Gear Guide: Oru Kayak Beach LT Review
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- In this week's video, we take a look at the Beach LT from Oru Kayak. As a matter of full disclosure, I received this kayak in exchange for doing some video work with Oru Kayak, but my wife and I planned on buying 2 of these kayaks even before Oru Kayak reached out to me. We are delighted with these foldable kayaks, and love taking them on our summer camping trips.
If you're also in the market for a kayak and love what you see, you can follow the link below to learn more about this kayak:
ORU Kayak Beach LT:
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Very helpful review. Was considering the Beach and Inlet, but now considering the Beach and Bay. Very professional video and the cameras on front and back gave a perspective I haven't seen yet.
Hello Ben, I am an older adult (68 Years old) and live in Columbus, Ohio but was raised in the Clairemont area of SD. Mission Bay was a frequent place for me particularly as a kid. My wife and I also have both the Bay and Beach Orus and like them alot. You did a terrific job of describing the differences. My wife always paddles in the Beach and I always paddle in the Bay. Many thanks for your creative Oru kayak videos. So well done!
A much welcomed review Ben. Very helpful for anyone who is considering some form of recreation in these troubling times.
It sure is nice getting out there on the water, especially in the morning when it's so very calm. Thanks as always for watching Kreyg!
Thanks for the comparison, Ben. My wife and I have been looking into kayak options fur us and this helps a ton. Thanks again and have a great weekend!
You would love these Marco. They're incredibly fun and convenient, and you'll get a lot of comments from passers by when you start unfolding it into a kayak.
thanks for the reply, keep doing what your doing up here in Canada we enjoy your work
I enjoyed the video, Mr. Ben. Thank you, Sir.
Thanks for sharing Ben, stay safe.
Awesome review between the 2 kayaks. I am going to order the Beach LT with my tax refund this year and if things go well and I like the sport- I will get the Bay in the future.
Man that looks like loads of fun! thanks Ben.
It truly is! I love this level of innovation.
The mention of the "cargo room" was quite helpful. Nice to know there would be room for some minimal camera gear/small drone for future outings if I went with the Beach LT. Had originally been considering the Inlet but now I'm leaning more toward this one.
Yup, you have quite a bit of room both in front of you and behind you. While kayaking up in Glacier, it was nice to have snacks and other things easily accessible in the Beach LT.
This was exactly what I wanted to know-thanks!
Really helpful. Thanks!
Excellent video bro you have a new subscriber .. good job
I liked the comparison, especially the visual side by side. It seems the Beach is built like the typical recreation kayaks that are found on lakes and ponds, shorter and fatter and good for curves but harder for going straight. The Bay seems more like the typical sea kayak, long and narrow and easy to go straight for long distances. Having used both types quite a bit in the past, I prefer the narrower sea kayak design, but having the wider more open design of the Beach seems like it might make a good platform for wildlife photography on a tripod. Very intriguing. Thanks for the video. :)
That's very true. The Beach LT would be a better design for photographers. You could likely set up a tripod in it for wildlife photography on the water. The Bay is a bit more for speed and performance. They also make a 16 foot version of the Bay called the Coast. I would love to give one of those a try as well. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks! Very useful! We’ll do like you Guis ... We’ll order first the ST ... just to see the quality and we’ll buy later the LT which, I think, can be useful also if we take the furry friend 🐕(WSS) with us :) Anyway, thanks for both reviews (ST and this one)! They really helped us in our choice :) Stay safe and have fun ! 👋🏻☺️ Elvira&Gabriel
Fantastic! So glad it was helpful, and your furry friend will definitely enjoy the added space in the LT. My wife and I really love the combo.
I never comment on videos but I really appreciated this video from start disclosure to the review
Thanks Jessa, and I'm glad you appreciated it. It really is a fantastic product, and it's a lot of fun too.
awesome review
So glad you enjoyed it! It's a wonderful product.
Cela fonctionne aussi dans des conditions de navigation rudes?
This was most helpful, thanks. I'm 6'4" and wanted to to a little bit more open water. Do you think the Bay ST would be big enough?
I'm 6'1", and there is still quite a bit of space between my feet and the front bulkhead. As your feet get closer to the front of that bulkhead, the amount of space between your toes and the top of the boat gets smaller. I wear a size 12 shoe, and can't really wear shoes while in the kayak. I know that sound strange, but the shoes are nice when launching in some areas. Without shoes, I have plenty of space for my feet. I mention this because if you have a notably larger shoe size given your height, and also with longer legs, that's one more thing to factor in. I suspect you'll be just fine with it though.
@@BenHorne I have size 15 ft and I understand what you're saying about wearing shoes while putting in.
I think about 70% of my time in a kayak will be on very flat water. But I like the idea of a more "athletic" paddling experience. I'll have to think about it, maybe see if I can get in one in person.
Just the comparison and content I was looking for. Thanks for the great comparison. Do you get wet more paddling with the Beach LT?
You will indeed get a bit more wet, but it depends on how you're paddling. If you're just going at a relaxed pace, you might get a few drips in, but if you're really powering away you'll have a bit more. By comparison, the Bay ST has a rather small opening so those drips aren't as likely to make their way in.
If I'm out on a backcountry camping trip, would either of these hold all of my gear? I have an 80L backpack.
But, part of it has my camera gear, which I would like to keep on, or near me so I can film while out on the water - so having a small amount of accessible space would be good, but not really needed.
But can they fit my 80L bag though?
Hi Michael! Although there is decent amount of storage in either model, you're not going to be able to store your pack intact. If you break up the contents in some individual dry bags, you should be able to do it. There is storage behind the seat, then also in the areas behind the rear bulkhead and in front of the front bulkhead. Perhaps taking the empty pack itself and strapping it to the top would work also. Depending on where you're going, the Coast XL is 4 feet longer, and has added storage. That kayak would also deal with choppy water better.
It’s the tracking that probably helped with wind rather than power through the paddle
My big question is water type. This is rated for calm water and I'm not sure when then start to consider it more rough. I would be in an open, heavily trafficked river, which does have waves, albeit smaller ones
This is definitely best suited for calm lakes, bays, anything where the water is calm. Once it starts getting a bit choppy, you'll find that the Beach LT doesn't cut through the choppy water as well as the Bay ST, and the Coast XL will be best in that regard. It's a very comfortable kayak and great for calm water. Since the boat is very light, it will get bounced around in wakes or wind driven waves, though another factor to consider is the weight of the occupant. I weigh 185lbs and my wife weighs significantly less. When the water gets a bit choppy on a lake up in Glacier, I was okay in the Beach LT, but she struggled a bit. In those same choppy conditions, my wife did very well in the Bay ST. We like having both the Bay ST and the Beach LT as a balance of comfort and access to gear.
Would this kayak be good to use in La Jolla? That’s where I usually like to kayak.
That's a good question. I've never used it in the ocean, just the bay. The Bay LT or the Coast XT would likely be better suited for La Jolla since they are a bit more closed to keep the waves from slashing any water inside. Those models also have an optional spray skirt.
Thanks again for the video. Quick question - have you had a chance to try the inlet and if so, how does that compare to the Beach and the Bay?
Hi Shashank! I haven't had an opportunity to try out the Inlet so I don't have any experience with that one. I do love how small it folds based on the photos though.
@@BenHorne Thanks for the feedback! I might try it out - if so I'll let you know. Thanks again for all the videos!
@@shashankg3705 I have the same question (Inlet vs Beach). Would be nice if the company would do a video. The beach is obviously 2 ft longer and heavier so it probably rides a little better. I'd be interested in user review. Thanks for this video.
Pity they changed the original Beach or I'd get another. Original is solid, newer ones seem to have too many issues.
Just like Charlie Brown's teacher, I look forward to the day we get to meet, Mrs. Horne.
Hi Randy! I actually had some really nice footage from the trip to Glacier, but I believe I would have needed a permit to use it for this video. Perhaps on a future trip though!
great as usual, question do you now need vloging permits for national parks i heard fines to youtubers are big
There hasn’t been any clarity on the issue. Those who have been fined have very large viewership, and they earn a significant income from RUclips monetization. In my case, the videos aren’t monetized at all, but I earn income from voluntary contributions and from selling prints. There are also those that film videos and don’t have channels that can be monetized yet. I am all for a reasonable permit process, but the existing rules are geared more toward commercial productions involving actors, film crews, lighting, etc that takes over a location, versus filming a youtube video that is a one person operation and does not disrupt the experience of other visitors. I really would love more clarification on this topic as well.
With the Beach, do you feel there is room for a small child? For short periods. Also how are all the snaps and buckles holding up over time? I'd be concerned they may pull out of the hull.
There is quite a bit of room in front, and definitely enough room for a small child. I’ve seen photos/videos of people in the Beach with a decent sized dog along for the ride. I’m happy to say that the buckles are very securely mounted through the hull, and I have had zero concerns about them.
Very informative video, thanks for posting.
Is the Bay noticeably faster than the Beach (assuming flat water and no wind)?
I'm thinking of the Bay, but am a keen photographer (though nowhere as talented as you!) and I don't think the Bay will allow use and storage of a proper (sony alpha) camera while on the water - the only place seems to be behind the seat or between the legs! So if the Beach isn't that much slower, that might fit me better!
Hi Michael! The difference in speed comes down to the width of the Kayaks. The Bay ST is narrower, so you don't have to reach as far over each side to paddle. As a result, you can paddle quicker and more efficiently. With the Beach, I have to reach a bit further and the strokes aren't quite as powerful. The difference isn't *huge*, but it's certainly noticeable. As far as carrying your gear on the Bay ST, it would be tricky to reach behind you, so the best place really is in your lap, though it would need to be in a dry bag since some drops of water sometimes end up there while paddling. You could also secure it to the top of the kayak in front of you, just so long as you're smart about finding a way to store it so that it's protected from the water.
Thanks for that very helpful and detailed answer! : )
Ben, I'm now quite keen to get Oru Kayak. What is your impression after owning it for longish time? Also, How do you record yourself while in the Kayak?
It's been several years now and I still love these kayaks. The Bay ST is my favorite because it's narrower which makes it easier to paddle fast. It's a very sporty little Kayak. I just had it out on the local lake a couple weeks back, and look forward getting out in it again soon. I love that I can store them in a cabinet in my garage. Also, when it comes to filming, I filmed this video using a GoPro Clamp with a bendable arm for a bit of elevation. On my Bay ST, I added one of the adhesive mounts to one of the black plastic "zipper" pieces that holds the kayak together.
Any water get inside? Also do you have to dry it before folding it up?
Hi Chad! The only water that gets inside is from when some gets dripped in while paddling. If you're paddling quite vigorously like shown at the end of this video, some water can get between the double layered hull, so it's advised to tip the kayak on end to let it drain out. When I take the kayak down to the bay, I'm not overly concerned about it drying before folding it up, but once I get home, I hose off all the salt water, tip it on end to drain any water out, then let it dry before folding it for storage.
@@BenHorne How long do you leave it to dry at home in the unfolded position? Another reviewer said it required a couple of days for the water to drain. Thanks for the chill reviews!
I am in an apartment, so I would be interested in a reply to the question about dry time.
Can I go camping with it, how many miles can I kayak a day on this?
If you pack your gear as though you were going backpacking (lightweight gear, not overly bulky), there is definitely space in the kayak for camping supplies. With regard to how many miles, it really depends on the conditions more than anything. If the waters are glassy, longer distances are far easier than in the afternoon when the wind kicks up. As a reference point, I'll do about 4 miles sometimes when I go for workout down on the bay. The conditions are usually quite mild with very little wind. After going 4 miles or so, my butt starts to get a bit sore, but my arms were still fine. A little more padding for the seat would help with longer distances. I would look at the Bay ST or Coast XL if you're looking to cover some greater distances. They cut through the water even better than the Beach LT.
Have you tried water reentry?
I haven't so I can't say how easy or difficult it would be. The side walls of the Beach LT are actually quite rigid because the material folds down and into the interior.
Would be handy if you could travel to a location on water with 8x10 kit 👍
For sure! That is very possible to bring my camera kit in either this kayak or the Bay ST. I would love to find a location where that was possible. Maybe at some point down the line.
Was this in Newport dunes ?
It was at Mission Bay in the DeAnza cove area.
Hi Ben - loved the video... Very informative!
How's the sitting position on the Beach LT (Straight or inclined)
Does the seat support well?
The seat is tethered to a metal support rail on the back with a bungee cord, and the front has adjustable straps on either side that pull it forward so you can fine tune the position. I would say it's relatively straight, but you can adjust it. I find it's actually a bit more comfortable than the seat on the Bay ST since it's a bit wider. The seat cushion on the bottom could use a bit more support for longer durations, but that would be easy to modify, perhaps putting something soft under the seat cushion for just a bit more support. I'd say that after maybe 1.5 hours in the kayak, you'll want a bit more support on the seat cushion, but for durations shorter than that it'll be just fine.
@@BenHorne Great Thanks!
Mr. Horne, where are your new videos? Gosh, I have not seen anything from you in a while. I hope you and your family are doing well.
Hi Courtney! I've been very busy behind the scenes mailing out the preorders of my 2020 box set. I have also been working on the videos for my Zion series. The Zion videos are mostly complete, but I still need to write and record the Voiceovers. I'm hoping to start posting those videos along with all sorts of other videos a week from this Saturday.
Hello, Mr. Horne. I cannot wait for your new content. Please be safe out in this strange big blue marble. We appreciate you. Thank you.
Hi, can you bring a small dog in a Beach LT?
Yup, there is definitely a lot of room in front of you for a small dog.
Do you think a German shepherd could company on your journey in these?
I think it could possibly fit, though paddling might be a bit difficult since you won't have as much room in front of you to hold the paddle.
A nice review, but out of place. I could see 8x10 camera companies sending you stuff. Definitely GoPro, camcorders, hiking equipment of any sort, hiking food type companies etc. So it was a little weird seeing you in a kayak when I', used to seeing you in the desert.
Pics or it didn’t happen. (8x10 pics I mean)
Haha! I gotta say that the really atmospheric blanket of fog in the opening sequence of the video would have made for a great photo!
This product is not as durable as advertised, its lifespan may be short.
That hasn't been my experience. I've had mine since 2019 and love them.
Hey thanks for posting kayaker myself video was good but did not help me one bit with no price completely useless
This video was recorded 3 years ago Jim, and in that time prices change. A brief google search or visiting their website will show you current pricing. I guarantee it's quicker and easier than it is to a disparaging comment saying a video is useless, but I understand that's how the internet works where all civility goes out the window.