Skip to main content

Oru Kayak and Topo Designs team up for a limited-edition folding kayak

For anyone who lives near the water, there is no better way to explore the outdoors than in a kayak. However, owning a kayak comes with its own complications. Even if there is room to store a kayak at home, transporting it to the water is another story.

Oru Kayak has created its foldable kayaks to remedy the complications that come with owning a small boat. With a foldable design, this kayak can go just about anywhere. And for a limited run, Oru Kayak has teamed up with Topo Designs to create a stylish variant of their Beach LT model.

Related Videos

Unlike the standard Oru Kayaks, this limited run features unique coloring inspired by Topo Designs. On the top-level surfaces, the kayak now features classic red color blocking, unlike the plain white of the original. Additionally, the bulkheads and base plate are blacked out to complement the new color. Otherwise, the kayak remains unchanged from the Beach LT model.

When it’s time to go out on the water, unfolding and setting up the kayak can take as little as three minutes. The Beach LT is an all-around kayak great for day trips, picnics, and casual outings with family or friends. This 26-pound kayak measures 12 feet long and 28 inches wide.  Despite its origami-like design, it can support up to 300 pounds and features 140 liters of storage. The backrest and footrest are easily adjustable and can accommodate anyone up to 6 feet, 6 inches tall.

After a day on the water, the kayak folds back up in minutes into an easily transportable backpack form. The final package is so small that it could easily fit on a plane as a checked bag.

The Topo Designs X Oru Kayak Beach LT is currently up for pre-order at the special price of $1,300. Availability is extremely limited and buyers will receive a free paddle with their purchase. Emails will go out when the kayak is ready for shipment in early June.

Editors' Recommendations

Oru Kayak’s collapsible, origami-inspired Coast XT gets a crowdfunded upgrade

Previous

Next

Read more
REI and Athleta are teaming up to get more women outdoors
REI and Athleta Partnershipo

In an effort to encourage more women to get outside, two popular brands have announced a partnership that appeals to both companies' core market. Outdoor gear retailer REI is joining forces with ladie's fitness clothing manufacturer Athleta to provide more performance apparel options for women. Starting on February 28, a curated selection of Atleta gear will be available in 14 different REI stores across the U.S. and online at REI.com.

Both companies have been instrumental in empowering women to be more healthy and active. Last year, REI launched its Forces of Nature initiative with the sole focus on helping women to become more engaged with the outdoors. As a part of that project, the retailer also launched its three-day Outessa festivals and introduced more ladies-only travel options at REI Adventures. Similarly, Athleta introduced its "Power of She" campaign, which celebrates women who have come together to effect social change.

Read more
Columbia is offering a limited-edition Han Solo parka signed by Harrison Ford
Han Solo Echo Base Parka

Star Wars fans listen up! If you've always dreamed of owning Han Solo's iconic parka that he wore while on the surface of the ice planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, Columbia Sportswear may be about to make your wishes come true. Starting tomorrow Friday, December 8, the outdoor gear manufacturer will offer limited edition versions of the Echo Base Parka signed by Harrison Ford himself. But to get your hands on one, you probably need to be fast enough to make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs and have plenty of credits to your name.

When designing this officially licensed version of the famous parka, Columbia went to great lengths to re-create it as accurately as possible. The jacket includes the same faux-fur hood, extended length, and distinctive cut that fans saw when the movie first debuted back in 1980. It even retains the same brown color, which has long been a source of contention with diehard fans. Many of us remember the jacket appearing to be blue on the big screen, but in reality, it was brown. The change in appearance was a result of post-production color grading which gave the parka a navy hue and spawned many heated discussions in the years that followed.

Read more