OUR MISSION:
Transform the way we connect to the outdoors.
Oru Kayak Brand History/Story
We believe in a world with more spontaneous adventure.
Our brand embodies the freedom to get outside and hit the water anytime, anyplace. To find tranquility, beauty and joy— whether you’re paddling a mountain lake or an urban waterway.
Our kayaks are designed for durability and performance— but also for moments of pure magic. The light shining through the translucent kayak while you’re on a sunset paddle, or the look on a kid’s face when she sees you turn a 16 foot boat into a suitcase.
Our Story
Oru Kayak was born when a designer who loved kayaking read a magazine article about origami. He looked around his studio apartment and thought, “what if a kayak could fold up like a piece of paper, and fit in my closet?”
Paper models of folding kayaks led to hacked full-sized prototypes. The first one sank in minutes, but they got steadily better.... and a weekend hobby quickly became a full-time obsession.
A young business school student took his first ever kayak ride under the Golden Gate bridge in one of these prototypes, and was hooked. The eager duo launched the company on Kickstarter in 2012 to an overwhelming response. In the years since, Oru Kayak has expanded from one model to a full array of products and accessories, all to help paddlers of all abilities connect with water— from ponds to the Pacific.
Brand Values
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Succeed Together
We define shared goals, and work as a team to achieve them.
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Respect
We support and respect our teammates, community, and nature.
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Communicate
We listen and collaborate; we are concise and transparent.
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Learn & Develop
We learn by doing, and value initiative and personal exploration (stop, collaborate, and listen).
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Be Bold
We take a stance, share, discuss, and don’t settle for good enough. We do everything to the fullest.
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Be Good
We have the opportunity to do well while doing good
Why Solo Brands?
We’re not in business just to sell widgets— we started Oru Kayak to create moments of joy and connection. Our most rewarding days are when customers share amazing experiences with our products. Our partner companies in Solo Brands all share this two-way flow of passion, connection and inspiration— we believe it’s the future of business, and a great way to live our lives.
Highlight Reel
See it in action
