Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl Review
Bottom Line:
The Sea Eagle Razorlite is an inflatable kayak that’s built like a hardshell kayak – its narrow build does allow for some instability, but this helps make it a high-performer on a variety of waters.
Its drop-stitch build will take some beating, and, while a little bulky for some users, is reasonably easy to pack down and carry when needed. It’s ideal for intermediate and above paddlers and is comfortable for both children and adults.
Price Comparison:
in stock
6 new from $1,049.00
1 used from $849.00
as of September 29, 2023 11:14 pm
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Specs:
| Brand | Sea Eagle |
| Size (length x width) | 12'10" x 28" |
| Weight | 35 lbs |
| Capacity | 500 lbs |
| Material | 1100 Decitrex |
Comparison to Similar Kayaks:
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| Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl | Advanced Elements Expedition Elite | Advanced Elements Island Voyage 2 | Sea Eagle 380x Explorer | Aquaglide Chelan 120 | |
| Expert Rating | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.7 |
| Size | 12'10" x 28" | 13' x 32" | 11'2" x 37" | 12'6" x 39" | 11'3" x 32.5" |
| Weight | 35 lbs | 42 lbs | 31.5 lbs | 40 lbs | 28 lbs |
| Handling | |||||
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| Comfort | |||||
| Onboard Storage | |||||
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| Durability |
Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl Review
- Excellent high-speed potential
- Plenty of legroom and support
- Durable against most challenges
- Easy enough to pack down and carry
- Some instability expected due to boat shape
Performance of the Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl
The Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl is one of the best tandem inflatable kayaks. Experts all agree that Sea Eagle’s Razorlite 393rl inflatable kayak, built for solo paddlers, is a performance powerhouse. Some reviewers are even amazed that an inflatable kayak can achieve speeds of up to 6 miles per hour – and yet the Razorlite manages it with ease.
However, reviewers do also agree that this is not a simple boat to gently paddle out on for beginners. It’s not the most stable kayak and it takes some getting used to – when accustomed to this boat’s balance; it’ll allow you to paddle even faster on its edges.
Reviewers point out that this is a boat best suited for calmer rivers and clement weather. It has two drain valves and three air chambers that experts state are easy enough to access and manage in emergency situations.
The inflatable kayak’s portability and full pack (including a hand pump, a repair kit and starter paddle) also get plenty of recognition. Adjustable foot pegs are welcomed for added leg support, but a lack of movement in the seat may prove irksome for some paddlers.
As it’ll inflate to 100 PSI, experts feel this is a robust boat that should give most paddlers confidence if up against rocky trails.
Expert Reviews of the Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl
PaddleTVThis is a nice boat that performs well on the water as a high-end inflatable, it's easily portable, and it's probably going to be comfortable for kids and adults. However, I'd recommend some intermediate paddling experience. The speed and performance I got from this boat balanced out with some stability issues, not ideal for beginners - but great for experienced users looking to explore wide open waters.Read more
Inflatables GuideThe Razorlite is a kayak built for pure performance and lives up to its promises, without question. This is a lightweight, super-portable boat that never sacrifices speed - we really think it's as close as you'll get to a hard shell kayak from an inflatable. It's built for kayakers who want to go fast!Read more
PumpupBoatsWe found the Razorlite 393rl to be one of the hardest-performing inflatable kayaks we've tried, with near-hardshell quality tracking and speed, and ease of portability to add to the convenience. We experienced some instability on the water, but that's as a result of the boat's narrow design - it's built for speed and performance.Read more
In4AdventureThe Sea Eagle Razorlite 393rl is a fantastic inflatable kayak built like a touring hardshell kayak. It's not the most comfortable ride if you're looking for a hardshell equivalent, but it really packs in the performance (and packs down well, too). Expect some instability as a result of the narrowness (for added speed) - and only give this one a try if you have some intermediate experience.Read more
Handling of the Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl
PaddleTVI found this inflatable kayak to perform very close to a hardshell standard - it has an impressive knife-like front edge that cuts effortlessly through the water! Read more
Inflatables GuideThe Sea Eagle Razorlite 393rl is an impressively fast kayak that tracked as straight as we needed it to when we took it out on the water. The innovative stern and bow molding allows for easier tracking overall, which adds to an incredible high-performance experience. The footrest on board gave us plenty of control as well as balance when needed.Read more
PumpupBoatsThis inflatable kayak tracks better than most other inflatables on the market - we find it's almost close to a hardshell kayak. It's got a removable skeg which you can fit for extra tracking, but at the same time, this drags down the ease of movement. No matter, though, because we found it tracks absolutely fine without it. We reached speeds of around 6 miles per hour - impressive for an inflatable!Read more
In4AdventureThis is a fairly stiff, easy-to-handle kayak that tracks well (and has an extra skeg you can fit if you need it). I do find the skeg to be a little on the flimsy side, but the kayak still handles well.Read more
Stability of the Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl
PaddleTVThis kayak isn't as stable as some inflatable kayaks as it's thin and narrow, whereas the majority of other boats in this class are wider for balance. You get a lot of speed off this streamlined design, but you'll lose stability all the same. What I really like about this kayak, however, is that I can tilt onto its secondary edge and boost my paddling performance - it has great technical stability. It's great for intermediate paddlers and up.Read more
Inflatables GuideWe found the Razorlite 393rl to be pretty wobbly on most waters, but this is all part of its performance agenda. It's not built for simple paddling and gentle rides, but for high-speed adventuring. While the wobbliness took a bit of getting used to, we quickly hit max speeds of around 6 MPH with this inflatable kayak.Read more
PumpupBoatsGiven this is a very narrow inflatable, we weren't surprised that this inflatable kayak wobbled more than a little in the water. It's not full-on "tippy," but we found it took some acclimatizing. It didn't seem to take much to roll to one side, but it takes some force to flip this kayak completely. Read more
In4AdventureThere's a lack of initial stability with this boat, but that's mainly thanks to its narrow design. On testing, it's clear the Razorlite is built for performance - it really cuts through water. It's got superb secondary stability if you need to push it to an edge and up your paddle performance.Read more
Comfort of the Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl
PaddleTVThis inflatable kayak has a nice, high seat, and overall, it's a simple yet comfortable ride. For an inflatable kayak, I found the seat to be pretty solid during paddling - though it's definitely not the most comfortable I've ever tried. The foot pegs add to both the comfort and performance. Read more
Inflatables GuideWe love the extra padded high back seat on the Razorlite 393rl. Compared to other inflatable kayaks in the Sea Eagle line, this is certainly one of the comfiest, and it's really easy to switch angle. It's a little frustrating that you can't change the position - you're in the middle the whole way.Read more
PumpupBoatsThe tall back seat on the Razorlite is nice and supportive, and comes with a pouch. That said, the rock-hard hull lowers the comfort slightly, and there's not enough cushioning under the bum for more than an hour on the water at a time. However, we like the adjustable footrest, and it's comfortable for paddlers around six feet in height.Read more
In4AdventureThis is a fairly comfortable boat when comparing with other inflatable kayaks - the foot pegs give some welcome support, and I have no complaints with the high back seat or shell. It's certainly not an uncomfortable ride.Read more
Onboard Storage of the Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl
Inflatables GuideWe found the behind-seat pocket on this inflatable kayak really useful. It was easy to store emergency kits, handheld gear, phones and food on the move.Read more
PumpupBoatsThe onboard storage for the is absolutely huge - you can carry up to 500 lbs on this boat, and its sheer size coupled with robust manufacture means you can welcome dogs on board and still have legroom.Read more
Portability of the Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl
PaddleTVIf portability's high on your list of priorities, this is a great value kayak worth looking into (it's not high on my personal list, however!).Read more
Inflatables GuideDespite the backpack being a bit heavy and oversized, this kayak is perfectly portable, as it fits neatly into its own backpack, along with the footrest and pump provided. It's maybe a little heavy for some people, but for those used to bulky hiking experiences, you'll likely get used to it - and we certainly can't complainRead more
PumpupBoatsWe're impressed that it's possible to fit what is almost hardshell quality kayaking into a handy, portable package. We think it'll be a great fit for you if you're low on storage but want to try a near-hardshell boat on for size.Read more
In4AdventureI found this inflatable kayak to deflate and compact down easily when not in use, and it comes with a handy carry case. However, at around 35 lbs, it may be a little on the heavy side.Read more
Durability of the Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl
PaddleTVThe dropstitch design makes this kayak super-rigid - and after an hour of paddling, I can tell it's really well-built. Providing you take care of this boat, it'll welcome regular use. I did hit some rocks during paddling, and while feedback from the kayak wasn't great at first, it survived it all the same. Sadly, the removable skeg is pretty weak - so do be careful if you take to the water with it.Read more
Inflatables GuideThis is an absolutely rock-solid kayak that really benefits from its drop-stitch material.Read more
PumpupBoatsAt 10 PSI, the Razorlite inflatable kayak is absolutely rock-solid - it benefits from drop-stitch technology and is impressively sleek all the same. It's made from 1100 Decitex PVC - which means it's uncompromising when it comes to quality.Read more
In4AdventureI found the Razorlite to offer lots of confidence out on the water, even after a rocky collision it bounced back well. However, be careful with the boat's removable skeg - ultimately, it's a piece of plastic that's not going to fare well against "the unknown." I'd advise using it for tracking if you need it, but take care. In fact, taking good care of this kayak, period, should allow for lots of regular use without fear of damage.Read more
