The Decathlon Itiwit X500 is an inflatable kayak that I've been looking forward to reviewing for a long time! It is the number one most requested kayak review from you guys. So here we go… here's an in-depth, non-biased review of the Decathlon Itiwit X500 inflatable kayak.
This is an inflatable touring kayak that claims to perform as well as a hardshell touring kayak. But the question is how good is the Decathlon Itiwit X500? Is it as good as a hardshell kayak? Who should consider buying the Itiwit X500? What are the drawbacks, if any, of the Decathlon Itiwit X500?
The Decathlon Itiwit X500 Inflatable Kayak Specifications
Price: $1300 (USD)
Length: 12’ 6”
Width: 25”
Weight: 35 LBS (16KG)
Capacity: 275 LBS (125 KG)
Best Use: All Conditions
Features of the Decathlon Itiwit X500 Inflatable Kayak
This kayak has a range of different features including:
- A standard large cockpit with a cockpit rim that accepts a skirt
- Ultra-durable carry handles at either end
- Bungees on the bow deck for storing gear
- A padded raised seat
- Adjustable footpegs
- A dry bag-style access port in the back deck
- The entire boat is drop stitch construction which allows you to pump it up firmly, all the way to 10 psi.
Having pumped the kayak up I was really excited to try it out. It’s the first inflatable kayak I’ve ever seen that looks like a hard-shelled kayak when pumped up. That should translate into a really nice performance. Let's find out!
Portability
This is a portable kayak. It literally fits in a backpack!
The pack that the Itiwit X500 comes in has adjustable straps, a hip belt, and a shoulder belt, just like a backpack. This makes it very comfortable to carry. The only downside to the pack is that there is not a lot of extra room, so you do have to put the deflated kayak back into the backpack in the correct way otherwise it will not fit back in.
This kayak is around 25 LBS, which for a boat this size, is not very heavy. It is easy to carry around and it is very soft. Putting it on your shoulder to carry is much more comfortable than with a hard shell kayak.
So all in, the Decathlon Itiwit X500 gets top marks for its portability.
Performance of the Itiwit X500
This is the aspect of the Itiwit X500 that I was really interested in. And after using it on an 11-mile kayak trip, I can say that it really is the very first inflatable kayak that I have tried that performs as well as a hard shell kayak. That is something special.
The fact that the entire kayak is made with drop stitch construction plays a large role in its high performance level. There is no flex in this kayak, it is rigid. And that helps it cut nicely through the water.
There are five inflatable compartments that make up the Itiwit X500; two on the side, one on the floor, and two bridges that provide structural integrity. With these compartments they have managed to create a bow shape that really cuts well through the water, making it an enjoyable boat to paddle.
Stability of the Itiwit X500
This is a 25” wide kayak, which is typically considered a rec/touring kayak. You give up some stability when you drop to 25” because you want more speed and performance. And that is what you get with this kayak. It performs very well.
But how much stability do you actually give up? It’s primary stability, which refers to when just sitting in it and playing around, is not as stable as a big, flat, recreational kayak. However, it is still very stable. I had no problems with it at all.
Its secondary stability, which is when you hold a kayak on edge, left a little to be desired. It wasn’t terrible, but it does feel a little bit unstable when you hold it on an edge. There are two things that go with that. If it is very easy to get on edge, it means in rough conditions it can be very easy to manoeuver the kayak. The slight downside there is that it doesn't have rock-solid stability on the edge.
This says to me that a beginner paddler hopping into the Itiwit X500 might struggle if it gets on edge at all.
Comfort of the Itiwit X500
There are a few things to talk about here. Let's start with space. This kayak has quite a bit of foot room. Even as a tall, 6’ 2” guy, I had plenty of foot room in the Itiwit X500. The footpegs didn’t have much further to go, so anyone who is 6’ 4”/ 6’ 5” or taller, may be a little too tall for this kayak.
The footpegs are wonderful. They are easy to adjust and provide a lot of support. It is hands down, the best portable footpeg system I have ever come across.
One of the things that you expect in a portable kayak is that you will have to give up some comfort for the kayak’s portability. Is that the case for the X500? Yes. You do!
The seat, while not bad, is effectively a piece of foam rather than a suspension seat. It has some excellent features including the way it locks into place, it's high back support, and the fact that it is slightly elevated to keep you dry if there is any water in the boat. That said, it is less robust and comfortable than a typical seat found in a hard-shell kayak.
There are no thigh hooks, but your knees fit comfortably in the cockpit. And the foam placed there makes it very comfortable.
Overall, using the Decathlon Itiwit X500 was a very comfortable experience.
Features of the Itiwit X500
The features of this kayak are pretty typical for a day-touring kayak. It has got some bungees upfront to store gear or a day pack. There is a little pouch to slide your paddle under if you need to stow your paddle for some reason.
Instead of perimeter lines, which a lot of touring kayaks have, it has perimeter straps on the bow and stern. These serve the same purpose, they are something to grab hold of and can help with rescues.
There is a dry bag-style opening to the back compartment. There is no bulkhead separating the bow and stern compartments which means any water that gets into one will flow down to the other, so anything you store in the stern compartment will not stay dry. You will need to put it in dry bags. But this is a great feature to help make the stern compartment more accessible and opens up a world of possibilities for multi-day trips.
It is not a rich-featured kayak but has almost everything you need. One thing it doesn’t have is a rudder or a skeg. But with this kayak, you don’t really need one. It already tracks well, so unless you paddle a long distance in a cross-distance, it doesn’t need one.
The Cockpit
The cockpit is a notable feature of this inflatable kayak because it has a cockpit rim that allows you to use a skirt. There is an option to use the Itiwit skirt that is sold specifically for this kayak and it fits the kayak very well. It does hold its place. But if you got a loaded wave in your lap it might pop out of place. It isn’t really designed to withstand heavy white water or big ocean waves. It does, however, provide a nice seal.
One thing to note is that the bungee rand on the sprayskirt is quite narrow. So other bungee skirts may not work on the Itiwit X500 unless they have a narrow rim.
Who is the Decathlon Itiwit X500 Infltable Kayak for?
This is a kayak that you can take in a lot of different conditions. They say it is an all-condition touring kayak, and I would agree with that. If you are wearing a skirt you can definitely be very comfortable taking this kayak into class 2 white water. I might even push it a bit and put it into some class 3. The biggest weak point would be the skirt at that point. But realistically class 2 and below.
This kayak can be used in all ocean and lake conditions except if there is a big swell that might implode your skirt.
So it very much is an all-conditions boat. But it is not a boat that is designed for beginners. It is more for a mid-level paddler, who has a bit of experience paddling and wants a kayak that is fun to paddle. They don’t want to just get out on the water, but they want to be able to use a boat that is fun to paddle, can slice through the water, and allows them to cover real distances. It is stable enough for an adventurous beginner, but definitely not for all beginners.
Value of the Decathlon Itiwit X500 Inflatable Kayak
This inflatable kayak retails for about $1300 (USD). In my mind that is exceptional value. A hard shell kayak of this nature costs around $1200 to $1300 (USD), so you are paying a very small premium, if at all, for the portability of the Itiwit X500.
What are you giving up for that? Well, a little bit of comfort, and that is to be expected. If you are spending eight-hour days regularly in this kayak it will make a difference, if you are only going out in it an hour or two, it probably isn’t going to make that much difference.
What it really comes down to is, is portability something you need? You can fit this kayak in a backpack, in the trunk of your car. You can store it in your closet at home. And for many people, there isn’t really an option between having a hard shell or having an inflatable kayak. So if you want an inflatable kayak of this nature, with high performance, it is exceptional value.
Overall I give the Itiwit X500 inflatable kayak two thumbs up. I really like it and it is a boat that will stay in my quiver. I look forward to using this kayak for many more years to come.
I took this kayak into the swamp on an adventure! Check out my article on Kayaking the Okefenokee Swamp.
Kayak: Decathlon Itiwit X500
Paddles: Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD: NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing: NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X
