![]() ![]() Those additional features are of too low quality to do anything for the already sub-optimal experience. If you were to upgrade to the $695 level to get the seat and paddle, you would definitely be overpaying. There are many other portable kayak or stand-up paddleboards that offer a better experience for around the same price, or in some cases, much cheaper. This means that you’re essentially buying a floating dock. The cheapest package is $539 (USD), without the seat or paddle. Is the Origami Paddler worth it?Īs I mentioned at the start of this review, there are tiered pricing options for the Origami Paddler. I’d say stoke that general love for the water, and then keep digging to advance your actual kayaking adventures. I just fear that potential life-long paddlers might be turned off by the achy, laborious nature of the Paddler. If you already own this kayak, I would encourage you to go rent or demo a higher-performance model so that you can experience the satisfaction of a comfortable, efficient paddling experience. It will also keep kids occupied whenever they want to burn off some steam. I would say the main appeal of the Origami Paddler is that it will get people out on the water and help them appreciate the beauty of a tranquil morning or an evening wind-down while vacationing at the lake. One thing I can say about this kayak is that it will hopefully act as a gateway to more advanced options. Granted, if you’re lighter than me then you might have a bit more confidence in this boat’s range. And I mean the flattest of flatwater you can find. The water was getting awfully close to spilling over and swamping the kayak. Though the capacity is listed as 230 pounds, I felt like I was pushing the limits at 195 pounds. It’s not trying to be a boat for serious, all-day exploring. In fairness, I suspect this kayak only aims to please the chill lake dabblers. On one notch I felt too stretched out, but when I shifted my heels one closer, I suddenly felt too bunched up to paddle smoothly. I also had trouble with the foot wells since they’re just crude settings with no way to tailor to the individual. It’s simply a basic chair with nothing but a thin pad underneath, which itself is just on top of a flat plastic floor. The seat is the biggest culprit of discomfort since there is no real cushioning or contour fit to it. The one saving grace is that because the Origami Paddler is such a wide, open-concept kayak, it’s easy to change positions frequently and therefore switch up the pressure points. I only paddled it for an hour and still felt those aches and cramps. I can’t give this kayak high marks for comfort. That being said, I’d happily trade these advantages for some extra horsepower. The automatic benefit of a short boat is that it maneuvers easily less so with the fins down, but it still spins on a dime no matter what. The dual fins do help the kayak to hold a line, but they’re of no help for speed. Unfortunately the 9-foot length, wide base, and flat hull do not lend themselves to any kind of paddling performance. This stability comes from the inherent integrity of a wide (31.5 inches), flat platform. That’s why you can sit on it without any fear of tipping over and you can stand on it to get that SUP experience whenever you like. Is the Origami Paddler stable or unstable?Īs I expected, this boat is highly stable. This thing unfolds in three simple steps, locks in just as easily, and just like that, it’s good to go. Where the Paddler does get top marks is assembly. It does fold into a storable cube, but it’s a little more awkward to move around than I would have liked. At 45 pounds, it’s pretty chunky compared to say the Oru Kayak Inlet or the Tucktec ( both of which I’ve reviewed recently). The Origami Paddler is designed specifically for portability. I also tested the package that came with a basic seat and some padding underneath. It does have foot wells, a bit of a tank well with some bungee straps, and dual fins to help with tracking. The Origami Paddler is a minimalistic design that is light on features. Online Price (w/ seat + paddle): $695 (USD) I usually like to paddle around for at least a couple of hours before doing these reviews, but in this case, I found out everything I needed to know within the first 20 to 30 minutes. I don’t want to spill the beans too early, but as you can see from the title, after testing out the Origami Paddler, I unfortunately had to put it into the latter category. The explosion of demand for these kayaks has produced a wide array of options to choose from some I have raved about in previous reviews, and others don’t quite hit the mark when it comes to the most important metric of all: paddling. These slick, innovative packages are lightweight, easy to store/transport, and generally a breeze to assemble on the shore. Portable kayaks have become some of the most sought-after models on the market.
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