Contrary to what its nickname suggests, the origami kayak is not made of paper. Rather the entire shell is one piece of 5 mm double-layer polypropylene. It’s durable, extremely lightweight, and can be folded and unfolded easily.
Launching from a lake beach is a breeze, especially compared to traditional recreational kayaks that are made of heavy rotomolded plastic. The Oru kayak is as light as a 25-pound feather, and easy enough for one person to hoist over a shoulder or drag along soft sand.
On calm lake water, the Oru kayak practically skims over the surface. That could prove challenging on windy days, but Oru has other models better equipped for those conditions. For flatwater recreation, the Beach LT performs beautifully.
Packing up can be messy on a sandy beach, but that’s nothing new for paddling enthusiasts. Bring a towel to wipe down the collapsible kayak before and during disassembly if you want to keep things clean.
The Oru kayak is a good boat, suitable for any paddler. But the fact that it collapses down to a suitcase-size package for easy transpo and storage makes it best for those with space limitations.
The Beach LT fits in the trunk of a car. It can also ride with you on a bus or as checked luggage on a plane. It can be stored in a closet.