Razor Kayaks R2 Ultra Review
Rating
Performance: 9
Size/Weight: 10
Durability: 10
Setup: 10
Value: 9
OVERALL: 9.6
A well-constructed kayak that ticks all our boxes.
Built with the same materials found in rescue boats, the Razor Kayaks R2 Ultra is a dependable kayak. What sets this apart from the rest is the durable Tech-Stitch™ floor - like drop-stitch on steroids. It’s super quick to set up and fast to dry, stable and tracks well in the water, and has a good amount of space while still remaining the lightest 2-person kayak we reviewed.
Comparison
Rank: #1
Open Size: Shorter and wider
Packed Size: Small
Weight: Very light
Capacity: Highest
Perfect For: All types of water.
Pros: Durable, easy to paddle, quick setup and packdown, great for any water.
Cons: One of the more expensive kayaks on our list (but still very reasonably priced for its quality).
Verdict: Couldn’t ask for more.
Skip ahead to First Impressions, Setup/Packdown, Paddling Experience, or the Final Verdict, check out how the Razor Kayaks R1 Ultra 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: 430cm x 84cm
Packed Size: 80cm x 50cm x 35cm
Weight: 12.9kg
Capacity: 288kg
Approx Price: £1195
First Impressions
The first thing that caught our attention is the incredibly high quality Tech-Stitch floor. Tech-Stitch is Razor Kayaks’ own proprietary engineered drop-stitch, another step along the evolution of inflatable kayaks. The incredible firmness of this floor alone puts this kayak ahead of the rest, layered with high density PVC, toughened mesh, and the Tech-Stitch bottom.
There’s so much to explore in this kayak that we find interesting, like the ease of setup and the noticeable sturdiness of the fabric. We were automatically convinced this was made for any type of water.
What we like the most about it is its considered simplicity to include everything you need - like comfortable seats, adjustable footrests, a removable skeg, spray guards - and nothing you don’t.
Setup/Packdown
Just like the R1, the R2 is super easy unpack and inflate. If there’s one thing we’d say about the entire setup/packdown, it’s that they really put so much thought into it so that we didn’t have to. Even with layers of durable flooring and 1000 denier PVC & toughened mesh, Razor Kayaks has still created a lightweight kayak that you can unfold and move around easily.
The Razor Kayaks R2 Ultra takes the top spot of less than 5 minutes to inflate. With a triple-action pump, its three matching, close-together valves are easily inflated. The seats and adjustable footrests simply clip onto/thread through D-rings. Slide in the removable skeg and you’re off.
The packdown process is as easy as the setup. The tough PVC wipes down or air-dries quickly, then it’s easy to roll the hull back into its original form and put it back into its backpack with the seats, skeg and footrests. The 80cm x 50cm x 35cm pack down size makes for a fairly transportable kayak, and we liked the well-placed backpack straps.
Paddling Experience
To put it generally, this is an absolute pleasure to paddle. Stability is top tier at any speed. The Tech-Stitch™ floor gives excellent stiffness against the water, and the reinforced bow and stern provide a nice sharp point to cut through the water with efficiency.
We enjoyed a good coastal tour with the spacious interior, not just for the legroom but for lunch and refreshments! There’s ample space for your extra gear if you decide to go fishing.
Manoeuvring the R2 was a delight because of how responsive it is to our paddle strokes. It moves so smoothly and tracks well in a straight line. If we had one gripe with its performance we’d say it’s not quite as fast in the water as others we’ve tested, mainly because the hull shape and length prioritises stability, versatility and manoeuvrability over speed. In this case, given the overall paddling experience and its versatility of use across a wide variety of water conditions, we think it was a sacrifice worth making.
Final Verdict
The Razor Kayaks R2 Ultra is extremely high-quality, well thought out, easy to set up and pack down, and an absolute joy to paddle. Though more expensive, it’s a great price for what it offers - if it’s on sale, you’ll be getting an absolute steal.
Want to see how the Razor Kayaks R2 Ultra compares to other kayaks we tested? Head over to our list of the Best Two-Person Inflatable Kayaks.
Water & Outdoors reviews are written by our staff writers, who combined have over fifty years of experience on the water and outdoors. We may earn commissions if you choose to buy through a link you’ve clicked on our website, however this does not influence our reviews. For more information, please see our Editorial Policies.