Summary

Price At Time Of Writing | £695.00

Our Overall Rating | 92 out of 100

Pros - Highly portable, easy to setup, stable

Cons - Not as fast as some of the high end kayaks

Overall - Stable and good for casual paddling

Technical Specifications

Open Size - 285x84cm

Weight - 8.2kg

Load Capacity - 179kg

Packed Size - 80x50x35cm

Our Analysis & Ratings

Razor Kayaks’ R1 Ultra is a stable, well-constructed inflatable kayak that handles really well. Razor Kayaks’ own engineered drop-stitch, Tech-Stitch, creates an excellent stiff floor and with three easy to inflate valves, it’s quick to set up and pack down. Because of its prioritisation of stability over speed it’s not as fast as some of the other portable kayaks we reviewed, but it’s definitely not slow and we found it a pleasure to paddle. With a very reasonable price for its quality, it offers great value for money.

Performance - While the R1 doesn’t have the same speed in the water as some of the other top-of-the-range models, it’s not actually a long way off for an inflatable kayak of this design. The shape of the hull, shorter, wider profile and removable fin means it handles really well and is easy to manoeuvre. The Tech-Stitch floor creates a pleasingly firm surface to paddle against.

Construction - This is up there in terms of design and construction with the best inflatable kayaks. The hard Tech-Stitch floor and side tubes make it very stable, and the 1000 denier reinforced PVC felt reassuringly tough - this is a kayak that will not puncture easily and last a while. We’d love if it could get a little more pace up, but it was a heap of fun to chase the kids around in because of its ability to make tight turns, and perfect for a relaxing paddle.

Setup/Pack down - Super easy to unroll and inflate, with only three inflation points situated nice and close together. The reinforced PVC is durable enough not to need to be covered in fabric, so it’s also quick to dry off which makes pack down that much easier.

Portability - For the durability and comfort offered by this kayak, it’s extremely light at 8.2kg. The bag it comes with has a ton of space (probably too much), but the shoulder straps make it comfortable to carry to the water.

Comfort - The hard floor and comfortable yet supportive seat make the R1 very comfortable to paddle. The stability is an added bonus, offering the opportunity to just sit (or lay down) and float. Depending on your height you may find your knees are a little bent when paddling but I personally didn’t find it an issue.

Overall - High quality for a great price, stable, great for recreational paddling.