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Comment by ericgoesoutside | Hacker News Reader

That's a pretty strong selling point. How close to 8 minutes is that in practice? (I see a review on moosejaw for the Bay ST where they mention having an eventual goal of assembling the thing in under 10 minutes)

I owned a Folbot for a while, and while they advertised sub-20 minute assembly times, it was really more like 30, which involved a fair amount of cursing at and struggling in 90-degree weather with the skin that never really stretched out to fit the frame. Moving to a sit-on-top that I can just throw on top of the car in 10 minutes on each side of the trip was a big win for me.

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> How close to 8 minutes is that in practice?

My wife has one, and loves it. It takes a little (but only a little) practice at first to, like, learn how to fold/unfold it, but eight minutes is a very realistic estimate.

I think their larger 2 person kayaks are a bit more fiddly, but 8 minutes might actually be an overestimate for the small one (other than the first couple times). I've been looking at them pretty closely (deciding between that, another foldable, and an inflatable... Don't have the space or vehicle for a full kayak)

We've got a sit inside Riot kayak and an inflatable one which is easier to transport but no fun paddling, drying and repacking. The sit inside is 19 kilos but you just tie it on top of your car (or put it in the back of your pickup) drive to a water body, take it off, throw it in the water and you're done. Plus paddling the sit inside is a fun, relaxing activity. And it's fast, has a lower profile and it isn't pushed by wind as much. I've also used a sit on top but they're heavier, less stable, a bit more sluggish (at least the 10 ft), you get splashed a lot. A folder? Dunno, seems rather unsafe. My rotomolded polypropilene kayak is almost indestructible compared to that. I would never paddle such a thing without a PFD.

I have an Inlet (their smallest) and it really does takes about 8-10 min to set up. I often race my partner to see if I can get it set up before her inflatable paddleboard completely inflates.

I haven't seen a Folbot before, but it looks like some sort of outer layer you stretch over a frame, almost like a tent? The Orus are nothing like that, they're more like origami that you fold together, tightened by a couple of pull straps. And they get easier and easier to assemble over time as you continue to wear in the fold creases. I can (and do) easily set mine up by myself with zero cursing.

I have an Oru Inlet and I'd say 8 minutes is generous. The actual unfolding and assembly of the kayak is more like 3-5 minutes once you have the process down. Though I understand the larger/more elaborate models can take a little longer.

My partner and I can setup the Oru Haven tandem kayak in 10 minutes when we're on our game. I can setup solo in slightly longer and slightly longer again when dressed for cold weather with gloves and all.

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