Touring Canoes

Recent Touring Canoe Reviews

Wenonah Escapade

A very nice tandem/solo fast canoe. I have the Escapade in a kevlar/flex core layup. The canoe weighs 51 lb in this configuration. It is also available in kevlar and also in Tuf-Weave. It is a shorter touring canoe in a performance hull. This means it holds a bit less gear for touring than the longer ones. Since I am a backpacker I have the lightweight gear that suits this canoe very well. I was surprised at the stability with the two young grandkids; I was expecting the worst but was pleasantly… Full review

Wenonah Spirit II

Great handling and stability loaded for two weeks on flatwater; light enough for 60-year-old to portage. We've owned our Kevlar ultralight Spirit II with the clear skincoat (yellow kevlar color) since 1997. Named the "B-Attitude" after Bea and Barb of Wilderness Paddlers up in Ely, Minnesota, we bought her as a "blem" from the factory on the way back to Michigan from Ely.  The Spirit II is a little shorter than some of the other touring/tripping models by Wenonah and has a slight bit of rocker. Full review

Wenonah Prospector 15

Responsive and ultra stable, the Prospector is a very good down river canoe. If you have dogs or often go fishing, this is a good option for you. It's not fast, and it has some design issues, but overall, it's a good value. Wenonah's Prospector 15 is a fun boat for river trips. It's rock-solid stable and can turn on a dime. It's a great choice for beginner paddlers, dog owners, and fisherpeople. It's not the fastest boat out there, so you won't win any races. Keeping it going in a straight line… Full review

Wenonah Escapade

The We-no-nah Escapade is a 16.6 tandem performance touring canoe available only in "tuff weave"material. Produced mainly for lakes and gentle rivers, this boat is sleek and agile with great response to the paddlers commands. I got in my new We-no-nah Escapade late last week and have taken her out every day since. The Escapade is a 16.6 canoe and it just so happens that 16.6 is the perfect length for a solo canoe. This canoe is only available in Tuff Weave material. I do like the feel and weight… Full review

Wenonah Spirit II

My friend and I describe ourselves as middle-aged "fat-packers"-- but my best friend and hiking buddy got injured--really messed up her ankle, so hiking was out of the question for the summer. She grew up doing lots of canoeing, so it seemed like a good solution. Bottom line is she really had no idea where to jump in with selecting a boat. I helped her out by watching and watching Craigslist. Then this Wenona showed up. I read every bit of literature I could get my hands on...so she made her choice. Full review

Bell Canoe Northstar

I've owned a Northstar for about 3 years now and the more I paddle it the more I like it. I put a kneeling thwart in for solo paddling and raised the back seat. It handles very nice with a heavy load and is very stable. I do a lot of paddling up in New York in the Saranac lakes region, it seems to be in its element there with the portages and paddling lake to lake. I bought this canoe used from an outfitter in Saranac Lake. The first time I got into it I almost fell out the other side. I wasn't… Full review

Wenonah Minnesota 3

Spent a week in Boundary Waters Canoe Area with this. Most uncomfortable seating in a canoe I've ever been in. Rented this, would never buy one. Spent a day of this week in a Bell Canoe, what a difference a little seat height makes. Full review

Wenonah Itasca Ultra-Light Kevlar Canoe

Great tripping canoe for long distance paddling! Holds lots of gear. Loved this boat on big open water of Lake Superior. Full review

Bell Canoe Northwind

Bell has stopped making the Northwind, but it is a very satisfying boat to paddle and a good compromise between tracking and turning ability. It is light enough to portage in Royalex but able to handle both rocky rivers and the flats equally well. The Norhtwind is a capable boat that can handle a variety of paddling situations. The Royalex version is 16 1/2 feet with good secondary stablility and decent glide. It handles large lake waves and rapids pretty well, but not as well as the big trippers. Full review