14 Best Canoes to hit the Waves With – Top Reviewed 2021

I had no doubts or second thoughts on having this as my best canoe for solo rafting. It’s just that this canoe seems to do everything right and hardly manages to take the wind off of my sail.

Firstly, the Rover 120 is an inflatable canoe which is great news for people who wanted something portable and packable. The inflation and deflation of this high end canoe feels like a breeze. To make sure the canoe stays inflated, the air chambers are sealed off pretty good so no air would leak.

But here are the things that intrigued me the most. The boat is ridiculously lightweight, coming in at only 22 pounds. Lighter weight on a canoe means less stress when paddling your way forward which in turn makes the paddler moves faster and cover more distances.

Driftsun is one of the best canoe manufacturers right now when it comes to durability and the longevity od the canoe. Especially for a rafting boat, this becomes even more significant. The Rover 120 uses 1000d Reinforced Layered PVC sides tubes with a sturdy Tarpaulin PVC floor which fuse together to make an unbreakable combination.

For whitewater rafting, the Rover 120 delivers exceptional stability by default, thanks to the brilliantly designed hull. Other than that, you’ll get additional skegs like Flat Water Tracking Fin to have the maneuverability set to your liking.

Verdict:

In a nutshell, this is a canoe best suited towards the avid adventurers who’d want their boats to be efficient and incredibly stable. With such low weight and highly promising performance in any situation, the Driftsun Rover 120 becomes my top favorite in this canoe review.

Intex Explorer K2 is the best buy for anyone who’s looking an affordable and small two person canoe. For only $80, you not only get a durable 2 seater but a stable boat that can do pretty well with tracking when on mild rivers.

Intex, unlike any other canoe manufacturers, strives to provide unmistakable durability despite being so cheap. The rugged PVC combined with the sturdy I-beam floor form a very strong canoe that can last for years.

To assist you in tracking, the boat with a skeg but in all honesty, it doesn’t help much. And that’s totally fine since I believe this is a canoe best suited for beginners and casual paddlers. The boat really can’t take faster rivers and I highly recommend not taking this boat there.

Verdict:

It’s the best canoe that you can get well under $100 dollars right now. For that price, you get a solid canoe with two comfortable seats and a rugged form factor that will last seasons. However, everything other than the boat is pretty mediocre. The pump takes forever to inflate the boat and the oars included are, simply put, bad. We’d recommend getting a pair of better quality paddles while you can when buying this canoe.

The Intex Seahawk is an absolute bargain when it comes to affordable canoes. For the price you pay, you get a durable inflatable canoe that can perform pretty well in mild lakes and rivers.

The Intex uses rugged PVC linings for the exterior and the floor of the canoe. Since the floor of the canoe is also inflatable, the sitting experience becomes a lot comfortable.

Even though this boat is advertised as a two-person canoe, I have my doubts. The small surface area and weight limit make me judge this canoe differently. To me, this can be an amazing solo canoe to own since it can easily handle one paddler and their fishing rods.

Speaking of the rods and paddles, there are two holders which can mount both rods easily so that they stay away from when not in use.

Verdict:

An affordable canoe to own and probably the best canoe for beginners since it gives all the basics one would need. With a small surface area and low weight, this can be easily deflated and taken to places in a small carry bag.

Intex Challenger 2 is meant for consumers who’d love to get a canoe that’ll serve them just well for the lazy and casual trips to the lake, expecting nothing extraordinary.

It’s a simple canoe that puts all its focus on durability and nothing else. Like every other Intex canoe, the boat features the company’s own rugged PVC molded with powerful adhesives and strings to seal it permanently.

The canoe gives a flat surface floor where at max 2 people can sit. The canoe itself weighs less than 20 pounds and can endure at most 300 pounds of weight. I sound ambiguous because this specific information isn’t explicitly mentioned. So I’d recommend being very careful about what you bring before hopping in the canoe.

Verdict:

This is my choice for the best lake canoe for a bargain. It’s a simple canoe that won’t flip nor leak air in any circumstances while you’re paddling. One thing I would like to mention again is that you must be careful with the weight you’ll be putting on the boat. Other than that, I feel it’s a solid performer.

I was just done fangirling about the Rover 120 and here I go again with the Rover 220. In a nutshell, it’s exactly as great as the 120 but comes with an extra seat and longer form factor to accommodate the two passengers.

The Rover 220 uses sturdy polyethylene linings into the boat which helps with prevent from puncturing. The floor is made with what they call a “drop-stitch floor” which is essentially a mixture of various materials with PVC to create a tough yet comfortable floor for the canoe.

What still amazes me is that even when there is another seat installed and the weight of another paddler is required to be held, the canoe still manages to be 26 pounds, just 4 pounds more than the Rover 120. With that, it can now withstand a total of 600 pounds, which is great for paddlers and their supplies.

Lastly, the canoe is made to be rafted with whitewater certification suitable up to class III and IV rapids.

Verdict:

Whether you’re fishing or rafting on a fast river, the Rover 220 is surely one the best canoes to buy right now. It’s hard to find anything as versatile and durable as this and my recommendation would be to bag this one up while you can.

They call it “kayaks” but we call them one the finest fishing canoes out in the market right now.

The Vibe is a fairly new company which has taken the game to a whole another level with Sea Ghost 130 by providing a generous amount of features and options that paddlers would love.

For a hardshell canoe, the Sea Ghost 130 proves to be quite lower in weight than most other canoes. It weighs around 75 pounds, made with rugged and top-of-the-line polyethylene construction. But what’s even more amazing is that it can withstand 550 pounds of weight which is enough for a single paddler and their supplies.

For a fisherman, the best thing you can do is have multiple storage options around the canoe so that organizing all the supplies becomes easy. For that, the canoe comes with a big 20-inch front oval hatch with a rear hatch on the other side which can store all your supplies and still might have plenty left.

Another great thing I noticed about this canoe is the number of rod holders and clamps you’ll get to mount your fishing rods and paddles.

Verdict:

Sea Ghost 130 is one of the best canoes on the market for fishing. The extensive thought to storage and weight makes this a great hardshell boat to own.

Old Town Discovery 119 is a durable hard shell canoe that can quite a beating and still stay perfectly fine for years to come. It achieves this by using roto-molded polyethylene which ensures all bumps and sun damage doesn’t affect the durability of the canoe.

For a hardshell canoe, the boat is fairly compact and lightweight. Measuring 11.9 feet in length and 49 pounds in weight, it’s safe to assume that this boat won’t be that hard to carry around.

The design of the hull and the low weight combined help with stability and tracking of the canoe. At most times, paddlers are not encouraged to stand up on their boats since there’s always a chance of the boat flipping over. With Discovery 119, that won’t be an issue.

Verdict:

By far, we feel like the Discovery 119 is the most versatile and the best recreational canoe you can get right now. It has everything I feel a canoe should have like the being lightweight, a durable hard shell and decent tracking.

Whitewater rafting canoes tend to get higher price tags easily. There’s a thought that such canoes require certain materials and craftsmanship that can tag the price to a high. But Sea Eagle has long been doing the exact opposite by making best canoes on the market without crossing the lines.

The Sea Eagle 330 uses 33 mil Polykrylar for the body and is fused together with strong adhesives and strings that make leakage of sir harder. The great thing about this choice is that the canoe ends up becoming incredibly lightweight while still being strong and stable. The canoe weighs around 26 pounds can withstand 500 pounds of weight which is enough for a single or even two paddlers and their supplies.

And the main head-turner for this boat is the whitewater certification that gives it a pass to have it on the faster rivers and tougher environments. Getting such capabilities are hard to get in the price range of Sea Eagle 330.

Verdict:

All of the canoe ratings it has got rarely ever complains about the canoe leaking air in the middle of a raft session which justifies its durability discussion done earlier. However, there are rare complaints of the included skeg not doing any good in helping track the canoe. If that doesn’t concern enough and have the confidence to control the boat, this is a great deal.

The Ogden 2 is a classic when it comes to inflatable canoes with it’s simple yet practical design and portability. The Ogden 2 features all the basics that one would want in a canoe and makes them the center of all attention.

Keeping the center of attention discussion going, Sevylor took great concern in making this canoe as durable as possible. It becomes evident by observing the heavy-duty PVC that form the whole body of the canoe. With careful stitching, the boat practically becomes immune to air leakage and punctures. To be sure there are no compromises, they added a thick layer of nylon on top of the PVC to make it even harder for something to penetrate through.

While being only around 26 pounds, the Ogden can withstand up to 350 pounds which for me is enough for two paddlers and their supplies.

Verdict:

This is my best value canoe for this list since you get a pretty good deal for the price you’re paying. You can go fishing with this or have this as a casual boat for the kids. This boat is guaranteed to last years so if you’re looking for a decent canoe with a moderate price range, this one’s it.

This is undoubtedly the most obscure canoe brand that you hardly might’ve heard of and I consider this to be one of my greatest finds. For $70, you get a decent canoe that can carry 4 people without a hassle.

It is made with heavy-duty PVC construction, with careful stitching to make it less prone to leakage as possible. Having 4 high-pressure air chambers, when inflated it seals the boat completely from any kind of air leakage. And since the floor is inflatable too, the boat becomes pretty comfortable to sit on.

The boat comes with a multiple rod and paddle holders to keep things out of the way when not in use.

Verdict:

It will be the best value canoe you will get that can easily have four people on board. If you have a family of four and want a boat for casual paddling, this one will give you the best value.

This is the cheapest bargain you’ll find in any canoe out there. With a price tag lower than $15 dollars, you get a very basic inflatable canoe that can hold one person and nothing more, which makes it the ultimate causal paddling staple.

Yes having advanced canoes and kayaks are fun and more practical but for a casual cruise around the lake, it’s almost annoying to bring out big canoes and then to wait for 10 minutes to have it inflated.

The Intex Explorer 100 is small hence highly portable and quickly inflatable. The basic pump that comes with the boat fills this one up in a matter of minutes. When fully inflated, it can easily hold one person’s weight with his paddle.

It uses the staple Intex PVC chambers with I-beam flooring to keep the overall experience hassle-free and comfortable.

Verdict:

One simply can’t nitpick a canoe that is hardly $20 dollars. What matters the most is that it stays inflatable and comfortable.

Let me tell you one thing first and foremost. This is not a 3 person canoe as mentioned in the description of the product on Amazon. The size of the canoe only manages to fit one adult rather than three. This has greatly led to a meltdown from the consumers claiming false advertising.

It’s a shame because other than that, this is a promising inflatable canoe with respectable durability and tracking. Sevylor is known for making high end canoes that last quite a while. Using rugged PVC chambers and heavy-duty adhesives, this closes the possibility of any air leakage in any circumstances.

Lastly, even though there are no backrests on the canoe, the inflatable canoe makes up for a pretty comfortable experience overall.\

Verdict:

Other than the awful canoe reviews, this is highly assuring canoe to own. For a single paddler, this can be a perfect casual boat for lazy trips to the lakes or rivers.

The Sea Eagle SE 39 is the best canoe you can own for your family. At a glance, this canoe has a moto mount, weighs 38 pounds and can withstand 1200 pounds of weight.

The PVC used in the canoe is heavy-duty and rugged. It’s the same material used in their some whitewater kayaks which makes me safe to assume that the durability on this boat will be just fine.

When deflated, the canoe can be fit into a carry bag and carried to places without any hassle. With a handy air pump, the inflation takes no time and the boat becomes ready in a matter of minutes.

About that motor mount, this canoe supports 3-horsepower gas motors or up to 74-pound electric thrust motors. With this, you wouldn’t have the paddle the weight of all of your family and rely on the motor instead, which is a pretty big deal.

Verdict:

For now, this is my best canoe recommendation to any family wanting a reliable boat for their trips. The motor mount on this canoe is a big deal for many since it will take the burden off of paddling the whole family through the lake. With no issues with durability and longevity, this becomes a perfect canoe for any ambitious family.

Few inflatable canoes can have the audacity to endure the weight of five people but somehow Intex Excursion manages to do this just fine. This is a perfect canoe you have for casual trips to the lake with your family.

For family canoes, the first thing everything should look out for is durability since you really can’t risk your boat getting malfunctioned in the middle of a lake. For that Intex uses heavy-duty PVC to protect the shell form all sorts of bumps and scratches that might puncture the canoe.

The floor of the canoe is inflatable so the sitting experience for the whole family will be comfortable throughout the trip.

Verdict:

An absolute favorite of mine for families. Everything I’d want in a canoe to be safe for the family is present in the Excursion and I have my satisfaction with this one.