Aquaplanet vs ITIWIT vs Portifino: Best inflatable kayak showdown

In a comprehensive group test conducted on a balmy summer day, we put two of the best inflatable kayaks and a versatile SUP with a seat converter through their paces on the scenic waters of the River Nene. Over a span of six hours, we examined their performance and features to determine the ideal choice for waterborne adventurers seeking the perfect blend of comfort and maneuverability.

The first kayak on test was the Aquaplanet Two Person Inflatable Kayak. A stalwart of our best two-person kayak rankings, the Aquaplanet can be configured to seat one or two people and boasts a rugged, high-quality construction.

The second kayak in What’s The Best’s great Nene kayak test was the ITIWIT 100 2/3 Person Touring Inflatable Kayak from Decathlon - a three-person kayak offering up two or three-person seating arrangements for family touring and fun on the water.

Third up was the Portofino Paddle Board, which you will note isn’t a kayak but a SUP. We’ve previously reviewed this SUP and found it an excellent entry into recreational water sports. As a popular choice, we put its Portofino SUP To Kayak Kit to the test to see if it’s worth people with SUPs opting for a seat to save themselves buying an additional kayak.

The test was completed by resident adventurers Adam Binne, Ryan Houghton and William Lobley. After setting up the kayaks and SUP side-by-side, we got them into the water. With buoyancy aids and water licences ready to go, we hung around just below a lock that gave us an excellent wide and calm stretch of water to complete some initial testing of the crafts.

We tried racing, manoeuvring and just generally bobbing about until we felt we had a decent grasp of the capabilities of the kayaks and SUP. From there, we broke for lunch before heading on an expedition to a neighbouring village about an hour downriver.

Below, you’ll read our thoughts and findings from our day testing the crafts on the river.

Aquaplanet Inflatable Kayak

Our thoughts on the Aquaplanet Two Person Kayak

Setup:

Will: Setup was straightforward. Each of the three inlets requires 1.5 bar of pressure and the included double-action pump with pressure gauge made short work of inflation. The seats have a nifty zipper that helps them hold shape or collapse for storage, and support straps and Velcro strips to secure their position. Setup was hot work in 28 degree Celcius heat, but within 15 minutes it was ready.

Build:

Will: The Aqua Planet has a triple chamber build, consisting of three inflatable parts - two pontoons and a floor. At 1.5 bar, which is the recommended pressure for the craft, the kayak held its shape incredibly well. All materials on the craft - the bladders are PVC, the heavy-duty outer is polyester - are robust and well crafted, offering the sense of security you need when heading out on something inflatable.

The keel - the underside of the kayak - has a Dolphin fin skeg to help keep the craft straight in the water. The keel is also further reinforced with a thick plastic tarp. This provides great defence against punctures, and I was able to take advantage of it for beaching the craft on a concrete dock at the end of our trip.

For passenger comfort, the seats are well padded and have a supportive back, on account of the straps used to hold it in place - note that you’ll want these good and tight to have a secure back. The front and rear are covered, which gives a nice place to store footwear. Bungees are also found here, for stuffing coats or drybags.

Quick note here on the carry bag - it’s durable and oversized, meaning that in addition to the whole kayaking kit, I was able to use the pack to store two buoyancy aids. A very efficient touch.

Adam: This kayak certainly feels more expensive, and has handles on the bow and stern rather than on the pontoons like Decathlon’s ITIWIT. There was an annoying Velcro strap on each side however, at the exact point where I was paddling, and this was uncomfortable to keep brushing my hand against.

Ryan: Solid and stable, Aquaplanet’s two-person inflatable kayak was designed to endure rough waters and day-long river excursions, its triple chamber design made for a truly tough feel that’s perfect for exploring.

Performance:

Will: From the get-go, I was right at home in the Aquaplanet Inflatable Kayak. It’s been some years since I last kayaked, and I was surprised with how at ease and simple the Aquaplanet made my time on the river. The first thing I did was try reasonably hard to capsize the craft, slamming from left to right - the three-compartment construction has incredibly buoyancy and stability.

Driving the kayak is no trouble. Designed for cruising, the kayak holds a leisurely but true straight line. It’s responsive to both gradual and sharp turns, with both sweep strokes and bow draws happening without a worry. It also back strokes nicely, even against the current, so maintaining a position in the water is pretty easy.

I will note that due to the relative shortness of the paddles, the low position of the seat and the width of the pontoons, paddling has you make broad, undynamic strokes which prevent you from gaining a great speed. Kneeling improves matters, but I found it best to settle with a more ponderous pace and to just enjoy the views and experience.

As with all inflatable kayaks, the Aquaplanet sits on, rather than in, the water. This does have the craft being affected by wind quite easily, but so long as you are aware of what’s going on you can make small adjustments and stay true to course.

When we tried the two person setup, I was pleasantly surprised by how roomy the kayak felt. Nearing the 200kg weight limit, myself and Ryan still held a great position in the water, with the Aquaplanet still responding well to strokes.

Adam: The Aquaplanet felt quicker to accelerate and turn than the larger ITIWIT, which makes sense, but I found the seats too low, putting me in an awkward bend. In the end I sat cross-legged, and this was fine, until my feet went numb.

Ryan: Aquaplanet’s spacious two-person kayak provided plenty of room for two - by no means small - adults. With my legs comfortably snug in the front of the kayak, I never found myself frustrated or overly confined. In fact, there was plenty of space to row without incessant clashing paddles or intermittent seat adjusting.

Price:

Will: Aquaplanet has the RRP of the two-person kayak at £579, but it's often seen with a discount placing it around £450. This is for the whole kit, including kayak, two paddles, a double-action pump and carry bag. Though it may technically be the most expensive kayak on test, I can’t help but think it's an absolute steal.

The heavy duty design, comfort and manoeuvrability of the kayak are all highly desirable. While the Itiwit might offer more space for two, allowing for luggage to be carried and legs to stretch, the quality isn’t matched to the Aquaplanet.

Adam: Considering the price includes everything you need to get going I think it’s pretty good – the ITIWIT kayak is better value for money (even though you’re only paying for the boat) but only makes sense if you need the extra space on board.

Ryan: Aquaplanet’s sheer quality is apparent wherever you look on this spectacular watercraft, its price, while seemingly steep, is significantly more reasonable than much of its competition thanks to its wonderful manufacturing, two sets of paddles, and colossal pump that makes short work of the kayak inflation.

Final thoughts:

Will: The best thing about the Aquaplanet is that it makes you want to get back out on the water for a relaxed, easy cruise. It’s stable and comfortable - perfect for a day on the river for a couples outing or solo exploration.

ITIWIT 100 2/3 Person Touring Inflatable Kayak

Our thoughts on the ITIWIT 100 Kayak

Setup

The three individual chambers of this kayak all inflated quickly enough, although I had to borrow the Aquaplanet pump as the ITIWIT doesn’t come with one. You also need to inflate the seats, and these had a valve that seemingly none of the pumps on test would fit, so we blew them up manually. Thankfully they don’t take too much air.

Build

Adam: I really like the construction of this boat, the bottom has a tough rip-resistant material and the top of the two pontoons is grippy to aid getting in and out.

The seats are secured with Velcro that runs the length of the kayak, so you can move them into the position you want, and then the back rests are held up by strong webbing straps. There’s a small amount of covered storage in the front and rear, plus a bungee section for stashing a jacket or rucksack.

Will: The ITIWIT is very spacious - which is no surprise given that it's for up to three people. The seats are inflatable and put you in a nice, high position. The backrests are so-so, however, as I found they dug in right below my ribcage (I’m 5.9ft). Also I'm surprised by the capacity limit - it's only 230kg which is only 30kg more than the Aquaplanet.

Ryan: Easy to set up, incredibly comfortable, and surprisingly spacious, I was in the front seat for our test of the three-person configuration and my experience as a front paddler was a surprisingly comfortable one. From the plush inflatable seats to the stable chambered design that allowed for three adults to comfortably remain afloat, I was nothing but impressed with this three-person inflatable kayak.

Performance

Adam: This is quite a big kayak and although quite rigid when inflated, you still sink into it a bit when you sit down, and all of this means it’s not going to break any aquatic speed records. However, its wide pontoons are super stable even with three adults on board and at no point did I feel like I was going to roll it over. The fins also keep it pointing perfectly straight, so there’s no paddling round in circles.

There is a small downside to this – and that’s the width of thing, which from my experience means you need to choose the length of your paddle very carefully. The one I borrowed from Will’s Aquaplanet was too narrow and meant leaning from side to side in order to get it into the water.

From my inflexible perspective the extra height of the seat cushions made this kayak much comfier than the Aquaplanet, where I felt like I was sat a lot lower, with my legs out awkwardly straight.

Will: I took the ITIWIT downriver. Considering I was one person piloting a craft for two/three people, I found the experience an enjoyable one. Some extra weight was added by carrying 15kg of luggage, while my seat was positioned just behind centre.

It was harder to move than the Aquaplanet, and I felt considerably less nimble than the paddleboard. It may have taken me a little more exertion, but I was able to keep up with the others and head down a narrow channel with as much apparent ease.

Stability was great - my phone is the IP69K-rated Nokia XR21 I reviewed recently, but I was carrying my camera so I was keen to not end up in the drink. Luckily, I never got close. When we got to our destination mooring, I was able to hold onto a barrier with one hand, stand up and walk off. Incredibly stable.

During our test of the three-person configuration, I was in the rear seat. It was tight, requiring me to sit crossed legged. But the kayak saw well in the water and was still manoeuvrable, despite the 230kg weight limit. The main difficulty was getting everyone coordinated. I found it most comfortable when two people were paddling and the third coordinating. Trying to control it solo from the rear was a non-starter, however - it simply took too much energy to move three adult bodies solo.

Ryan: As for performance, paddling in unison was something of a struggle – paddles clashed, rhythms were broken and the kayak felt somewhat sluggish to manoeuvre, especially against the current, this watercraft might work better with two adults rather than three.

Price

Adam: Initially the price of this kayak seems reasonable but bear in mind that you need to buy a pump and paddle separately (a combo costing at least £50) and it starts to lose its value for money advantage over the Aquaplanet. It’s even more expensive if you want three paddles – which you presumably do if you’re buying a three-person kayak.

That said, it is a much bigger kayak and capable of carrying three adults as opposed to two. If that’s a vital feature for you, or you already have a compatible pump and wide-enough paddles, then this Decathlon model makes good sense.

Will: Considering the size of the kayak, I would say the price is fair. If I were going for a two-person camping trip, I would pick this for the space and maximum load capacity. I’ve often seen this on sale at Decathlon for £199, which is a nice price - however, you need to factor in paddles and pump, which brings it all closer to £350.

Ryan: As for its value, the sheer price of the ITIWIT three-person kayak alone is astonishing – its stable design and sheer size make for an absolute steal of a deal that’s perfect for the summer holidays.

Final thoughts

Adam:  For an afternoon on the water with my two small children (who won’t be paddling) this kayak is absolutely perfect – speed and cornering ability are secondary to comfort and stability in this setting, and the Decathlon ITIWIT 100 offers both of those things in abundance.

Portifino Paddle Board 10ft with Portofino SUP To Kayak Kit

Our thoughts on the Portofino SUP To Kayak

Setup:

Ryan: Plug in the excellent included high-pressure pump with gauge, and with a small amount of determination, you’ll have a perfectly rigid, ultra-durable paddle board in roughly seven minutes. After that, it’s a simple matter of piecing the SUP together and attaching the kayak converter seat. After that, just pull together the easy-to-assemble paddle, complete with spring buttons for size adjustment, and your SUP-slash-kayak is ready to disembark.

Build:

Ryan: From the moment the Portofino Paddle Board is removed from its colossal backpack, unwrapped and rolled out, its quality is apparent. Manufactured using formidable drop-stitch construction comprising finely interweaved nylon threads coated with a laminated shell, once at optimum pressure, the Portofino Paddle Board is rock solid.

There was no indication of sagging even after hours of use. The paddle of the Portofino Paddle Board is built with quality almost equalling the board itself thanks to its aluminium design, making it both light and strong.

As for Portofino’s SUP converter seat, its thin design and two straps lack some refinement, but for the sake of compactness it works perfectly well, and when in use, you can be certain you’re well-supported.

Portofino’s SUP to Kayak Kit also includes a comfortable foam footrest used to stabilise the seat during use, giving users plenty more room to lean back and relax on their next adventure.

The back of the seat features a small pocket for storing essential, though you will still want to have a drybag under the bungees for carrying anything signifcant.

Adam: The Portofino has a great build quality, with lots of tough materials and grippy surfaces where you need purchase underfoot. The pump feels a bit flimsy compared to the Aquaplanet’s, though. Being a paddleboard this one take much longer to inflate, because you need to pump it up to 15psi instead of the 1.5 that the kayaks require. The bag isn’t that much smaller than the boats either, but the seat itself takes up less room and doesn’t require inflating.

Will: I was impressed with the rigidity of the paddleboard, and how elegant the simple seat and footrest is - it’s all kept in place by a couple of straps and tension of the pilot’s position. Really smart. I liked that the converter kit can have a double-ended kayak paddle, too.

Performance:

Ryan: Once on the water, the Portofino Paddle Board certainly holds its own. I was quickly able to climb aboard thanks to its wide design and dependable GripTech deck pads. Using the padded footrest, I pushed myself into the SUP converter seat, and leaned back – I felt perhaps the most comfortable I’ve ever felt on a paddleboard.

With the included kayak paddle attachment for the full kayak experience, I quickly tore through the gentle river, feeling a degree of control and manoeuvrability I’ve never quite experienced on a paddleboard before.

With or against the current, the Portofino Paddle Board made short work of the river, and thanks to its particularly large 18cm fin - I was able to make sharp, controlled turns almost instantly.

Moving to a standing position, I quickly found the Portofino Paddle Board’s most stable point – and at this, the most vulnerable and risk-heavy moment of any paddleboarder’s day, I capably stood upright with ease.

Getting back into the seat, however, proved to be more difficult than anticipated thanks to Portofino’s rather loose seat design. As there is no rear strap for the seat to attach to, it was left dangling in the water, causing my foot to become tangled in the commotion of sitting down.

Adam: The Portofino performed surprisingly well compared to the kayaks, potentially because its larger volume of air meant it sat higher in the water, but you do need to be careful making tight turns that could result in you falling into it. Nowhere to store a good-sized water bottle either.

I think the converted Portofino is better viewed as a different way to use a paddleboard, rather than as an actual kayak, which it plainly isn’t. However, if you want to mix it up a bit or join a group of canoeists for a paddle then it’s perfect.

Will: I didn’t get a go on the paddleboard - I wasn’t comfortable enough in my own equilibrium as I was carrying a camera. However, I was really impressed with how stable and relaxed Ryan was when in the kayak convertor set or standing to paddle.  It was also a lot speedier than the kayaks, winning with ease a little drag race we set up.

Price:

Ryan: At the current price, the Portofino and the SUP to kayak converter kit are simply a bargain. There are very few paddleboards on the market this year that are as rapid to set up, comfortable, or as versatile as Portofino’s 10ft SUP.

Including everything you’ll need to get up and running to the nearest river or lake. With a mighty 10ft paddle board, a phenomenal pump, adjustable paddles, and a padded seat all in one neat rucksack, you’ll have everything you need for a river adventure, time and time again.

Adam: If you’ve already got this paddleboard the kayak conversion kit is a no-brainer – giving you access to two watersports while only taking up the space (and a tiny increase on the cost) of one. I think you’ll want to upgrade the paddle in time though.

Will: All-in, this comes in around the same price as the ITIWIT. If I had £300 to drop on a new watercraft, I would go for this. Build-quality aside, it looks super fun and Ryan was the picture of tranquillity as we headed downriver.

Final thoughts:

Ryan: The Portofino Paddle Board boasts exceptional durability and manoeuvrability, effortlessly gliding through challenging waters whether standing or sitting. While the SUP to Kayak Converter Kit offers a relaxing option, the absence of rear straps on the seat can become a minor inconvenience when transitioning to standing.

Verdict: So, which kayak was best?

Like all classic tales, the verdict of this test is very much ‘everyone lived happily ever after.’ Our testing showed us that each of these crafts is excellent and that it’s more about matching the kayak or SUP to your needs rather than one claiming the outright win.

The Aquaplanet Inflatable Kayak is the best for anyone who wants a kayak but doesn’t need to worry about having loads of space. In the one-person configuration, it’s ideal for packing a bag and heading off for a day or two. It’s up to carrying couples off for a day out on the waterways as a two-person.

The ITIWIT 100 is the one for families. It’s a squeeze for three adults, but two adults and one kid, or two kids and one adult, has the ITIWIT working at its best. It’s not much bigger than the Aquaplanet, so you can use it as a solo craft - note that it isn’t as manoeuvrable.

Finally, the Portofino SUP To Kayak Kit and Portofino Paddle Board 10ft is a very usable hybrid, giving excellent versatility to those who want to maximise their options for water-based fun. As a SUP, the Portofino is superb, and while there are some compromises to make with the kayak seat over a standard kayak, it’s still a success.

Final scores:

Aquaplanet Inflatable Kayak: 4/5

ITIWIT 100 2/3 Person Touring Inflatable Kayak: 4/5

Portifino Paddle Board 10ft: 4.5/5

Portofino SUP To Kayak Kit: 4.5/5

Other items used in test:

Who tested them?

Ryan Houghton is a writer. In his spare time, Ryan indulges in all manners of escapism such as reading, writing, bingeing entire shows on Netflix in a single sitting, and contemplating existence over drinks with friends. Although Ryan adores the comforts of home, he is also a major fan of the outdoors, nature, camping, and wildlife conservation.

William Lobley is the Deputy Tech & Fitness Editor overseeing listicles, how-to guides, and product reviews for tech and fitness. He joined Bauer Media in 2019 and has contributed to various outlets. William enjoys hobbies like books, music, photography, video games, hikes, and the gym, though past pursuits included obstacle course racing, mud running, mountain biking, and skateboarding, which his knees and ankles can no longer sustain.

Adam Binnie has been a journalist for over 10 years. Adam enjoys riding mountain bikes, going to gigs, driving radio control cars with his son, surfing and photography. He is an expert in cars and car accessories, fitness, parenting and cooking.

How we tested it:

We headed to the River Nene on a summer's day. For several hours we stayed around a lock and mooring spot so we could easily switch around kayaks and have a go in each. After paddling around this location and having a few races, we had lunch and then headed down river. We travelled roughly five miles on an open river and through overgrown channels.

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