How to Choose the Best Canoe

We offer more than 30 canoe models, most of which can be fabricated in several different materials. How do you choose the right canoe for you? Follow these simple steps to help narrow down the decision and ensure you'll find your perfect canoe.

1. First, try to narrow your search down to one or two categories of boats. To do this, consider your priorities. How and where do you plan on using this canoe? What type of water are you going to paddle? How much gear are you likely to take along? How skilled are the paddlers?

Find a category that best matches your basic needs:

General Touring
Designed to do many things well, they are very versatile. They're stable, maneuverable, efficient and will haul a fair amount of gear. Great family canoes.

Performance Touring
Light and fast. They track and glide well, and respond best in the hands of experienced paddlers. These designs are true performance boats.

Sports & Leisure
Popular with beginners, kids, and people who fish, hunt, or take photos. S&L canoes are extremely stable and easy to handle.

Down River
Perfect for paddling in streams, rivers, and smaller rapids. These fun paddling canoes turn on a dime and slide through eddies.

Whitewater
Built for paddling the fast water and raging currents of whitewater rivers. Their hulls are contoured for maneuverability and stability in steep leans.

Expedition
For distance paddling, adventure trips, and big water, they're designed to perform most efficiently when fully loaded with a lot of gear.

Continue to Step 2: Aspects of Peformance