A couple of months ago, I wrote about some of my top kayaking gear buys for 2024, and you may remember an item we’ve been excited to test out: the Oru Lake Sport folding kayak.

Today, on a beautiful sunny Spring day in Portland, Oregon, I assembled this folding kayak for the first time. An experienced flatwater kayaker, I wrote an extensive, two-year recap in my Oru Inlet review post. I’ve assembled and disassembled the Oru Inlet (hundreds of times?) and a test Oru Beach LT kayak model. In short, I know the Oru brand well.

So how was my experience assembling Oru’s smallest kayak, the Lake Sport?

And was it as easy and fast as the company says….? Can you really do it in 1 minute?!

Read on!

Why buy a folding kayak?

Buying a folding kayak offers numerous benefits, particularly for those with limited storage space or those who frequently transport their kayak.

These kayaks fold down to (about) the size of a suitcase, making them ideal for urban dwellers or those without a large vehicle (see more photos of a folded kayak in a Jeep Wrangler trunk).

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The best folded kayaks can be easily carried, stored, assembled and disassembled, which can be particularly valuable for spontaneous adventures.

Folding kayaks should be lightweight and have have a compact design, never compromise on durability, and withstand various paddling conditions (we flatwater kayak in the Pacific Northwest).

I’ve been flat water paddling with Oru since 2021. You can read more about why I bought an Oru Lake Sport kayak and an in-depth comparison of the Oru Lake vs Oru Inlet kayak models!

About the Oru Lake Sport kayak model

The Oru Lake Sport Kayak model is a great entry price point into the premium folding kayak market.

It’s also the cheapest Oru kayak model available at the time of this posting.

This Oru kayak model was designed for flatwater kayaking, providing stability and ease of use for paddlers at various skill levels.

The company (and others) have touted the Lake Sport as an ideal blend of portability and durability, really a great option for those tight on storage space, small vehicle space, and who prioritize portability and lightweight kayaks.

It’s also super compact – it’s folded size is only 42 x 18 x 10 in. Just about the size of a suitcase!

And it weighs only 18 pounds, so it’s easy to lift, carry, load, and haul out.

How to assemble the Oru Lake Sport kayak

Check out our full video below with audio and visual guides on how to assemble your Oru Lake Sport kayak.

The company says it takes 1 minute of time. For my first assembly, as an experienced Oru kayaker, it took me 2-3 minutes.

Always be sure to consult your official Oru assembly guidelines and do a thorough safety check, especially if you’re new to Oru kayaks.

It’s always good to practice before you head out somewhere so you feel confident with its assembly and ensure you’ve done it safely.

Once you get the hang of it, you can definitely assemble the Oru Lake Sport kayak in about 1 minute.

Your new Oru kayak will come with assembly instructions, which are helpful. Follow them/cross-reference them. But if you need more photos for a visual guide to support your assembly, here you go…

Photos of Oru Lake Kayak assembly

About Flatwater Kayak Club

Flatwater Kayak Club is a leading woman-owned online platform dedicated to supporting beginner and intermediate kayakers in the Pacific Northwest. Our company founder, a former writer for The National Geographic Channel and a current ACA member, guides our mission with her passion for kayaking, nature, and storytelling.