Brand: CLR Outdoor | Product: VIK 3.8 ULTRA
The VIK 3.8 ULTRA is a one-person folding kayak developed in Berlin and handcrafted by CLR Outdoor. It is designed for paddlers who want the direct and stable feel of a structured kayak without having to accept the transport, storage and setup disadvantages of a conventional rigid-hull boat.
When folded, the kayak measures only 70 x 55 x 16 cm and weighs 11 kg. It can therefore be carried to the water as a backpack, stored in a small apartment, transported by public transport or stowed in a car without a roof rack. After a short familiarisation period, the VIK 3.8 ULTRA can be assembled without tools in approximately three to five minutes.
The concept is deliberately clear: a full-size kayak should adapt to people’s everyday lives – not the other way around. The VIK 3.8 ULTRA therefore combines a compact folding mechanism with a stable construction, a low seating position, an open cockpit and a straightforward, repeatable setup.
Why the VIK 3.8 ULTRA should win
The VIK 3.8 ULTRA deserves the Innovation Award because it does not merely improve one individual component; it rethinks the entire user journey: transport, storage, setup, paddling and the journey home. Its innovation lies in consistently removing the barriers that often prevent people from going paddling spontaneously.
- A full-size kayak becomes a compact 70 x 55 x 16 cm package and can be carried by one person as a backpack.
- The tool-free VIK-Fold system with precisely fitted frames, ratchet closures and VIK-LOCK enables a fast and repeatable setup.
- The combination of a polypropylene hollow-chamber structure, powder-coated aluminium and water-repellent technical fabric is designed to deliver low weight and high resistance.
- Development and manufacturing in Berlin enable short distances between prototyping, real-world testing, assembly and quality control.
- The product makes lower-impact and independent access to paddling destinations more realistic – on foot, by bicycle, by train or in a small car, without a roof rack or trailer.
What sets the product apart
Many folding and inflatable boats solve only one part of the problem: they are either particularly compact to transport or provide the feel of a structured kayak after setup. The VIK 3.8 ULTRA was designed from the outset to combine both qualities. Its compactness is not achieved by accepting a merely soft or provisional paddling experience. Instead, CLR Outdoor combines a folding polypropylene structure with purpose-developed aluminium frames and a precise closure system.
At the same time, the product remains deliberately focused. It does not add unnecessary complexity, but concentrates on the qualities that matter for spontaneous paddling trips: low carrying weight, very small packed dimensions, fast setup, a stable seat and a robust construction. This clarity makes the innovation immediately understandable and genuinely useful in everyday life.
Technical Information and Specifications
Product type | One-person folding kayak |
Model | VIK 3.8 ULTRA |
Length | 380 cm |
Width | 70 cm |
Weight | 11 kg |
Packed dimensions | 70/55/16 cm |
Seat | 1 |
Load capacity | 120 kg incl. paddler |
Assembly and dismantling time | 5–8 min. |
Kayak hull | PP, water-repellent Tech-Fabric, powder-coated aluminium |
Frames | Aluminium, powder-coated |
Protective cover | Cordura® Ripstop |
Backpack | Oxford polyester |
Closures | Fidlock and Gudo |
VIK-LOCK system | Purpose-developed precision closure mechanism with ratchet and magnetic closures for fast, tool-free assembly |
Protective cover / backpack | Protective cover made of Cordura® Ripstop; backpack made of Oxford polyester |
Construction features | OpenDeck design, low seating position for Center Stability and VIK-Fold technology |
Submitted colour | Forest |
Recommended retail price | EUR 2,680.00 |
Development and production | Berlin, Germany |
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