Description

The Oru Lake (and its upgraded version Lake Sport, sometimes also called Lake+) is a recreational, foldable kayak designed by Oru Kayak. It emphasizes portability, simplicity, and usability on calm water (lakes, ponds, gentle rivers). The Lake Sport adds comfort and adjustability features on top of the base Lake model.

Materials & Construction

• The kayak is made from 5 mm double-layered custom-extruded polypropylene (sometimes branded as OruPlast™) with a 10-year UV treatment to resist degradation from sunlight.

• The design is foldable: it folds into a compact “box” form for transport & storage, without needing tools.

• Durable and abrasion-/puncture-resistant given proper handling (can handle sliding over rocks, bumping into obstacles if you are careful).

Key Features & Upgrades (Lake Sport)

The Lake Sport / Lake+ includes a number of upgrades over the base Lake model:

Performance & Usability

What it does well:

• Portability & Storage: Because it folds small and is light, it’s easy to carry, transport by car trunk, store in small spaces, or bring along on trips.

• Accessible Price / Value: Especially the base Lake, which gives many of the benefits of Oru’s folding designs with fewer frills. Lake Sport adds extra comfort features.

• Suitability for Beginners / Casual Paddlers: Stable enough for calm water; cockpit size and dimension permit decent reach, comfort, and handling for a wide range of body sizes. Features like the seat cushion and backrest help with comfort on longer sessions.

What to be cautious about:

• Tracking & Speed: Because of its relatively short length (9 ft), wider beam, and lightweight foldable hull, it won’t track (go straight) as well or be as fast as a long, narrow, rigid kayak. Good for casual paddling but not ideal for speed or long distance touring.

• Durability Under Abuse: Though Oru claims strong durability, fold points, rivets, and contact zones (e.g. rock, submerged obstacles) can be weak spots. Users have raised concerns about water ingress at rivet points under certain loads.

• Comfort on Long Trips: Even with cushion upgrades and backrest, for paddlers doing longer distances, the minimalistic design might begin to show its limitations (seat cushioning, legroom, etc.).

• Limited Features: For those who want more accessory options, features like spray skirts, large storage hatches, or chop-water performance, this model is more basic.

Care & Maintenance Tips

To keep the kayak in good condition:

• Use carry handles rather than dragging the kayak across rough surfaces.

• Store out of direct sun—even with UV treatment, prolonged UV exposure degrades plastic.

• Rinse after use (especially if used in salt water or muddy water) to remove sediment that can abrade surfaces.

• Inspect fold points, hinges, rivets periodically; address any leaks or weakened fasteners early.

Summary

The Oru Lake / Lake Sport folding kayak strikes a strong balance between portability, simplicity, and comfort. It’s not a specialist expedition kayak, but for many users, especially those valued transportability and ease of use, it delivers a lot of value. The Sport version improves comfort with upgraded seat, backrest, and footrest, making it a good choice if you expect longer paddling sessions or want finer adjustability. If your use is mostly calm water and occasional paddling, it’s one of the better foldable options.