This Sustainable Kayak Is Crafted From Over 60 Pounds of Recycled Plastic

For environmentally conscious adventurers, it’s a common dilemma that outdoor pursuits often rely on products made from materials that harm the planet—particularly plastics.

Choosing gear made from recycled plastics can make a difference. With this in mind, Osiris Outdoor founders Robert Turner and Wes Smith created a sit-on-top kayak made entirely from approximately 60 pounds of recycled Polyethylene plastic.

Turner and Smith, both outdoor lovers and engineering graduates from North Carolina State University, have careers in the field (Turner in civil design and Smith in manufacturing). Their motivation to design an eco-friendly kayak stemmed from their passion for water adventures and their awareness of America’s plastic waste crisis. Even items placed in recycling bins often fail to be recycled.

“A key motivation behind this initiative is the lack of sufficient demand to encourage manufacturers to opt for recycled plastic over cheaper, easier-to-source virgin materials,” Turner explains. “Wes and I aimed to shift this narrative by developing a high-quality, contemporary, and sought-after product made from recycled plastics, designed for long-term use.”

The Reprisal kayak appears to be successfully meeting all three objectives. Within just 12 hours of launching their Kickstarter campaign, Turner and Smith achieved their $20,000 funding goal to bring the kayak to market. In terms of quality, the recycled plastic used in its construction underwent rigorous strength and impact testing at NC State’s Materials Science and Engineering labs, performing on par with—and sometimes surpassing—non-recycled plastics.

Featuring a sleek matte black finish, which Turner describes as adding a ‘stealthy’ touch, the Reprisal exudes modernity. It also includes several features designed to cater to a wide range of kayakers, such as fishing rod holders, adjustable foot braces, multiple storage compartments—including a watertight hatch perfect for securing your phone—and more. The 10-foot-long, 65-pound kayak is highly stable, with pontoon-like resistance to tipping over.

“You can nearly dip your shoulder into the water without capsizing,” Turner notes. “This stability makes paddling, fishing, and even standing in our kayak effortless and worry-free.”

Currently, interested buyers can secure a Reprisal from the initial production run (scheduled for delivery in July) by pledging $649 or more through Kickstarter. A pledge of $1349 or more grants you two kayaks from the second batch, expected to ship in October. Additionally, smaller pledges are available for hats, shirts, and other Osiris Outdoor-branded apparel crafted from recycled materials.

If the company’s flagship product succeeds, the founders aim to broaden their kayak offerings. “We see the company offering a diverse range of boats with various features to appeal to every type of paddler,” Turner shares. Beyond kayaks, they are open to exploring other outdoor sporting goods.

“We’ve brainstormed concepts like paddle boards and coolers,” Turner mentions, “but we’re also eager to hear suggestions from our supporters to determine what our next major recycled plastic product line should be!”