I live in London. Getting a foldable kayak actually changed my life

When I tell other Londoners that I love this city for its access to nature, they often respond by questioning my sanity. London is easily one of the world’s most talked-about cities, but it mostly conjures images of double-decker buses and red telephone booths.

Few visitors are aware that the capital has so many trees, it technically counts as a forest. But what I love most are the city’s rivers and canals, which remain undervalued and uncrowded—as long as you’re willing to get out on the water.

A few years ago, I moved to a part of northeast London that’s bordered by marshes, wetlands, and the River Lea Navigation. I loved walking along the canal towpaths when I first moved to the neighborhood, where I was delighted to watch the narrowboats that have been turned into cozy homes.

But on warm, sunny afternoons, the canals were hardly a quiet escape. Runners, walkers, dogs, and cyclists all used the paths at the same time, and we constantly got in each other’s way. I wanted a way to feel connected to nature without competing for peace and quiet.

So, I got a set of foldable Oru Kayaks.

These kayaks are made of lightweight corrugated plastic that folds like origami. I have two of the Lake model—USD$499—which weigh about 17 lbs (about seven-and-a-half kilos) each and fit into rectangular backpacks that are a little taller and narrower than a standard large suitcase.

While the paths along the city’s waterways are usually packed with people, the waterways themselves are usually quiet, nearly silent in comparison. Aside from the occasional narrowboat navigating its way through the city to find a mooring, I rarely have to share the River Lea with other watercraft.

Even though all the signs of modern urban life are right there, literally surrounding me on all sides, I feel removed from the chaos of the city. It’s nearly impossible to paddle while scrolling, so it’s also a beautiful way to disconnect

Although waterways have shaped the city for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, you won’t find that many paddlers here. You’ll spot occasional rowers on the Thames in Richmond and along the Lea River Navigation, but you’re not likely to see anyone on a standup paddleboard or in a kayak—unless you run into me.

Kayaks can be prohibitively space-greedy for people who live in small apartments in big cities. Where could you possibly keep a rigid boat in a New York studio, and how would you even get it there in the first place? Having a folding boat, however, opens up an entire new method of recreation.

From door to dock, it takes me about 15 to 20 minutes to walk my boat to the river, set it up, and get in the water. I’ve spent many early mornings paddling the canal at dawn, birdwatching with no competition. I’ve spotted many herons, families of ducks, swans, and geese with many fuzzy babies, and the occasional fox strutting home with its prey.

Even though all the signs of modern urban life are right there, literally surrounding me on all sides, I feel removed from the chaos of the city. It’s nearly impossible to paddle while scrolling, so it’s also a beautiful way to disconnect. I always feel calmer, happier, and more grateful when I get home from a paddle.

Oru’s kayaks also open up travel possibilities that would otherwise be logistically challenging. I’ve taken mine on the Tube and London’s Overground many times, both to get to other waterways around the city, like the famous Regent’s Canal, and to go abroad. A few years ago, a friend and I paddled Oru’s larger Beach LT and Coast XT models across Scotland, along the 54-mile Glasgow to Edinburgh Canoe Trail.

We used public transportation to get there and back, and stayed in small B&Bs close to the water over four days of paddling. At the end of each day, we packed up the boats and walked to our hotels with our transportation on our backs. On the last day, when I got a shoulder injury that made for slow going, I simply hopped out of the canal, folded up my boat, and took a train the rest of the way to Edinburgh.

I’ve also taken my boat across the English Channel—on a ferry, that is. A friend and I took trains and buses, and the ferry to Saint-Omer, France, which has hundreds of miles of canals dug by hand over a thousand years ago. Today, most of the ‘islands’ in the marshes are connected to the town by small bridges, but there are still a few places that can only be reached by water. So, we walked from our downtown hotel to Les Faiseurs de Bateaux, a canalside boat rental company where we launched our boats. It felt rural in comparison. We then paddled to La Fermette de Marie Grouette, a two-bed B&B surrounded by tree canopies that make it feel miles away from modern life, rather than just meters.

I regularly take friends out on the water when they visit me in London, and it’s still a wonderful novelty

Most recently, I took my boat on the train from London to Hamburg, Germany, where I borrowed a Roadsurfer campervan for a week of roadtripping around Scandinavia. I took a suitcase this time, and I’ll admit that it was a bit cumbersome to drag it through train stations with a kayak on my back. But when I got to Hamburg, my Lake fit neatly in the back of the van, and I felt like I’d unlocked a new level of relaxation. 

I kept an eye out for kayak-friendly campsites everywhere I went, and I was ecstatic when I found one at the edge of a literal lake outside the town of Tidaholm, Sweden. No-one else was out on the water when I took an early-morning paddle; instantly, the journey was worth it.

If space isn’t at a premium for you and you plan to transport your boat by car rather than on foot, some of Oru’s larger boats may be a better fit for you. The Beach is slightly larger, with more storage space—and its width also makes it more stable, so it’s a better fit for longer journeys or water that isn’t completely flat.

The Coast model takes longer to set up, but can be used for rougher waters and sea kayaking. The Lake is Oru’s smallest and most city-friendly boat, as it’s the quickest to set up. Now that I’ve got the hang of it, I can set it up in less than five minutes.

I regularly take friends out on the water when they visit me in London, and it’s still a wonderful novelty—especially when we pay a visit to the paddle-thru window at the Milk Float, a café aboard a boat moored in Hackney Wick. It’s not your typical London experience, but to me, it’s the best.

A disclaimer and a note on sustainable consumerism: Adventure.com acknowledges that all outdoor recreation gear has an environmental impact, and the most sustainable thing you can buy is a version that already exists. We prioritize sustainable options as much as possible, as well as products that make it easier to be more sustainable in other areas of life. In all cases, we strive to provide thorough, honest reviews to help inform your decision-making and be a more intentional consumer. While the author has previously collaborated with Oru Kayak, the brand was not involved in the production of this review, which was entirely independent.

****

Adventure.com strives to be a low-emissions travel publication. We are powered by, but editorially independent of, Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest travel B Corp, who help ensure Adventure.com maintains high standards of sustainability in our work and activities. You can visit our sustainability page or read our Contributor Impact Guidelines for more information.