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Customer Spotlight

Our community is comprised of hundreds of incredibly passionate paddlers from all over the world. We LOVE to follow the daily conversations and adventures shared, particularly on the Oru Kayak Owners page on Facebook. We reached out to three of these members and asked them to share a little bit about their story and journey with Oru Kayak.

by Accounts Oru

Our community is comprised of hundreds of incredibly passionate paddlers from all over the world. We LOVE to follow the daily conversations and adventures shared, particularly on the Oru Kayak Owners page on Facebook. We reached out to three of these members and asked them to share a little bit about their story and journey with Oru Kayak.


How did you first find out about Oru Kayak?

I had joined a sea-kayaking group in 2015 and I loved it. The only caveat was in order to participate, I had to rent a sit-on-top kayak each time I kayaked with the group and I wasn't thrilled about that for a few reasons. For starters, I wasn't a fan of the sit-on-top kayaks, and I also wasn't thrilled about the idea of having to pay $50-$75 every time I wanted to kayak. Unfortunately, I didn't have any other options. I lived in a small one bedroom apartment and I didn't have a garage, so I had no options for kayak storage. So, I gave up on my dream of ever owning my own kayak knowing it could never happen until I had a house of my own, with a garage. Cut to the spring of 2016 – as I was lying in bed one night a story came on CNN about a kayak that you can fold so compactly that you could store it in your apartment.  I had never heard of such a thing. At the time I didn't even know that inflatable or foldable kayaks existed. I was so excited! All the sudden the answer to all my kayak problems seemed to be solved.  I immediately googled Oru Kayak, went to their website, and the rest is history.


Which model do you own and what lead you to that decision?

I have the Bay ST or as I have affectionately nicknamed it, Bae. Though I had first heard about Oru Kayak in the spring of 2016, it wasn't until about two years later when I committed to the decision to purchase one of my own. Sure, I had big dreams of kayaking all over the place, but I also had no idea what I was doing. I was torn between the Beach LT and the Bay ST, but I was having an extremely hard time making a decision.  All I knew was that I wanted to go back out with my sea kayaking group, and that if I was going to commit to such a large purchase, I had to do my research. I watched multiple Youtube videos, contacted a few Instagram users, and joined the Oru Kayak Owners page on Facebook. What finally swayed me was the responses I received after writing a lengthy post detailing my kayaking experience, where I wanted to kayak, and my questions about the different models on the Oru Kayak Facebook page. The members were incredibly helpful and gave me excellent feedback based on their personal experience with both the Beach and the Bay. After taking into consideration everything I had learned and what my kayaking goals were, I decided on the Bay ST.


Favorite place you've ever paddled?

My favorite place I have ever paddled with my Oru, hands down, is Banff National Park. Considering I had only used my kayak a few times, I wasn't an experienced kayaker, and the mere fact that I was traveling so far by myself, to paddle somewhere I had never been made it a very ambitious trip. I was terrified and I had so many fears and doubts. I almost talked myself out of going, but I'm so glad I stuck to my plan because Banff was breathtaking and far better than anything I had ever imagined. It was the bluest water I had ever seen, surrounded by stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, and there I was, in the middle of it all, taking it all in from my very own kayak. It was just me and Bae and it was perfect! It was exactly the kind of adventure I dreamt of having when I bought my Oru, and it solidified that not only was this purchase the right decision, but I had indeed opened myself up to a whole new world of adventure. 

 

Tip or trick for other prospective or current Oru Kayak owners?

  • If you're a prospective buyer, make sure you think about what type of water you plan to kayak on, it'll make the difference in which model will work best for you. 
  • The Facebook group is extremely helpful and a great resource.
  • Watch the Youtube video for your first time assembly, it makes the process much less difficult, and don't worry it's really not that difficult. 
  • Buy the Pack, it makes transporting the kayak so much easier.
  • Paddles that have a 4- piece shaft can be stored in your kayak once it's folded up, which is super convenient.
  • You may need a little extra cushion for the pushing, but be careful not to go with a cushion that is too thick. In the event that you capsize a waterlogged seat cushion can cause extra problems.

 

 

 
How did you first find out about Oru Kayak?

I heard about Oru Kayak five years ago while watching Shark Tank with my fiancé.

Which model do you own and what lead you to that decision?
I own the Beach LT Indo Project model and the original Bay. After watching the Indo Project Video, I fell in love with the design and the price was now within my budget. Six months after purchasing the Beach LT, a friend “regifted” a slightly used Bay from 2013 to me. Ironically, this was the same model originally featured on Shark Tank. 

Favorite place to paddle?
The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in Iceland back in April. I paddled between glaciers and dozens of curious seals. One of the greatest experiences of my life. 

Tip or trick for other prospective or current Oru Kayak owners?
The best tip I could give current or future owners is to purchase the Oru Pack and use your bike to greatly extend your adventures. Using it with an electric bike gives you endless possibilities. 

 

 

 
How did you first find out about Oru Kayak?

A group of friends in Thailand went on a kayaking trip featuring Oru kayaks.

Which model do you own and what lead you to that decision?
I have the 2018 Coast XT. I live near the Songkhla Lake and Sea here, so I chose the Coast model for open sea kayaking and extra storage for longer trips.

Favorite place to paddle?
Phang Nga Bay Area

Tip or trick for other prospective or current Oru Kayak owners?
Keep paddling to explore the waters and be safe. :-D