Before getting this kayak I read all the reviews and so was expecting something more lively than the standard sit on top models I have been using up to now. I got thrown out twice in the first five minutes but shouldn't have been surprised.
I have now read up on primary and secondary stability and would say that this kayak is spot on. Stable kayaks are like riding tricycles and tippy kayaks are like bikes - you have to learn how to ride them.
I took sensible precautions and practiced getting back into the kayak in deep water. This is almost impossible as demonstrated in the Decathlon video but using a paddle float with the other paddle blade going through the front side strap and onto the bow you get a pretty decent outrigger. I also have a bilge pump as the kayak is a single volume construction and fills with water. The only issue is that the seat floats when flooded - you need to attach the seat with some sort of strap or you could lose it completely out at sea! Being able to get back in gave me the confidence to progress.
I have now practised everything except rolling (next challenge) and have been out in choppy conditions and force 4 winds. It is fairly easy to keep on track and it goes well.
I am very pleased with the performance so far. I am not so pleased with the customer services. I was unlucky enough to puncture the hull (my fault...oops) but the glue for the patches is not supplied in the kit and is not available online. On reading the specs on the website there is a MAJOR issue with the materials description. For the 1 person it is marked 95%polyethelene and the 2 place marked PVC. Which one is right? The adhesive for one does not work with the other and going out 1km offshore could prove fatal. I have still not had a response from the technical team and need to repair the kayak so I can get out on the water. The shops don't know and customer services don't know!
The boat gets a 5 star review from me but the customer service brings that back to 3 stars as they only deserve 1. Come on Decathlon Customer Services- get your act together. I have been a fan of your products for over 20 years and you are letting the side down!

Valves difficult to operate, the advantage of quick filling lost. No stability, you keep you balance with the paddle and going fast. Stop to take photographs and you end up swimming with your camera. No straps to secure the paddle. I don't find the cayak heavy compared to others. The technological innovation is good, but they need to find better valves and make a touring version with better stability. Now you cannot let your friends try it or it will end up bad.

I bought this at the beginning of lockdown as a way to unwind. I used to row but fancied a change to Kayaking. I read many reviews and blogs to get a balanced view and took the plunge (not literally).. I use it regularly, at least twice a week on rivers. It is a little tippy when you first get in it and takes a bit of practice to feel confident, but once you keep your core straight it's very stable and I have never had a concern over stability. EVERY TIME I take the kayak out, there is always a curious bystander asking questions, so you have to be pretty adept at getting ready or packing away :) but after a couple of practices in the garden, you won't believe how easy and fast it is. Couple of recommendations: buy the pump that is recommended and also use a towel and dry the kayak as you fold it away to keep the damp away. Just so impressive and I LOVE going out on it everytime without fail.

Good afternoon! Could you explain how the 2019 kayak differs from the 2020 kayak ..... I watched the reviews and people write that the 20 year edition is more stable ... is this true or an exaggeration? )) put 3 ... since I made 15 outputs on it and each time like the first ....))) and another question - in SPb for some reason there were no skirts, size SLS only S ... will they be in the next season ... thanks for your attention! if something is not right, do not be offended by google translator does not always translate correctly ...

Having completed a 200km sea tour from Fethiye to Finike in Turkey in a solid plastic sea kayak in a variety of sea conditions I bought the X500 as a more portable alternative for calm seas. The concept of the boat and finish is excellent but the balance is an issue. I was not expecting it to handle like a "solid" sea kayak but I felt very vulnerable even in very calm seas. If you are moving continuously you can handle it but I could never relax to rest or adjust something. The seat was quite comfortable, the way it inflates and deflates is easy to execute and it packs away easily into the backpack which is quite comfortable to carry.
Luggage space: there is plenty of room for luggage in the back, but the compartment is not separated from the main area of the boat. So all lugage must be packed very carefully in watertight bags. The idea Itiwit suggest of a top loading pack in front would possibly detract from stability and rolling back up. The area in the nose can be used for water storage etc, but again it is not separated from the main compartment. The lack of separators means the boat takes on much more water in a capsize.
Re-entry into the boat from behind after a capsize can be executed but again requires calm conditions.
I tried pumping it up only to 7psi as opposed to 10. This did slightly improve the stability but not enough, and of course it did slightly increase the drag on the boat. Having read a variety of reviews I felt maybe it would be OK for me, but sadly I am now returning it to Decathlon. I am sure that in a year or two, with a bit of tweeking, this could end up as an excellent kayak suitable for not just professionals or "well-balanced" individuals.

I was intermediate, about thirty years ago. Like many this year I returned to kayaking. I used two inflatable Explorer £100-150 entry level kayaks, flat bottom, super easy, super stable. Outgrew them in about a month, got tired of them bursting too. This kayak got poor reviews by a lot of folks, tippy this tippy that, so I had it in my basket twice but was put off. Finally bought it back in June and used it 5 x a week for two months for an hour at a time. And it is not tippy. It would feel unstable if all you've ever known is a flat bottom inflatable. It paddles like any other curved hull kayak. Great on a loch, flatish sea. Doesn't need a skeg. The seat is uncomfortable, but after a week I got used to it, guess it was my poor technique. The spray deck is a must. 3mins to inflate, pretty easy to pack. Sure it's heavy, but it make me chuckle when other kayakers paddle up and tap my hull asking if it's an inflatable. Full disclosure. my seal btw the orange nose and light gray v pealed after two weeks of daily use. for this price I was miffed. so I sent a photo, and customer services agreed to replace. Alas they refunded and I had to wait five weeks for a replacement. If it happens again I leave a one star review on the next one, these things happen. On balance, I love it and it's far from a toy.

Received the kayak yesterday and tried it out on the Cuckmere meanders this morning for a couple of hours. I was a little nervous because of it’s reputation for being tippy and my previous experience being six months on a SOT kayak.
However I experienced no stability issues and loved the way the kayak handled and it’s turn of speed. I did practice on a balance ball before buying the kayak, so I don’t know if this helped.
The kayak seems extremely well made and looks fantastic.

I’ve been kayaking since I was 11. Im 30. I’ve sat in flat bottomed and “tippy” kayaks alike. In sea, rivers, estuaries, white water, etc. I kayak 30 miles normally for 8 hours. I was looking forward to doing so in this! It’s heavy - I doubt you’d be able to use this as a rucksack but it stores away nicely. Took this out this week on holiday and it’s nothing short of bloody dangerous! It tracks beautifully but pointless when it capsizes every 5 mins! There is daylight between the bottom of the sides underneath the coaming even at 5psi on the bottom. Fine for a racing kayak, absolutely pointless for a tourer where you want to rest and coast along. You absolutely cannot stop paddling. I’ll be returning this ASAP.

Bought this and returned !
Extremely tippy! Capsised 5 times impossible to re-enter from water and fills quickly with water. Extremely hard to control. Beautiful boat! Fantastic quality but not for the faint hearted

Had to take it back after a month, wearing really badly on the folds for putting it away and nowhere near as robust as it was made out to be. Skirt was practically impossible to fit on. Very disappointing considering the cost.