Sea Eagle has designed a faster and sleeker inflatable kayak called the 393 RazorLite.
This new kayak model is totally unique to any other inflatable kayak on the market.
The popular Sea Eagle FastTrack has been my personal choice for paddling for a number of years.
I now have both the FastTrack and the RazorLite and really love them both.
However they have some obvious differences and because I have been receiving numerous questions regarding the comparison of these two kayaks I decided to write an article detailing those differences.
I’ve included a number of pictures as I think you can get the best idea of how these kayaks differ by looking at them side by side.
FastTrack and RazorLite Differences
At the time of this writing I have had the new RazorLite for a little over a month and I have been out paddling in it several times.
I won’t get into the pros and cons as you can read all about it in our 393 RazorLite review.
However I will say that when I first took it out I was quite surprised at how the design differed from all the other IK’s I had previously tried.
Narrow Sidewalls
The 393RL is the only all drop stitch kayak and the sidewalls are much narrower than I’ve seen before. You can see from the photos the difference in the size of the side walls.
Air Pressure
The Razorlite is able to hold far more air pressure and consequently the walls and floor feel rock hard.
I think that the FastTrack also feels super rigid but the RazorLite can hold about twice the air pressure. The more rigid the kayak, the better it will perform.
Design
The RL also has rigid bow and stern molds and a very straight hull design. These features create an inflatable kayak that is able to paddle at much higher speeds and track very straight.
The straight hull means that the entire length of the kayak is in the water. This is one of the reasons the performance is more comparable to a hard-shell kayak.
The FastTrack has more of an upturned bow and stern and although for a tandem kayak it paddles quite fast and very smoothly, I found that there was less drag paddling the RazorLite making it move faster with less effort.
Stability
No question the RazorLite is not as stable as the FastTrack.
The leaner design makes the 393RL feel more ‘tippy’, more like a sleek hard shell kayak.
The FT is ultra stable. The wider pontoon-like sides make it stable enough to stand and I think it is far more ideal for fishing, kids, or anyone who needs a kayak that paddles well but still offers good stability.
Maneuverability
I found the RL super easy to turn and maneuver even though it is almost 13 feet long.
It is very responsive and I think easier to turn quickly. I also notice it takes less effort to get moving at a good speed.
Setup Time
Having the two kayaks out on the same day allowed me to really notice all the differences as I set them both up and took them both out paddling.
The 393RL set up in half the time. It has the fastest setup time of any inflatable kayak I have inflated, which is impressive considering the length.
Although it takes more air pressure, there is less to this kayak so it inflates very fast.
Normally I’m a stickler for using my electric pump these days as it is just so much easier and quicker to use.
However with the Razorlite, I had no problem using the hand pump. It has a very quick setup time.
The setup time of the FastTrack isn’t long but it definitely takes more effort and you will be pumping slightly longer and probably breaking a bit of a sweat.
Comfort
I find them both to be super comfortable especially with the tall back seats.
You might find the stability of the FastTrack to feel a little more secure but overall the comfort level of both is good.
Versatility
I think the FastTrack is more versatile. It is able to paddle well in most types of water (although it is best suited for flat water) and the stability makes it ideal for a lot of different activities and a variety of people.
The RL paddles best on flat water or on water with a little chop. The sleeker design is going to suit those who want to paddle efficiently for exercise, racing or touring.
Dogs or Kids
The FT will be far more stable for dogs and children. I had my dog with me in my RL and it was great but he is quite little.
A larger dog will certainly affect the stability of the RL. Overall with kids or more dogs I would prefer to be in the FastTrack.
For smaller dogs or dogs that are good at sitting still in one spot, the RazorLite will be fine.
Overall Look
The day I had both kayaks out was quite interesting. There was a man who was taking out his inflatable pontoon boat to go fishing.
He was interested in the kayaks as he mentioned his pontoon boat is super heavy and takes forever to inflate.
He could tell the FastTrack was inflatable but he was surprised to learn the RazorLite was inflatable as well.
I think this says a lot about the overall look. The RL performs more like a hard-shell kayak and from a distance it is much harder to tell that it is actually an inflatable.
More Pics
Final Thoughts
The truth is I love both these kayaks. They are both strong, durable and perform well… but they are quite different in look and feel.
I felt that the RazorLite can outperform the FastTrack. However the FT still offers some pretty great advantages that make it ideal for so many people.
When I head out solo, I will definitely be paddling the 393RL. However when I want to paddle tandem or want more stability for any reason, I will be more than happy to take out my 365FT.
My boyfriend tried out the RazorLite and then went paddling in the FastTrack after to take pictures out on the water. In his words while in the FastTrack … “this thing is a tank!”.
I had to laugh as the truth is the FastTrack is actually one of the more streamlined IK’s on the market and paddles quite efficiently.
However after spending some time paddling the RazorLite I think any other inflatable kayak is going to feel more like a tank… and I think that really sums up the difference in the RL both on and off the water.
Hope the pictures help with those who want to see a side-by-side comparison!
More Info
For more information on these popular inflatable kayaks please check out our detailed reveiws.
Click here for the Sea Eagle Razorlite Review.
Click here for the Sea Eagle FastTrack Review.
Thanks for the great comparison! We have a 385FT which we paddle double, and are considering a 493rl, but are concerned about the drying procedure. The FT is reasonably easy to dry, as you can remove the floor. It looks like you can’t remove the floor on the RLs, so how do you dry underneath it?
Thanks!
There is nothing to “get under”. The only places that water can be on your floor are the front and back and you can stand up your kayak before deflating and let the water exit out of the built-in scupper plugs. (Just don’t forget to screw them back on before launching!) We’ve had zero issues with any water accumulation (or mold/mildew, etc.) and we always bring two old beach towels to dry the entire craft before putting back in their bags. Good luck with your decision. We’ve had ours since 2015 and wouldn’t have anything else.
Thanks for the great article! I have the RL and I love it. I am new to kayaking and it’s the first one I have owned, so I’m still learning. I enjoy it greatly, but one thing I don’t feel comfortable with the RL is just to stop paddling for a while and relax on the water. I feel like I need to paddle almost continually because just floating starts to feel a bit tipsy. Would the FT be better in that regard? Sometimes I’d like to be able to paddle down the river a few miles and then have a picnic or read while on the water. The RL just won’t work for that. Any thoughts?
Hey Mark, Yes I totally agree. You are right in that the RL isn’t the best option for sitting and relaxing on the water. Although I will say that you do get more used to the leaner width as time goes on. However the FT is really comfortable for sitting back and just floating. I love having picnics on the water and although I prefer to paddle the RL I agree that the FT is better suited for relaxing out there.
Hey Allison, regarding to Marks comment. Do you think it is possible do lower the back part of the seat to lean back, so you would get a better balance, if you like to relax on the water. I am a German and hope my English is understandable .
Another question, how much faster is the RL compared to the FT, is the difference big enough to sacrifice the comfort.
I am a beginner like Mark and would like to order a RL, therefore i am doing since 4 month a lot of balance exercises.
What do you think how many ours on the water with the RL it takes to get use to the leaner width.
Hi Andreas, Yes you can definitely lean the back part of the seat back as far as you like to relax on the water. I do this sometimes when taking time for a break. It’s easily adjustable.
I don’t have exact stats but I would say the RL is significantly faster than the FT. I personally think it’s worth it if you will be paddling mainly on calm water as it’s so much more efficient. It is less stable for sure but it’s still not easy to tip.
I find that beginner paddlers do notice the RL to be less stable and some people don’t like that but I’ve also heard from many beginners who really like paddling this kayak. I think you will get used to it quickly and even feel much more comfortable after just a couple times out. All that being said I also use the FastTrack often and still love that kayak. It’s not as fast as the RL but the glide is still good and it’s a very comfortable ride.
Thanks to Allison and Timothy.
Hi, Andreas. I have spoken about these two issues in previous posts but I know that there are a lot of posts to go through so forgive me if I’m repeating something you’ve already read.
As for speed, the RL’s can keep up with any hardshell. They just slice through the water. We paddle in Florida and usually on rivers, so one direction, you are going against current. Never an issue!
Secondly, the RL only FEELS tipsy. It is not. When we first got ours in 2015, I put it in my swimming pool, so I could practice re-entries. You cannot believe how difficult it was to tip this thing over. I mean I REALLY had to work hard at it. Unless you were out on the ocean and a big wave hit you, or going down a Class III or IV river, I can’t see this thing ever rolling!
Best of luck to you. Enjoy your new kayak!
Hi,
Firstly I’d like to say ‘thank you’ for such a fascinating and informative article.
I currently have an Old Town Canadian hard shell, which I love. For all the usual reasons, I have been looking at inflatables. I have reached the final two …. the Razorlite and the Fasttrack. I am swayed by the better stability of the kayak, but I love the action of paddling a canoe. So two questions: Is the Razorlite more or less stable than my Canadian? And, can the Fasttrack be paddled using single paddles?
Thank you in anticipation.
Michael
Hmm I’m not sure how comparable the RL is to your Old Town Canadian. I would guess that the Razorlite is slightly less stable but not by much. I’ve never tried paddling the RL or the FastTrack with a single paddle but it should work fine, although I think they would be more efficient with a kayak paddle. The Razorlite would probably paddle a little better than the FastTrack with one paddle as the FastTrack takes a little more effort to paddle. They’re truly both great kayaks. I like the efficiency of the Razorlite but used the FastTrack for years and loved it.
Hi,
I saw a video the other day comparing several inflatables kayak categories. Difference in categories was mainly the way the kayak was build and how easy it is to dry them after your trip (certainly if you are not paddling every week).
RazorLight was mentioned as easy to dry (and maintenance), in comparison to other inflatable kayaks. Those other kayaks (like the Advanced Elements kayaks) are apparently harder to dry because of the way they are build. After drying, there can still be moisture between the outer layer of the kayak and the internal layers. This wasn’t the case for the RazorLight, since it doesn’t have several layers apparently.
My question is this: Is the FastTrack an inflatable kayak with several layers and thus harder to dry in comparison to the RazorLight? Or does it belong to the same categorie of the RazorLight in your experience?
FYI: this is the video I was talking about : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U8u_rkNTSY
Looking forward to your expertise.
I find the FastTrack just as easy to dry as the Razorlite. Both are quite good in that respect. I agree with the video that the Advanced Elements kayaks do take longer to dry for sure.
Hi
I live right by the sea and am looking to buy my first kayak. I have had some instruction in my youth but that was a while ago!
Your website is a fab resource, thank you!
I would like to paddle the shoreline locally, cold water, can be breezy, I don’t want a proper rigid sea kayak since I want to snorkel from it and getting back into a covered deck is too much hassle! I don’t see getting into either of these as hard though.
I’d like to take my four year old son out sometimes. The more efficient the hull is the easier it will be to get anywhere, but the comments around the Razorlite always say more tippy, less stable, beginners should stick to something with pontoons.
Since my boy will not be running laps of the kayak, could you please explain the consequences of the higher instability of the Razorlite? I would like to get something high quality from day one, I’m willing to learn, but don’t want a tank either one up, in a breeze or with my son until he can help paddle anyway!
Hoping you can help before my wallet empties on something totally unsuitable 🙂
Jason, and the others considering the RazorLite:
I’ve made the comment several times but it may be buried far down so you might not have seen it. The RL “feels” tippy; it is NOT. When I got mine a few years back, the very first thing I did was to inflate it, put it into my swimming pool, and then capsize it, so I could practice re-entry. You will not believe how much effort you have to put into it to capsize it! It was all I could do. I knew then that this kayak would be very safe, and it has proven to be. We have never had any issue where we felt like we were even close to losing it, and we have raced a triathlon with it (kayak instead of swim portion) in the Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan, when the wind was quartering at about 15 and the waves were just choppy as could be. We cut through that water like the other hardshell kayaks and never once were we concerned. We obviously took more water on than the hardshells but that was to be expected. On beautiful, sunny days, you’ll love having the wide-open cockpit!
The beauty of Sea Eagle is, they stand behind their product. You’ve got six months to try with nothing to lose. We never even thought about sending them back and we can’t imagine having to haul around hardshells when we travel the country. They are now permanently in our Thor Vegas RV, ready to find new places to paddle.
Good luck with your decision!
t
Hi Jason, I don’t personally find the Razorlite to be that unstable. I have had total beginners out in it and they have done just fine. However I know that Sea Eagle has had several Razorlite’s returned because people did find them to be less stable than they expected so I’m always a little cautious to say just go for it. Most inflatable kayaks have wider pontoon like sides and are super stable so the Razolite is a bit unique with the leaner sides and it performs way better than most. That being said I prefer paddling it in calm water. Considering that you live right by the sea and it can be breezy I’d probably go for the FastTrack instead. It won’t be quite as efficient as the RL but it will feel more stable in choppy water especially with your 4-year old in the kayak. It’s also a great kayak, I paddled the FT for years and always felt comfortable with young kids on board plus it feels great to paddle solo as well. Hope that helps! Would love to hear how it goes.
Hi Allison
I have an FT which is more stable than the Razorlite but getting into it from the water is not exactly easy. I have only done it in practice for a capsize etc. From the shape of the Razorlite I think that might be even more difficult with the high narrow sides. Have you considered an inflatable sup as an alternative – I also have one and it’s easy to swim from and get back on. I assume if you’re snorkelling you’d anchor it whilst you are in the water.