list, hopefully next spring or summer 🚣♂️
I’m someone that’s done a fiat amount of kayaking but I’ve never owned my own. I therefore don’t know too much about what to look for when buying my first but I keep seeing reviews for this one. I’ve got the storage for a rigid kayak and a car to transport one but it would be a pain and I like the idea of the space this would save. Would you recommend it for someone like me especially considering the price? I could pickup a decent condition used rigid for £200-300. Would love to hear your thoughts!
Que version es? V1, v2,v3?
Just did a test paddle with this kayak and was disappointed. Reasons: I would say it's max paddler weight would be someone 200lbs and under. I'm 6-2/230 and it rode too deep and was sluggish. Tracking and glide was barely ok and it's not able to run a rudder and has no skeg. Build quality was ok, very little room and not a fan of the way they used the folding flap to cover the front hatch. Cockpit is way small for a bigger person. It's designed for someone under 200lbs and max 6' tall IMO. Final note: this is not a big water kayak like the Advanced Elements Expedition Elite which has a better design (deeper V hull) and longer and wider. Rock steady. This X500 has a place, but not for a bigger person.
Great video, thanks. Rest Bay, Porthcawl! Down the road from me in Neath.
How do you think it would cope on a choppy sea? I probably do 60% sea and 40% river/canals.
Thanks! It's not too bad on choppy waters, but I got thrown around quite a bit in the surf down at Westward Ho and capsized (enough to lose my GoPro 😔).
I think after a bit of experience and confidence with the boat it would be fine though. On rivers and canals it's a dream, especially if you are going long distance and need to put stuff in the back.
My mum lives in Porthcawl so I'll definitely be making more videos in the x500 down there in the future. I want to do Rest Bay to Ogmore by Sea, but will probably wait until spring/ summer 🚣♂️
@@StevieWyatt I checked them out on Decathlon, for rivers and canals it looks perfect, as you say. The narrowness (64cm) would concern me in terms of stability on some of the choppier seas that I often end up on down west Wales. Rest Bay to Ogmore would be a nice run. You can go up the river to Ogmore castle if the tide is in. If you are doing a circular route, then the problem would be you would have to go against the tide on one leg of the journey unless you timed it so that you reached the turn around point at high tide.
awesome i want one
Pineapple pasta recipes 😋😋 only for today
@StevieWyatt What do you think which kayak is better Itiwit x500 or Aquaglide Cirrus 110? I dont know which one I should choose...
I haven't tried the Aquaglide so can't have an honest opinion on that. What I can say about the X500 is that three years of owning it and it is still my main boat. Love it, was out in it today in fact
@@StevieWyatt Thank you!
It seems to sit too high in the water, does not look very stable even on calm water. Good reporting but I think I will stick with my rigid kayak. Happy kayaking to you and everyone else out there
nice job buddy
Thanks Jakub
How much does it weigh?
Can you Eskimo roll it?
I can't myself. I've heard that some experienced paddlers have managed to roll an X500 but personally it's a little bit too wide for me to roll. That makes it good for stability though, and it is sold as an intermediate kayak
Would you say it’s the fastest ik?
Fast for an inflatable, yes! But not as fast as a rigid kayak, especially in wind. It's great fun though
After I used the inflatable kayak, I really don't want to pay the extra space for the hard kayak😀
I imagine it would get really boring unpacking and inflating deflating and packing again if you use it more than 4 times a year
It's not too bad actually. I've got setting up and packing down to a few minutes now. It inflates super quick with the right pump