The British, Australian and French navies all manufactured their own folding origami kayaks. Hence, they provided a much-valued tactical ability.

Due to the wooden frame and canvas skin, they could not be detected on radar. However, the most important reason why the armies were enthusiastic about folding kayaks is because of the materials used in their construction. The crafts were light, easy to maneuver and highly seaworthy. During the second World War, the navies of all participating nations saw the importance of the origami kayak. Service In The World WarsĪ decade later, folding kayaks were once again at the front lines, literally. The journey took him 7 years from 1932 to 1939 and covered a total of 31,068 miles. For example, in the 1930s, explorer Oskar Speck traveled from Germany to Australia in a folding kayak. Some notable adventurous milestones were performed in early foldable kayaks. In 1906, Klepper released a folding kayak brand known as Faltboot and it preceded many other kayak technologies available today. He marketed them as being compact and easy to transport. He made the frame from wood and the hull from canvas. In his factory at Rosenheim, Germany, Klepper took Alfred’s design and began to manufacture the folding kayaks on a massive scale. His name was Johannes Klepper and he was a Bavarian tailor. While Heurich invented the folding kayak, another man made them a commercial success. After folding, Alfred’s kayak could fit in three bags, each weighing less than 10 pounds. His folding kayak consisted of a bamboo frame with sailcloth stretched over it. He took to the waters of the Isar River near Munich, Germany to test and prove his creation.Īfter success, he registered a patent for it under the name “Delphin”. Alfred Heurich, an architecture student, invented the world’s first safe and working folding kayak in 1905. In the early 20th century, a more efficient, effective and safer folding kayak was invented. A donkey was also included onboard the early kayaks, and once they arrived, the donkey was used to haul the collapsible kayak upstream once again. In 500 BC, Middle Eastern merchants used collapsible kayaks to float their goods down the Euphrates river in Babylon. The idea of origami kayaks goes back many centuries to the dark ages. Here is a history of the folding kayak and what it looks like today. You can easily carry it around with you anywhere you desire, and not just because you can fold it, but because it’s super lightweight. While many types exist, the most versatile is the folding kayak. With a paddle, you can navigate along rivers, on lakes and through rapids.įor centuries, people have used kayaks to get around the water bodies of our world. It is a narrow, light, easily maneuverable boat that can carry one, two or even more people. As a result of this need, we have invented various types of crafts to help us experience mother nature. Human beings have a deep need to connect with nature, and it is even strong in those who live in cities and away from the great outdoors. The History & Innovation Behind Foldable Origami Kayaks For updates, check out their Kickstart Page here: Onak Origami Kayak Kickstarter. Onak, the latest entry into the origami folding kayak category, reached this goal of raising money on Kick Starter. How cool is that? Obviously not a lot of contenders in this category, but these origami kayaks are super sturdy and durable. The MYCANOE Folding Kayak located in Knoxville, TX, is a patented, award winning canoe that takes 15 minutes to assemble. We did an in-depth article on it which you can read by clicking on the link above included are pictures and videos so you get a great idea of what the Oru Bay is all about and how it’s designed to last a long time. The Oru Bay Kayak, the original origami kayak, is at the leading forefront of this category.

In case you have it in your mind that these could possibly not be durable, I would encourage you to check out this video as a starter reference: Types of Foldable Kayaks On The Market #1. As unbelievable as it might sound, an origami folding kayak is a kayak that can be folded or unfolded as needed and within minutes. Well, take that and apply that concept to a kayak.

Think about what an origami is: it is the Japanese art of folding paper into art or decorative pieces. But before we get into all of that… let’s delve into: What Is An Origami Kayak? Soon after, the Oru Bay kayak made an appearance on the Shark Tank. The revolutionary idea began with the Oru Bay kayak in 2012 when Oru Kayaks company started as a 3 person company looking for funding, thanks to a Kickstarter campaign. It seems like in one swift move, origami kayaks (also known as folding kayaks) took over the kayaking world like a trend… only this trend has never left.

Origami paddle board