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Name: pierreEJ316

Most Recent Reviews

This is a surprisingly reliable foldable kayak that allows for pretty unique possibilities. It's a touring kayak, but especially with the inlet pack, it offers some pretty incredible portability.

  • Assembly - I debated giving this review four stars for the assembly portion, but without this folding ability, I wouldn't be able to store or transport my kayak so readily, so I'll keep it at five. What Oru has created is pretty amazing, BUT ... assembly is tough to master at first. Initially, it is not intuitive. I had to watch their instructional video a few times at 0.75 speed to figure it out, and my first successful set up took around 45 minutes. However, after a few more times taking it apart and putting it back together, I can have it assembled in 15 minutes (with float bags and a few other add ons).
  • Performance - The first time I set this up, I thought "There's no way this will perform well." The hull seems so flexible and pliable until you get it fully assembled. And it just ... comes together. And it performs incredibly well, just like any touring kayak. I have had zero issues with taking on water, and it handles just fine.
  • Portability - This is one of my favorite features. I have the inlet pack, and I store everything I need in there. It can fit in most closets and definitely doesn't take up as much room as a full-sized kayak would. I can also fit the entire pack into the backseat of my commuter car (Mazda Protege), which is pretty fantastic considering it's a 16 ft coastal kayak. No rack needed! The inlet pack is pretty handy - I will say that since the "box" shape it folds into is pretty bulky, it does feel a bit off-balance, even with the straps and waist support. But it is a small price to pay for being able to backpack in a 16 FT KAYAK!!!
  • Price - Yeah, it's going to be some sticker shock - especially with some of the add-ons, like the inlet pack or float bags. But, after taking it out on several adventures, I've decided that the price is well worth the benefits! I feel like I'm getting the best of two worlds - a high-quality kayak that can handle coastal trips but can be stored anywhere and be transported by pretty much anything. I can hike it in solo with little difficulty, assemble it on the coast, and push out where others may have a harder time reaching.

Overall, this is a great find. I haven't had any issues with my purchase yet, so I can't speak to any customer support features, but I've gotten a lot of enjoyment and adventure from my kayak and I highly recommend this to those who are starting out with coastal kayaking AND those with a lot of experience.