Itiwit X500 2P Review
Rating
Performance: 9
Size/Weight: 6
Durability: 9
Setup: 9
Value: 8
OVERALL: 8.2
‘The Flash’ in setup and on water.
The Itiwit X500 is way better than its 1 person in so many ways, mainly in its quality. You can tell they listened to their customers (we like to think they read our review of the Itiwit 1P). It comes with a rigid drop-stitch floor, which is an automatic plus for us, and was somehow easier to manoeuvre. It’s certainly a big boy though, so to being able to pack this down into a trolley bag was much appreciated!
Comparison
Rank: #6
Open Size: Narrower and very long
Packed Size: Bigger, but packable
Weight: Heavy
Capacity: Medium
Perfect For: Calm lakes and rivers.
Pros: Stays on course, more manoeuvrable than the 1 person.
Cons: Little space for storage, heaviest kayak in the list.
Verdict: A heavy yet speedy kayak.
Skip ahead to First Impressions, Setup/Packdown, Paddling Experience, or the Final Verdict, check out how the Itiwit X500 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: 528 x 70cm
Packed Size: 100cm x 45cm x 38cm
Weight: 24kg
Capacity: 210kg
Approx Price: £1299
First Impressions
The 2 person Itiwit X500 is one of the most improved kayaks from the 1 person version. Granted, we did purchase it later than we purchased our 1P, so it’s very possible they had made some design improvements in the interim - we definitely felt like there was an improvement in the durability and quality of construction.
First thing we’d like to point out is the great seating comfort that includes long leg space, comfortable foam seats, and adjustable footrests. These have been made to fit different sizes, especially on the leg area.
The Itiwit X500 2P retains its V-shaped hull to glide more smoothly on the water. Performance was a plus considering the added drop-stitch floor, and we couldn’t be happier to take it on calm rivers and lakes! But because it’s so narrow, note that, just like the 1P, it can feel quite unstable, so we wouldn’t recommend it for beginners.
Setup/Packdown
The major downside here is that at 24kg, it’s pretty heavy. It’s great that it comes with a trolley bag, but where we usually launch from is down stairs and over rocks, so you still need to deal with the heaviness and the one metre long package.
It was pretty easy to assemble with everything being user-friendly. There was no struggle unfolding the kayak and attaching the pump (included in the bag) to the valves.
We had to start with the main chamber, which was the floor, the intermediate chamber—walls, and then the small chambers—arches. Our favourite part was attaching the adjustable foot rests by simply sliding them into the sides and the buckles positioning them right in place. The seats had special high-density foam that felt really comfortable. It took us around 10 minutes to set up everything.
What really impressed us by the end of the tour was how the outer covering was pretty much waterproof, so after use, it was quick to dry, deflate and fold back into its original form.
Paddling Experience
As much as we loved the paddling experience in this kayak, we couldn’t say we’d love it as much on all types of water. Manoeuvrability was okay for such a long kayak and it was a bit unstable, but once we got up a decent speed we went well.
We think there are far more stable kayaks on the market, so we’ve come to the conclusion that this is best for calm waters and not quite the choice for rough water or coastal areas.
Speed is another thing we like about this. The V-shaped hull makes less contact with the water and gives it better tracking. Then again, we had to “practice” to understand how to get it to move smoothly and at a steady speed despite it being a bit tippy at times.
Final Verdict
The Itiwit X500 2P qualifies for a nice kayaking experience on the lake. It was relatively easy to set up - you have to forgive it for having a few extra chambers as it’s so long. Because of its instability, we think it isn’t the best choice for beginners. Take into account too that it’s also relatively heavy and expensive. However, if you and your buddy are serious kayakers who prioritise speed, this may be the one for you!
Want to see how the Itiwit X500 compares to other kayaks we tested? Head over to our 2 Person Inflatable Kayak Review.
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