10%

Packrafts Decathlon. Itiwit 100 y 500

Cheap packrafts to get you started in packrafting

By Packrafting.cat

May 15^th, 2025

My experience with Itiwit Packrafts from Decathlon

It's been a few years since I started in the world of Packrafting, that incredible combination of hiking and sailing that allows you to explore rivers, lakes and remote places carrying your own boat in your backpack. At that time, I had discovered several people on social networks who were using these floating contraptions, and I was already determined to get one of them. In fact, I had already ordered my beloved Packraft Aoraki Valkyrie from Luis Mora of Packrafting Spain .

But while waiting for the order to arrive, I remember it was a Saturday, the devil tempted me! I don't know how, I ended up on the Decathlon website hi there were ten models available of the Inflatable Packraft/Kayak PR500 Rio TPU Sealed Zip Packraft. At that time (March 2022), this packraft cost 400 € (or 450 € maybe, now it costs 550 €, the #$"&$-# inflation) and few units were on sale, in fact on the same Saturday night all the packrafts were already sold out.

In 2025, with more experience in the world of packraft, I decided to do a test in the purest Do It Yourseld Packraft style and do a test and see how to build the cheapest packraft for whitewater.

I'm going to talk about these two packrafts in this article.

What is a packraft and why choose one?

For those who don't already know, a packraft is an ultra-light inflatable boat designed to be easily transported, even on foot. Its great advantage is that it fits in a backpack and allows us to extend our routes beyond the land boundary. Ideal for mixed hikes and adventures where water is part of the way.

After comparing many options, I decided to go for the Decathlon models because of their excellent value for money, and the guarantee of easily accessible technical support and spare parts.

Itiwit Packraft 100: ideal for beginners

ITIWIT PACKRAFT 100

This model is the most basic, but no less fun. I was surprised by its stability, how fast it inflates (less than 3 minutes with the inflation bag included), and how compact it is: it barely weighs 2 kg and fits in any trekking backpack.

I've used it on quiet stretches of river, sea and marshes. It withstood rocks, branches and current changes without problems. However, it has no skirt or internal storage, so its light weight makes it ideal for day trips or calm water, but not ideal for whitewater. On multi-day trips you'll have to carry all the weight in extra backpacks. If you're looking for something light, simple and affordable, this is the model for you.

🟢 The best:

Super lightweight and easy to carry. Less than 2 kg. I packed it in my cabin bag on a flight to Egypt with Wizzair, where I visited the Philae temple on the river Nile.
Very stable, perfect for beginners
Very competitive price. 300 €.
Have I already told you, that I love the colour combination?

🔴 To be improved:

Not suitable for rough water. The surface in contact with the water is completely flat.
NOTE: but there is a solution: Catraft. Conversion of the Decathlon Itiwit 100 packraft into a self-bailing whitewater raft.
Dimensions too small for large people.
Somewhat limited space for luggage. No Tizip zip.

Routes made with Packraft Itiwit 100

Packraft on the Nile river Egypt from Aswan's low dam to the temple of Philae
Packraft Hivernal riu Cinca from Fraga - la Granja d'Escarp. Aiguabarreig Cinca - Segre: The "Descent of the Cinca" in family.

Itiwit Packraft 500: a leap in performance

Decathlon

The big brother, the Packraft Itiwit 500, is a different story. More robust, with reinforced materials, removable skirt and space for internal cargo. Here we are talking about a boat designed for longer trips or more demanding stretches of water.

Packraft/Kayak Hinchable PR500 Río TPU Cremallera Sellada 1 Plaza

Packraft Itiwit 500

I've used it on a number of routes, backpack included, and it responded incredibly well. The system to store part of the luggage inside the float is very useful, and the skirt helps to keep you dry in areas with splashes or currents.

It's a little heavier (around 4kg), but still easily transportable. For me, it represents the ideal balance between performance and portability.

🟢 The best:

High load capacity thanks to the TIZIP zip
Highly resistant TPU materials with a reinforced floor
Prepared for rivers with more flow or long crossings. Its rocker helps to navigate and cut waves.
The filling bag is super comfortable and durable, in fact I use it to inflate other packrafts. And it can be used to protect our luggage during expeditions.
I love the combination of colours

🔴 To be improved:

Slightly bulkier than model 100
Needs more time to inflate/deflate.
The seat moves out of position when the floor gets wet. I think they have improved this in the latest versions. At least the 100 model now has a seat latch that prevents it from moving.
The rear cover should be angled outwards. Its shape means that all the water collected by the cover ends up inside the packraft.

Unboxing Packraft Itiwit 500 Decathlon

In the pictures you can see the parts that make up this Packraft. It must be said that the inflation bag is bigger than the inflation bag of the 100 (besides, the last bags of the 100 have some holes in the valves that prevent the return, but they make the inflation slower). These bags are not the lightest (compared to the typical fabric bags of other manufacturers) but they are very resistant, they can be placed on the ground when inflating and in fact they are my favourite for the inflation of all my packrafts.

About the thigh straps (calarodillas): they could be improved a lot. They only have two anchorage points and yes, that makes them very comfortable to put on, but in terms of safety they are much better than the usual ones of the rest of the Packraft manufacturers: the 4-point ones. The space for the knees is too wide and can become a point of entrapment.

But there is a solution with the calarodillas! Check out Catraft. Conversion of the Decathlon Itiwit 100 packraft into a whitewater self-bailer. The cheapest whitewater packraft. Do It Yourself Packrafting

List of routes done with this Packraft:

The classic Xerta Tortosa stretch on the river Ebro: my playground, here I play at home 😂.
Packraft Ésera River - Section from Campo to Silla: an ideal section for beginners. Although the Itiwit 500 is not a white water river, with patience and stopping to empty you can do stretches like this one.
Packraft river Ésera from Santaliestra to Perarrúa: crazy! I ate the piggy bank and everything went better than expected (the water level was low) but it is not the ideal packraft for this kind of whitewater routes.
Packraft Hivernal riu Cinca de Fraga - la Granja d'Escarp. Aiguabarreig Cinca - Segre: The "Descent of the Cinca" in family.
Packraft in the slalom course of Ponts. Segre river.
Packraft on the river Drome, France. From Die to Salhans
Loch Lommond family packraft in Scotland
Packraft at the mouth of the river Senia. Sun of river.
Packraft at la Pilastra, Bescanó riu Ter club Salt-Ter
Packraft in the Congost de l'Entremon

For as long as I had it, it was my favourite packraft for Bikerafting:

How do you inflate a Decathlon Itiwit packraft?

A video is worth a thousand words(Youtube channel packrafting.cat):

¡Nos vemos en el río!

Packraft equipment

More info on Packraft related material.

Both the Itiwit 100 and 500 have exceeded my expectations. Decathlon has managed to democratise packrafting with products designed for all levels, without the need to spend a fortune or complicate your life with technical equipment.

If you are thinking of getting started in this type of adventure or are looking for a different way to connect with nature, I recommend you try one of these models. Not only for their quality and price, but also for what they allow you to experience: routes that were impossible before, unique moments in the middle of nature and that feeling of freedom that only water can give you.