Don’t let the kids get bored this summer- get a board instead
ITIWIT- Beginner Touring Inflatable Stand-up Paddleboard
Despite Covid – and crazy UK holiday prices – we had a great Summer in 2021, thanks largely to our inflatable Quechua tent from Decathlon. I was looking on with envious eyes at other holiday makers paddling around in inflatable kayaks or SUP’s though. So, one of my first purchases this Spring has been an ITIWIT Beginner Touring Inflatable SUP, also from Decathlon.
My first impression of the ITIWIT Beginner Touring Inflatable SUP was that it was extremely portable, coming in a backpack that’s approximately 90cm/40cm/16cm and light enough to carry comfortably on your back. Even with the collapsible paddle and pump there would be more than enough space in the boot of any car to fit the ITIWIT inside. The ITIWIT looks pretty smart too in its backpack – mine coming in a nifty looking turquoise that’s the same colour as the SUP inside it.
But you don’t want to stand admiring the backpack with a new SUP; you want to stand on it, paddling. So I was very excited when I booked a maiden voyage at the Anderton Centre, where the staff are very helpful and gave advice as I showed them the ITIWIT, but really it was as simple as unzipping the bag, laying the ITIWIT on the grass and hooking the pump up for a few minutes. The staff told me to be prepared for a good work out, as their craft have to be inflated to 25psi. The ITIWIT however only had to be inflated to 15psi and it took less than five minutes, with the last minute being mildly strenuous. Then I just had to slide the fin into the back and push the two pieces of the paddle together. It was incredibly simple.
Once it was fully inflated the ITIWIT was simple enough to pick up, with a strap handily located in the centre to grab and carry it with. It was no effort at all to carry the 150 metres or so to the water and once on the water it handled really well. Again the Anderton staff were on hand to provide advice during our Pay and Play session, and they were impressed with the build quality and performance of the ITIWIT, even compared to their own inflatable SUPs which cost four times as much.
I’ve since had the ITIWIT out at a few local beauty spots, and it’s really liberating not having to find a centre to hire a craft. My first stop was Knaresborough, a picturesque town in North Yorkshire that’s famous for hiring row boats on the gentle stretch of the River Nidd. I’d previously seen paddle boarders there and asked where they hired them but was told they’d brought their own. We’ve also had the board out on a gentle stretch of the River Wharfe that’s only 5 miles from our home. Again, the only way to enjoy this beauty spot is with your own craft.
Since we’re keen paddlers I’ve also signed myself and our ten-year-old up for a club on a local lake, and while they do have their own craft, I save money by bringing my ITIWIT.
I’m really looking forward to having the ITIWIT out on the sheltered coastline of Lulworth Cove in Dorset, where we visited last summer, and joining in with the paddling that we missed out on last year.
Our verdict 10/10 -The kids can’t wait for summer now, and we plan to take our ITIWIT to Cornwall with us camping in May, as well as a few local trips to gentle stretches of river near where we live.
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Razor X Cruiser Electric 22 Volt Lithium Ion Skateboard
Our ten-year-old son has been skateboarding for a year or so now and is reasonably confident skating on the street but finds going downhill frightening. Normal skateboards can be difficult to slow down safely when you’re just learning, which is why a Razor X Cruiser electric skateboard is actually a great purchase for beginner skateboarders as well as those more confident on a board. The main reason for this with the X Cruiser is that you’re given a simple hand-held remote control that puts you in full control of your speed, which means deceleration as well as acceleration.
Personally, I’d never actually thought of braking when I’d seen electric skateboards whizzing past us in Italy a couple of years ago. I’d only thought about the propulsion and was slightly worried that they might be dangerous when Harrison asked for one for his birthday.
It turns out my worries were completely unfounded, in fact Harrison hasn’t fallen off the X Cruiser once in the whole time he’s had it (which is coming up to three months now) and he’s on it at least twice a week, for around 40 minutes before the lithium battery needs charging again. I think the reason for this is that the ride is so much more stable on a good electric skateboard – like the X Cruiser. When you’re riding a regular skateboard, you need to keep putting your foot to the ground and pushing, quite forcefully, which can easily put you off balance when you’re inexperienced. Add to that the fact that there’s no brake on a regular skateboard and you’re always going to have a few accidents when starting out.
With the Razor X Cruiser however, you simply ease the accelerator forward and you get a smooth consistent speed. When you want to slow down you do the reverse and can bring the X Cruiser to a stop even on fairly steep hills. It’s so safe and simple even I was willing to try it!
In fact, everything about the board feels safe. The urethane wheels are large and hitting the odd large stone or small pothole is not going to cause any accidents, they’re also great at gripping after rain or when leaves are on the floor. Likewise, the 5-ply maple deck is large and as stable a moving platform as you could hope for while your child is cruising down the street. As for the speed, 10mph certainly feels fast enough while you’re on the board at full speed, but it’s not ridiculously fast like some of the other electric skateboards you’ll find online. Another great aspect is that the board can’t be inadvertently started by hitting the accelerator when you’re not on the board. It only kicks in once you’ve pushed off on the board in the way you would a traditional skateboard.
I even like the fact that the 125W motor sounds so loud. We live on a quiet estate, but I know that any pedestrians would be aware of Harrison on the board if they’re coming out of their drives or gardens, unlike some of those electric scooters or hover boards that you see zooming around.
Harrison has grown more confidence in skateboarding in the few months since he’s owned his Razor X Cruiser than he had in a full year on a regular board. We can’t get him off it, downhills now hold no fear because the remote can effectively act as a brake as well as giving him a push. I’ve even thought about buying a second X Cruiser for myself so that we can go cruising together.
Our verdict 10/10- another top-rated purchase, that’s perfect for beginners and experienced boarders alike.
Both these items are available to purchase at Decathlon.
