Video · Kayak Reviews
Oru Folding Kayak: Timing Setup and Takedown on the Lake Model
I put together an Oru Lake folding kayak for the first time, time the setup and takedown, and see how portable it really is.
What’s in this video
This is an Oru Kayak, and yes, there’s a whole kayak in that box. This video is not sponsored. I just wanted to learn more about them. Their lineup goes from the Lake model at 18 pounds up to a 41 pound tandem that’s 16 feet long, and they say assembly runs from about a minute on the simplest model to 15 minutes on the tandem.
We built the Lake, which has only one loose part: the seat. I didn’t read a manual, and I tightened a strap way too early, so the cockpit was too tight for the seat. She had to loosen it. Lesson learned: drop the seat in first, clip the buckles for back support, then tighten the straps last. Even with me in the way, it took about two minutes. For first timers, that’s pretty dang good.
At 18 pounds I can hold it with one arm, and that’s where it shines for me. You can hike it into remote water and explore. The folds were tested to 20,000 cycles, which works out to roughly 27 years if you folded it once a day. Takedown took us 1 minute 16 seconds back into briefcase mode, helped by little orange hand print markings that show where to press. Then it goes on a bike, in a trunk, or in the closet.
Quick takeaways
- On the Oru Lake, put the seat in before you tighten the straps or the cockpit will be too tight.
- My first assembly took about two minutes and takedown took 1 minute 16 seconds.
- Follow the orange hand print markings to fold it back into briefcase mode.
- At 18 pounds it's light enough to carry one-armed to remote ponds.
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