Skip to main content

Oru’s Origami-Inspired Inlet Kayak Will Be the World’s Most Portable Watercraft

Most avid outdoorsmen would agree that kayaking is awesome. Storing and transporting all the necessary gear isn’t. Finding a closet or crawlspace to hide a 12-foot or longer watercraft is frustrating, particularly for anyone living in an apartment. Using classic origami techniques, Oru Kayak resolved those problems and built the world’s most portable kayak in the process.

Oru Kayak Inlet: the Most Portable Origami Kayak Ever.

Building on more than seven years of experience with folding watercraft, Oru Kayak has just announced their boldest product to date. The Inlet is the company’s most lightweight, compact, and versatile kayak ever. The 10-foot by 30-inch kayak boasts an all-new design that folds into an oversized backpack with a 40-inch by 19-inch by 10-inch footprint. At just 20 pounds, it’s easy to carry on foot or even on a bike. The brand also eliminated most of the loose parts required by its predecessors. This move streamlines the setup time to less than three minutes — nearly 75% quicker than previous models. The company also promises the shell is just as durable as most hard-shell kayaks, and that it’ll survive more than 20,000 fold cycles.

Oru Kayak 
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Inlet slots neatly at the base of Oru’s five-craft lineup. The entry-level watercraft is designed for impromptu trips to anywhere with relatively flat, calm waters. For more aggressive outings where an open cockpit design is still preferable, Oru offers the Beach LT and tandem Haven models. Kayakers looking for serious paddling can upgrade to the closed-cockpit designs of the Bay ST and 16-foot Coast XT.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Inlet isn’t a world-first attempt at solving the portability problem for kayaks. But, for our money, it certainly seems like the best. Hardshell designs hold up well and require no assembly, but transporting them requires a roof rack. Inflatable models are ultra-portable, but often at the cost of durability and the need for a separate air pump. Skin-on-frame kayaks are the best alternative, but they’re pricey, and setup typically takes 30 minutes or more.

Recommended Videos

The Oru Inlet Kayak is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter for $749 (paddle not included). First deliveries are expected in May 2020 with a retail price of $899. While we’re always skeptical of crowdfunded products, Oru’s previous success and the fact that the Inlet has already raised more than $650,000 in just a few days suggests it’ll likely see the production line.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Looking for adventure and culture? This city is the best in the world for urban hiking
Here's the world's #1 city for outdoor lovers
Rio de Janeiro

As an outdoor enthusiast, one of the top things I look for in a travel destination is proximity to the outdoors. I'm certainly not averse to pitching tents, but sometimes it's nice to mix in a bit of urban excitement to my travels. Sports Shoes, a UK running retail brand, just completed a study that analyzed the top urban areas for hikers on break. My personal favorite hiker-friendly city is Seattle, which squeaked in at number 12. The number one spot goes to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The winner was decided through two primary variables: the number of hikes in the area and the average rating and reviews of those hikes. This was averaged out into a hikeability score out of 100, and the only one to get a perfect score was Rio de Janeiro. With a total of 334 hikes averaging a rating of 4.8 stars, this city is officially the world's number one urban area for hikers.
Top hikes in Rio de Janeiro

Read more
Airstream’s new Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired travel trailer is an instant classic
Two classic mid-20th-century design icons combine in this handsome, ultra-exclusive travel trailer.
An Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer parked in the desert.

An icon of the all-American road trip meets an icon of mid-century modern architecture in the all-new 2026 Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer. By combining Airstream's unmistakable travel trailer design ethos with Wright's Usonian principles, the result is something truly elegant, timeless, and modern. But it'll only be available to a select few.
Everything we know about the Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer

Many of the features and design elements in this one-of-a-kind, 28-foot travel trailer are classic Airstream. But it also features a few firsts. Most notable is the dual-purpose lounge/sleep area anchored by a pair of twin beds that convert to a king (the largest bed ever in an Airstream) with the push of a button. Exclusive bolster pillows, tailored slipcovers, and quilted coverlets round out the space. The front lounge also transforms seamlessly between dinette and desk as needed, making this a true live/play/work travel trailer. The entire interior is awash in daylight thanks to 29 total windows—more than any other Airstream in history.

Read more
Capilano Bridge: A gateway to BC’s rainforest, minutes from downtown Vancouver
My guide to a perfect day at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
A pictur of the Capilano bridge surrounded by evergreens and empty

Just 15 minutes outside of downtown Vancouver, B.C., you'll find the Capilano Bridge, a 450-foot-long cedar-planked walkway placed 230 feet above the valley floor. While worth its own pilgrimage, the bridge is more than a one-hit wonder. It's one of dozens of attractions in Capilano Suspension Bridge Park's 27 acres of aerial walkways, carved totem poles, and mist-threaded rainforest. 

The coveted Park pulls off something rare: immersive, big, nature paired with all the creature comforts a visitor could want. While most people come to cross the Capilano Bridge, I opted to explore the other impressive aerial structures and bridges on site, which are equally remarkable and have fewer crowds. 

Read more