Oru Kayak Foldable Kayak Bay ST | Stable, Durable, Lightweight - Lake, River, and Ocean Kayaks - Beginner to Intermediate experience paddlers

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Practiced set up and tear down 5 times. No problems. Been out on Huntington Harbor two times in moderate-to-heavy Santa Ana winds, no problems. I like the way the boat handles, its stability, and its responsiveness. I haven't found a comfortable setting for the backrest yet, but I'm sure that will come with time. So far, so good, Oru!

Purchased an Oru Bay ST to use while traveling in a high roof Sprinter Van. The convenience was great, no roof top loading, and the kayak performed very well. So we bought a second one.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I learned to kayak using traditional sea kayaks. They are great but they are long and heavy. This means that I don't have a place to store one, nor do I have a vehicle that is suited for transporting a sea kayak. Rental kayaks, at least the ones available at my local forest preserves, handle like bath tubs. Thus, I was intrigued by the Oru Bay ST and decided that I would purchase one since it would resolve both the storage and transportation issues for me. I've been out twice now and love it! So far I've only been on lakes but will soon be exploring some of the calmer rivers in my area. I love the flexibility that I have to get out on the water.

I practiced assembling the kayak twice in my apartment, then took it out to a lake for the real test. Still had to check my notes, so it took me 15-20 minutes to assemble. Once I got it in the water, it was wonderful. There were strong gusts of wind, as well as a steady breeze, but had no trouble making a straight heading to wherever I wanted to go. Wish I had gotten one of these kayaks sooner.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My first kayak and the first time ever in a kayak. Well I have a few years in my rowing shell. I learned balance in that using the oars but I knew it would be a bit different in a Kayak. I got this kayak for exercise and to get out a few times a week. He is my first time in the water. Early March in the Northeast. No wind. Calm water. Clear sky. 46 degrees. Put on dry suit because of thirty degree water just in case. This was a good time to go, because there are no boats in the water. I put the Bay ST together on a dock and since I did that a few times at home, it only took about ten to fifteen minutes. I used the inflatable floats that came with the Bay ST. I also got a paddle float and a bilge pump separately from Oru. I carried the Kayak to the edge of the dock with one hand, which I like, because my other hand is free, I found that getting into the kayak was a little tight, but I think that was because I adjusted the seat back too tight. Next time I know not to go too tight with the adjustment straps. I easily found the foot brace and got settled in. I'm 6'2” and 200 lbs and fit in there fine. Since it was my first time ever in a kayak, I sat at the dock with one hand on the dock until I felt relaxed and stable enough to push off. I found that relaxing the stomach muscles and not tensing up calms the boat down. I did some side paddles and backwards paddles near the dock. I went forward away from the dock and the Bay ST just took right off. I think I wasn't exactly centered in the boat because it listed to the port side. That wasn't enough to go back and get out, so I just went on. I paddled very slow getting used to the strokes and just quietly coasted past geese, ducks, and cormorant who didn't really seem bothered by me going by. I went out for about an hour hooray I didn't flip over. Getting back to the dock and out of the kayak was easy. I had my rowing shell boat slings there, so I just put the kayak on them so it was easy to wash down and dry. Disassembly fold up took only about five to ten minutes. I put the kayak pack over it and put the kayak in the back seat of my car. Easy, Fast. Done. I think the more times I go, the faster I will be able to assemble and disassemble this kayak. I don't plan on skuffing onto any beaches or bumping rocks so hopefully this kayak will hold up for a few years. Thanks Oru for making a kayak I don't have to pay to keep anywhere or have the need for clumsy and expensive car rook racks.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I'm very impressed with my new Bay ST kayak. I've been canoeing and kayaking all my live (I'm 62) and have a good deal of experience in all types of paddle craft in all types of conditions. For its length and width, I'd put the Bay ST in the top of its size category. The boat is surprisingly stiff and responsive, easy to paddle with high or low paddle angles, tracks well with moderate strokes, turns easily and tightly in a lean, and is very comfortable. All of this from a corrugated plastic folding boat that only weighs 26 pounds! Amazing. I'm impressed with this little kayak and am eager to put it to the test in big water (with a spray skirt).

Took awhile to put together, let it sit for two days and putting it away today. Hope to get it on the River soon.

Hi Oru folks: we took our new Bay kayak out onto the waters of McDonald Lake in Glacier NP and it performed really well. It glides thru the water smoothly (which my previous inflatable kayak did not do) and the ease to assemble and dis-assemble it was amazingly quick – even for newbies like me. I think the kayak tracks pretty well, but I'm thinking of buying the fin accessory to help keep it straighter. The kaya does take of getting used to with its rolling action when you get in/out of the kayak – it wants to roll on you and you've got to be well-balanced to get in and out w/o rolling over.

The dimensions of the Bay and the width of its cockpit are exactly the same as the beloved hardbody kayak we used to have, so we thought it was made for us. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a shorter cockpit, and getting in and out with bad knees was just a bit too difficult. It also was clearly going to be challenging to carry serious photography gear in the small cockpit. We had to return the Bay models but were impressed enough with the boats to immediately order a pair of the Inlet model instead. I hope they will be just right!

It unfolds and is ready for use by one person, but it took two of us to hold down one area while the other side was being folded in. Maybe after 100 uses, this will be easier, but for now we will not be using it as designed, but as a summer assembled craft that is light enough for me to carry and load into the back of the pickup. I do like the way it handles on the water.