7 Best Folding Kayaks in 2023

Made from a single sheet of reinforced plastic, this Oru kayak is inspired by origami and can be assembled in 3-4 minutes. The Oru kayaks are some of the most lightweight and versatile folding kayaks on the market. The inlet is their entry model, and the least expensive.

There are five Oru kayaks models available designed for different conditions. The three open cockpit models are the Inlet, the Beach and the Haven. They are built for flatwater and are stable and beginner friendly. The Haven is a 2 person or tandem model.

The other two models are the Coast, and the Bay that are closed cockpit performance models that can handle harsh water conditions but do take some practice to master.

The Oru Inlet folding kayak is a great example of the Oru product line and is designed to be used recreationally on flat water. It takes 3-4 minutes to set up, once you get the hang of it, and it’s lightweight enough for easy transport.

This folding kayak is also durable and tough, featuring a double-layered hull that is both puncture and abrasion-resistant. Additionally, the Oru Inlet provides a range of features that make it comfortable including a spacious cockpit and adjustable foot and backrests.

Through an innovative nesting design, Pakayak has created a folding sea kayak that can be easily stored within itself (much like a Russian Doll). On the water, there’s little to distinguish this model from a standard, recreational, plastic kayak.

Each of the 5 sections connects through tongue and groove and is held together with multiple stainless steel clamps, while a silicone gasket rests in the inside of the kayak keeping it watertight.

The Pakyak Bluefin 142 folding kayak features a lean and long hull that tracks well in most conditions and can even be used to surf small waves. The Pakayak folding kayak can be assembled in just 3 minutes by unpacking and attaching each section.

With the Pakayak Bluefin 142, you get two bungee systems, two storage compartments, and lots of cockpit space. The carry handles make this folding kayak quite easy to transport. This folding kayak is generally more suited for paddlers with some experience and we don’t recommend beginners take into choppy waters.

The Tucktec folding kayak offers a roll design that makes this folding kayak extremely compact when packed away. This folding kayak is a lot more affordable and less durable than some of the other folding kayaks on this list.

While not a very good performer, it’s still suitable for a fun time on flat water and will even do well enough as a fishing kayak on calm stream rivers.

The Tucktec utilizes a hard plastic shell and a wide design that helps stabilize the kayak when on the water. The Tucktec is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a recreational and easy-to-use folding kayak.

It’s relatively quick to set up and once mastered you can set it up in about 3 minutes. That makes it maybe the fastest folding kayak, which makes up for it not being so good at tracking.

It’s important to note that the Tucktec folding kayak won’t handle choppy or difficult water conditions very well, making it most suitable for flat water.

The TRAK 2.0 is an excellent, portable folding kayak that offers better performance with the purpose of touring in mind. This folding kayak features 3 hydraulic jacks and a skin-on-frame design that gives it as much a sea kayak experience as any folding kayak.

The TRAK 2.0 folding kayak can handle almost any condition you’ll encounter when kayaking. With military-grade durable skin and carbon fiber ribs, this folding kayak can take a hit and will not puncture easily. It takes around 10 minutes to pack or unpack the pieces for the kayak and you won’t need any tools to set it up. Additionally, this kayak is comfortable and spacious with the option of customizing the cockpit to your specific needs.

If you are an experienced kayaker looking for a folding kayak that will allow you to travel long distances and even go on expeditions, you definitely want to check out the Long Haul folding kayaks. The Mark I is a slightly more complicated skin-on-frame design for touring or expeditions.

As one of the heaviest folding kayaks on the market, this boat is both more robust and less portable than other models. But the Mark I Long Haul offers paddlers a high level of comfort, stability, and reliability allowing them to paddle into rough conditions.

Other features include an 8” keel strip, 12 D-rings on deck, and grab handles at both the bow and stern of the kayak. Each Mark I comes with a comfortable seat, a packing sleeve, and a bag for portability.

The Aerius 490 SL multipurpose folding kayak by Klepper America is ideal for heavier paddlers and offers a large storage capacity for expeditions. It’s length gives it a pretty decent tracking profile and makes it a very decent touring boat.

The Aerius 490 SL is a spacious and comfortable folding kayak that provides a high level of performance. One of the distinguishing features of this kayak is its extremely high capacity of 660 lbs, making it ideal for heavy paddlers who also want to bring lots of gear with them.

With a weight of 63 lbs, its robustness means that it’s less portable than some other models. But with a higher price tag, this is going to be for yakkers that want to do more than just float around in circles.

It takes about 12 minutes to set this kayak up as you need to connect all the pieces, however, this is easy with Klepper’s snap-lock system. The Aerius 490 SL folding kayak offers many features including an adjustable foam seat and backrest, two air sponsons, a large deck bungee system, and a number of carrying toggles for extra portability.

The Neris Smart folding kayak features a hybrid construction that has a frame that makes it rigid but also inflatable kayak-like chambers that allow it to maintain its lightweight quality. It’s more of a fun option that will provide portability over performance.

The Neris Smart folding kayak is spacious and comfortable and offers paddlers a fun and enjoyable experience. With an intelligent hybrid construction of both a frame and inflatable sections, the Neris provides a stable and maneuverable folding kayak for use by both beginners and experienced kayak enthusiasts. It takes about 15 minutes to set up this folding kayak as you need to blow up the inflatable sections. This innovatively designed folding kayak is ideal for anybody looking for an affordable yet good-quality kayak that is best suited for recreational kayaking.