Folding kayaks are a popular choice for those seeking a portable, storage-friendly option. They have a hard frame, while inflatable kayaks have an air-filled hull for structural integrity. The top seven folding kayaks in 2024 include Oru Bay St, Pakayak Bluefin 142, Tucktec, TRAK 2.0, and Mark I. Oru kayaks are durable, rated for 20,000 folds without weakening. The Martini GTX Tandem Solo is a decked, take-apart, touring kayak with a comfortable cockpit. Other top picks include the Sea Eagle 370 Pro, Intex Excursion Pro K2, and Advanced Elements PackLite. The Oru Kayak Coast XT is the best overall folding kayak, while the TRAK 2.0 folding kayak is perfect for travel and urban kayak storage. The Orus origami kayak is a lightweight option, performing like a hard-shell on lakes, rivers, and marshes. The Oru Lake is the top pick for paddling.
📹 Oru Kayak Inlet vs Tucktec | Battle of the Folding Kayaks!
In this gear review video, we’re comparing two of the most popular portable kayaks under $1000 – the Oru Kayak Inlet and the …
📹 Top 5 Inflatable and Folding Kayaks |PaddleTV Award Winners
The time has come for me to make my selection for the ‘Best Portable Kayaks of the Year’. Please note that this selection only …
Was close to getting an Oru inlet but needed up with 3 tucktecs for myself and Kiddos. What sold me was the materials it’s made of since many have said the buckles on the straps of the Oru can snap and development of holes and cracks are common with the Oru since it’s corrugated plastic. You can’t take a hammer to the Oru like you can with the tucktec and not have damage. You can add car door trim to the tucktec to cover the hard edges so you can get colorful with it. Plus tucktec has a 3 yr warranty and made in South Carolina. Love supporting small businesses
My oldest Tucktec is 5 years old. I’ve used Tucktecs in everything from flatwater to coastal waters around the state of Florida, to include the Atlantic. Their simplicity is their strength. I paddle everything from inflatables to the latest skin over frame kayaks, and I still enjoy the durability and convenience of Tucktec Folding Kayaks. I also noticed a few comments about the tandem Oru Haven. For those interested in a tandem, Tucktec is still in the testing and pre-production of a 2-part, foldable tandem model!
Tucktec is definitely a much better value than the Orukayak. The Orukayak might be 8 lbs less and a little less bulkier, that alone don’t justified the $500+ extra cost. The Tucktec has a harder shell and should perform better in water and small waves. One can buy 2 Tucktec with extra change left vs 1 Orukayak.
Ken, great article as always. I too was torn between the Oru Inlet and the Tucktec kayaks. The price was a concern but I was more worried about unseen objects in the water. I did purchase the Tucktec for that reason. Last week I was on a lake, little rough water due to wind. I was paddling at a relaxing speed, not fast, and I hit a tree stump under the water that I did not see. I hit it on the right side under the kayak. It lifted the boat and jarred me pretty good. I was pretty concerned and paddled to shore to checkout the damage. Well, there was a scuff on the under side but no dent at all. I was relieved for sure. Not sure how the Oru Inlet would have handled that. Anyway, I agree with your assessment of both kayaks. Thanks for sharing.👍
Great review – thanks for posting. Love comparison reviews like this. One thing that some users on YouTube have said about the ORU is that water somehow can get into the the space on the inside of the plastic sheets, and you can’t get it out. Some articles actually show the water inside the sheet. It’s interesting that Tucktec gives a 3 year warranty vs, 1 year for the ORU. You’d think it would be the other way around, considering the ORU coats at least twice as much as the Tucktec. A 1 year warranty on a close to $1,000 kayak isn’t very long, especially when you consider that many users can not or do not paddle year-round, so you’re not even using the boat for 12 months when the warranty runs out. Just seems like ORU isn’t as confident in their product as Tucktec.
I love my 2021 Tucktec! I purchased it after looking at multiple reddit threads and perusal this article, and I don’t regret a single thing about it! Plus I love the fact that it is so customizable. Edit: I’ve also taken my Tucktec onto the Colorado River and kayaked to Antelope Canyon with it, as well as paddled against the wind with wind waves hitting me in some lakes, and I feel comfortable to say it handled just fine!
Thanks for sharing Ken! I have had the Oru Kayak Inlet for 8 months now and overall I love it, but have had many issues with it. The back seat broke, I got a hole in the hull, the front and back fairings broke, and there is a small hole inside. None of the issue made the kayak unusable, just annoying and I had to figure out how to fix them. Oru customer service has been ok, but I would not say they are great at resolving the issue of the holes. I kayak at least once a week so I might use it more than they intend.
This was super helpful. If I don’t go with an Advanced Elements option, I will go with Tucktec. Not just based on price. I appreciate the 90 days and 3 yrs warranty. I don’t care so much about how it looks as much as I do about other things. It seems Tucktec checks off those boxes. Thanks for this article!
Thank you! Great comparison, and this is the first that I’ve seen actually talk about COMFORT!! I kayak for hours. I currently own a Wilderness kayak but wanted something less cumbersome in my getting-older age. But I want to be comfortable first and foremost when I’m still on the water 3 hours later. I also prefer rivers to lakes and haven’t seen anyone actually test these on any level of river to see if hitting a rock will kill these things. I was very happy to hear your feedback on lvl 1 rivers. Thank you! This helped so so much!!
Very thorough, humorous, and fair side by side comparison. I lean towards the ORU models owning the larger recreational Beach model and their smaller touring kayak, the Bay. I agree that even with the models I own, the seat comfort is an area of improvement deserving of more focus. ORU now offers a gel seat, which is way more comfortable, as an additional purchase. Perhaps the gel seat will become a standard feature. Thanks for another great gear review!
I have an Oru, and I love it. I almost bought the Tucktec because it’s cheaper. I talked with two people who have tried both the Tucktec and the Oru. Both said they prefered the Oru, so that’s what I bought. He mentioned that the Oru doesn’t handle well on choppier water. But it should be noted that he has the inlet, which is designed for smooth, calm water. Oru also makes other kayaks, such as an ocean kayak, which I assume would preform much better on choppier water. He also commented on the Oru’s seat. I agree that the seat isn’t the best. With that being said, Oru has a different seat pad you can purchase, which make it much more comfortable (at least it does when stacked on top of the stock seat that comes with the Oru. That’s what I do). However, the price difference is pretty significant. I can see why someone would buy the tucktuc simply based on price.
Great comparison article! Having had one year experience with the Oru Inlet, I think I’ll give the Tucktec a go this summer. While the shell of the Oru might stand the test of time, I had a few significant quality issues. Early on, the seat back support brace broke, and I am no more overweight than Ken, or his buddy Ken. Later in the season, one of the snap buckles on the bow literally flew off the boat while snapping the boat into place, and landed in the adjacent pond. Doh! Fortunately, I had gorilla tape handy and used that to hold the bow in place that day. (The tape worked well). I also don’t think the orange support braces do much of anything. Other than that, the Oru tracks fine and looks pretty slick folded back together. I wouldn’t recommend it to friends at this price point though. The overall quality is just too cheap and flimsy. The Tucktec looks like a much better proposition at half the price.
Nice comparison. I went through the this comparison between the very same kayaks last year. In the end price and durability won me over and decided to go with the Tucktec. I really like the portability but find it insufficient for the body of water (Lake of 2 Mountains, a very large lake). I took it out several times on this lake and got myself into a pretty precarious situation due to winds and large waves that came out of nowhere. I even reinforced the integrity of the kayak using PVC tubing which I fashioned into a frame using a heat gun with front and rear cross beams. This made it far more rigid but the low profile and flex was still too much for this body of water. I did end up getting a traditional kayak (a 12″ foot touring/rec) but decided to keep the TT for when I go camping and can paddle on calm lakes. I have to say it is quite durable as witnessed in a YT article where the fellow who made the article of his trip down a river in Georgia (I believe) ended up smashing it against some rocks. After getting out of the boat, draining the boat and inspecting it for damage (just a minor scuff) he resumed his trip chasing down some items he lost when the boat was swamped. That impressed me very much.
Good, fair review. I have had both Tucktec and Oru. My Tucks were earlier versions pre-2020 and a 2021. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with those Tucks (the seat was terrible and you didn’t know what you were going to get because there were about 4-5 different seat versions at the time so most people were throwing them out and substituting a stadium chair instead), the clamps came undone even with the cotter pins in it, the swim noodles on the sides tore easily, and my 220 lb husband sat so low in the water that I was constantly worried he would take on water and submerge (I can’t imagine it actually can take 300 lbs). It looks like they made some modifications since the models I had, including the bar behind the seat and I think this is just proof of how new the Tuck is and is still undergoing design review. In any case, I sold my Tucks and bought two Oru’s instead (not an Inlet, but the next two sizes up – the Beach and the Bay). I love my Orus and have had them for two years now (they’ve been around since 2013 and there are several members that still have their originals). The Oru are more expensive, but it all comes down to what you want to do with your kayak.
I was paddling around on mine tucktec the other day and a lady came out on an oru and we sat and talked in the middle of the lake giving reviews about each other’s kayak right there. I’m still glad I got tucktec but the knuckle shaving is the problem. Tucktec, add some seam covers and a more rigid seat and you’re set!
I got the tucktec a few months ago and I think it’s an amazing value. Big upgrade from inflatables. I put the paddles inside the velcro wrap and it works great to carry everything. Oru is lighter and more aesthetically pleasing but that wasn’t enough for me to go for it. Used the savings to buy another tucktec and some light paddles for the price of the Oru.
I have talked with people that own one or the other on the flat tidal rive that I guide on, it seems the Tucktec is a little sturdier and the Oru doesn’t handle going over under water objects very well and their customer support won’t honor the warranty if you have gone over several objects and have gotten a hole or the crease gets a crack. Every Tucktec I’ve seen come back to the boat ramp always seems to have more water inside but I don’t know if it’s a over weight limit or paddling technique issue by the paddler. Both are pretty cool little kayaks though. Please keep these articles coming, always great content and information.
I’ve had a Tucktec for some time now and have used it on multi-day river trips taking everything I need for camping in the kayak. This review leaves one with the impression that it is only good for short outings but this is not true. It is tough enough to handle rock hits without any damage to the kayak. The seat isn’t comfy for me but I lay it down flat and sit in a crazy creek lounge chair which is comfortable to me all day long. I would recommend Tucktec enthusiastically.
I don’t know about the Oru Kayak, but the Tucktek comes in two different sizes – the 10 ft and the 8 ft. The smaller version is described for use by youth or small adults. I contacted customer service to ask which size would be the best fit for me, as I am 4’10”. They actually recommend the smaller kayak, which is also the less expensive one. Just FYI 🙂 Now, after perusal this article, I’m really excited about a foldable kayak! I’d been looking into inflatable ones but not loving the results.
Another cool article Ken. Great editing, production and content as always. And you made me chuckle again. Very watchable. Ignoring the obvious brand loyalty in the comments below, my feeling is that for anyone who’s after longevity (and the build quality that’s likely to deliver it), the Oru is going to shine through. In both cases, heavy-handed people should steer clear in my humble opinion. These things are not designed to be abused. Treated with a respect for the relative fragility of the materials and associated fittings they really are wonderful things. It’s not difficult to see why the Tucktec is cheaper, but that clearly doesn’t make it a poor boat.
This was very informative and helpful. I recently got a vehicle capable of taking us on camping trips and carrying small watercraft. We were interested in a portable option to avoid working with complicated racking etc. But after seeing the conditions these cannot handle, we are willing to bite the bullet and get sturdier, more capable kayaks! Thanks for aiding in our decision making!
Thank you so much for this review! I was previously interested in the oru kayak but it’s out of my price range, and it looks like the Tucktek has a similar level of performance for a lot less money. Considering my camping buddy and I are casual hobbyists, this looks like it would actually be a much better fit for us.
Great comparison article! I watched it several times before making my decision on which boat to buy. I really love the design and portability of the ORU, but I also loved the price of the Tucktec. In the end, I went with the Oru because they are selling a refurbished( ?) (it was brand new, not sure what was refurbished) Lake model for $379.00. Can’t beat that! I took it out on the Rio Grande for the first time today and I love it!
Great article Ken. I’m surprised you didn’t compare the Tucktec to the new ORU Lake model. It’s much lower priced than the Inlet model, and weighs even less. A YouTube article demos it back packed to a remote pond. One of the things I’d like to be able to do. I love my Sea Eagle inflatables. I have 7. I’ve had most over a decade now and used my Paddleski 435ps almost 500 times without a puncture. I bought a Razorlite 393RL last July. I love it! But I was still considering adding yet another kayak for two purposes. 1. Something to quickly setup and especially something that packs up super fast (and dries fast). On some days, a half hour on the water is all I have. It’s simply too much trouble to setup any of my inflatables and tear them down for such a sort paddle. A short paddle by the boat ramp might be better than no paddle at all. The Origami Paddler you reviewed clearly is the winner in that area, but looks pretty bad over all. 2. Something light weight to take to remote locations. The Razorlite comes with a back pack, but I feel 35 lbs on my back is too much to go more than a half mile with. I’ve been carefully perusal the ORU’s & Tucktec for over a year. While I’ve been interested in them, the more I learn, the more I realize how much better my Razorlite really is. Do your viewer know how difficult it is to get back on them if you tipped for any reason? I just saw some articles on the Tucktec, and it was beyond extremely difficult at best to get back in. Most of the time it swaps with water on attempting and you end up swimming back towing the kayak.
Love my #Tucktec! Why? I have a rare form of autoimmune neuropathy that affects my mobility, strength and balance. The Tucktec is lightweight, easy to assemble and transport and handles amazingly well in the water! When the season ends in the Northeast I can just roll it up for easy storage. Right now I can’t wait for open water so I can get out there for my first #Tucktec2023 paddle!
Haha bought 2 tucktecs hot pink! Just had abdominal surgery so it will be a few weeks before I can go test them out. But overall paid less for the 2 tucktecs than one oru and have 3 times the warranty. New to kayaking so even though tucktec says they can go up to class two water im staying at flat water for as long as I can think. But very excited. Great article.
Great comparison. The Oru definitely looks much nicer in terms of it’s shape and more covered cockpit sides but the flimsier corrugated material, higher cost and shorter warranty aren’t doing it any favors. I’d rather have a sturdier more durable boat even if it’s 8 lbs heavier. Also it needs to be said the Tucktec seems a bit more conducive to fishing and has optional side stabilizers to make the kayak less tippy for when fishing or for newbies.
The Oru Kayak has better safety features. It has bulkheads where you can store float bags to help keep it from sinking. Also, the way it is constructed allows air to be trapped between the layers of plastic of the Oru which also aids in keeping the kayak floating. They also now sell a new and improved gel seat cushion. I have the Inlet and it is awesome!
Informative and entertaining; mission accomplished – again! Seeing these two, which do have a few strong points, I am thinking that a packraft is still a better solution: a longer one (a two seater) will track just as well, it will be more comfortable, less wobbly, half the weight of the ORU, and good for nearly any kind of conditions. It will, indeed, be more expensive than the Tucktec, but about the same price as the ORU.
Would love to see you recite the oru and #tucktec again as it seems they have a pretty extensive redesign on their #tucktec2023. I love my purchase from 2019. Replaced my inflatable with it and definitely not going back. Can’t wait to see if the 2023 is worth buying a new one. Your reviews seem very unbiased and would love to see one on the new design.
So I’m just going to pause it as I go. Already your over head footage in the intro Showed me exactly what I have a problem with, with the tucktech. I sway side to side alot, the bow of the boat was regularly dipping, the seat is all the way back, I had a life vest with a small 10lb cooler all under 235 in weight. together. My gf has a oru and we don’t have that problem in either. Both very stable. But I just nose dive in the tucktech. I’ve used it about a dozen. Times and every trip i have alot of drag. Id suggest trying for tucktech to change the rear fold so it doesn’t make that pocket that catches water, even with adjusting the skeg I just seemed to spin when not paddling if I had momentum. I’ve ordered a tandem oru for now. I can single it being so big if need be going in separate ones. Now we have the original tucktech and the original oru, so it’s bigger than that inlet. But I agree with your take with this. I do say the other oru models are quite impressive
So many things to factor in. I was looking at these 2 and chose a third, the Oru Lake that was just introduced through a kickstarter. Shipping to Canada is absolutely crazy on all 3, Tucktec was going to cost me $Cdn 666 and the Lake was $Cdn 815. The Lake is even lighter and easier to assemble than the Inlet. Some struggled with the folding and cotter pins on the Tucktec. That said I am still not sure I made the right choice as the Lake won’t ship until August so I will lose a season, and at age 66 there might not be a lot of years I can get in and out of a kayak. I also bought a gel seat.
I have an inflatable but bought the Oru for the quick set up and lighter weight. For this was important. I live in Seattle and the Puget Sound is only a 1/2 mile from my home and the Oru with its backpack means I can walk to the water and more importantly walk back which involves a pretty steep set of stairs. The other reason I got the Oru is because later this summer I’m doing a 10 day/120 mile paddling trip down the Grand Union Canal in England. Having a light kayak is paramount for this as there are dozens of locks which require you to hop out of the water and walk around. The Oru is so easy to put together and so much more portable that I’ve only taken my inflatable out twice since getting the Oru and that was only because the Sound was pretty choppy those days and the Oru really is strictly for flat water. The one upgrade I did do was the seat. The stock seat becomes painful after two hours. I bought a seat pad from Purple which fits perfectly and has kept me comfortable on 4-5 hour non-stop paddles.
As a tucktec owner I’m probably biased. I bought mine years ago when there were only 3 color options available and before the neat upgrades. I have to say I don’t think you’re getting $500 worth of extra value, utility, or durability from the Oru. The Oru looks better and I’d say that’s it. You could buy a tucktec for yourself and a friend and that is still cheaper than an Oru.
Unless things have changed, the 10,000 fold claim is dubious at best. My Oru lasted 1 season before it had holes in the seams. 2nd season I used marine glue to plug and patch and that was all the life she had. I bought it when I had a back injury and it was great for portability but I wouldn’t buy another one, they’re just not durable.
IMO the Tucktec is the more practical kayak its more durable and has a 3 year warranty . having watched reviews on the Oru kayaks they do have durability problems so are not reliable . only disadvantage of the Tucktec is its heavier and not as pretty . maybe those loose parts Ken was talking about, put them together in a bag and clip it onto the kayak somewhere practical . Personally I would opt for the Tucktek but luckily I dont have to make the decision as my touring kayaks are very suitable for our lifestyle and the kayak camping trips we do
Two other “contenders” which kind of fit in this category but not the same are the DIY kayaks. Like Paul Elgin’s Coro Kayak II and DIY USA’s version 9 (I think is the one he likes). Of course, those are DIY kayaks out of corrugated plastic and probably don’t have the durability nor performance of these foldable kayaks – but I could be wrong.
I was going to buy a pair of Oru Inlets at a local store, but they couldn’t sell me two because 6 out of 7 of the boats they had were broken when delivered to the store. I don’t know if there’s a quality issue or supply chain problem, but I got scared off of them. I ordered Tucktecs instead, hope they’re good when they arrive!
Got my tucktec coming in what are you planning on doing is fishing saltwater in the back Bays with it mostly flounder I’m going to see if I can put a kayak anchor on it somehow where to tie it onto. Can’t wait to try it out in the spring please give me some feedback about the anchor and where I could do it at
So far, out of the two, I like the Ken in the Tucktech better than the Ken in the Oru. Not that the Ken in the Oru was out of line or anything. I just think the Ken on the Tucktech is a bit of a savvier shopper, like me, and he also has perhaps a bit of a stronger jaw line than the Ken in the Oru. 😆
I’ve found folding the TuckTec to be a pain in the butt. It isn’t too bad when I don’t insert all the stuff that is supposed to go inside though when folding. The Oru looks like the folding process might be easier? If so, I’m sure my kids would love that! But the price is really high for the Oru unfortunately.
10k folds my ass. I had the Oru Coast, used it around 15 times before a crease cracked. I was about 30 minutes away from my launch spot before i noticed water beginning to fill the kayak. Made it back while sitting in 2 inches of water. The sliders used to put the kayak together also started to wear down.
it seems to me that there’s a whole lots of shilling going on in this article for the oru, and yes I get it it’s by far a sexier boat but the tuctec to me is going to handle real world conditions in the water like hitting submerged things far better than the oru simply by virtue of the design material used. I’ll be ordering a 10 ft version real soon, like next week.
Tucktec in a hot car will not hold it shape. Even after I cooled it off in lake grapevine. Just folded and sank. Both will not self rescue if they tip over. Need to get to shore or have a plateform to step from like a raft or paddle board. Even with you paddle friend emptying out the kayak. You cannot get into kayak from the water without the side sinking into the water and refilling the boat. You did not do a capsize test.
I owned the ORU Inlet for about 10 months. The bulkhead velcro straps came un-glued almost immediately and I had to fix it like many others who had the same issue. It’s a breeze to just throw it in the trunk and go BUT…………….that’s where it ends for me. The cheap and thin seat is HORRIBLE, talk about numb butt syndrome :/ I had added cushions etc but still, it was just not for longer paddles. And then, well, it’s basically just a thin shell you’re sitting in. As a smaller, shorter person (I’m 5’6 and a mere 100lbs) I could never get my knees in to the right position to stabilize myself like I would in any other sit-inside kayak. Lastly, it’s a real PITA to add any anchor points for a water cup, my gopro, forget a fishing rod, etc etc. I think it’s a fun add-on kayak when you don’t want to be bothered with loading and unloading a bigger, heavier kayak and if you’re an apartment dweller it’s the perfect kayak due to size once folded. But I went back to my trusted Pelican yak.
Regardless of the Oru or Tucktec, the value proposition comes down to price/trip/year. In this regard, you can’t beat these portable kayaks. From my own experience with the Oru Inlet, you will be paddling much more frequently with these kayaks than your standard kayaks. It’s a few minutes to pack into the car and go. And, while the other kayakers are still trying to load their boats on their car, you’ll already be loaded up and ready to leave. You just can’t over-emphasize how convenient these boats are. My wife will usually average two to three hundred KM per year on her inlet. Since I kayak/camp, I usually double that.
Key takeaway: “There is no winner”. Ken, another very disappointing review in which you somehow feel it’s just fine to ignore safety issues like the lack of flotation, and the well-deserved criticism about how both kayaks perform during self-rescues. Here’s a really telling article about how poorly the Tucktec performs in a backyard pool test: youtube.com/watch?v=lr3W81ZUmrA. Have you seen it? Another strike against Tucktec is the fact that they misrepresent their kayaks as being: “Coast Guard Approved and Rated for Years and Years of Use.” That’s complete nonsense. The US Coast Guard doesn’t “approve” or “rate” kayaks. Period. You also say that neither kayak is suitable for anything other than flat, calm water, but there you are playing around on a Class II river. That’s a powerful visual and it definitely sends the wrong message. Yes, they’re lightweight, yes they fold up nicely, yes they have a lot of primary stability, and yes, they’re handy for paddlers who don’t have room for a hardshell – but what about being seaworthy? What about safety? Not that it would matter to you or Paddle TV, but Oru’s advertisements are some of most irresponsible that I’ve ever seen. They completely ignore cold water safety, and their promotion of drinking and paddling is inexcusable. Google “Oru Kayak’s Reckless and Irresponsible Advertising” for a article describing that problem.
The Tucktec is the shameless ripoff of the Oru, the Tucktec seat looks pretty cheap and honestly looks unbearable to sit on. If you search up Oru kayak on YouTube an ad for Tucktec appears with the title “Oru kyak” they seem to be using dirty advertising tactics to advertise their cheaply made boat. I’ve owned an Oru for over a year and it is definitely worth its price in gold. The hull is durable and has survived many rock scrapes and crashes upon the sides and bottom while resisting dents and deep scratches. The seats and random styrofoam noodles on the side of Tucktec seem extremely cheap and uncomfortable to be quite stark. The seats on the Oru are real seats with waterproof fiber seats and not a cheap styrofoam pad like the Tucktec. Between the shady advertising and cheap material and production of the Tucktec. I would highly recommend the Oru over the Tucktec.