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Folding kayaks are able to achieve a longer, narrower hull than inflatable kayaks and you'll get the most AMAZING performance from a Oru Coast XT for example, because it is 4.9m long and only 64 cm wide.
The main reason to get a folding kayak instead of an inflatable kayak is the performance on the water. The AirFusion Evo comes close but generally speaking, this kind of length and width has not yet been achieved with inflatable kayaks.
IMPORTANT – The models mentioned here are narrow but you can also find wider folding kayaks. Of course these won't share the same performance.
With inflatable kayaks, you have multiple air chambers – if something happens to one, you have others keeping you afloat.
But with folding kayaks, you just have your hull, so it better be tough as nails – your life depends on it!
I stock the Oru Kayak brand because they are dedicated to testing – their oru-plast is rated to 20,000 folds.
The longer the folding kayak, the heavier it is – still MUCH lighter than hard-shell kayaks, but many people are looking for something ultra-lightweight, so they will sacrifice a bit of length and performance to get that balance.
The narrower the kayak, the less stable it is.
It’s fine if you are careful getting in and out and you have some paddling ability, but as soon as you want to take a dog, or a kid or do some fishing, no.
The longer folding kayaks take a bit more to set up. It’s totally worth it if performance is important to you, but that’s not the case for everybody. Some customers just want a really lightweight kayak that sets up in minutes and they don’t really care how well it paddles, in which case they’re better off with an inflatable kayak.
The longer models have a cockpit, like a sea kayak. This is great, because you can put on a spray skirt if it’s cold or choppy and stay warm and dry. You can even do open water paddling.
BUT… it means you have to fold your legs into a cockpit – if you are very tall with very long legs, you might find this challenging.
It also makes taking dogs and kids a bit more challenging.
Funnily enough, there is heaps of room inside and quite a bit of capacity for gear for expeditions, inside the kayak and on the deck, just not kids and dogs.
They have fully adjustable backrest supportive straps.
The seat base is EVA foam.
There is an adjustable foot brace bar included – great for lower back support and stability.
The Folding Kayaks has very good back support – the seat back is high and stiff with adjustable straps to for support.
The seat base is EVA foam
There is an adjustable foot brace bar included – great for lower back support and stability.
Yes.
You can put a spray skirt over the coaming to keep out the water and keep in the warmth.
If you will be doing a lot of open ocean kayaking, the Coast XT is suitable since it’s long and fast.
It’s not stable enough for a lot of beginners, but it’s possible.
I would recommend having a lesson to get started with this kayak, particularly learning safety skills so you can do a deep water re-entry if you capsize.
It’s going to depend on the individual.
Although it is very lightweight at only 14.5 kg, the Coast XT folding kayak does require a moderate level of strength to assemble.
It also has a cockpit that you need to fold yourself into, so it’s not the easiest of our kayaks for getting in and out of.
And it is not super stable on the water, being designed for speed and performance, not stability.
So if you are an experienced senior kayaker and you are in good shape, go for it!
I would not suggest the Folding Kayaks for a child, because it is not very stable.
Maybe go for something light and easy, like the AdvancedFrame Ultralite Kayak instead.
There is a cockpit you have to tuck your legs into and the kayak is a little bit wobbly on the water when you are trying to do this, so it’s not for everybody.
If you are used to sit-in sea kayaks, it’s no problem.
The Oru Kayaks are lightweight but extraordinarily strong.
They’re created from 5 mm double-layered, custom-extruded polypropylene with a 10-year UV treatment.
Translation? Oru Kayaks are incredibly puncture + abrasion resistant and built to last.
They can withstand sliding over rocks, bumping into obstacles, and folding up tens of thousands of time.
The Oru Kayaks are similar to a hard shell sea kayak.
It’s not super tippy, but it’s not stable enough for dogs, kids or fishing.
You want to be careful getting in and out, and you should train how to do a deep water re-entry.
Deflated and packed dimensions are:
84cm x 36cm x 74cm
