Oru Inlet folding kayak experience: Trillium Lake
When you can’t find parking close to the lake during the height of summer? It’s hard to beat the convenience of the lightweight, foldable Oru Inlet kayak, which is easy enough to carry from your car to the water’s edge for quick assembly. But are there cons to keep in mind?
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Watch now in under 30 seconds: the Oru Inlet kayak experience at Trillium Lake near Mt. Hood, Oregon.
What are the best Oru Inlet kayak features?
The Oru Inlet kayak is lightweight, weighing 20 pounds, so it’s highly portable and lightweight enough for me (early 40s female) to carry when folded and using the handle. I also love how convenient it is–easy to store in the truck of my small SUV. Assembling and disassembly takes only a few minutes.
After two full years of using the Oru Inlet, I’ve found that it’s got a sturdy/stable design and paddles great on flatwater. Also a shout-out to Oru customer service. Anytime I’ve had an issue, they’ve been responsive and remedied quickly.
What are the pros & cons of the Oru Inlet folding kayak?
You get a roomy cockpit (great for when my dog joins me kayaking), but it’s a bit wider than other kayaks I’ve used so my paddling posture doesn’t feel as swift. Recently I rented some hardshell kayaks, and they did feel a lot more solid on faster moving rivers and currents –but I’m still very happy with the Inlet on this front.
Product longevity is a question mark for me, with all the Oru Inlet folding wear & tear. Oru actually replaced my first Inlet kayak due to an unsafe crack (I had bought it from REI and there’s a 1-year warranty on the kayak, as of this posting). The company does sell a repair kit and various replacement parts, and earlier this season I replaced the Oru Inlet bow fairing (was an easy replacement and works great now).
For a kayak that’s on the pricey side, I hope I get more life out of it than a few years of water adventures. Also, the Oru Inlet kayak is designed for mirror-flat water conditions, so be mindful of weather conditions when you’re headed out for a paddle, so the waves don’t get too unruly for your gear.
An honest overall Oru Inlet review
I love this “origami” foldable kayak. It’s opened up a whole world of kayaking for me with its ease of use and convenience.
It makes my kayaking life easier and stress-free, so I swear I end up going out more often than if it were a heavy and hard-to-transport piece of gear (see photos of the folded Oru Inlet kayak in the back of a compact small SUV trunk).
One more tip for Oru kayakers
The Oru Inlet kayak gets a lot of attention. If it’s your first time using it, you may want to practice assembling and disassembling at home or in your yard before going out in public.
Be prepared for a lot of stares, comments, and questions once you’re out there assembling and paddling! This took some getting used to, but hey, you’ll make fast flatwater kayak friends.
Want to see more Mt. Hood lake kayaking photos? Check out our July, 2023 paddle on Trillium Lake on a breathtaking summer day.
NEW: Two years, 100+ paddling hours and many, many miles - my full, in-depth Oru Inlet folding kayak review – with more photos and videos than ever before – and bonus thoughts on the Oru Paddle!
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