Sea Eagle 393 vs Decathlon Itiwit X500 | Which Kayak is Best? 

Thank you, Ken, for a really illuminating comparison. I've spent an immense amount of time in the Itiwit X500 year round and in different conditions, but haven't yet had the chance to try the Sea Eagle 393, and have been curious about it, so this was really interesting and very informative!

I am rather lucky in that I have both of these which I take in my caravan (RV), 393 for me and Princess Leia, my choc Lab & X 500 for solo, my purchases a while ago were down to both great reviews and recommendations from two contributors already mentioned in the comments of this great blog, Kayak Cliff And Patrick from air on the water who has to be the no 1 most prolific X500 paddler in the world he’s out all year round in ice and snow, great job on these two inflatables all you guys, it helps some of us realise and inspire us to what we can achieve to still get out and have great experiences even when recovering from cancer, thank you all 👍

Great comparison review. Having owned RL's for eight years now, it's great to see a competitor in the "sit-inside" category. We love being out in the open, but we are much more recreational kayakers than performance-based. We did do a triathlon where the first leg was a kayak instead of swim and they performed very well against all the other hard-shell kayaks, but that was a one-off for us. We love our Sea Eagles and we love the company even more. They have taken care of us like family. Thanks for a great and honest comparison!

I got the skirt for the Itiwit X500 and I can confirm that it is not for big waves. It is however perfect for rain and to paddle on a cold day.

Great video Ken! Would love to also see a speed comparison between these two boats and a Pakayak and a comparable traditional hard shell touring kayak!

The price difference in the UK is stark, and reversed - the Sea Eagle seems to come in around £1,150 including paddle and pump. The Itiwit is £650 (no paddle or pump). Even paying out for the accessories, you're really feeling the difference in country of manufacture, there.

Awesome! I love that you review inflatable, folding, modular and tandem kayaks also.

Perfect timing on this comparison. I have the seaeagle fastrack 385ft that i use as a double seater for my girlfriend and I, but looking for a sportier alternative to do a 8 to 10 mile paddle day when I'm solo. Did this on the FT but it's some solid work. Also have a 473rl that probably going back to seaeagle soon (you can't beat their guarantee trial period) but did that one solo once and its a bit too much boat for one.. but damn did it track straight and so fast! Turning it was another story lol. Leaning towards the shorter 393rl for my solo excursions, but this X500 is a sexy boat that has caught my eye. Maybe the Ferrari of inflatables? Decision paralysis for sure. I often stop to pickup garbage on the water as I paddle. Last run I filled the entire back of my boat with 30+beer bottles and plastic water bottles.. party boat heck yeah lol. That open deck on The RL is so appealing for this purpose. That is really so practical. On the other hand having that closed deck on the X500 provides some sunburn protection on the legs and keeps them dry from paddle drip. Hmm decisions, decisions.

Awesome video Ken, great job!

Hello, I have an itiwit x500 kayak and I love it. I also used it at sea in rough water and it worked well. I like your videos, keep it up.👍

Nice video Ken. Both myself & Kayak Cliff noticed the Sea Eagle Razorlite 393RL performs really well....without the skeg in average conditions. We both almost never use the skeg. I love the ability to paddle down to a couple inches of water with the flat bottom. The bow & stern design slice through the water. I'd only recommend using the skeg in very windy conditions, and as you mentioned, it's a clam water kayak so most of us wouldn't be taking it out into very windy conditions too often. The most I've tried it was some where between 13 to 15 mph winds, but I generally would be in less. I noticed someone that took theirs out in 20 mph and they crossed the lake safely, but I'd avoid that. If it's much more than 10 mph, I generally would take my Paddleski inflatable kayak with Torqeedo motor. Closer to a $300 price difference after purchasing a paddle for the Decathlon Itiwit X500, certainly a good reason alone to consider the Razorlite if your a calm water kayaker like most of us recreational kayakers, or enjoy camping. I'd think it would also depend on if your likely to take it on the ocean often or a regular lake. The ocean tends to be more windy.

Thanks for this comparison video. My wife and I have been paddling in a tandem Razorlite for over 3 years. It's superb and people always stop us cuz they can't believe it's inflatable.

For the first time, you got be thinking about buying an inflatable kayak! I paddle a Kevlar 14.5 Winona Vagabond canoe and love it, but storage is an issue. Your reviews are thorough and insightful. Thank you.

Thanks for another great video Ken! Love seeing your adventures and hearing your thoughts on different kayaks. Your video inspired me to take out my 393rl today. It's gotten a lot less use this summer since ive been playing with my new Pakayak (which i love, and which was purchased in no small part because of your review). Thanks for reminding me of what a great boat the Razorlite is! I also only use the skeg in windy conditions. I can't believe how well it tracks without it Keep up the good work!!!

I don’t see the comparison myself. Great video. Love seeing the itiwit being compared. Though for me, the itiwit wins hands down. I just like sit in. So I was biased right off the bat. Also they come in 2 versions (hull difference) if your buying second hand. I have a v1 and it’s jolly good fun!

I’m 61 and I have a 393 and I love it. But it can be a little tricky at times . I also have 2 385 fast tracks and there really stable . Thanks for your time!!

Back in June I did see the Razorlite being used on canals here. The boat seemed ideal for them.

Closed kayaks still are my favourites, I grew up with them, old habits. Somehow, I always tend to feel a bit disconnected when I ride open (hybrid) and above all, inflated kayaks. It's fun, it's more room to move your legs and stuff, it's portable and you can put it in a bag, but I just cannot get used to them, and I have tried out quite a lot of these recently. As speed is a real deal-breaker for me. I prefer higher average speed over top speed. I'd go for the Sea Eagle.

I got itiwit 500. I glued up removable fin because kayak trying to turn slightly to one side (depends how it was bent in transportation bag) . With fin kayak goes like arrow 😊🏹

great comparison. For those of us who want to have the performance in rougher conditions yet have storage and transportation constraints, the X500 is perfect. but, as you say, at a slightly premium price. The offset is that you get to buy an upgraded paddle. 🙂

That is an excellent comparison! I paddle the X500 and I love the boat. The v-shaped hull without the need for a skeg allows you to travel through flatter water and beach the boat without damage to a skeg. I also like the enclosed cockpit with a spray skirt, as it keeps your equipment and feet dry in rain and waves. The speed comparison is also interesting. But bear in mind, that this comes only from a single set of data for each condition. But I go with your conclusion, that both would perform similarily. For day trips, I calculate with an average speed of around 5 km/h If I paddle several hours at a relaxed speed. For a single hour, 7 km/h or slightly above is manageable for me in the X500, although I am not well trained in paddling. Regarding comfort in the X500, I would say it is important to sit upright. If you slouch for an extended time, the top of the seat and the edge of the Kayak can lead to a bruise on your back. The footrests can easily be adjusted during paddling. If you use a spray skirt, consider adding a waterproof zipper to it, so you can open it and access your footroom without the need to remove your spray skirt. Tracking wise, the X500 is good enough for me. It tracks rather well, yet allows for enough maneuverability. Decathlon has some videos where a pro-paddler is taking an X500 through a wildwater obstacle course in France. For stability, it felt more "tippy" than traditional inflatables. You can train your hips and sense of stability at home when you just sit on a balance board or look up other exercises. As some experienced people (Hello Patrick from Air on the Water!) take it out on the sea with sea kayaks, it is definetly stable enough for most scenarios. Although I had regular ground contact without damage, I would refrain from areas with sharp rocks. But that goes for every inflatable and folding kayak. I paddle the X500 mainly on smaller rivers and lakes. But when I paddle on big rivers where waves from bigger and faster ships are a regular occurance, I wouldn't want to miss my closed deck and the spray skirt. As of today, I have not found a boat more suited to my needs: easily transportable by public transport, good performance on the water in terms of speed / tracking / maneuverability, ease of setup and maintenance and enough capacity for mulit-day trips. The price in Europe is also much more affordable: Compared with the 1100 USD in America, here it sells for 720€.

What I would Love to see is a comparison between the Itiwit and a Gomutex Safari. I like both very much,the Gomotex even a bit better because it is lighter has self draining and Ibelieve it might be more stable (very important for me as a solo paddler) but it has no cockpit…. I want a kayak that I can also use during the colder season and in short white water passages of rivers without getting wet every time.

As a 6'4" 275 pounder, I appreciate the extra weight capacity. I have a Sea Eagle Fast Track with a 650 lb. capacity and it is great for fishing and camping.

Hi Ken, good review. As you said, I don't think you can say one is "better" than the other, but they are definitely for different situations. I've had an x500 for over 3 years and love it. Although I sometimes use it on calm waters on a nice day (when the sea eagle would no doubt excel) a lot of my use is at sea in sometimes big waves and cold conditions and the closed-in aspect with skirt is definitely what I need. I have found it fast and manouverable and not too tippy. (I have the V1). And as others have said the cost here in UK is £699, so certainly cheaper than the sea eagle, even when adding the cost of pump and paddle. I'd definitely recommend the Itiwit X500. A great kayak. 👍

The Itiwit x500 in Europe today costs 719 euros. Incredibly in Colombia (because not much is sold) it costs the equivalent of 620 euros.

Great review! I've had both! Lost the sea eagle below Parker dam in Arizona. Or stolen. Anyway, I prefer the itiwit, but both are good kayaks. . I got the Itiwit for $600- something in 2020. Seems like an importer just wants to make a lot of money by doubling the price! Now, the strength of one kayak is the weakness of the other. Sea eagle tracks better with skeg. It doesn't turn nearly as well in tight situations. Air Valves seem much better quality in sea eagle. Installing the foot pegs on my sea eagle was a nightmare! Needed to cut that aluminum bar 1/4 inch. Material seems tougher in sea eagle, but it's much harder to fold and get in the backpack. My 12 pund min pin does fit in the itiwit, and harder for him to fall out! I prefer the itiwit, but at $1300 would like to try an Oru Bay.

The only problem with the Itiwit is that you have to have your legs more open, but if you put two floats vertically, on each side of the knees and they are held with the footrest strap; These support the knee and thighs and give you great stability and allow you to do the entire technique with the rotation of the waist and movement of the legs.

Hi Ken, thanks for this very helpful comparison. I would love it if you would do a comparison between the Decathlon Itiwit X500 and the Oru Bay ST.

Nice vid brother

I just put an order for the itiwit from decathlon in Thailand. The price is 22000 baht or roughly 630 USD.

I just ordered my X500 can't wait to try it out. I was surprised to hear that they have a distro center in Oakland, CA and you can pick it up in person if you would like it sooner. If you are a new customer they will email you a code for 15% off on your first purchase. Since this is more expensive than the Sea Eagle that really took the sting out for me.

Hi Ken, they really are very good kayaks. I have 2 itiwit, version 1 and version 2; v1 is more unstable (maybe faster) and v2 is more stable.

Ken, thanks, follow your channel all the time. Have a 393RL and think its a great kayak, also have 4 other hardshell. Question... what was the app you used to track your speed? Thanks, Rick

Any chance you could review some of the higher end Oru Kayaks? I know you did the inlet a while back- but would be curious to see your thoughts on the Beach or the Bay.

Great video Ken! One thing I was asking myself was the overall quality/durability of these boats. I don’t know why the sea eagle seems more robust, but could be just my impression. What are your thoughts? Also, the sea eagle is almost 2K CAD after taxes, import fees, etc, whereas the Decathlon is only $1,150. Even with no pump or paddle, i’m sure it would be less than 2K. Figured I’d add this for other Canadian shoppers. Thanks again for a great review!

I have the Razorlite and it is fine. Can't say i have got it up to even 5mph but then I use a greenland paddle. I like the open cockpit because it is easy for me to access stuff. The Itiwit looks tempting though. I always use the skeg because it just tracks better with it. I suppose my next kayak will be a hard shell one. Have you reviewed the Current Designs Sisu?

Thanks for the video! I only wish you’d released it a few months ago, when I was trying to decide between these two. 😏 In the end, I went with the 393 because I prefer the open design and being able to access my stuff more easily while aboard.

Hey Ken , not sure if I missed it ,but have you been able to get hold of old town loon 120 to review yet. Take care Ken 0:02

I just bought the itiwit X500 for USD490 brand new from Decathlon, usually it's around USD700 here in Chile, so when I saw the sale (it's winter over here) I didn't think too much about it. Even though I have another kayak, I really love the X500 (I got V2)

Hi Ken, Thank you for your comparison of these two kayaks. I used to paddle with hardshell kayaks in the US. I now live in southern Spain and more inclined to go with inflatables. After a lot of research, but until I saw this video of yours, I hadn't seen a comparison.... so thank you. I am looking for a nudge towards one or the other, haha. I have the good fortune to live within 10km of the coast and could also paddle along the coast plus paddle on some of the inland lakes, where it can also get quite hot. My considerations are.... can I take the sea eagle along the coast in mild conditions, but still have to get thru some of the beach waves. The Itiwit x500 would obviously not have a problem with this, however it might get quite hot under the deck on the inland lakes. BTW, on this side of the world, the price of the Itwit is quite a bit cheaper... Shipping from one continent adds about $800-1000, whether it be the Sea Eagle or Itwit. Any thoughts on launching from a beach? Thanks, Chris

Do you have a review for the pelican vanquish 120

I’ve been on the alert list for the Decathlon kayak for two years… can’t get my hands on one.

Thank you! I've been waiting for this comparison and it definitely helped me make my final decision. I'm gonna go with the X500 because I'd like to eventually go on rougher waters but I will miss being able to dangle my feet in the water on my current recreational kayak!

I think the Sea Eagle is much better for camping and carrying gear. The open space and higher weight capacity means you can haul more stuff than the itiwit.

Ken, have you reviewed the Wolf Armor kayak yet. It looks like a good kayak.

One time I tryed to ride x500. It was crazy, so I could not get into it. The kocpit is to small for me. I am 197cm tall. I would like to watch a video about getting kayak. Thank’s!

We have both a Razorlite 393 and a Razorlite 493(tandem). One problem with these is wind resistance when paddling into the wind compared to our hard shell kayaks. How does the ITIWIT 500 compare with regard to wind resistance??

Any chance you could review the Oru Coast XT? I'm looking at both the Coast XT and 393RL, and not sure which way to go...

So, what you're saying is, one is like a solo canoe while the other is like an 11 foot kayak. Does that sound about right?

can we use it for fishing? on Sea Eagle 393? how about the possibility of puncturing? is it tought? thanks

Hey Ken, do you have any opinions about which one of these two models would be more durable? I know they are both drop stitch, but I’m curious how well they would hold up against the submerged obstacles in shallow water.

Razorlite for me... 😊

Ken, I have a Tucktec and a Pakayak. Now I want and x500. I love my Pakayak but it is so big and heavy. I’m thinking the x500 might be the answer. And will the the ONE. Do you have an opinion?

The Razorlite wins for me because it fits my dog.

Not sure if after watching your video I know which one is better they can't both be equal

You can fish and tour more comfortably from the SeaEagle, the X500 will be faster. Both are good

Great comparison However what you are not aware of is that the Sea-eagle is a lot better in rough water than you think. I use mine almost entirely on the ocean. I have had it out in 3-4 foot seas with very little water entering the boat. Even though it is a very open kayak when going into large waves The boat just sits on top of them with little water coming in. I do carry a hand operated bilge pump I have only used it once out of 15 trips around Casco Bay in Portland Maine. (Google earth it) Having said that my kayak is a 473RL tandem that has added factory foot braces and D-rings to to use it as a single person Kayak. The 473 is 15.6" long and has a person and gear rating of 750 lbs. True is NOT a white water kayak. It is an Ocean rated Kayak and a very good one at that! Have fun on the water and a great day.

Wow, I would've thought the X500's V-hull, slightly narrower hull, and lack of a skeg would be a speed advantage in cruising as well as top speed.

Hey Ken, What do you think about maintenance? Im assuming the x500 is more of a hassle for cleaning.

So inflatable or modular solid kyak?

I love my 393 RL but l gave away the paddle that came with it. A high quality paddle makes all the difference. Sea Eagle should lower the price and get rid of the paddle

Is it just me or is your paddle upside down on the Itiwit speed test? Would that affect results?

Hmmmm.. wondering if you can roll the X500.

x500 allthe way for me, fast as hell 🙂

What would you choose if the X500 is $500uscy and the 393 it's $ 900 uscy?

Have You tryed the Breeze Tahe kayak?

I don't quite understand. Is Itiwit an import, or does it come from Decathlon US store? Because it's half the price in Europe, where Decathlon is based. It seems the story is that kayaks that are sold primarily in the US are substantially more expensive in Europe and vice versa. We don't get to buy $200 rigid kayaks in Europe, not in your wildest dreams....

Probably for the first time, us europeans can enjoy a product for much cheaper than US/Canada. On Decathlon store Italy the x500 sells for €720!!!! (Decathlon is a french company so you are overpaying for import I think)

If you have space do not buy inflatable or foldable kayaks , They are cheap or as much as a hardshell kayak but will break faster than a hardshell and you are sacrificing a lot of performance that you would get in a hardshell.

I just took the wife out paddling for 3 hours in our inflatable kayaks, had a great time, had all the gear we needed, took all the precautions, but when we came back and got out of the kayaks our legs were dead, you didn't tell us that would happen

боже! какой многословный!

Neither one. Get yourself an nrs.

Sea Eeagle 393 needs a top cover. I would be scared of it getting filled with water if a wave splashes it. Not just sea waves, but boat wakes.

self rescue in sea eagle is not impossible lol