Oru Beach LT Kayak

Summary

Price At Time Of Writing | $1,868.90

Our Overall Rating | 91 out of 100

Pros - Hard shell (no inflation), lightweight

Cons - Thin seat, expensive

Overall - Easy setup, we’d love if this model had deck strips to enclose the kayak but overall a joy to paddle

Technical Specifications

Open Size - 368x74cm

Weight - 11.8kg

Load Capacity - 136kg

Packed Size - 84x74x31cm

Our Analysis & Ratings

A hard shell foldable kayak that doesn't require inflation, the Oru Beach LT is a lightweight durable kayak that handles well in the water. While the thin seat design is a bit less comfortable than some others and it could benefit from deck strips to more cleanly enclose the cockpit, its easy setup and pack down make this a great kayak. It performs well in the water and is a good choice for recreational paddlers looking for something close to a hard shell.

Performance - This is a hard shell foldable kayak. The shape and solid surface mean it can travel fast across the water and it tracks well in a straight line. Handling is fantastic and it’s very easy to manoeuvre on the water.

Construction – In terms of negatives, there are no deck strips to fully enclose the kayak and it relies on buckles to stay together. The seat also feels a bit flimsy compared to some of the cushier options out there, and it lacks any particularly usable storage space. While we are listing a lot of negatives overall this is a high quality construction and clever design, with the hard shell foldable material minimising annoying drying time and gliding through the water it’s very well made.

Setup/ Pack down - Sets up and packs down relatively quickly with no pumping required. The setup is a matter of unfolding, doing up the clips and installing the seat. It is also easy to pack down and dries very quickly.

Portability - Lightweight at 11.8kg this is easy to get around. There is no storage bag but it is still very light and portable with the shoulder strap provided.

Comfort - With a spacious cockpit there is plenty of room to move around and the adjustable footrest is easy to use. The solid frame provides a good surface to paddle against. The seat however is a bit oddly shaped and we found it a little bit uncomfortable.

Overall - Easy setup, we’d love if this model had deck strips to enclose the kayak but overall a joy to paddle.