Gumotex Rush 2 Review
Rating
Performance: 9
Size/Weight: 9
Durability: 9
Setup: 8
Value: 4
OVERALL: 7.8
A lovely touring buddy.
We are in love with the drop-stitch floor that came with this model. It promises stability and speed for touring on the coast, and has ample storage space for when we want to refuel and grab a sandwich. It weighs a very decent 15.5 kg and packs down to a compact size of 64 x 48 x 28 cm. And not to mention, it looks sexy as hell. The major downside for us? A hefty pricetag.
Comparison
Rank: #
Open Size: Wide and spacious
Packed Size: Portable
Weight: Very light
Capacity: High
Perfect For: Touring, recreation - better on calm water.
Pros: Sturdy construction, handles quite well on the water.
Cons: Expensive.
Verdict: A high-end kayak that offers top quality materials for top-level performance.
Skip ahead to First Impressions, Setup/Packdown, Paddling Experience, or the Final Verdict, check out how the Gumotex Rush 2 compares to others in our list of the Top Ten 2 Person Inflatable Kayaks or see how we choose the best inflatable kayak.
Specs:
Open Size: 420 x 82cm
Packed Size: 175cm x 122cm x 71cm
Weight: 15.5kg
Capacity: 195 kg
Approx Price: £1,884.33
First Impressions
Just when we thought we’ve tried the toughest inflatable kayaks, here comes the Gumotex Rush 2 with a firm drop-stitch floor. It’s got excellent durability and stability on calm and rough waters. We can tell by its durable NITRILON® material that it performs well in varied conditions, especially in colder weather.
Equipped with a tracking fin, push-up valves, optional cockpit cover, and comfortable seats, it seems like every inch of this vessel has been thoroughly researched and designed for maximum performance.
Setup/Packdown
In spite of its rigid floor and fabric, we’re impressed that this weighs only 15.5kg and packs down to a 100L transport bag. We threw this in our car’s trunk and that basically explains its portability.
Bonus points for the kayak’s construction out of a more eco-friendly natural rubber compound. It feels a bit funny if you’re accustomed to PVC and we have no data about its relative durability, but during our testing it seemed durable enough.
It took us about 8 1/2 minutes to inflate this (yes, we take this seriously and time it on the dot).
Paddling Experience
This did not earn Product of the Year 2020 at Paddle Expo for no reason. Among the contributors to a great padding experience are the PE foam seat with its comfortable backrest, and the hydro-dynamically shaped bow that cuts nicely through the water and navigates rivers with speed.
The wide side tubes definitely contributed a lot in stability, but we found it performed less well on choppy water as with its length it tended to be pushed side-on to the waves and became a bit unwieldy. If you intend to use this more on flat water and calm lakes, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Final Verdict
There’s so much innovation we see in the Gumotex Rush 2 and most of it is beyond our expectations for a quality kayak. With a few adjustments and accessories, we find it a completely enjoyable one to take out for touring lakes and rivers. However, its major downside is that it’s priced really highly - not to say it’s not worth it, but it makes the decision that much harder.
Want to see how the Gumotex Rush 2 compares to other kayaks we tested? Head over to our 2 Person Inflatable Kayak Review.
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