Canoe reviews from Reddit

Summary

We analyzed 157 Reddit reviews across 8 subreddits and 40 posts to rank the best Canoe brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/canoeing, r/canoecamping, r/algonquinpark, r/Survival, r/whitewater. Top-rated brands include Old Town (4.2/5), Esquif (4.3/5), Nova Craft (4.3/5).

Stats

Reviews157

Subreddits8

Posts40

Brands44

Products74

Top communities

r/canoeing88 r/canoecamping34 r/algonquinpark14 r/Survival6 r/whitewater5

157 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Old Town

4.2

(22)

"If you can find an Old Town Discovery 174, that would work great for you."

"I love my old town Penobscot 164."

"Old Town Tripper or Campers are both good canoes for canoes camping."

"Have you considered boats like the Old Town Tripper? It's a royalex boat that was 17'2" long."

"I own a Royalex camper and my brother a Royalex Penobscot and I’ve gotta say the camper is much more stable."

"If you can find an old town tripper, they are fantastic tripping boat especially for moving water!"

"My buddies and I all use Old Town Guide 147 boats with Hala Butterknife paddles."

"The OT Penobscot is a great boat for what you’re describing."

"They are heavy, but are among the sturdiest canoes you can find anywhere."

Esquif

4.3

(20)

"Quite light for a plastic canoe, lovely durability, capable on class 2 whitewater if you want to do it."

"I would recommend a prospector style canoe."

"Check out Esquif Adirondack or Echo. The Adirondack in T-Formex Lite is sub 40 lbs, 12' and a great day paddling solo boat for $1500."

"I’d check out Esquif."

"Fabulous canoe. I paddled to Moosonee last year on the Missinaibi."

"Esquif Prospecteur 15 paddled solo would work well for you."

"For that kind of money I'd go for a Canoe made of T Formex, a prospector shape would probably be your best bet in the 15 ft range."

"The Esquif Huron 15' was just released in T-Formex Lite."

"Is say an Esquif Echo or Prospecteur 15 would probably work well."

Nova Craft

4.3

(16)

"Great tumblehome and rocker for a heavier load."

"I’m a big fan of Nova Craft (own 6 of them), but also really like Esquif."

"I bought a 16’ Prospector basalt innegra last summer and love it."

"Absolutely love my Nova Craft, and it's absolutely rock solid."

"The Nova Craft Prospector 16' for example is a solid boat for what you described."

"I own 4 of them from Novacraft and they’re fine boats, can’t go wrong."

"Or a Nova Craft Prospector 15 in Tuffstuff also paddled solo."

"I’d recommend a Nova Craft Prospector in their “TuffStuff Expedition” layup."

"Check nova craft canoes - they have prospector and similar shapes in lighter materials."

"Nova Craft Prospector 15 is a nice boat."

Swift

4.4

(15)

"Swift probably makes the best canoes in Canada."

"I love it. There are cheaper options, especially if you could find a used one."

"Swift. I have two (tandem and solo) and they are beautiful boats."

"100% Swift."

"What we discovered is that we love the Swift Keewaydin 17."

"I really like the prospector shape it tracks well and I think 16' is generally a good length."

"You can not go wrong with a prospector, 17ft likely."

"Do not get a 12’ it’s far too small."

"Swift is the best."

"I own a Swift, I would also say Nova Craft if you want something more durable and cheaper."

Mad River

4.2

(9)

"Absolutely mad River canoes aren’t made any more and they are great canoe trip boats!"

"My top pick would be the Mad River Explorer 16. I got mine used on Craigslist for pretty cheap."

"Suggest looking at a Mad River Explorer as a starting point."

"I'm partial to the Mad River Canoe Explore 16' in Royalex for solo and tandem."

"If you can find a Mad River Malecite, especially one with a 3rd seat."

"Not sure if you’ll call this budget or not but it’ll float everything you’re talking about and more."

"If you can find a royalex boat for under $1k (that doesn't have any cracking), it's worth it."

"Could easily add a seat with a Mad River Explorer 16."

"If you can find a Mad River Malecite, especially one with a 3rd seat instead of a yoke, it would be a good fit."

Souris River

4.5

(8)

"Souris River or Northstar make the best canoes for fishing camping and portaging."

"It's an incredible canoe. It's been tough as nails."

"I adore my Souris River."

"Souris River canoes are the best I've ever found."

"Consider a Souris River Quetico 18."

"The Souris River Quetico 17 or 18 is a great boat for stability."

"Souris River makes quality boats, but"

"Going against the grain but I would advise a Souris River over a Swift."

Prospector

4.6

(7)

"Prospectors are the best all round boat design ever made."

"If your going for a boat that can do it all then its tough to beat a 16ft prospector."

"Prospector is a classic but as long as it is symmetrical with bidirectional seats."

"16ft prospector, hull material depends on how durable / heavy you want the canoe to be."

"The prospector is a good all around canoe so IMO it's a good choice."

"I would strongly consider the Prospector or a similar symmetrical design."

"A 16' Prospector is a good all around choice."

Wenonah

4.5

(6)

"30 years ago I bought a Wenonah MN II Kevlar from them still have it."

"I will only buy Wenonah boats moving forward."

"I solo paddle from the center seat and I’ll paddle it until it falls apart."

"I have a Wenonah Spirit ll in Rolaylex."

"I got a solo Wenonah canoe for about $350."

"I just installed a third seat directly in front of the rear thwart."

Grumman

4.4

(5)

"It works great for me and my 3 year old human puppy. Bonus is it's practically indestructible."

"I recommend getting an old vintage aluminum Grumman."

"I’ve had three people fishing in old Grumman Prospector."

"Hunt down a 19 ft Grumman square stern used, or buy one new for 4k."

"I had a 14' Grumman aluminum, wide and mostly flat bottom back in the day billed as a whitewater canoe."

#10

Canoe

4.5

(4)

"North fork of the Flambeau was memorable. Remote and beautiful."

"I recommend looking into an apostle island trip. Lots of outfitters and guides in the area."

"If you're dead set on a canoe, get something and add float bags to it, and carry a baler so it's impossible for you to sink"

"Buy one used, you want a 16' for gear. Plastic canoes are heavy, but are nearly indestructible."

#11

Clipper

4.3

(4)

"We’ve owned 17’ kevlar clipper canoes in both styles and have been really happy."

"Clipper Tripper in Kevlar Composite. Light for portages and good all around canoe."

"Clipper Ranger."

"It's quite heavy and quite expensive but it's a good choice if you want to put lots of people and cargo in one boat."

#12

Penobscot

4.7

(3)

"Penobscot in Royalex."

"Penobscot is a wonderful choice."

"The Penobscot is a great boat."

#13

H2O

4.0

(3)

"It's a decent bit higher than the budget you're looking at, but they do have lower budget options that would fit all your requirements."

"I really loved the H2O I rented a couple of years ago."

"H2O canoe is pretty good."

#14

Royalex Canoe

4.5

(2)

"Spend double and get a Royalex canoe. Lighter. Better built. More comfortable."

"Look for a good Royalex canoe, lighter than fiberglass but heavier than kevlar."

#15

Pac

4.0

(2)

"My 16' has thousands of miles in Arctic whitewater on it."

"I really like how the Pac curves to shape of the water."

#16

Northwind

4.0