Origami and kayaking normally aren’t used in the same sentence but Oru Kayaks blends the two to make translucent, skin-like recreational kayaks and now they’re making them even cheaper.
Since its creation in 2012, Oru continues to push and refine its mission of providing people with an affordable, light-weight kayak that folds into a transportable package when not in use. In 2019, the company released its first-ever sub-$1,000 folding kayak offering and they’ve now taken it a step further with a new model called the Lake being sold for $599.
Kickstarter Success
During the spring, the company raised $2.25 million from 2,614 backers on Kickstarter to help create their most affordable model. Over thhttps://www.orukayak.com/products/lakee years they’ve built two factories and sold 50,000 kayaks, according to their Kickstarter.
This newest kayak continues the company’s tradition of using origami principles to make their kayaks transportable when not in use. The new Lake weighs 17 lbs and you don’t need tools to assemble and disassemble the kayak. And even though this is their cheapest model, they still use the same materials for their other kayaks.
And partly due to the success of their Kickstarter, Oru Kayak announced they were able to start shipping the Lake to the public on July 15 — three months ahead of its original October launch date.
That material is a “5mm double-layered, custom-extruded polypropylene with a 10-year UV treatment,” according to their website. Meaning the material is puncture and abrasion resistant. Oru claims that with proper care, the kayak can withstand rock action, bumping action, and folding up tens of thousands of times…for anyone who paddles in it that often.
Info: Oru Lake