An older woman kayaker told me she bought a Kevlar kayak because it was only 30 lbs and she couldn't carry much weight. I've been in the market for a folding kayak for a while, since I can't store a full size in my apartment and don't have a roof rack. Great video to follow to learn how to unfold it.
I'm now going to sell it. If I'm going out to the flats to wade, I have a 3 lb. Constructed of double-layered polypropylene, we had little reason to doubt the durability of the Oru to take a beating. I saw this kayak on "Shark Tank" a couple of years ago, read a lot of reviews and finally decided to pull the trigger. No water leaked in. Yes. Could you imaging when we opened the boat and saw lots of black spot, marks, unfit zipper and a broken handler. cant believe its a new boat.it should be a happy gift but its not. aero bote rover The Oru Beach is a single-person foldable kayak with a 300-pound capacity. I bought Bay ST in April 2018.
But, trust me, this is a rewarding experience and reinforces how cool the product is. I'm 5' 10" and about 181 lbs. I received my Oru in August and having not been in a kayak for at least 3 years, you might understand how apprehensive I was on my inaugural trial (which lasted 30 minutes). I tipped it to practice a reentry and its way too flexible.
oru kayaks trailspace testberichte kajak kanus pakboats I do wish the price point to be around $500. Only complaint is the number of times I was stopped to answer questions about the kayak. It took all of my strength to get it assembled each time. On the water the boat feels sturdy and responsive. But probably the main reason for using the ORU Kayaks is that they are real fun to paddle. If you don't need the portability-- go buy a regular kayak (it'll perform much much better).
Dont take it further from shore than you can swim.
Structurally, it can take a beating. The best thing about the Oru is it makes you think about kayaking in a whole new way. Kayaking enthusiasts who are taller than 62 may find the longer Coast XT an easier fit withing the Oru Kayak range. The rod lies parallel to the kayak, and doesn't interfere with paddling at all. They fit easily into the trunk and backseat of my Jaguar. You can't compare it to a rotomolded kayak, those are still superior due to the weight and rigidity. It weighs 26.1 pounds and is made of double-layered polypropylene. Since this was the second time I attempted to put it together, and there were about 400 people at this beach, you might understand why it took about 1/2 hour to ready. These two kayaks fold together differently and are suited for different intensities of nautical expeditions. The boat is bulky and difficult to carry when folded up. The folding Oru makes it easy to store and transport. Since none of the models have watertight bulkheads, there is no other way of keeping water out of the kayak. Curious if anyone else has noted this issue? I don't want to sound like I'm just complaining, I promise I do LOVE my Oru! The boat handles great and is easy to assemble and disassemble. How can we improve GearLab? People will stop to talk as you assemble the Oru. You WILL have to demonstrate the folding/unfolding process if you launch in a public place. (Keep in mind that the Oru falls under the origami kayak category, not inflatable!).
We have but one extremely minor concern with the construction of the Beach LT. Shark Tank is one of my most favourite shows!) Collapsing it into a box is even quicker - 5 minutes max and that's mostly if you take time to sponge the water off and let it air dry a bit. Not only can I put it in the back of a Smart car (thanks, Car2Go!) Honestly, after setting up the Oru Beach once or twice, we had no problems or complaints with the process. I did buy some pipe insulation, cut them to the width of the kayak and then duct tape them together and put that under my knees.
I booked a new Bay ST. First is the shipment cost more than 2 weeks! I sit a little higher with my ACS seat so had to go through a new learning curve as to handling, but all is good.
The Oru is only 26 pounds, which makes for pretty responsive maneuvering in the water. It can be packed for extended journeys, it has plenty of cargo space. It doesn't have any dedicated storage, but you can stuff things behind the seat and strap items to the bow.
Overall, I'm extremely happy with the Oru Kayak and look forward to many years of use! Have a support brace to convert into a catamaran design with inflatable tubes for extra stability.
We also appreciate the presence and adjustability of the foot brace, a feature that many boats don't offer. Previously, I used an inflatable kayak for several years. A slightly bigger vehicle would be ideal. With the narrow 25 width of the Bay ST, this model has been built to cut through water in a sleek line. Just bought the basic Oru bay model. Expedition farther in the incredibly seaworthy Beach LT. You also have to find a paddle that works best with your arms reach and how you will be paddling. Its a great concept, but the reality is still woefully lacking. I also wish the foot stay was nicer and not as wide.
You will not have to drill any holes into your kayak because the 3M VHB pad enables you to stick the RIBPort mount firmly onto it.
Easily fits into my car backseat.
You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. kayak lightest oru Of course, a heavier kayak will be harder to accelerate and control. I purchased the ORU in early spring 2015. But while this model of Oru Kayak can handle itself well in a range of different waters, you would be safer choosing the Oru Coast XT as your companion on the unpredictable ocean. Instagram vs. These kayaks are built from polypropylene sheets that have undergone a 10 year UV treatment. With an excellent suite of features, the Beach LT easily snags an Editors' Choice Award from our testers. The only thing slowing me down was fielding all the comments from passersby.. Can't wait for my next outing - and the return of sunnier days to London! This kayak is perfect for Pros looking for an adventure, but that doesnt mean its not comfortable. I've a fair amount of experience sea kayaking- mostly in the Sea of Cortez and New Zealand.
I've done it all.
The Oru Kayak sets up faster than the inflatables, and has the advantages of rigidity and speed.
To date I have not tipped over yet. The Oru Kayak seemed promising at $800, but I wanted to try it out first- I was concerned mainly about its durability and handling, but I was also skeptical that it could be assembled in 5 minutes. Just in case you dont know whats so special about this kayak, let me break it down for you in the various synonyms that I can. As a low-riding, narrow boat, it's easy to get in and out of with good stability. But it takes days and weeks of badgering to get them to respond to simple emails.
The speed of any vessel is determined by its size, weight, and the flexibility of its hull. Anyway, this is a video of someone enjoying their Oru Bay kayak in a creek with a good water rift and at some point, hes got his friend on a spare tire, riding alongside him, holding him: For a kayak that needed funding on Kickstarter to being featured on Shark Tank, the creators of the Oru Bay kayak have seen their vision not only through, but what a success it has become. Perhaps 20% of the time, my paddling is just for fun and exploration. No expensive car top.
- - - The Price While the water was quite cold I did not wish to put to the test in the slightly choppier water its secondary stability. Other minor things to note: The replacement need $30.
I've contacted Oru a few times via email and had friendly responses from Jess, Oru's customer service rep. My kayak arrived in six weeks as advertised on the site. If I'm going to be kayaking in rough waters, I have an inflatable float bag that can be placed in the bow, in front of the bulkhead, and another that goes in the stern behind the bulkhead. Very odd as the shipment contains a card indicating "we are here to help!" There is a clip there, and the dry bag is secured to that clip. It's a real boat, folks. Behind the seat in my plane it has little effect on my weight and balance and is manageable for weekend trips. I drive a 4-door Mercedes sedan and racking a kayak on the roof isn't an option, so I instantly knew I needed a packable kayak. All in all, this is a decent kayak. When selecting flights, check for airlines that admit kayaks and go through their oversized baggage check-in policies to guarantee that both you and your Oru kayak will be admitted onto the flight. The Oru Beach LT (bottom) compared to the original Oru kayak (top) - now the Bay model. I am slightly underwhelmed. There's no waiting for fabric to dry or tilting this boat in every possible direction to get the water out. I couldn't be happier. It gets faster with experience as you learn to recognize where the folds are and how much force you can actually apply to the boat.
The chines are cut nicely to allow sleek tracking, and the lightweight kayak gets an advantage on speed. I can't emphasize this enough. Easily repaired with gorilla glue. In-Depth Inflatable Kayak Reviews With Pictures & Videos. I've an e-mail to Oru - no reply yet. The one major issue is "Durability". But if you are more worried about entry and dont have particularly rigorous kayaking in mind, the Beach LT, with its wide opening, is probably the perfect craft for you. Its not made to sustain regular, high impact beatings. After tinkering around with it for an hour or so at the store I took one home and immediately took it out on the water.
After a year without a boat, I missed kayaking and wanted something light and portablethe Oru was the answer! With zero effort I was able to lift and flip it over. The Oru Kayak Beach LT is perfect for beginners and professionals alike, and thanks to its folded space-saving design, even apartment dwellers can enjoy the fun of kayaking. I do question the durability because a couple bumps will show dents and creases which may effect the integrity and fold marks.
The Oru Bay ST is in its element when you use it to explore wide, open water bodies. I would have loved to buy a scull, but they are expensive and difficult to store. In calm conditions, the Oru kayak has smooth and efficient tracking, as compared to other kayaks of similar sizes.
The customer service is excellent too. My only complaint is the seat and that is because I got spoiled by my Necky seat which was specifically designed for those of us who suffer from sciatica. Oru customer service did not even give us an explanation. I'm 6' and 205 with an athletic build and getting in and out easily is a process that requires a little practice.
I waited so long for possible pre-owned one, but in vain. I order a new boat but came like a used one!!! It fits in my closet, and transports in my Prius trunk.
Though it comes at a high price, we love its exceptional performance and longevity, unmatched by any other kayak in its category. However, the grommets and fabric for various buckles have been placed so that they impinge slightly on the ridged channel where the "cockpit handles" are supposed to snap in. Thinking this wasn't a biggie I purchased and got in the water the same day. Keep in mind that it will probably take you, on average, 15-30 minutes to assemble it. I have been on Lake Michigan with small swells and slow moving rivers. Considering you don't also have to cart along a pump, we think this weight is pretty reasonable. This kayak is very stable and it accelerates faster due to its low weight. Everything - seat, footrest, even a PFD can be stowed in the box. I highly recommend getting the ORU pack.
The instructions were very useful to get started and I should have paid more attention to them the first several times I assembled the kayak. I retired at an early age last fall and decided I did not want to go back to work. In terms of handling, I'm pretty impressed. The kayak lived up to its hype! It takes a maybe 30 minutes the first time you fold it into a boat, but after that can assemble it in less than 10 (mine has a particularly tough spot on the front fold that will get more flexible with more folds and reduce this time a bit). The Oru kayaks are ideal for calm, sheltered water.
Pack it up and put it in the backseat of your car or strap it to your own back. I've hiked with the boat about 1.5 miles in the Snoqualmie Pass area to a remote lake where I was the only boat on the water.
Privacy | Cookies | Terms, This lightweight and foldable kayak has performance closer to that of a hardshell and is a joy to paddle. Mine unfortunately has some kind of fault in the build where the seatback column doesn't fully click into place when closing the kayak. It is pretty stable in the water, but it doesn't track that well. oru jebiga There are a couple steps which are frustrating, like positioning the back-half of the kayak's folds into the seatback but overall, it's super easy. After the kayak arrived, I misplaced the user's manual and Jess shipped another copy within days of my email. Anton Willis, the Oru's inventor was there to walk me through assembly, but its simple and intuitive. Though dry bags are necessary to keep everything from getting wet, there is plenty of space and 300 pounds worth of capacity for additional items.
And it's a sweet little boat. It wont rip or tear and does fine with bumps against hard, rocky surfaces. You can then easily affix your fishing accessories to it, such as a rod holder and extender. Yes! Portability:
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. The Oru Bay ST, for example, was built for long sessions of exploration of regions where other boats cant go. The Oru Bay ST, for example, is ideal for camping trips. You need to understand what this kayak is and cannot compare it to a regular kayak. This gets a collective "ahh" from a crowd of onlookers every time and makes me grin like I invented the thing. The kayak is good-looking and collapses easily in 5 minutes. Handler is broken when my friend opened it in US. In the summer I can assemble this in 20 minutes. It slides back into place, creating a tight fit for the seatback with adjustable straps that can be used to adjust the tilt of your seat. Living in a condo and driving a Fiat 500 means my options are limited. Yes, just like that). Lastly, durability. But if you're a city-dweller and are looking for a kayak you can take anywhere, this is it! No trouble in steering through heavy current either. I really do appreciate that. As an urban apartment dweller, this is by far the biggest advantage it has over a traditional kayak. We've taken it over rocks, sticks, and sand, both in the water and out. The reason I chose the Oru Kayak is that I live in a second floor walk-up apartment, lack the storage space for a standard kayak, and I drive a small car. I love my Oru Kayak. On the other hand, portability is great! Entry into the cockpit is difficult. I have contacted Oru support and so far have not heard back from them. Man is this thing a looker! I look forward to taking to the Puget Sound/Orcas Island area this summer. We also noticed that the Beach LT tends to rub uncomfortably against bare skin as in when it is carried by folks wearing shorts, bathing suits, or who are shirtless. Being my first time, it took 25 minutes to put together. Rarely do I have the luxury of a nice pier made for kayaks. I am small in size with no truck or trailer and I own a small vehicle.
The Oru Bay kayak stretches at around 12 feet.
Generally, I fish from it and cast from the seated position. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I drive a Honda Fit so I just put it in the back and off I go. Even with its impressive length of 16 feet, this kayak folds into a compact shape that makes it easy to store and take on the go. Once I got used to paddling it, I was racing along and enjoying myself. But in terms of hard numbers, your speed would depend heavily on your own size, stamina, and technical proficiency. The Oru Beach LT handles incredibly well for being a portable model. When I reply those problems, from the delay of shipping, the broken handle, the marks. I recommend this kayak to all enthusiasts.
There are also tie-down straps to attach extra equipment. I did get an additional cushion and that did help some and I will consider upgrading the seat once the newer one becomes available as a separate item. The zipper channels are wearing down after 6 months of use. It looks freakin' good. I then took it into increasingly choppier water paddling out towards open sea. On the water, the Oru handles smoothly and is surprisingly fast. It is very important. It is not very stable in rough water, if you become sideways and get hit by a wave, there is a high chance of flipping. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. The Beach LT kayak is also the most inexpensive ones of the Oru Bay kayak line. Its more then 5 weeks!!! I will update this review once I do. In the next section of our Oru Bay review, we will be discussing how this original origami kayak got its funding. I used one time for 3 hours in water, plus 2 practices to assemble in home, one of the SEAM Channel is broken. After all, if you're purchasing a kayak that you have to set up and take apart every time, it's nice to find one that isn't a pain to do so. Love my Oru Kayak! In ideal weather and water conditions, your Oru can traverse great distances at an impressive pace. Using the bilge while edging sort of solved this.
(I'm 5'1") A kayak weighing 50 lbs. And that's just my first summer with this kayak.
- - - Costumer Service The seat is about as comfortable as other kayaks I've paddled. The Oru Kayak is a 12 foot kayak that becomes its own box through a series of clever folds. I have to slide my legs, straight-legged, into the interior. Reality: Paddling with Pooches, Surfski Paddler Risks All To Save Kayaker From Freezing Lake, Comfortable foam seat and fully-adjustable backrest, Simple and intuitive strap and buckle closure system, lightweight, durable, handles like a "real" kayak. And customer service is great.
This is where I was really let-down by the kayak. Not only is it perfect for flatwater excursions on lakes and slow rivers, but the hard-chine hull also responds well to braced turns and edging. Returned after first use. More paddling time is a real benefit. Tracks poorly in wind and plastic hull dose not hold up well to Pacific Northwest marine environment.
The Oru comes with a quality seat too, much like other kayaks in it's category. There is plenty of leg room, but you can also take advantage of the adjustable back and footrest to find a comfortable stretch for yourself.
Folding this plastic suitcase into a kayak is an easy task once you get the hang of it. The kayak is surprisingly fast, tracks very well, and is simplicity itself to set up. - - - Extras Just took it to Sea of Cortez and on calm water in estuary it still leaned to port. It can't quite compare to the performance of a 17' sea kayak with a rudder, but is one of the best kayaks of this size I've used and I have no qualms taking it anywhere I'd take a comparably sized and priced Necky for instance. The carry strap is easy to put on and has nice metal brackets on the bottom corners. I'd caution folks on a couple things. oru kayaks Try not to get frustrated by the initial process. The first time I put it together, I used the video provided by the people at Oru and it took me about 25 minutes. boasting a foam seat and adjustable footrests and backrests, Kayaking The Rapids Through The Rainforest On The North Johnstone River, Kayaking Through the Jungle On The Pacuare River, Class III Kayaking Journey Down The Alsek River. The carrying strap allows for a shoulder mount, which can be used for easy transport of the boat to more remote locations. Assembly gets easier and easier as you do it more often. I can't speak highly enough of Oru Kayak. I've used it several times in an effort to get used to it. The Oru customer service was not helpful at all. Do yourself a favour and get one! Still, I get a moment to bask in the brilliance of the design. No. You dont need a second person, let alone a trolley, to ferry the Oru kayak to your favorite water body. Feel free to enter VXISCSF7 at checkout for your discount.
The kayak was stable, easy to paddle, tracked well, turned easily, and was dry inside.
A thin but comfortable seat attaches easily to the floor of the Oru. While I typically kayak on still water, I've taken it out on Lake Erie & in whitewater conditions with no problems in fact, it handles & tracks beautifully!
My avg paddling speed in calm waters is around 6km/hr, top speed around 12km/hr. I was super-impressed by the handing - great acceleration and stopping - perhaps because it is so light there is great energy transfer. Another reviewer on this site actually mentioned the same issue and it became apparent that it was the same one I was having. This has caused some strain to the seam channels at the back where they have splintered and broken up. oru kayak 10l paddle My first thought was an inflatable, but nothing stood out to me.
The Oru is definitely a step above that. This is a winner. Due to its construction, relatively low weight, and the level at which it rides in the water, this boat is both surprisingly maneuverable and extraordinarily fast.
Costing over a grand, the Oru Beach is very expensive compared to most other models tested for this review. So long as you follow the manufacturers instructions, no amount of use will mess your Oru Kayak up. I'd seen it described as similar to what postal bins are made out of, but in fact its a much hardier form of corrugated plastic. Looks like this original Kickstarter project is a win win for everyone!
oru foldable I store gear in a dry bag located on the floor between my knees. And storage is a cinch as well. I don't find either comfortable.
That means that not only can it withstand rigorous folding, but the Bay ST is extremely puncture and abrasion resistant.
kayaks portable kayak heavy oru buyer guide foldable All things considered this is a good product and even though I've been a bit unlucky with my model I highly recommend it. The backrest and seat pad are OK. Oru Kayaks are made of skin that can withstand many folds, which allows you to fold the boat and pack it inside the Oru Pack. The adjustable back and foot bar make it easy to customize for all sizes. As an apartment dweller, storing a kayak is a problem. Buy this and people will always come up to you asking about it. If you had someone to carry some of your multiday gear, you could easily take this on a longer trip. It had been 25 days. No news at all. Love this kayak! I've been through 3 Oru Bay ST's. The corrugated plastic holds well up to bumps and dragging through rocky landings. Since it arrived, I've paddled it on rivers, reservoirs, in coastal lagoons, bays and in the ocean, all over Puerto Rico. I'm about 6" and 200 lbs.
There is a simple adjustable bar for your feet. I was crazy about this good kayak, but, my wife was very against it. No ads.
First one was not folded quite right and had a terrible port lean. A clip at the end of the rope can attach to one of several points on or in the kayak. Its hull has been made deliberately unbending to divert all the power of your paddling into the speed of the kayak. He told me to crease that fold and let the kayak hold it overnight. I am not live in US. This is makes it very hard to get them to snap in, and after 6 months of use, those cockpit handles have split because of fabric being caught under them that isn't supposed to be there. Many of the spectators while you fold/unfold the ORU Kayak are WOW'ing and a common comment is that it must be very expensive and they are surprised when they hear the price tag. 80% of the time, I use it as a platform for fly fishing for snook, tarpon and anything else that will bite. There's additional room for storage in various sites, behind the seat and in the bow as well. It's not an iPhone. I've had an Oru now since mid July, and thankfully, the weather has held up in Oslo this fall so I've had plenty of chances to get it on the water. I've taken it in roughish conditions on a mid sized lake with odd counter-currents and 30km/hr (18mph) winds and on a leisurely paddle in a longish lake. Also, I am concerned with some of the parts being plastic and how long they will last over time.
But for more serious paddling, look elsewhere.
Even if the boat gets covered in sand (a common occurance), the hard polypropylene surface is a cinch to wipe off with a cloth or even just your hand. I'm 5-11, 175 lbs, so the cockpit and boat fit really well. It did everything I wanted it to do. Its seat is a real cushion (not inflatable), though it's not particularly thick. Taking it out in the winter, it takes much longer because when it's cold, the plastic is much more rigid and hard to bend for insertion of various assembly parts. with the contact information but when I use that information no one is home. However, the designers suggest that you treat this rig the same as you would a fiberglass or skin-on-frame kayak. On all counts, I was extremely impressed!
Another category in which the Oru Beach excels. Guaranteed to be a wet ride in waves of any sort. I do not repeat what others have written about the flexibility, portability, elegant design ++ , which we fully salute and endorse.
Over time it is supposed to become more flexible and I have only used mine about 5 times. Oru never gave me face to face reply.
Carrying the kayak is comfortable for fifty meters (50 yards) or so. Every assembly in turn requires quite some prying and muscling those parts together. It folds up to the size of a large suitcase. I was a bit shaky, but not this craft. It has a padded foam seat and can support up to 300 pounds. It takes up 2/3 of the back seat or most of my hatch. I actually prefer building it out and carrying it over my shoulder that way-- since the weight is spread out more evenly.