Decathlon Itiwit Cruising Kayak

Summary

Price At Time Of Writing | $399.00

Our Overall Rating | 65 out of 100

Pros - More durable than other budget models

Cons - Hard to keep in a straight line, slow, hard to dry

Overall - Paddles poorly, feels like a dingy in the water

Technical Specifications

Open Size - 300x95cm

Weight - 11kg

Load Capacity - 100kg

Packed Size - 62x44x27cm

Our Analysis & Ratings

The first thing we noticed about this kayak in the water is that it is bulky. It takes a bit of wrestling to get it moving in a straight line. The materials used make it more durable than other budget models but it's also hard to handle, slow and a bit tight in the cockpit.

To us it feels a bit more like paddling a dingy and if you can afford it we suggest spending a bit more to get something that's more pleasant to paddle.

Performance - Bulky and hard to paddle. Performance is not this kayak's strong suit. It's very bulky and hard to keep in a straight line. Top speed is slow and the big side tubes make it hard to get the paddle in a good position in the water.

Construction - Made from strong polyvinyl and polyester covering this won't puncture easily but by no means are the materials as strong as those used in more expensive kayaks. The massive side tubes contribute to what we think is a poor design.

Setup/Pack down - Four inflation points make this a fairly easy kayak to set up. The material covering however does soak up the water and makes it hard to dry before putting away, which as with most inflatables you must do to avoid mould growth.

Portability - At 13kg, it’s definitely not an unreasonable weight - however, the compromise in quality of materials used to achieve this weight means we haven’t given it top marks in this area.

Comfort - The massive side tubes don't leave much room in the kayak for the paddler. They also make it hard to get the paddle in the water. It's not terribly uncomfortable but we did find it annoying.

Overall - Paddles poorly, feels like a dingy in the water.