Review - Oru Kayak foldable kayaks - inlet and coast xt

A foldable kayak. Well, that’s a first for me. I’ve used classic and inflatable kayaks in the past, so this concept really took me by surprise. I got to test the Inlet and Coast XT variations for a month and honestly, I’m impressed. Let’s dive into it.

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First impressions

Both the Inlet and Coast XT are relatively small packages. The Inlet is designed for calm waters and recreation whilst the Coast XT is for rougher waters and long expeditions. The Inlet folds out to 3 meters in length, the Coast XT to 5 meters.

These “origami kayaks” are surprisingly sturdy and lightweight. The packages are also easy to carry around for their size. The paddles are a little heavy for my liking as I’m used to carbon fiber paddles, but still good quality.

Assembly

You’ll definitely need the manual for your first assembly and disassembly. Although the process makes perfect sense, the manual guides you through every step. After a couples times, you get the hang of it and the assembly time reduces drastically. For both kayaks, I can be in the water within 5 minutes.

What I loved immediately, was the fact that all parts of the package are used for the kayak, so you don’t have a bag or something left over. So whenever you take the kayak to a remote place, you don’t have extra stuff to store away or leave behind.

The design is clever. Very clever. And putting these kayaks together is oddly satisfying. Plus, everything is hardboard, so pretty lightweight.

The kayaks

The Inlet kayak is wide and has a lot of room to wiggle around. It’s a good kayak to casually paddle around with friends and relax in the sun with your legs out. There is also a lot of room to store extra gear. However, in comparison to the Coast XT, the Inlet feels a little slow and clunky. I wouldn’t recommend long distances, rather going for smaller distances and more casual situations.

The Coast XT kayak is aimed at long distances and harder conditions. The cockpit is small and you’ll need to store your gear on the top. The kayak feels fast and balanced, and is definitely ready for extended paddle sessions. You can also use the kayak in calm water for a casual session with more speed.

The seat is the same for both kayaks. It’s fine, but I’d recommend bringing a piece of clothing or a thin pillow to sit on, as it can be uncomfortable during longer periods of time.

The footrest is a good addition. You can adjust the straps precisely and on-the-fly.

Despite their low weight, they are still steady when on the water. The thin hardboard also puts you as close to the water as a classic kayak would. In comparison to an inflatable kayak, these foldable kayaks come pretty close to the original.

Is an oru kayak for you?

Foldable kayaks are ideal due to their form factor. They fold up to a relatively small package and can be stored more easily. Secondly, transport is a big factor when it comes to kayaks. These packages can fit in your car without the need of a roof attachment.

The hardboard base of Oru Kayak make the kayak strong and fast. It also places you as close to the water as a classic kayak would. In my opinion, this is the biggest advantage in comparison to an inflatable variant.

Basically, you choose an inflatable or foldable kayak when you don’t have the room to store, and means to transport a classic kayak. And after trying these kayaks from Oru Kayak, I’d place the foldable design above an inflatable kayak (with drop stitch).

So, is it for you? Consider your situation at home and transport possibilities. When either transport or storage are not ready for a classic kayak, I would definitely recommend looking into a origami kayak from Oru Kayak.

Personally, I was amazed by the quality and performance. Be sure to look into one and make a good comparison for yourself to fit your needs :)

Cheers, Mike

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My name is Mike Tesselaar, in short MiTe. I’m a photographer from The Netherlands with a heart for traveling and adventuring.

I write blogs about photo- and videography, travel, freelancing and personal related stories. Hope you’ll find inspiration and feel welcome to stick around a little longer!

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