Every time I take my folding origami kayak, the Oru Kayak Inlet, to the lake near my house, I attract a crowd of curious boaters. In the 3 minutes it usually takes me to build my boat, they bombard me with questions:
“Is this an origami kayak? How much does it weigh? Is it expensive?”
Yes, £20, and yes, I reply – but it’s worth it.
I purchased my Oru Kayak Inlet in the summer of 2020 after coveting it for months. Kayaking seemed like a fun, safe, socially distanced activity that I could do alone, but I wanted a boat that I could easily transport to the lake alone.
I’ve had the Inlet for a year now and I’m still totally in love with it. Here’s why the Oru Kayak Inlet was a good choice for me:
Portable: I wanted a boat that I could manage all by myself. I was 1.75 meters tall and had weak arms. I didn’t want to lug a heavy plastic kayak on and off my car, and inflating and deflating inflatable kayaks seemed like a hassle every time. With the 20-pound Oru Kayak Inlet, I can easily get my kayak to the lake and back on my own without assistance. It is also easy to store as it takes up much less space than a traditional kayak.
Comfortable: It takes me about 3-4 minutes to build my boat. The first time it took 15 minutes, and the time went down quickly from there. It’s easy to learn and remember.
Semi-Affordable: At $899, the Oru Kayak Inlet is much more expensive than a cheap inflatable kayak. But it is also the cheapest model that Oru Kayak sells. (A few years ago, Juno I modeled for Oru Kayak’s The Haven tandem kayak, which retails for $1,999.)
If you purchase an Oru kayak and don’t like the experience, there is a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy. And if you wait longer than 30 days, there’s a robust resale market too. Searches for “Oru Kayak used” spiked last summer, and all the used models I saw were quickly selling for almost as much as a brand new one.
I love taking my inlet at Lake McIntosh, a reservoir near my home in Colorado with beautiful views of Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s easy enough to build that I can take it with me for a quick paddle on weekday mornings or evenings, and portable enough that I can take it with me on road trips across the country.
| Benefits of Oru Kayak Inlet | Disadvantages of Oru Kayak Inlet |
| Insanely portable at just 20 pounds | Expensive compared to traditional kayaks |
| Easy setup in less than 5 minutes | The lightweight open cockpit design is only suitable for calm waters |
| Only one person is required for assembly and transport | Low padded seat, uncomfortable for long journeys |
| The cheapest of all Oru kayak models | |
| Ideal for beginners | |
| Designed to last 20,000 cycles with 10 years of UV treatment |
| Best Use | Kayaking on flat water or very slow rivers |
|---|---|
| Material(s) | 5mm double layer polypropylene plastic |
| length | 10 foot |
| Width | 30 inches |
| Weight | 20 pounds |
| Number of paddlers | 1 person |
| Paddle included | NO |
| Weight capacity | 275 pounds |
| Pack dimensions | 40 x 19 x 10 inches |
Who is the Oru Kayak Inlet suitable for?
According to the Oru Kayak website, the Inlet is “the perfect choice for beginners, seniors and people who want to enjoy paddling on lakes and slow rivers.”
As a novice kayaker myself, I can confirm that it is perfect for people who don’t know much about kayaking, but it is also fun for experienced kayakers who want to slow down and enjoy the surroundings.
With its wide open cockpit, the inlet is not suitable for whitewater or fast flowing water.
The lightweight design that makes it super portable also makes paddling difficult on windy days. I’ve noticed that even a moderate wind that wouldn’t move a typical kayak can make maneuvering in the inlet difficult.
But for calm, crystal-clear alpine lakes or lazy rivers, it’s perfect. I can’t wait to paddle more this summer and the summers to come.
Questions about Oru Kayak Inlet? Let me know below!
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