Razor Kayaks X1 High-Pressure Kayak

Summary

Price At Time Of Writing | £795.00

Our Overall Rating | 97 out of 100

Pros - Easy setup, comfortable, excellent design, full high pressure Tech-Stitch

Cons - Slightly oversized bag

Overall - Excellent performance all around

Technical Specifications

Open Size - 391x71cm

Weight - 12.9kg

Load Capacity - 226g

Packed Size - 85x50x35cm

Our Analysis & Ratings

The X1 High-Pressure is a fantastic kayak that performs well in the water. It's great fun to paddle and easy to manoeuvre, while also providing good storage space. The solid all Tech-Stitch (Razor Kayaks' proprietary engineered drop stitch) design provides a feel very close to a hard-shell kayak, with the removable fin enhancing its straight-line tracking ability. This one was an absolute joy to paddle, and for that reason, it's our pick of the bunch.

Performance (speed, tracking, manoeuvrability, stability, load handling): 10/10

Speed: This was one of the fastest of all the inflatable kayaks we tested and was what we loved most about this kayak.

Tracking: The solid floor and walls of the hull and the removable fin were great at tracking in a straight line.

Manoeuvrability: Handling was easy, too.

Stability: The solid floor and walls of the hull gave it a strong, stable feel in the water.

Construction (materials, seams, valve quality, durability and fittings): 10/10

This is clearly a considered kayak in how it was constructed. The full Tech-Stitch and 1000 denier PVC provide high levels of rigidity and durability, allowing the kayak to glide through the water.

It's also been designed with a lot of legroom and plenty of space to carry extra gear.

Setup/Pack Down (inflation time, valves, folding and drying): 9/10

Having all three inflation points close together, it sets up and packs down quickly. Being solely PVC on the outside, it's also nice and quick to dry off, which is a big bonus when packing away.

Portability (weight, packed size, ease of carrying): 8/10

For the length and durability of this kayak, it's very lightweight and easy to carry. Shoulder straps on the carry bag it came with mean the 12.9kg isn't difficult to carry to the water at all.

The bag's slightly oversized, which can make it feel a bit unwieldy, and you do need to fold down the top if all you're carrying is the kayak, but on the plus side it's easy to get the kayak back into the bag, and there's ample room for pump, paddles and so on.

Comfort (seat support, legroom, fatigue over distance): 10/10

We found the seat firmly supportive yet comfortable, and really enjoyed the roomy open cockpit. The solid surfaces meant paddling was efficient and enjoyable.

Value for money:

With one of the fastest performance ratings of any inflatable kayak we tested, along with genuinely thoughtful construction and comfort, this one earns its place among the top picks of the bunch.

Best for:

• Paddlers who want the best all-round performance

• Speed and easy manoeuvring

• Those who want extra storage and an open, spacious cockpit

• Anyone happy to trade a slightly oversized bag for room to pack extra gear

Overall:

Fantastic all around paddling experience.