Portable kayaks have become some of the most sought-after models on the market. These slick, innovative packages are lightweight, easy to store/transport, and generally a breeze to assemble on the shore. 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. 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. 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. Allow me to explain.
ABOUT THE ORIGAMI PADDLER
Retail Price: $849 (USD)
Online Price (w/ seat + paddle): $695 (USD)
Online (no seat + paddle): $539 (USD)
Length: 9′
Width: 31.5″
Weight: 45 LBS (20 KG)
Capacity: 230 LBS (104 KG)
The Origami Paddler is a minimalistic design that is light on features. It does have foot wells, a bit of a tank well with some bungee straps, and dual fins to help with tracking. I also tested the package that came with a basic seat and some padding underneath.
How much does the Origami Paddler weigh?
The Origami Paddler is designed specifically for portability. Unfortunately, it's not that portable. At 45 pounds, it's pretty chunky compared to say the Oru Kayak Inlet or the Tucktec (both of which I've reviewed recently). It does fold into a storable cube, but it's a little more awkward to move around than I would have liked. Where the Paddler does get top marks is assembly. This thing unfolds in three simple steps, locks in just as easily, and just like that, it's good to go.
Is the Origami Paddler stable or unstable?
As I expected, this boat is highly stable. 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. This stability comes from the inherent integrity of a wide (31.5 inches), flat platform.
Is the Origami Paddler any good?
Unfortunately the 9-foot length, wide base, and flat hull do not lend themselves to any kind of paddling performance. The Paddler is a snail out on the water. The dual fins do help the kayak to hold a line, but they're of no help for speed. 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. That being said, I'd happily trade these advantages for some extra horsepower.
Is the Origami Paddler comfortable?
I can't give this kayak high marks for comfort. I only paddled it for an hour and still felt those aches and cramps. 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. The seat is the biggest culprit of discomfort since there is no real cushioning or contour fit to it. It's simply a basic chair with nothing but a thin pad underneath, which itself is just on top of a flat plastic floor.
I also had trouble with the foot wells since they're just crude settings with no way to tailor to the individual. 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. In fairness, I suspect this kayak only aims to please the chill lake dabblers. It's not trying to be a boat for serious, all-day exploring.
Who is the Origami Paddler for?
Though the capacity is listed as 230 pounds, I felt like I was pushing the limits at 195 pounds. The water was getting awfully close to spilling over and swamping the kayak. This is strictly a flatwater kayak. And I mean the flattest of flatwater you can find. Granted, if you're lighter than me then you might have a bit more confidence in this boat's range.
One thing I can say about this kayak is that it will hopefully act as a gateway to more advanced options. 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. It will also keep kids occupied whenever they want to burn off some steam.
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. I just fear that potential life-long paddlers might be turned off by the achy, laborious nature of the Paddler. I'd say stoke that general love for the water, and then keep digging to advance your actual kayaking adventures.
Is the Origami Paddler worth it?
As I mentioned at the start of this review, there are tiered pricing options for the Origami Paddler. The cheapest package is $539 (USD), without the seat or paddle. This means that you're essentially buying a floating dock. I don't consider that great value. 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. If you were to upgrade to the $695 level to get the seat and paddle, you would definitely be overpaying. Those additional features are of too low quality to do anything for the already sub-optimal experience. The seat is uncomfortable and the paddle is too short and ineffective.
Anyone who has followed along with my reviews knows that I like to focus on the positives. But I also have to be honest when I struggle with a kayak. The Origami Paddler just didn't do it for me. I've paddled plenty of entry-level boats and am often able to calibrate my opinions accordingly. The main problem here is that I know for a fact you can find better portable kayaks for less money. So that's my unavoidable takeaway, and the main reason why I can't recommend this model to my audience.
Even though this wasn't my most bubbly review, I still hope you enjoyed it and that it provided you with some honest feedback. If you want to explore other options, make sure to sift through my other reviews, as well as how-to videos, Paddle Tales episodes, and all kinds of other paddling stuff on PaddleTV.
I have an Origami and love it. Portability was why I purchased it but also because Tim Niemier designed it and I already owned his first design: Ocean Kayak, so I trusted him to make a good kayak. I’m a calm water lake paddler senior who only goes out for an hour on a fairly small lake so this is perfect for me. Your review was fair and I agree with you on all points. I looked at other portables but didn’t want the hassle of inflating or complicated assembly. The Origami is fast and easy!
Awesome to hear your experience with the boat Monika! I’m so glad that you’re enjoying it! Cheers.
What is a better portable kayak/paddleboard for less money?
There are a number to choose from. Decathlon has a number of inflatables under $400. Tucktec also provides a much better paddling experience for less money. I think the best affordable portable kayak is the Sea Eagle 330. https://bit.ly/3SqoVLX
This product is just garbage. Bought it and was excited. But after a disaster with missing parts, I used it two times and it fell apart. I threw the product away.
DO NOT BUY IT
That sucks Ray! Nothing worse than being disappointed with something that you’re excited about.
There are many options out there for portable kayaks. This product is not portable.
We have two of these purchased as a super early bird on Kickstarter so we paid $558 for TWO of them (Crazy!) in 2020 and received them in 2021 but didn’t take them out until last weekend for the first time and we had a really pleasant experience. Other than them being heavy (we are new paddlers and didn’t realize most people use some kind of dolly to get from the car to the water) we had a great time in the South Florida intercoastal and mangrove trails.
I think it really depends on your end goal, I weigh 140 and my daughter 60 lbs rode with me and my husband is 160 and my son 40 lbs rode with him and it was able to support us on a leisurely paddle. We really enjoyed the experience. Sadly they aren’t being made anymore because of cashflow & production issues during the pandemic but I think it fit a good niche and got us out on the water which all in all was our goal when we purchased them.
That’s great to hear! That’s definitely the goal of a gateway kayak like this. Have a wondering summer on the water!
Ken is completely negative. Being negative is how he gets the attention he wants. I didn’t him stand up once in his video.
I’m not being negative to get attention John. I’m negative about the kayak, because it’s a crappy kayak. I’m sorry you don’t like to hear that.
“I’ve been curious about the Origami Paddler, and this review has been incredibly helpful! The innovative design and portability are real game-changers for kayaking enthusiasts like me. Reading about others’ experiences with it in different conditions adds to its appeal. Can’t wait to get my hands on one and explore the waters with ease!”
The blog post offers a thorough analysis of the Origami Paddler, and the comments confirm its value to prospective customers. Readers thank you for the thorough analysis that emphasized the product’s unique design and usefulness. What Kayak Is Right For Me The Origami Paddler’s reputation is boosted by certain commenters who discuss their favorable interactions with it.
I agree that the Origami Paddler is unique – it’s a uniquely poor design. Simply put, there are countless better choices on the market for the same money.