If there's one thing RV travelers know, it's how to make the most of a small space. It's foldable furniture. It's hidden compartments. Unfortunately, when it comes to RV's there often isn't proper space for bicycles, boats and other recreational equipment, despite the campsites' proximities to hiking trails and water.
Well, would you believe me if I said there was a kayak that could not only fit in an RV, but fit in a storage bin in an RV? You know, like those storage bins that are tucked underneath a bed.
Starting as a 33 inch by 12 inch by 29 inch briefcase of sorts, the Oru Kayak's Coast XT model can be unfolded into a 16 foot long, 25 inch wide, 35 pound kayak ready to take out to the river or ocean.
This innovative product is made possible not only with highly durable extruded plastic, but a complex origami design.
This design was perfected by founder Anton Willis, who was inspired by a New Yorker article about Robert Lang back in 2007. Lang could do astonishingly complicated origami pieces of art, but he was also doing innovative origami for practical application.
After reading about Lang's work on a giant foldable mirror that was used on a space telescope, the dots started to connect for Willis.
Living in a small apartment that would never be able to store a kayak, Willis began folding paper boats in his living room.
As a child, Willis had been an avid kayaker. It was just what he did. He'd go out and paddle in the morning before school. And then before work. It was just part of who he was. A sea kayaker.
Until he moved into the small apartment.
His first plastic models sank. But he would just go back to his living room and try again. And again. And again.
What came of his innovation and architectural background was the Oru Kayak, a company that has exploded exponentially since. The first two boats were funded by Kick Starter crowdfunding. And his most recent model – The Coast XT – closed a campaign this month [April] after raising over $250,000.
It's clear that people want this boat.
“This is our most refined boat ever,” said Oru Kayak's PR guy Cy Whitling. “It's got a redesigned fold pattern that makes the cockpit roomier, and makes the boat more stable, all without making the boat any bigger.”
And at Oru Kayak, size matters.
The Coast XT – and all their other models – can be checked in as luggage. They can be stored in the trunk of a car. Stored in an RV. They can be stored in a small apartment. This kayak can be brought anywhere.
Said Whitling: “You can go anywhere in the world with your own kayak.”
As someone who lived out his car for several months, “doing the super simple living” thing, Whitling knows first-hand how valuable innovative storage is for people traveling by RV.
“A lot of what you do is based on recreation,” he said. “You're going to these beautiful places, staying by a lake or river. The Oru is the best boat for that situation.”
Able to be set up in less than 15 minutes, the Coast XT is great for paddling out to an island, easily braving the rocking of the ocean waves. And the extra storage space allows for the packing of camping gear.
Some of the company's smaller models are more oriented for lakes and rivers. For people looking for the thrill of white water kayaking. For people looking to explore a river's many secret spots.
But what makes the Coast XT special is that it's being designed in collaboration with Lang, the original inspiration for the Oru Kayak. The Coast XT will feature a graphic of one of Lang's old patterns, one of the many collaborations to come.
“Origami has an in-depth scientific background, and so many folding theories,” said Whitling. “You can build off of the basics and get really complex. Which is exactly what we did. And with the Lang collaboration, it's really come full circle.”