I love this product! I spent last summer waiting around for my friends to pick me and my old kayak up in their truck. I only got on the water three times all summer. It was such a bummer. I bought the Oru kayak at the end of last summer and only got to use it 3 times before the weather turned cold. I had a real hard time putting it together at first and I was nervous that it wouldn’t float! But I’ve been out 20+ times this summer and I’ve had a great time. For anyone that loves to kayak but doesn’t have a way of transporting a traditional kayak, you need to look into buying one of these. Highly recommend 👍P.S. Don’t get frustrated when it takes you an hour to put together the first time. You will shave 10 minutes off your time, every time until you can get ... MoreI love this product! I spent last summer waiting around for my friends to pick me and my old kayak up in their truck. I only got on the water three times all summer. It was such a bummer. I bought the Oru kayak at the end of last summer and only got to use it 3 times before the weather turned cold. I had a real hard time putting it together at first and I was nervous that it wouldn’t float! But I’ve been out 20+ times this summer and I’ve had a great time. For anyone that loves to kayak but doesn’t have a way of transporting a traditional kayak, you need to look into buying one of these. Highly recommend 👍P.S. Don’t get frustrated when it takes you an hour to put together the first time. You will shave 10 minutes off your time, every time until you can get it together in 10 mins flat.

Delayed

I purchased the Beach LT "Overnighter" package and that combo is well worth it. Package arrived in good timing and with the needed add on equipment that comes with the "Overnighter" package. I had the Kayak for three weeks, went to the slow flowing Salt River in Arizona and the bottom folding line on the kayak was sliced by a tree branch that was under the water. I reached out to their support team on April 17th, 2021 and sent the images of the damage. They notified me it would be under further evaluation. Today's date is 05/04/2021 and I still haven't received any further assistance.SummaryConsMarch 30th 2021 I received my order at home! April 17th damaged at the Salt River and notified the company. May 5th, I still haven't had full clarification about their ... MoreI purchased the Beach LT "Overnighter" package and that combo is well worth it. Package arrived in good timing and with the needed add on equipment that comes with the "Overnighter" package. I had the Kayak for three weeks, went to the slow flowing Salt River in Arizona and the bottom folding line on the kayak was sliced by a tree branch that was under the water. I reached out to their support team on April 17th, 2021 and sent the images of the damage. They notified me it would be under further evaluation. Today's date is 05/04/2021 and I still haven't received any further assistance.SummaryConsMarch 30th 2021 I received my order at home! April 17th damaged at the Salt River and notified the company. May 5th, I still haven't had full clarification about their help... and still waiting. I Have a new Kayak just sitting in my garage with no use due to it's damage.ProsI like the Kayak and it matches are family needs. Fits in our vehicle perfectly with all our gear and my daughter's special needs equipment. Kayak performed wonderfully at Lee's Ferry locatted at the mellow part of the Colorado River.

Don't waste your time

Customer service is literally impossible to reach in a timely manner. They are not helpful and do not seem interested in making their customer happy.The kayak is flimsy. Doesn't track well and the foot rest bounces around limiting your control and scuffing up the kayak shell. It also leaks water inside the shell itself because the ends aren't sealed.All in all I'm very dissatisfied but they charge you just to return the thing so I guess I'm stuck with it.I wish I never ordered this 1500 dollar nightmare. Save yourself!

Durability and support issues

Overall, these kayaks work pretty well for rec kayaks. My wife and I have been road-tripping with them and wouldn't have been able to fit normal kayaks, so we purchased 2 Beach LTs. They've worked for us, but in retrospect I wish I'd looked more seriously at inflatables or other pack-down options. Even folded, these kayaks are still really large.I would like to be able to say these are a good option if you (a) are really space constrained and (b) have some money to spend. But my bigger issue has been with support and durability. On the third use of my kayak, one of the buckles holding the hull together snapped. I wrote in about it, and over two months later, Oru still hasn't shipped a replacement part. The support has been pretty useless - they don't seem to really ... MoreOverall, these kayaks work pretty well for rec kayaks. My wife and I have been road-tripping with them and wouldn't have been able to fit normal kayaks, so we purchased 2 Beach LTs. They've worked for us, but in retrospect I wish I'd looked more seriously at inflatables or other pack-down options. Even folded, these kayaks are still really large.I would like to be able to say these are a good option if you (a) are really space constrained and (b) have some money to spend. But my bigger issue has been with support and durability. On the third use of my kayak, one of the buckles holding the hull together snapped. I wrote in about it, and over two months later, Oru still hasn't shipped a replacement part. The support has been pretty useless - they don't seem to really have any way to communicate with whoever is shipping orders because despite multiple promises to "expedite" shipping, nothing has ever happened.So before you spend $1500 on a kayak and accessories, I would make sure you really need this one and can't use a different option.

Met my expectations.

I was looking for a kayak that was fun to use, with an open cockpit, and easy to store and transport. My OruKayak Beach LT fully met these criteria, meriting a 5 star review.I mostly used it to paddle on Irondequoit Bay, near Rochester NY. I loved watching the many cormorants as well as a pair of resident bald eagles.My only suggestions for improvement are that the bow fairing is harder to pull up than the stern one. I am not sure why. It would also be nice if there was a way to mark the straps that attach the seat back and foot rest positions to make it easier to find the same "fit" every time with less adjusting.

My Beach LT

I love my Beach LT. Took it out the other day for the first time and had a wonderful experience. After a minor glitch getting it assembled had a relaxing paddle. People at the park were interested in the kayak and one person told me about a local kayaking club. The Beach LT was easier to paddle in the water than my old sit on top. The seat was comfortable and did not experience any lower back pain during my trip. Fits in the hatchback of my prius so I can take it anywhere. Plan to take it out again tomorrow.

My first kayak

My first sighting of an ORU happened weeks before I bought one. It was as tho the boat came to me. It was a spontaneous purchase. Fortunately I had friends who kayaked and took me out for a few floats to make sure I would be ok. The boat handles very well and I am learning the ropes of reading the water and feeling the tides beneath me. I live in Port Townsend WA and have beach and bay available within minutes of my cottage. It has been so refreshing to have this new way to see my hood, looking from water to land instead of how I have seen it for 8 yrs. Land to water. I was also able to make room for it in my vintage camper van so it can accompany me on road trips which often have lakes to go with the camping.The unique nature of this origami masterpiece is also a ... MoreMy first sighting of an ORU happened weeks before I bought one. It was as tho the boat came to me. It was a spontaneous purchase. Fortunately I had friends who kayaked and took me out for a few floats to make sure I would be ok. The boat handles very well and I am learning the ropes of reading the water and feeling the tides beneath me. I live in Port Townsend WA and have beach and bay available within minutes of my cottage. It has been so refreshing to have this new way to see my hood, looking from water to land instead of how I have seen it for 8 yrs. Land to water. I was also able to make room for it in my vintage camper van so it can accompany me on road trips which often have lakes to go with the camping.The unique nature of this origami masterpiece is also a people magnet when I arrive at the beach. They are fascinated to watch me set it up/break it down and often say they heard about this boat or a friend of theirs has one and they may want to get one too! So interesting to observe their responses! Great product design. I am very happy with my purchase.

Rough Water

I received the Beach LT last fall as a gift, but I hadn't had a chance to try it out until today due to NE winters and an injury this spring. I live on a relatively large lake and I started out at a local beach and headed for a relatively protected inlet to try out the boat. I got used to the kayak quickly and enjoyed paddling it immensely. On the way home, the wind and boat waves picked up significantly, and remembering that this boat is intended for flat/calm water, I became a bit apprehensive. By then I had learned the balance with this boat, and to make a long story short, the boat performed wonderfully. I took on a bit of water due to spray and waves washing over the gunwales (boat waves cross directional from the wind waves), but the boat handled great. My ... MoreI received the Beach LT last fall as a gift, but I hadn't had a chance to try it out until today due to NE winters and an injury this spring. I live on a relatively large lake and I started out at a local beach and headed for a relatively protected inlet to try out the boat. I got used to the kayak quickly and enjoyed paddling it immensely. On the way home, the wind and boat waves picked up significantly, and remembering that this boat is intended for flat/calm water, I became a bit apprehensive. By then I had learned the balance with this boat, and to make a long story short, the boat performed wonderfully. I took on a bit of water due to spray and waves washing over the gunwales (boat waves cross directional from the wind waves), but the boat handled great. My lack of flexibility and my inexperience with the boat made getting out and re-folding the kayak a bit of a challenge. However, another guy on the beach saw the kayak and immediately wanted to to get the name so he could order one......despite me showing him everything he shouldn't do with the boat! I plan on paddling again soon, as I had a lot of fun. Wet but smiling after a great acquisition!

The folded up design is great! The customer service is not so great.

The kayak folds up and is great for those looking to save storage space. It seems sturdy but time will tell. I would guess the clips that hold it together would fail long before the body. It only took me 20 minutes to put together my first time and 13 minutes my second time. Its super simple and I wish I could give it 5 stars. Unfortunately the customer service is terrible. They are quick to respond but no help and in fact they make remarks like you are lying. I had two issues with my order. One being a shipping issue and the second being that they forgot to send my accessories. I never got an apology or any information about my missing items. Unfortunately this is what I will be warning everyone about when they ask me about this cool kayak that I just unfolded at ... MoreThe kayak folds up and is great for those looking to save storage space. It seems sturdy but time will tell. I would guess the clips that hold it together would fail long before the body. It only took me 20 minutes to put together my first time and 13 minutes my second time. Its super simple and I wish I could give it 5 stars. Unfortunately the customer service is terrible. They are quick to respond but no help and in fact they make remarks like you are lying. I had two issues with my order. One being a shipping issue and the second being that they forgot to send my accessories. I never got an apology or any information about my missing items. Unfortunately this is what I will be warning everyone about when they ask me about this cool kayak that I just unfolded at the lake. If you purchase one of these I highly recommend buying from amazon or REI where you know you will get good customer service. Look on trusted reviews to see all the complaints about their customer service.

Very Nice Recreational Kayak, Great For Trips to Lakes and Bays

I bought the Beach LT kayak and its proven to be a great purchase. Assembling it is easy and relatively quick. I found paddling and steering felt good, and it's maneuverable and cuts trough the water well. The kayak is stable, although there is a slight tippyness, but not enough that the kayak would get out of control. The Beach LT is light, but when I had to carry it a long distance I started to feel the weight. I have a van conversion and it folds up small enough that I can keep it in the van while traveling. I bought the optional seat wedge and it makes sitting more comfortable. I also bought the Oru collapsible paddle and really like it, very well designed.