Instant kayak, on the go

Anyone who loves outdoor adventures knows what it’s like to be on a hike, come upon a lake and wish you could just jump in and go. Or, travel light but not miss out on a memorable paddle. That’s the thinking behind a new fully portable kayak.

Justin Case Kayak is the brainchild of Canadian outdoor enthusiast Inna Morgan who was frustrated with the bulk, storage requirements and cost of traditional kayaks. Working with designers and engineers in Europe, she developed a foldable kayak suitable for anyone from beginners to experienced paddlers.

Weighing in at just 5.7 pounds, about ten times lighter than a standard hard-shell kayak, Justin Case features a carbon fiber frame connected by custom, 3-D-printed connectors. The waterproof rip-stop skin is woven from nylon using a reinforcing technique that makes it resistant to tearing and ripping. A high strength-to-weight ratio stops small tears from spreading.

Tough enough to carry more than 250 pounds, yet completely portable, it folds to the size of a 40-inch by six-inch folding chair. Fully assembled in about 10 minutes, it measures 9.7 feet long by 26 inches wide by nine inches high.

Morgan and her team water-tested the prototype over a six-month period to ensure safety and reliability. A repair kit comes with the kayak.