Oru Kayak Review…It only lasted 11 Months 😳

Hi, I’m Steph! A DIYer, author, and podcast host. I live in Tallahassee, FL with my two adopted greyhounds.

🚣‍♀️ Kayak Gear (affiliate links)
Oru Kayaks

🎥Videos I mentioned:

⏰ Time Stamp
0:00 - Intro
1:23 - Initial concerns
4:08 - Used in a year
4:45 - Oru Kayak Lake
5:35 - Closing thoughts
7:32 - Advice for buying oru kayak
8:22 - 1 year of kayaking

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I make DIY videos @MotherDaughterProjectsDIY

*I do not work with the Oru Kayak company and bought this kayak myself.

[MotoCampAdventure]

Having the concrete numbers for how many times you used it and showing the wear after that use is incredibly helpful for potential buyers. This video is time efficient and still thorough with some great B-roll. I hope you're successful with this youtube channel because you know how to make a review!

[belowtwenty]

I have a Oru Bay that I bought 5 years ago that has held up really well (although I don't take it out 60 times per year).

[debbieporter]

Glad to know their customer service is good. I just received one and considered returning it. I own an ocean kayak but wanted something light to carry in my car for quick paddles

[gloppy]

Happy to see Oru step up and take care of the defect. Remember this people if you are looking at knockoffs from a no name PO Box, shipping container company with no phone or address. I had the original Bay ST and it broke a strap, but was quickly replaced. I paddled it a lot for 3-4 years. Good paddler.

[Knuckleup-vb]

So it sounds like the Oru customer service and Warranty stands true which is super important to me. Thanks for the video.

[Polska]

Was watchin this review thinking these things would be like 30%, 50% maybe the cost of a hard shell. But at $1, 299 AUD (for some corflute panels and a seat), when I can get a hard shell for LESS? Jesus Christ save me. Great review!

[baot.]

For the closed cockpit kayak, you might want to check out the TRAK kayak. More expensive, but last longer and faster performance.

[cheriea]

Thank you! This was extremely helpful in my decision to buy this folding kayak!

[petegalindez]

We’ve had our two Inlets for about a year now….we don’t kayak as often as you, but ours are in perfect condition. We bought one for my sister and she had the broken front piece too after a week! They sent her a new one and it’s all good now…Why didn’t you try Flex Seal on the hole in your kayak? We used it on a 3/4 inch round hole my dad had in his row boat (metal), and it worked great….

[sulladrum]

Thanks for the video! My wife and I did a lot of research and bought the bay. Unfortunately, I have not been happy with it. Rather than the buckles that you use to fasten the inlet, there are plastic sleeves that have to be inserted and pulled up to keep the kayak together. We have found them to be extremely annoying because it’s always a challenge to try to get them to fit and stay in the grooves. The next issue we have are the bulkheads, which keep popping out. Finally, there are several areas that I could tell are going to wear out pretty quickly, such as the connection for the foot rest. Getting in and out of the bay is also challenging because it has high sides that are made for rougher water, but make it inconvenient to enter and exit. However, my biggest complaint are the seats. Both my wife and I are good for about 40 minutes of paddling before we have to get out and stretch. We immediately knew that the factory seats were terrible, so we bought padded seats to fit over the originals, but even with those, I find sitting in it very uncomfortable, and even painful after a while. I was speaking with somebody who owns a Coast and asked him what he thought of assembling and disassembling. He admitted to us that he doesn’t disassemble it, he just puts it on his roof. I think if you don’t have the room for a regular kayak, then these are great. I would definitely not get this kayak unless you want to take it out on the ocean, and even there, this kayak has many drawbacks compared to a regular ocean kayak. If you don’t have a lot of room to store or carry a kayak, than these kayaks are great. Unfortunately, they just do not suit my needs and unless you want to go into rougher waters, I think you will be just fine with the lake model

[RaggaDruida]

While I can see that the kayak is still a good product, this review really pushed me towards the Nortik Fold, as they specifically designed the model to solve the corrugated plastic problem!

[PaddleTV]

Great Review! I tested an Inlet as well, but haven't put the time in it to test its durability. Great to hear the were so good with the warranty. Thanks for sharing!

[michelleelise]

Thanks for this video- great information. I already have an Inlet (two for our household) and feels pretty fragile to me, too, so I have been careful with it. It’s good to know what to look out for based on your experience. We’re not nearly as devoted as you are to kayaking, so I think it will take us quite a while to rack up 60 paddles! 😊 I think your commentary sort of solidifies what I had thought when I purchased— that these things are probably a nice choice for a beginner/casual/occasional paddler like me who wants easy transport and storage, but that it might not suit the needs of a more advanced paddler in all cases. I kind of wish I had waited around for the Lake.

[athhour]

My son and I are from central FL. We have been looking at kayaks over paddle boards. I can see how they can become an obsession. Growing up in upstate NY there was something I had called a belly boat. Back then with inner tubes in car tires, a belly boat was a canvas cover that would fit over the inner tube, it would have a seat in the center a bib to pull up over me in the inside to fasten fishing lures and not drop them in the water. It had several pockets, an inflatable back rest, few eye hooks for stringers, the operator of the belly boat would use flipper fins with or without flexible waders depending upon the water temp. The canvas was solid. I loved it. Wouldn't out it in fast moving waters tho. Even seen some guys with battery operated trolling motors. Needless to say when I came to Florida I was advised against dangling my legs into the water here. The water puppies (gators) I have since learned get a bad wrap, have not once seen a water puppy chase anyone, but I digress. So I have not been back on the water except in a rental on occasion. Now that my son has shown an interest I think its time to get a couple hard shells and get out there again. What brand are you and tour mother using and what caused you to purchase the hardshell you have? In my research so far, I have learned that all kayaks are not created equal and some are harder to move through water than others, fatiguing the operator.

[HeadwatersKayak]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I just reviewed one, but I was really curious on how it would last long term. This answers most of my questions.

[pickledud]

Thanks for the honest and balanced review, really helpful

[balletstef]

I have the Beach. I've been using it for about a year and a half, and no problems, so far. I love it. I am very careful with it, though. I bring it inside so it doesn't sit in the hot car. I kayak in the marina, and get in and out from the beach. We don't really have any rocks that would cause damage. So glad that they sent you a new one!

[pkarowic]

Steph, I looked at one of these kayaks and was concerned how it would perform in unexpected collisions. I have been watching your videos from the first day you started using it and have been following your story of this kayak. I did buy a foldable kayak, a Tucktec. It's defiantly not as nice looking as yours but much more durable. In mid summer I was paddling in a small lake when I hit a log submerged under the water. It was a good hit, it actually lifted the kayak up a bit out of the water. I immediately paddled to shore to check the damage. To my relief there was only a swallow scratch on the front left of the kayak. That incident sold my on its durability. Anyway, your kayak, for the year you had did have it's problems. I must say that the customer service you received was top notch. For a company to replace a one year old product with new is not very common and my hat goes off to them. I hope you have better luck with the replacement. Take care and happy paddling. 😃🛶

[rocketreindeer]

That was super helpful, efharisto! I like that they didn't hassle you, so that's a good sign. Some companies think they have a licence to print money and are really slack and gunky with customer service. I hope they can use your feedback to improve, that'd be awesome. I'm still really into getting one after all your stories, putting 85 straps on and off for a hardshell isn't really how I want to invest my energy, but that's just me.

[RickR]

Thank you for this. Long term durability is the major concern with these types of kayaks and you're like the only video reviewer who's done a 1+ year review of these things.