Australian Geographic's gear testers have spent time with the Razor Kayaks Sprint Duo, an inflatable tandem kayak that packs down small but paddles more like a proper performance craft than a glorified lilo. With an RRP of $2195, it sits somewhere between casual blow-up recreational boats and the rigid, roof-rack-hogging kayaks serious paddlers cart around.
The numbers first. The Sprint Duo measures 4.89 metres long and 77cm wide, with an open cockpit, an 8cm tech-stitch floor and 5cm sidewalls inflated to a firm 10 PSI. Reinforced PVC, welded seams and extra protection at the bow and stern give it a tougher feel than most inflatables. Hull weight is a genuinely portable 17.8kg, and the whole kit — pump, paddles and all — comes to 23.4kg, bundled into an 85 × 50 × 40cm backpack. Razor says it'll carry up to 300kg of payload.
The reviewers liked what they found on the water. The tech-stitch floor makes the hull surprisingly rigid, and that long, narrow shape translates into real speed, glide and stability — noticeably better than wider tubular recreational inflatables. With two paddlers aboard, spreading the workload across the near-five-metre waterline, it's described as fun and fast, capable of covering decent distances without exhausting its crew. The modular seats slide apart to suit taller paddlers, the footrest adjusts, and the open cockpit makes getting in and out easy. There's also a removable tracking fin for straight-line paddling.
It's not flawless. Switched to solo mode, the length makes it sluggish through tight turns compared with Razor's shorter boats, like the Edge Pro 1 the testers already knew and liked. So if you mostly paddle alone on twisty creeks, this may not be the one. For couples or friends who sometimes paddle together and sometimes don't, the convertible solo/tandem setup is the big draw.
The verdict: it's a sweet-spot craft for sheltered waterways — lakes, bays, slow rivers — for anyone who wants performance without sacrificing garage space or a roof rack. Inflate it at the water's edge, lug it in via a short bushwalk if needed, and you're on the water in minutes. For travellers road-tripping around Australia's calmer waterways or hiring a van overseas, that portability is the whole point.
Practical note for buyers: budget $2195, make room for the included pack, and expect the tandem configuration to be where this boat truly shines. Just don't expect it to carve like a hardshell — it trades a bit of agility for speed, comfort and the ability to live in a cupboard.
Australian Geographic
