Gumotex Twist 1 Kayak Review
Rating
Performance: 8
Size/Weight: 8
Durability: 8
Setup: 9
Value: 8
OVERALL: 8.0
The Ultralight Compromise King.
If your number one priority is stuffing a kayak into a backpack, onto a bicycle, or into the overhead bin of a train, check out the Gumotex Twist 1. At just over 7kg and packing down to the size of a large tent, this little inflatable solves a portability problem that almost no other kayak can touch. Solving that problem, however, does involve some performance trade-offs in terms of speed and tracking, as the lack of firm-drop-stitch not only reduces weight, but also reduces kayak rigidity and paddling efficiency. Having said that, this is an excellent option if you value portability above all else.
Comparison
Rank: #5
Open Size: Shorter, wider
Packed Size: Very small
Weight: Lightest
Capacity: Moderate
Best For: Anyone who needs the most portable, lightweight, and easy-to-store inflatable kayak for calm or choppy lakes, slow rivers and sheltered bays.
Pros: Lightweight, packs down small, stable, durable materials.
Cons: Slightly springier and less efficient than drop-stitch, can track poorly in rough conditions due to its short length.
Verdict: A durable, well-constructed kayak that is incredibly portable and easy to use, but has major compromises in efficiency and speed.
Skip ahead to First Impressions, Setup/Packdown, Paddling Experience, or the Final Verdict, check out how the Gumotex Twist 1 compares to others in our list of the Top Ten 2 Person Inflatable Kayaks or see how we choose the best inflatable kayak.
Specs:
Open Size: 260×79cm
Packed Size: 53×35×19cm
Weight: 9kg
Capacity: 100kg
Price: £569.00
First Impressions
So, you’ve just ripped open the box or unzipped the tiny backpack that the Gumotex Twist 1 comes in and your first thought is probably, ‘Is the rest of the boat in here?’ Because honestly, when they say this thing packs down small, they aren't kidding. We're talking about a bundle about the size of a big camping tent.
The weight is also a mere 7.26kg. You could literally weigh this thing on your bathroom scale. For anyone who’s ever wrestled a heavy, hard-shell kayak onto a roof rack or lugged a soggy, twenty-five-kg inflatable PVC blob from the car to the beach, picking up the Twist 1 feels like a minor miracle.
It’s made from something called Nitrilon Light, which feels like a very tough, slightly rubbery, high-tech fabric, and not like a cheap pool toy. The build quality from Gumotex immediately seems top-notch, as with all of their kayaks. You can see the careful gluing and the robust valves.
It’s a very simple kayak though, with no fancy spray decks, no rigid seats and no complex folding frame. It’s basically a brightly coloured, oblong balloon with a place to sit. Your inner gear-snob might raise an eyebrow at its simplicity, but your aching back (from carrying your old kayak) is already breathing a sigh of relief.
Setup/Packdown
Alright, let’s talk about getting this thing from a backpack to a boat and the main thing is that it’s incredibly fast and easy. You can get out on the water in less than 10 minutes. You unroll it, find the three main push-push valves (one for each side tube and one for the floor) and start pumping. The included pump is fine, but if you like to make setup as fast as possible like us, you might want to use an electric pump instead. Then you pump up the side chambers until they feel about as firm as a well-inflated car tire. After that, you blow up the removable seat and backrest, thread the straps through their attachment points and tighten. BUT WAIT - you needed to insert the fin before you inflate. That’s right, gets us every time. Make sure you inflate on a softer surface like grass or sand rather than concrete to reduce the chance of damaging the pre-installed fin.
Packing it down is just as simple, but with one notable caveat, a universal truth of inflatable kayaks: getting it back into the original bag is like trying to fold a fitted sheet perfectly. To be honest, we usually don’t bother unless we have to hike with it, and instead store our test kayaks loosely rolled in the garage.
Paddling Experience
Get the Twist 1 on calm water and it’s great for what it is. That short, wide hull (about 79 cm) gives you a lot of confidence as it feels very stable. The secondary stability is excellent; you really have to try hard to flip it. You sit up high, the view is great and paddling along is a very relaxed, almost playful experience. For a casual sunset paddle, fishing on a small pond, or tootling around the marina, it’s perfect.
But the moment you try to go anywhere in a straight line with purpose, you meet the Twist’s one big personality flaw: it wags. A lot. Many of Gumotex’s models have a genius V-shaped bow and stern that they manage to build with angled i-beam hull sections, which is pretty clever - but unfortunately, not this one. The Twist 1 is only 2.6 m long, which is incredibly short. Every time you take a stroke, the blunt, upturned bow wants to turn. Without the tracking fin, it can spin, but with the fin, it’s much better, although it still requires constant correction. Basically, we learned that you have to use a very gentle, straight pulling stroke as when we paddled too hard or unevenly, we zig-zagged down the river. This is the trade-off for being so light and maneuverable.
However, its manoeuvrability is great for navigating tight, twisty creeks or playing in small eddies, but for covering distance on open water, it’s a little frustrating.
Final Verdict
The Gumotex Twist 1 is for paddlers whose number one, two and three priorities are portability, light weight and simplicity. If you live in an apartment, ride a bicycle, drive a tiny car, sail on a bigger boat (it’s a popular dinghy), or want to take a kayak on a plane or a bus, this thing is an absolute champion. If your main goal is to paddle fast and track straight for miles, you will be frustrated by its wagging and lack of speed. Then again, you can’t be mad at a fish for not climbing a tree.
Want to see how the Gumotex Twist 1 compares to other kayaks we tested? Head over to our list of the Top Ten Inflatable Kayaks.
Water & Outdoors reviews are written by our staff writers, who combined have over fifty years of experience on the water and outdoors. We may earn commissions if you choose to buy through a link you’ve clicked on our website, however this does not influence our reviews. For more information, please see our Editorial Policies.