While they’re covered with neoprene, water still got in during my paddle with every big wave. Even with a spray skirt, a lot of water gets inside due to some openings at the front and rear. It’s worth noting that the Oru is a pretty wet boat. We put it to the test in Minnesota lakes for this review. The Oru Kayak is a 'real boat' that fits in a backpack. A full-size sea kayak with a rudder would steer better in wind, but don’t forget, this thing will fold up and fit in the trunk of your car. On flat water, it tracks fairly straight for a short boat without a rudder. The boat handles rough water fine, whisking a paddler over waves. I didn’t find this a problem, but it does affect how the boat feels in the water. Where other kayaks have smooth curves, this one has straight lines. The Oru handles as you’d expect from a 12-foot kayak, but because of the hard lines formed at folds, it tends to turn quickly and is slightly jerky when it starts to roll. I watched Gutierrez slap one together in about five minutes during a demonstration. Just unfold, clip a few points together, and slide plastic brackets over some rails along the top of the kayak to hold it together.Īll told, it takes about 15 minutes to assemble these kayaks, less if you’re good at it. Putting the kayak together is pretty easy with direction. But given its remarkable space-saving design and good performance, it’s worth a lot for those with limited room and a desire to paddle. The Bay ST costs $1,600, a significant investment. It has modest upgrades for 2017 compared with the Bay, Oru’s original kayak that launched the brand to Kickstarter success. In short, the Bay ST held up well to the task of hauling people and gear down the river.
And while it’s a fairly tame river (we paddled class I and II rapids), the high spring flows added a level of challenge. Over two days, we crossed 45 miles and several sections of whitewater.
So I joined brand co-founder Roberto Gutierrez and Director of Marketing Andy Cochrane for a paddle of the John Day River in Oregon. Cochrane, left, and Guiterrez loading Oru Bay STs into the back of a pickup photo Sean McCoyĪnd while most Orus are used by folks for day trips and jaunts to the local lake or beach, the brand wanted to demonstrate that these are for real, serious boats capable of modest expeditions. It’s also darned light, at just 26 pounds. Indeed, on this trip, we fit eight folded kayaks into the 5’6″ bed of a pickup truck. Made in the USA from corrugated plastic, Oru kayaks are remarkably light and fold to the size of a small suitcase. The Oru Bay ST is a wonder of origami and product design. Oru Bay ST: A Real Kayak That Folds Down Small But after two days and three nights on the water carrying food, clothing, and shelter in the vessel, I must admit, Oru built a capable craft here. I’m no expert paddler, so hopping into a folding kayak for 45 miles of fast water was a little daunting. The boat coursed through the last of the rapid, a swim averted, while a charley horse throbbed in my leg from exertion. I reacted with all my might, bracing a paddle into the roiling current. The foldable Oru kayak jerked under my body, threatening to roll me into the chilly John Day River. The rapids were pretty casual, class I or II, but with high flows, powerful eddies threatened. The sun was about one finger above the horizon when I entered the swift water under a canyon wall. Home » Water » Kayak » 45 Miles, 2 Nights: Pushing the Limits of a Foldable KayakĬan an origami ‘folding’ kayak manage the rigors of a multi-day, whitewater river trip? We paddled an Oru Bay ST 45 miles down the John Day River to find out.
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