Description

The Inlet is a portable, recreational folding kayak made by Oru Kayak. It is designed for calm-water paddling (lakes, calm rivers, ponds) with an emphasis on portability, ease of storage, lightweight construction, and relatively quick assembly. It’s one of Oru’s newer / more accessible models.

Key Features & Design

• Foldable / Origami-Inspired Design: The Inlet uses a fold pattern that lets the kayak collapse into a compact box. This makes transport, storage, and travel much easier.

• Lightweight Build: Weighs around 20 lbs (≈ 9 kg), which is significantly lighter than many traditional hard-hull kayaks. That makes carrying easier, especially for one person.

• Materials & Durability:

  • Constructed from 5 mm double-layered custom-extruded polypropylene, which is UV-treated (≈10-year UV treatment).

  • Rated for 20,000 fold cycles by the manufacturer.

  • It’s made to be puncture- and abrasion-resistant. Good for handling occasional contact with rocks, slide-overs, etc.

• Comfort & Adjustability:

  • Open / large cockpit, which helps with getting in/out, and can be better if you have a small child or dog riding with you.

  • Adjustable footrest, and padded backrest (though some owners say the standard seat lacks padding, so upgrades (e.g. gel cushions) are popular.

• Boxed Dimensions / Storage: When folded, the kayak can be stored in a box about 42” x 10” x 18” (≈ 107 × 25 × 46 cm) in many versions. Easy to fit in car trunks, small apartment storage.

• Quick Setup: The kayak transitions from box to boat relatively quickly — advertised as 3-5 minutes. For new users, it may take more time at first.

Performance & Usability

Where the Inlet excels:

• Portability & Storage: Because it folds, and folds into a small box, it solves the usual problems of transporting a kayak (roof racks, large storage space). Great for people with limited space or who want to travel.

• Beginner / Recreational Use: For calm water paddling (smooth lakes, slow rivers) it offers good stability, enjoyable ride, and is forgiving.

• Quick Adventures: Being able to pull it out, assemble, paddle, then fold and store, makes spontaneous trips easier.

Where the Inlet has limitations:

• Tracking & Speed: It’s not designed for high performance in terms of speed or for moving water conditions. The short length and wider hull reduce glide and straight-line performance compared to longer, narrower kayaks

• Setup & Teardown Learning Curve: First few times folding / unfolding takes longer. Users report that the advertised 3-5 minutes is possible with practice.

• Seat Comfort / Fit for Long Trips: Some people find the default seat back / padding not sufficient for longer paddling sessions. Legroom for taller paddlers (near the 6’2″ limit) may feel cramped over time.

• Durability & Parts: Some users report that certain components (like fairings, prow / ends, some rivet-like folding parts) wear with time or get damaged depending on how the kayak is dragged or used. Repairs and replacement parts are possible but must be factored in.

Summary

The Oru Inlet folding kayak is a strong contender if your priorities are portability, easy storage, and casual recreational paddling in calm water. It trades off some speed, long-distance comfort, and rugged performance for convenience, flexibility, and a lower barrier to kayak ownership (in terms of transport and storage).