Christian

The Intex Excursion Pro is the manufacturer’s latest inflatable kayak on the market. At first glance it looks very similar to the Intex Explorer K2. The differences are not only in the design, but especially in the material and equipment as well as in the accessories. With the Excursion Pro, Intex has a much higher quality inflatable kayak in its range than the Intex Explorer or Challenger. In this review we would like to show you whether the extra cost is worth it and the strengths and weaknesses of the kayak.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Intex Excursion Pro model from 2020 and model from 2023

How did we organize the review?

We have purchased the Intex Excursion Pro ourselves.

How intensively has the product been tested?

The kayak has some of the features of a fishing kayak. However, we will not go into these features in this review, as we are not anglers ourselves.

Set-up and first impressions

The Intex Excursion Pro comes with a very large carrying case. Compared to the bags of other Intex boats it is coated and much more stable. With this bag we do not have the feeling that it will tear or get a hole after a few uses. The dimensions of the bag are very large. But that makes sense. Because usually you never get the boat folded up as compactly as it was when delivered. This also gives you the possibility to get the boat into the bag a bit untidily folded (in case you are in a hurry).

As usual with Intex, the boat is offered in a complete set. In addition to the larger and more robust carrying bag, there is a larger double action air pump for fast inflation of the kayak and two plug-in double paddles. In addition to the other Intex inflatable kayaks, the following accessories are included in the delivery:

• Valve key to tighten the valves
• good repair kit
• foot brace for the front and rear paddler
• manometer to check the correct air pressure
• inflatable seat pad for a higher seating position in the boat
• several fishing rod holders
• one skeg each for shallow and deep water (instead of a general skeg)

We can already say that the additional accessories are a useful addition.

Meanwhile, Intex has replaced the bag with a lightweight transport backpack with padded shoulder straps. This makes the kayak much more comfortable to transport, for example, if you go by train or bus to the lake or river.

Although the manual says that the boat should be built on a surface without stones and other sharp objects, we did not quite stick to it. If the boat skin would not withstand these small stones, we would like to know that. Of course we don’t want to force any damage, but the boat skin inspires confidence, because it is not just a PVC skin. The boat skin consists of a polyester fabric coated on both sides with PVC. In case of damage, the boat skin can be mended with the enclosed repair kit.

First the bottom and then the side chambers are inflated. The bottom and the side chambers are separate from each other, i.e. each air chamber also has its own valve. This multi-chamber system is common on inflatable boats in order not to sink in case of a hole on the water.

Inflating works well with the supplied pump. Admittedly, the air pump is nevertheless quite small and not very robust. Also the stand is very small. But that is not surprising. You should not expect miracles from the included accessories, especially not if they are in the scope of a cheap complete set.

As soon as the air chamber reaches its final shape, check the air pressure with the supplied manometer. The chambers can be inflated up to 0.08 bar (1.16 PSI). This is not much for an inflatable kayak, but a little more than for the Intex Challenger K2 and Explorer K2. If you have been on the water with the boat for a longer time, you should check the air pressure during a break on the shore. If the air and water temperature are significantly different, the air pressure in the chambers will drop and they will become slightly softer. But this is quite normal for an inflatable boat and here it helps to pump up. In the case of inflatable boats with a higher pressure (e.g. Gumotex or Grabner), this effect is not that significant.

We found the handling of the valves less good. It is a little tricky to open and close the valve spring. The valve spring is covered with a screw cap, so that the valve is not accidentally opened on the water. The cap is only attached with a very thin string.

Inflatable kayaks generally have the disadvantage compared to fixed hull kayaks that they have a worse directional stability. Therefore a fin can be attached to most inflatable kayaks to improve the directional stability. With our model we unfortunately had to find out that the fin holder is not attached straight. The sloppy mounting of the fin holder is annoying, because it will make the kayak even worse in terms of directional stability.

Both the foot braces and the seats can be placed in different positions in the boat. For the foot brace there are 3 positions each for the front and rear paddler. You can also fix the seat variably to the ground with a long velcro strip. Especially the foot braces surprised us, because something like that is not common in this price class.

Since we are quite tall, we use the whole interior space to place the seats and foot braces. The backrests of the seats are attached by two belts, each of which can be fastened to the side chamber with a plastic carabiner.

At the bow and stern there is a small spray deck each. A wave from the front (e.g. from a passing boat) would still get into the boat because the spraydeck is sagging downwards.

The spraydeck is primarily used to attach the carrying handles. The boat is equipped with a robust carrying handle at both the front and the back, so that two people can carry the boat. The carrying handles make a robust impression. Unfortunately the opening of the carrying handles is a bit too narrow for big and strong hands.

There are also small safety lines at the front and back of the outer edge of the boat. These are quite practical to pull the boat ashore. In addition to the D-rings, which are used to secure the backrests, there are two more D-rings in the front and in the back for securing equipment (e.g. the belt of a dry bag).

On closer inspection, we could not find any processing errors or unclean spots in the gluing, apart from the skeg holder.

In the scope of supply an additional seat cushion is included, which can be placed under one of the seats. The seat cushion increases the sitting position and is intended for children or very small persons, so that it’s easier to put the paddle blade into the water.

Review of the Intex Excursion Pro on the water

The Intex Excursion Pro has robust carrying handles, so that the kayak can be carried well to water together with another person. However, the low air pressure is noticeable when carrying it. Although the kayak is not very long for a 2-person inflatable kayak, it hangs noticeably when being carried. If you paddle the kayak slo and have to carry it around on river tours, you definitely need a canoe trolley in our opinion.

The open construction of the kayak allows easy access to the kayak. Nevertheless, the bottom chamber gives way noticeably when entering the kayak. If you use the deep-water fin, you should only enter the kayak when the water depth is sufficient.

Due to the variable placement of the seats, you can paddle it solo as well. In the following photo you can see that the effective length of the boat on the water, i.e. the waterline, is much shorter than the total length of the boat. The reason is that the weight is mainly concentrated in the middle of the boat. Nevertheless, the Excursion Pro can be paddled without problems with a deep water fin. The speed and the directional stability as a 1-person kayak are alright for short trips.

The seat cushion is high enough so that you don’t have to sit in the wet if water (e.g. splashes when paddling or waves from a passing boat) gets into the boat. The backrest gives only limited support and makes a rather unstable impression. When paddling it supports only a small area of the lower back. If we lean into it properly, it bends away to the back.

Cheap inflatable kayaks rarely have a foot brace. A foot brace not only gives you a much better hold when paddling. A foot brace also makes paddling easier overall. Since the feet and therefore your torso have a better hold in the boat, you can get the necessary power for the paddle stroke mainly from your upper body instead of your arms. This makes you less tired when paddling. However, since cheap inflatable kayaks are not designed for long paddling anyway, many of them come without a foot brace.

Although the Intex Excursion Pro is only designed for short and comfortable trips due to its low air pressure, wide and yet quite short hull for a 2-person kayak, the foot braces are a nice feature as long as the paddlers are not too tall. For each seating position in the boat (front and back as a 2-person kayak and in the middle as a 1-person kayak) there are 3 positions each for the foot brace.

For tall paddlers the foot braces are rather unsuitable on longer trips. Because even when the foot braces is attached in the outermost loops, we have to bend our legs too much when using the foot braces (see photo below). For short tours this is not a big issue. On half or day tours, however, it becomes uncomfortable. For small persons the foot braces can be a nice support to find enough hold in the boat.

If you are paddling the boat solo and are tall, we recommend that you use the front bottom loops (which are actually intended for the 2-person configuration). Apart from the footrest, the interior offers plenty of room for a solo paddler.

In contrast to the 1-person use, the kayak with a 2-person configuration lies much better in the water. Also in comparison to the other Intex kayaks there have been some improvements. The directional stability are noticeably better due to the length of the boat, the air chambers have become somewhat more dimensionally stable and the maximal load capacity has increased by 20 kg. A speed of 3.1 – 3.4 km/h is quite realistic. The interior is spacious enough to provide enough room for two large paddlers.

The double-bladed paddles (with a length of 218 cm / 2’2”) are well designed for the kayak and for the average paddling beginner, but too wobbly for longer tours. Unlike other portable double-bladed paddles, it’s made not only of 2 or 4 pieces, but even 5 pieces. This increases the compactness of the paddle, but at the same time reduces the stability. For intensive use the plug system of the paddle shafts seems to wear out quickly, which would make the paddles even wobblier in the long run.

For occasional and small paddling trips on the water, the paddles are still useful. Nevertheless, the paddles show that the complete set is only designed for occasional and short paddling trips.

After a two-hour paddle tour with numerous landings on the shore, the kayak remained unharmed. The stress on the boat skin and on the boat itself were comparatively low in our review. There were good conditions (no wind) and the lake had only gravel banks. This is exactly what we consider the boat suitable for. In our opinion, the kayak is not the best choice for river tours with possible ground contact as well as half or day tours on lakes.

Dismantling the kayak

If there is water in the boat, the drain opening in the stern can be used before dismantling the kayak. This way you make sure that most of the water can drain out of the boat. To do this, tilt the boat at the front and the water in the boat will run out of the drain opening. You only have to wipe the interior dry without taking out the water with a sponge. The boat skin can also be wiped dry easily. The seats on the other hand have a slightly fabric-like coating that cannot be wiped dry. These should let air dry.

The air went out of the air chambers without much effort and the boat let was easy to fold up so that it fit back into the bag. However, the folded boat did not reach the original pack size.

Strengths and weaknesses of the Intex

It is difficult to identify a concrete strength of the kayak. For a inflatable kayak in the lower price range it has reasonable dimensions and comes with a lot of useful accessories. Due to its generous dimensions the kayak offers much more space inside than comparable kayaks in the price range. The directional stability and the performance on the water is good for comfortable tours on lakes and rivers.

Nevertheless, from our point of view, the Intex Excursion Pro is a beginner inflatable kayak for occasional use. The air chambers are not stiff enough due to the low air pressure, the backrests do not give enough support when paddling on longer tours and the paddles are too wobbly. The boat skin is much more robust than the Intex Challenger or Explorer. But it does not look as robust as the skin of a Gumotex or Grabner inflatable kayak.

Conclusion on the Intex Excursion Pro

The Intex Excursion Pro is a successful further development with numerous improvements of the previous Intex inflatable kayaks and goes in the right direction. We had called the Intex Challenger and Explorer more bathing boats than kayaks. With the Intex Excursion Pro we see it the other way around. But it is definitely not a touring kayak either, it is much more a recreational kayak for occasional use. The running characteristics were better than expected, especially when the kayak is paddled by two persons. Two paddlers give the boat more drive. Also, the higher weight and better weight distribution increases the waterline of the boat. However, our afternoon review cannot conclude how durable and robust the kayak is in the long run.

If you want to find out more about Intex and his products, make sure to check out our overview of Intex boats and kayaks article.

Recommended Kayaking Equipment

The Intex Challenger Excursion Pro already includes a paddle and pump. However, you definitely need to get a life jacket. You also want to consider a dry bag and a proper transport bag for the inflatable kayak.

Accessories for the Intex Challenger K1

The scope of delivery of the boat includes the following accessories:

• Kayak paddle
• Inflatable foot brace
• Air pump
• Fin
• Repair patches
• Transport bag

In addition, we recommend the following accessories:

• Life jacket: Itiwit BA 50N+ * (good life jacket for beginners, very good price-performance ratio, more details in our test report).
• Dry Bag: Itiwit dry bag 10L* (ideal for protecting items from splashing water and short immersion in water, good workmanship, with carrying strap, available in different colors and sizes)
• Transport backpack: only a bag is included, which is intended for storage and short transport of the kayak to the water. If you want to transport the kayak longer distances and more comfortably to the water, we recommend the Itiwit transport backpack*, which is comfortable to carry and has enough space for the kayak and accessories.

Alternatives to the Intex Excursion Pro

There are many other manufacturers, which make also great inflatable kayaks. Sea Eagle for example is very well-known in the US and they have a very wide range of inflatables. The Sea Eagle 420X comes with a drop-stitch floor and is available in a complete set (paddles, air pump, bag). It’s more expensive than the Excursion Pro but you will also get more for your money.

If you look for another affordable kayak, then the Itiwit x100+ might be a good kayak for you as a beginner. It’s a well-designed boat with good materials and quality but due to the hull the driving performance isn’t outstanding. It’s a good leisure boat for slow and comfortable tours on calm waters.

But if performance on the water is important to you, then you should check out kayaks from Advanced Elements. They have some really good boat, which can compete with solid kayaks.

The Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura is a very frequently sold inflatable kayak on the Internet. It is the best equipped and most robust kayak of the manufacturer. We have received many inquiries from our readers what we think of the kayak. Now we ordered it ourselves and took a closer look at it. Read this test article to find out what our opinion is about this inflatable kayak and how it performs on the water.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura from 2020. 

How did we organize the review?

We have purchased the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura ourselves.

How intensively has the product been tested?

Product update of the Bestway kayak

Since 2021, the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura is available in turquoise blue. Material, workmanship and construction look identical at first glance. Apart from the color, the new model has become narrower by 8 cm (3”). There are also other seats in the boat, but they hardly differ from the previous model. The new seats also have only a flat seat cushion and a thin backrest. Paddle and air pump are the same as those of the orange previous model.

First Impressions and assembly

The kayak comes in a complete set, which means that two double-bladed paddles, an air pump, a manometer (to measure the air pressure) and repair patches are already included. However, there is no bag included, which you need for transport to the water or for storage at home. For this purpose we recommend for example the Sevylor Quickpak.

Considering the materials used and the price, the kayak looks high quality and solid. The black-orange design looks appealing on the one hand and on the other hand you are clearly visible on the water with the orange side color.

Before inflating the air chambers, the two fins needs to be attached to the bottom of the kayak. They give the inflatable kayak a better directional stability and make paddling easier.

There are also two safety lines that are attached to the bow and stern. These can be handy for gripping the boat better and pulling it to shore.

The actual PVC air chambers are covered by a nylon layer. Thus the air chambers are additionally protected from possible damage and the probability of a hole in the air chamber is considerably reduced.

The three air chambers are each inflated via a Boston valve. A Boston valve is a 2-way screw valve. It therefore has two screw caps lying on top of each other. To inflate, unscrew the top cap. A non-return cap prevents the air from flowing out of the chamber as soon as you remove the pump tube. The inflation sequence is noted on the nylon cover. First inflate the side walls and then the floor. The included air pump has a volume of 2.8 L and a double stroke function. A double stroke function means that you pump air into the air chamber both when pulling and pushing the handle. The air pump is quite small, so you have to bend your knees a lot.

The recommended air pressure of the air chambers is 0.06 bar (0.87 PSI). This is very little for a inflatable kayak. Check the correct air pressure with the manometer. The manometer works well, but reading the small scale is a bit difficult. A red marking at 0.06 bar would have been very practical.

You can even screw the manometer onto the pump hose and check the air pressure during inflation. To avoid any damages on the air chambers, you should stick to the recommended air pressure of the manufacturer. In addition, you can also use the manometer separately if you want to check the air pressure during a tour while taking a break on shore.

When the boat is fully inflated, attach the seat straps to the side chmabers with the buckles. The very long straps and the continuous Velcro strip on the floor of the kayak allow you to place the seat in the boat in a very variable way.

The bottom of the floor is made of thick PVC, which is much thicker than, for example, the boat skin of an Intex Challenger K2. The actual air chmabers are inside of the nylon cover and are also made of thick PVC. If they are damaged, they can be patched with the included repair patches or replaced with a new air chamber.

The repair patches remind us of waterproof adhesive tape, which can only be used for a small hole in the air chamber. For larger damages as well as holes or cracks in the outer shell the enclosed patches are not suitable. Therefore you should handle the boat with care.

The Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura has a total of four carrying handles. One carry handle each on the left and right side chamber in the middle of the boat. This allows you to carry the boat to the water by yourself when you are paddling alone.In addition, there is one handle each on the bow and stern, which are attached to the outermost point of the kayak, which makes it very easy for two people to carry the kayak.

Compared to many other inflatable kayaks, the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura does not have small spraycovers at the bow and hood to protect against spray water. In addition, the spraycovers of most inflatable kayaks are equipped with luggage nets, so that a backpack or dry bag can be attached.

Instead, a net bag is attached to the bow of the Bestway kayak. This net bag serves as a storage bag for small items. It is a nice extra, but we would have preferred a transport bag for the kayak. If you want the items in the net bag to stay dry, you need a waterproof bag.

The double-bladed paddles included are 218 cm (7’2”) long and made of three parts, which are connected to each other with two connectors. Since the paddles can be disassembled, they are also very easy to transport. The connecting pieces also serve as handles. The paddles look small and cheap at first sight. We are curious how they perform on the water.

Review of the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura on the water

Thanks to the four carrying handles, you can carry and put the inflatable kayak into the water by yourself. Due to the open construction and the wide side tubes, getting into the kayak is very easy and safe without the feeling of capsizing.

The multi-part double-bladed paddle does not wobble, which is unusual for such a cheap paddle (which is included with some cheap inflatable kayaks). The reason for the stability is that the rods of the paddle are not inserted but screwed into the connecting piece. What we cannot say is whether they will wobble after frequent use,. The connecting piece also serves as paddle handle. The paddle handle has a bad feel and is too uncomfortable for long paddling tours.

Furthermore we find the double-bladed paddles with a length of 218 cm (7’2”) too short. For an inflatable kayak with a full width of 94 cm (3’1”) and the flat seats we constantly touch the tubes with the short paddles. We adapted our paddling technique so that when we inserted the paddle blade into the water we held the paddle a little more to the left or right. If the paddles were long enough (at least 230 cm / 7’5”, better 240 cm / 7’9”) it would not be necessary and the paddling would be more comfortable.

Another weakness of the inflatable, which we immediately notice on the water, are the seats. The seat cushions are very flat so that we sit too deep in the boat. This makes paddling more difficult, especially with the short paddles. Also you sit faster in the wet if splash water accumulates or a wave comes into the boat. 

As long as there is no puddle in the boat, you will usually stay dry. However, as we think it is a fair weather boat, it should not be a big problem in summer, as most people will paddle in swimming trunks then. We like the fact that the seat is attached to the ground with Velcro and does not slip when paddling. Because of the low air pressure of the floor chamber, you sit soft and comfortable on the ground.

What is more disturbing are the backrests. The backrests are very thin and we quickly get the feeling that the backrest consists of only one strap. On the backrests of the seats there is a small zippered pocket, which is quite practical for storing your mobile phone, for example, because you can quickly have it at hand.

When paddling the kayak with two persons, a speed of up to 4 – 4.5 km/h (2.5 – 2.8 mph). The straight run is okay with the two fins as long as there is no wind. For short distances the space for two persons is acceptable, on long distances the interior is clearly too small.

Due to the splash water during paddling (caused by the short paddles, among other things) and getting in and out of the kayak, the interior of the kayak looks like this after a while (see picture below). The nylon has become soaked with wetness. If you get a wave into the boat, there is of course more water in the boat. If there is a lot of water in the boat, you can open the small drain valve at the back of the stern to let the water flow out.

After some time the low air pressure of 0.06 bar (0.87 PSI) becomes noticeable. If the difference between air and water temperature is large, the drop in temperature makes the air chambers softer, which is normal for inflatable boatsHowever, the effect is much more noticeable for inflatable boats with very low air pressure, such as this boat, than for inflatable kayaks with a higher air pressure. After over an hour the air chambers were much softer than at the beginning, so we landed and pumped up. The manometer confirmed that the air pressure was only about half of the pressure with what we started our paddling tour.

Dismantling the kayak

The dismantling of the kayak is very simple. You unscrew the Boston valve completely out of the thread so that the air can escape. If you have time, you can dry the boat in the sun with the valves open. Otherwise you can wipe it a little bit dry and unfold and dry it again at home. If you store the boat wet for a longer period of time, mildew will form on the nylon. Drying the boat in the cellar took longer than one night. We had to lay the boat down again in a different position so that all wet spots could dry. Otherwise we could not really dry the boat. For a short paddling fun on the water the effort of drying the boat is quite big in the end.

You fold the boat once in length and then you fold it several times. Fold it from the bow so that the valves are exposed and the remaining air can escape without problem. The Bestway kayak fits perfectly into our Itiwit boat backpack with the air pump, seats and mesh bag. The double-bladed paddles are stored in the outer pockets of the backpack. In that way, the boat can be easily transported to the train or to the car.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Depending on the offer, Bestway offers with its model Hydro-Force Ventura an inexpensive boat in a complete set, which has a robust outer shell and is solidly manufactured.  There were no unclean seams or gluings. Nevertheless, the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura has numerous weaknesses, which you should be aware of before buying. Due to the uncomfortable backrests, the low air pressure and the bad double-bladed paddles, paddling is hardly fun in the long run (over 1 km without a break). Personally we find the performance on the water of the cheaper inflatable kayaks Intex Challenger K2 and Explorer K2 better. But the Intex inflatable kayaks have a more sensitive boat skin.

Conclusion on the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura

On the product photos the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura makes a good impression. You get the impression that you can get a full-fledged kayak for a good price. We have to admit that the kayak has a nice design. The air chambers are protected by the nylon cover and make the kayak look like a fixed hull kayak. 

Moreover, the kayak comes in a complete kit, so that you can start paddling immediately. Depending on the waters and conditions, only the purchase of life jackets is necessary. In short: the offer is quite attractive. The workmanship is good. Everything works and the boat skin makes a robust impression.

From our point of view the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura is a higher quality bathing or fair weather boat, which can be paddled as a kayak for short distances.  For small calm rivers and lakes the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura is an option, as long as there are tours with a low paddle percentage. When you fold down the backrests, you can lean on the bow or stern chamber and relax really well on the water. Those who really want to kayak and paddle tours of more than 1 mile should not buy the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura.

Other entry-level inftlable kayaks​

Intex and Sevylor are two other brands that offer entry-level inflatable kayaks. Intex offers one of the cheapest kayaks on the market, for example the Intex Explorer K2. The boat skin is quite thin and sensetive. Sevylor has also pretty cheap kayaks but also some more solid ones, like the Sevylor Adventure Plus, which can be paddled with up to 3 persons. It also has a nylon cover that protects the tubes from damage.

The Itiwit x100+ inflatable kayak is a further development of the popular Itiwit Touring kayak series from Decathlon. It is a 2-person inflatable kayak with drop-stitch floor, which can be paddled by two persons or single. Decathlon promotes the Itiwit x100+ as a kayak for occasional tours of 2-3 hours, which offers a good combination of performance and stability. We have paddled the Itiwit kayak and in this article we would like to tell you about our first impressions and experiences on the water.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Itiwit x100+ 2-Seater from 2020

How did we organize the review?

The Itiwit x100+ was provided to us by Decathlon, a French manufacturer and distributor of sports equipment and clothing. Itiwit is a brand for the paddle sport of Decathlon. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or shop and reflects our own opinion of the boat.

How intensively has the product been tested?

First impressions and assembly

The Itiwit x100+ comes in a well-sized backpack that is comfortable to carry. A very useful feature of the backpack are the outside pockets where you can stow your paddle. The front of the backpack can be opened almost completely with the zipper. This way you can easily take out the boat and pack it back in without any big efforts. For the total price of the boat we think it is great that a backpack and not just a carry bag. The backpack is functional and has a good quality.

The Itiwit x100+ has two separate side chambers and a removable drop-stitch floor. Before inserting the floor we inflated it slightly and then put it into the boat. The floor is attached at the bow and stern with a strap click fastener, so that it remains well in its right position without moving around. 

The floor is inflated to 0.35 bar (5.1 PSI), which was an easy job with the Decathlon air pump. The side chambers are then inflated to 0.2 bar (2.9 PSI). For a beginner kayak in this price range, such operating pressures are hard to find. For example, Sevylor inflatable kayaks are in a similar price range but they only have an air pressure of 0.1 bar (1.5 PSI). The higher the air pressure of the air chambers, the stiffer the kayak and better the performance on the water.

The kayak has reasonable valves that can be closed or opened by a spring (same mechanism as on Innova and Grabner inflatable boats). The handling is very simple. The backpack even contains a valve key so that it can be removed and cleaned or retightened if necessary.

It takes less than 5 minutes to inflate the air chambers. After inflation, three small skegs are attached to the bottom of the boat. A skeg is very typical for inflatable kayaks to improve straight-line stability. We have not yet paddled an inflatable kayak with three skegs. It is very likely that the Itiwit x100+ has more skegs than other models, as it has a remarkably wide and flat hull, which would otherwise be very turn-happy when paddling.

Depending on whether you want to configure your kayak for 1 person or 2 persons, you position the seat. The seats have a high inflatable seat cushion. This allows a raised seating position so that the wide side tubes are not in the way when paddling. You can also inflate the seat a little softer or harder, depending on your preference, to find the comfortable seat firmness for you. The seat is attached to the bottom of the boat by the Velcro strip, which prevents it from slipping while paddling. The Velcro strips on the bottom are sufficiently long for the front and rear seats, so that you can vary the position of the seats.

The robust backrest is attached to the side chambers with a belt on both sides. The position of the backrest is also adjustable. All in all, we really like the seats. They look comfortable, have a good workmanship and promise a good grip when paddling. We are curious to see how they feel once we are on the water.

The outer skin of the kayak makes a robust impression. It consists of a polyester fabric coated with PVC Tarpaulin. Due to this robust outer skin, no textile cover is necessary to protect the tubes, as with the Itiwit Touring or Sevylor Adventure. The boat dries more quickly after use (significantly less risk of mould growth) and is easier to repair in the event of a defect. The permanently integrated side tubes are also equipped with a pressure relief valve, so that it is impossible to damage the boat due to excessive inflation or heat exposure.The drop-stitch floor, seats and other parts of the boat can be re-ordered and replaced in case of a defect.

The drop-stitch floor has a recess on each side where drain valves are located. For example, if you are paddling on the beach in the summer and a wave does come into the boat, the water will run off when the valves are open. This way no water will accumulate in the boat.

The Itiwit x100+ also offers important features of a good kayak. At the top of the bow and stern there is a carrying handle to carry the boat to the water. What we really like are the side carrying handles. If you are paddling the kayak on your own, you can easily put it in the water yourself.

At the bow and stern there are small spraycovers which provide additional protection against spray water. Furthermore, the kayak offers possibilities to fix luggage or to store small items. On the stern there is a large luggage net where you can put a large backpack or dry bag. At the front of the stern and at the back of the backrests there are small net pockets for small items, which are easily accessible when paddling. Such features seem less important at first sight, but in practice such details prove to be very useful and you don’t want to miss them.

You can also use the boat backpack and store all your stuff there. This even fits in the rear of the boat if the rear seat is placed far forward. You can attach the backpack to the luggage net.

We also attach the backpack with its grey compression strap to the orange luggage net, so that in case of a capsize the backpack would not sink. Note, however, that the boat backpack is not waterproof.

Review of the Itiwit X100+ on the water

The Itiwit kayak has a very high stability due to the wide and flat hull. You can get into the kayak without any worries. Due to the drop-stitch construction it feels very stable when you get in. We have paddled the kayak as a single and two persons configuration.

The Itiwit X100+ as a 1-person kayak

If you place the seat in the middle of the boat, you can use it as a solo kayak. The carrying handle on the side tube makes it very easy to carry the boat to the water.

Since the three fins are very small, you can already get into shallow water and paddle without touching down. Should there be a shore or a river section with shallow depth, you will touch down very late with the small fins. Nevertheless, we recommend on rivers with very low level to omit the fins to avoid unnecessary grounding.

During paddling, the kayak lies extremely stable on the water. Jerky movements, adjusting the seat on the water, even standing up can in no way cause the boat to capsize. We have never paddled such a stable kayak before.

In favour of stability the kayak loses performance on the water. The straight-line stability is only moderate with the three fins. The kayak also glides only slightly through the water when you stop paddling. Due to the wide side tubes we found a 220 cm long double-bladed paddle a bit too short. It is possible to paddle with it, but a paddle at least 230 cm or 240 cm long would be more comfortable, so that it is easier to get into the water with the paddle blades.

Despite the three skegss, the kayak has good manoeuvrability. However, a complete turn (i.e. 180°) is only possible with many paddle strokes.

The Itiwit X100+ as a 2-person kayak

The kayak is very quickly reconfigured into a 2-person kayak. The front and rear carrying handles make it easy for two people to carry the Itiwit x100 to the water. The carrying handles are placed nice and far outside.

When paddling as 2-person kayak, the stability is also very good. The performance on the water is noticeably better with a two persons, as the kayak lies more in the water and thus forms a longer waterline. So the speed and the straight-line stability are better. 

You can reach a speed of between 2,5 and 3,1 mph when paddling comfortably. Compared to other kayaks, the straight-line stability is not really good, but still okay. Here you should not forget that the kayak with a length of 365 cm and a width of 103 cm is not designed for fast but rather for calm and stable paddling tours.

What surprised us is the space available. For a 2-person kayak the Itiwit x100+ is not very long. Nevertheless, as large persons we had enough space inside and enough legroom.  The seating position is really good in a kayak. This is normally something you don’t get in this price range. The seats give a good hold and enough comfort for a nice paddling tour. Due to the integrated drain valves and the raised seat position you will never really sit in the wet. In addition, the seat backs give good support and sufficient comfort for a leisurely paddle.

If the seat cushion of the rear seat is firmly inflated, it is difficult to move it far back to the end of the Velcro strip on the floor. The interior is somewhat narrower at the rear and front due to the design. In the photo below you can see the maximum rear position when the seat cushion is fully inflated. If you still want more legroom in the back, you have to let some air out of the seat cushion so that it can be moved further back.

On one of our recent trips on a hot summer day, we also really appreciated the Itiwit x100+ as a bath boat. We took the seats out and paddled a bit into the deep water. The double paddle can be attached to the paddle holder on the side tube. Since you can stand in the boat, jumping in from the boat into the water is no problem and also really fun. Since the boat is so tilt-resistant, you can also get back out of the water into the boat.

Itiwit x100+ 2 seater vs 3 seater

The Itiwit x100+ 2-seater is also available as a larger variant, i.e. 3 seater and 4 seater. The kayaks are identical in terms of equipment, air pressure, tipping stability and material. They differ only in price, color scheme, dimensions, load limit and weight.

We have tested the 3 seater and compared it to the 2 seater. The Itiwit x100+ 3 seater gives you the possibility to go paddling with three people. With two adults and one child, it offers plenty of space. For three adults, the space is significantly limited, but for short (2 to 3 hours) and leisurely tours still possible.

In addition, the 3 seater can also be interesting for you as a 2 seater kayak, if the load limit and the space offered by the 2-seater seems too little. The 3 seater is another 45 cm longer and has a 50 kg higher load capacity. The rear paddler has much more room to stretch his legs. In addition, the extra space in the middle can be used to carry more luggage or even a dog. With two people, the 3 seater is about 0.5 km/h faster and drifts less when you stop paddling. However, we would not recommend the 3-seater simply because of the minimally better driving characteristics. If you don’t need the extra space and payload, the Itiwit x100+ 2 seater is a good choice.

Dismantling the Itiwit x100+

The dismantling of the kayak was quick and easy. All you have to do is open the three valves. Most of the air escapes by itself. The remaining air can either be pressed or pumped out. We normally pump out the remaining air. If you use the Itiwit air pump to pump out the remaining air, you have to disconnect the pressure gauge.

Remove the drop-stitch floor and fold it back up as originally. Then fold the kayak once lengthwise and place the folded drop-stitch floor on top. Finally fold them together to a packable size. The folded kayak fits back into the supplied backpack right away thanks to the large opening. Squeezing is not necessary here. There is even room for the air pump on the side of the backpack. Before closing the backpack, you still put the two seats and three fins in.

According to the user’s manual, the double paddle is stored in the outer side pockets next to the boat, seats and air pump. This did not work with us, because the backpack was already too tightly filled.

Strengths and weaknesses of the Itiwit X100+

The Itiwit x100+ is one of the most stable inflatable kayaks we have paddled so far. Thanks to the wide hull and drop-stitch bottom, you can even stand up in the boat without capsizing. The entry and exit is also very safe and due to the flat fins already possible in shallow water.

Unfortunately, when dismantling and wiping dry after another tour, we had to find that the bottom with the side tube is not glued cleanly in case of our model. This had had no effect on the functionality of the boat so far, but it is still unsightly. When asked, Decathlon assured us that such processing errors do not usually occur. Nevertheless, we recommend that you always check the quality of workmanship (especially in the glued joints) of the model when buying an inflatable kayak (regardless of the brand).

Otherwise, Decathlon offers a robust and well thought-out kayak for the price. However, those who want to make long distances on standing water with the kayak will have less fun with the Itiwit x100+.

Conclusion on the Itiwit x100+

Decathlon offers with the Itiwit x100+ a very functional and solid kayak. It is not a cheap inflatable kayak. The price is justified in our opinion. We think the price-performance ratio is very good. It was our first Itiwit inflatable kayak we reviewed and we have to say that Decathlon has launched a good recreational kayak for beginners. It is perfect for paddling on a lake and enjoying the peace and quiet on the water. The boat looks very well thought out. The Itiwit x100+ is unrivalled in this price range.

Due to its high stability against tipping, the kayak is mainly aimed at beginners in paddling who would otherwise be afraid of capsizing. The inflatable kayak is also a clear recommendation for adults with children. Decathlon has also launched a 3-persons drop-stich kayak, which is aimed at small families. The Itiwit is a good kayak for small explorations on calm rivers and small lakes. If you want to do a day trip and paddle a long distance (over 20 km), you will have less fun with the kayak. Decathlon advertises a good combination of performance and stability. Stability clearly outweighs performance when you interpret performance as the speed of a kayak. The kayak makes a solid impression in terms of workmanship and robustness.

Alternatives to the Itiwit X100+

The Itiwit x100+ is not the only kayak from Itiwit. There is also the Touring series and we have also reviewed the 2 seater version. The performance on the water is quite similar but it takes much longer to dry due to the the polyester cover. Therefore, the boat is much cheaper.

And then there are also inflatable kayak brands like Intex and Sevylor, which are also well-known for entry-level kayaks.

The Intex Challenger K1 is one of the cheapest inflatable kayaks. It even comes in a complete set, so that nothing stands in the way of an immediate paddling tour. We now wanted to know for ourselves how is it to paddle the Intex 1-person kayak and can it compete with a good quality inflatable kayak.

This inflatable kayak is also available as 2-person model. Make sure to check out our review on the Intex Challenger K2 as well, if you are interested in paddling with someone else together. We have also a complete guide about Intex boats and kayaks.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Intex Challenger K1 from 2019

How did we organize the review?

We have purchased the Intex Challenger K1 ourselves.

How intensively has the product been tested?

First impressions and assembly

The Intex Challenger K1 comes in a compact and very light carrying bag. Since the boat weighs only 28.4 lb, it can be carried comfortably over short distances with the included carrying bag. But the carrying bag is not robust. The material of the bag is so thin that already after the first use there was a small hole in the bottom.

The inflatable kayak is quickly unpacked and amazingly handy. To inflate the kayak you need to unfold it. The Intex Challenger K1 has two separate air chambers, a bottom chamber and a side chamber, each inflated by a Boston valve. Boston valves are 2-way screw valves that allow a quick and safe air inflation and deflation. Due to the separate air chambers it is still possible to reach the shore safely even if one chamber fails.

The bottom chamber is inflated at first with the supplied air pump. Inflating is very easy and goes relatively quickly. Nevertheless, many strokes with the air pump are necessary, because the pump is quite small. Fortunately the kayak is not too big. After inflating the bottom, the second chamber needs to be filled with air, which forms the sides and the deck of the kayak.

After inflating the two air chambers, the boat has reached its final shape. The interior does not seem very large. There is a hook-and-loop fastener on the floor, which is intended for fixing the seat.

If you are not sure when the correct air pressure is reached, you can measure it. Intex has printed a measuring scale on each chamber for this purpose. With the enclosed measuring strip, it can be checked whether there is enough air in the air chambers or whether one of them still needs to be pumped up.

The seat can also be inflated with the air pump. This consists of an inflatable seat cushion and a backrest. The backrest is attached to the side walls with straps and can be adjusted as desired. The seat is slightly wide and bulky for the small interior of the boat. Instead, the seat sits firmly in the boat as soon as it is properly placed in the interior. The fastening of the seat with Velcro is a simple and good idea of the manufacturer.

Finally, the footrest is inflated and placed in the bow of the boat and the skeg is attached. We consider the skeg in particular to be a very important feature. A skeg provides a much better directional stability, especially for inflatable kayaks.

The boat was completely assembled in 8 minutes. We have to admit that we had built up the Intex Challenger K2 before and therefore we are a bit familiar with the construction. Nevertheless we think that a setup of 10 to 15 minutes is possible without any problems.

With exact investigation of the boat, we notice immediately that the firmness of the tubes can’t really compete with high-quality inflatable kayaks. This was not to be expected otherwise, as the kayak has an operating pressure of only 0.069 bar. Higher quality inflatable kayaks have a much higher air pressure (e.g. Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame). However, one cannot expect a higher operating pressure for the price. On the one hand, the air chambers would then have to be processed to a higher quality so that they can withstand a higher operating pressure. On the other hand, a higher air pressure in combination with the boat material wouldn’t be any good. In contrast, the low pressure prevents more or less this material more effective from any ground and stone contact because the thin skin can easier yield.

Besides the possibility to stow the luggage behind the seat in the stern, the kayak also has a luggage net on the bow. This gives a lot of space for additional luggage, which should be quickly at hand (e.g. shoes, water bottle, lunch box or dry bag). Behind the seat there is not too much space and of course it is also difficult to reach even while paddling. Therefore we like the large luggage net on the bow even more.

Review of the Intex Challenger K1 on the water

The air kayak has no handles. These are also not necessary. The boat is handy and light enough to be carried to the water. The canopy makes it a little more difficult to get in. However, the boat is stable in the water, so that capsizing is difficult.

The inflatable kayak is constructed so that the stern and bow are somewhat closed. This considerably reduces the ingress of spray water. But this has a disadvantage for tall people. In my case the Intex Challenger K1 is too small, because I am too tall for the boat (6’2”). In addition the canopy is very low dimensioned, so that one feels constricted. You should be at least smaller than 5’9”. Otherwise we recommend the Intex Challenger K2, which can also be paddled as a solo kayak.

The directional stabilityand manoeuvrability are acceptable. For such a short boat we also expect it to react quickly to changes of direction. The skeg is definitely a must-have for the kayak because it improved the performance on the water a lot. However, it can’t compete with other inflatable ones in terms of performance, for example the Advanved Elements AdvancedFrame.

Those who have no comparison with other kayaks will find the speed to be sufficient and pleasant. The Intex Challenger K1 is perfectly adequate for leisurely explorations on a calm lake. However, if you want to join other kayakers on a kayak trip and they are paddling high quality inflatable kayaks or even fixed hull kayaks, you will not have any fun with Challenger K1. Because the inflatable kayak is too slow for that.

We had tested the Intex Challenger K1 on a calm little lake. The conditions were ideal. That’s what the Challenger K1 is designed for. For long tours on big lakes or fast flowing rivers with possible ground contact we do not recommend the boat. The boat has too little material thickness and too little air pressure for such purposes.

Dismantling

The dismantling was quick and easy. Only the rest of the air has to be pressed out a little bit while folding up or taking care that there are no sharp objects on the floor that could damage it. Once the air is completely out, the boat and all its accessories will fit without any problems into the carrying bag.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The biggest strength of the Challenger K1 is above all the very reasonable price with complete accessories. The biggest disadvantage for tall people is the small and narrow interior. So paddling is hardly possible or very uncomfortable. Also the material and the driving characteristics speak more for a boat to have fun on the water during ideal conditions on small lakes than a real inflatable kayak.

Conclusion on the Intex Challanger K1

For those who want to try paddling for themselves first, the Intex Challenger K1 is ideal. The inflatable kayak is the only 1-person kayak for beginners on the market. It is particularly suitable for small paddling trips on calm waters. The boat is offered in a complete set with very useful accessories, such as the skeg, and enables an immediate start into paddling pleasure.

You should not compare the Challenger K1 with a fixed hull kayak, not even with a higher quality inflatable kayak. If you’re already sure you want to make several paddling trips in the season or don’t want to restrict yourself to calm waters, you should buy a higher quality boat. The purchase price is higher, but the differences in terms of handling characteristics and quality are enormous.

Accessories for the Intex Challenger K1

The scope of delivery of the boat includes the following accessories:

• Kayak paddle
• Inflatable foot brace
• Air pump
• Fin
• Repair patches
• Transport bag

In addition, we recommend the following accessories:

• Life jacket: Itiwit BA 50N+ * (good life jacket for beginners, very good price-performance ratio, more details in our test report).
• Dry Bag: Itiwit dry bag 10L* (ideal for protecting items from splashing water and short immersion in water, good workmanship, with carrying strap, available in different colors and sizes)
• Transport backpack: only a bag is included, which is intended for storage and short transport of the kayak to the water. If you want to transport the kayak longer distances and more comfortably to the water, we recommend the Itiwit transport backpack*, which is comfortable to carry and has enough space for the kayak and accessories.

Alternatives to the Intex Challenger K1

Intex has other inflatable kayaks, which could be interesting if you are looking for an entry-level inflatable. But same here, the kayaks are designed for short tours on calm water. There are no big differences between the Challenger K1 and K2. The Intex Challenger K2 is a tandem kayak and can also be paddle as a solo kayak. You are a bit faster with it since it’s longer. The Intex Explorer K2 looks quite different but it’s quite similar with the K2. We have compared both kayaks and you can find out the differences in our Intex Challenger vs. Explorer article.

The Intex Excursion Pro is more solid and the material of the boat skin is thicker. However, it’s also the most expensive Intex kayak.