A while back, Oru debuted the Inlet, the smallest one yet in their line of collapsible kayaks. It’s so small, in fact, it folded up into a pile around the size of a guitar case, allowing you to comfortably take it inside trains, buses, and other limited spaces. The Oru Kayak Inlet Sport takes takes that collapsible paddlecraft and introduces a number of new conveniences.
An upgraded version of the compact Inlet, the new kayak brings a more ergonomic riding experience, an integrated rail system for installing accessories, and compatibility with the outfit’s skeg fin, which should allow it to track better while exploring the waters. Basically, you get the compact and lightweight convenience of the original Inlet, all while enjoying conveniences usually found in the outfit’s larger paddlecrafts.
The Oru Kayak Inlet Sport retains the open cockpit design of the original to allow for easy entry and exit, as well as the wider cockpit profile for better stability. The fully integrated floorboard, the adjustable seat with adjustable backrest, and the adjustable footrest are all here, as well, so this should deliver the same comfortable paddling experience. It also reprises the high-rigidity stern and bulkheads to ensure excellent performance in the water, along with the same compact profile that allows it to maneuver along narrow waterways.
For this Sport version, they added a seamless deck closure using two zipper channels, providing an easy way to give the deck a watertight seal, as well as an upgraded seat cushion that’s designed for long days in the water. It also gets a set of universal slotted rails for installing different types of accessories to your kayak, so you don’t have to go out bare every single time, as well as compatibility with the outfit’s skeg fin if you want better tracking for the kayak on water.
The Oru Kayak Inlet Sport gets the same durable construction as the outfit’s other kayaks, so you get a puncture-proof, UV-treated corrugated plastic body that can slide over rocks and bump into obstacles unscathed, all while being rated for up to 20,000 folds, so it will take a lot of trips to the water to really wear it down. It’s lightweight, too, coming in at just 23 pounds (three pounds heavier than the Inlet), despite supporting riders up to 275 pounds and 6’2″ tall. When deployed, the kayak measures 9’8″ long and 31 inches in width, all while collapsing to a very portable size of 42 x 18 x 10 inches (width x height x thickness), allowing you to carry two of these (one in each hand) without much trouble for very convenient transport.
As of now, the Sport version only comes in black color, which, we have to admit, does look very nice, although we’d also appreciate getting the same color options they offer for the Inlet. It retains the same intuitive assembly as the original, by the way, allowing you to get it ready for the water in three minutes or less.
The Oru Kayak Inlet Sport is available now, priced at $1,099.