A light, compact and elegantly designed kayak which you can fold like origami might be the next coolest water toy ever invented. Designed from the need of saving space, Oru Kayak is made out of a double-layered polypropylene and is manufacturer-rated for 20,000 fold cycles. Best of all, it only takes a few minutes to transform it from box to boat.
Architect Anton Willis of Northern California found himself forced to find a way to better use space the moment he moved from his hometown to a small apartment in the city. He grew up canoeing and kayaking and late practiced urban kayaking in the San Francisco Bay while studying architecture at UC Berkeley.
As the kayak wouldn’t fit in the apartment, Willis started thinking about folding kayaks- and happened to read an article about origami, thus setting the Oru Kayak in motion. After several prototypes and a Kickstarter campaign Oru Kayak hit the market and almost immediately became popular.
Made out of a double-layered polypropylene formulated to the company’s specifications, is manufacturer-rated for 20,000 fold cycles. According to its creator, the material is tough, resilient and abrasion-resistant. All plastics used in fittings and connections are durable, marine-grade and UV rated for long life. All metal fasteners are marine-rated stainless steel.
The patented fold pattern allows the skin to act as a monolithic structural unit, without the need for an internal frame. The skins is folded from a single, seamless sheet. The only seam is on top of the boat, above the waterline - and it closes tight with a waterproof seal. Oru Kayak weights 26 lbs (12 kg) and is able to carry up to 300 lbs (136 kg). The cockpit size is 16’’ x 30’’ (41 x 76 cm), while the box is 32’’ (81 cm) long, 13’’(33 cm) wide and 28’’ (71cm) tall.
The company offers at least four choices, with the cheapest one, the Bay package priced at $1,425 and the most expensive, called Duo package, at $2,675. Feel free to check out the video below or their website if you’re looking for more details.
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