8 Best Folding Canoe To Take Anywhere

For the longest time, the Driftsun Rover 120 was our favorite. It simply had all the features we could ask for in a canoe. To make it even better, Driftsun recently introduced the Rover 220. Unlike its predecessor, this foldable canoe is a 2 person powerhouse of a canoe.

Firstly, the boat is an inflatable and folding canoe which comes with a hand pump. Since the hand pump included is a high-pressure gauge pump, the boat inflates in less than 9 minutes. When deflated, the whole boat fits into a bag, which makes it easier for consumers to have it on their trips without any trouble.

The Rover 220 doesn’t only shine in the portability department, the canoe has proven to be equally good at being lightweight and tough. Staring with weight, when inflated, the boat weighs an astounding 28 pounds, which is most likely even lighter than most solo canoes out there. But what’s even more interesting is that it can carry 600 pounds of weight, which is enough for two people and their supplies.

And being lightweight certainly does not mean it’s delicate. The Rover 220 uses their own in-house Reinforced Layered PVC and a heavy-duty PVC Tarpaulin bottom which guarantee all the bumps and hits that your collapsible canoe will get won’t affect the canoe at all. And since the boat is made for rough scenarios like whitewater rifting, the durability and weight were their biggest concerns.

Other features like great handling, comfortable seats, and aluminum paddles add more to the already great boat. This makes Rover 220 a lot more versatile than many other canoes that we’ll feature since it’s the really complete package. For every right reason, the Rover 220 is one of our top recommendations for the best folding canoe category.

What sets this fold up canoe apart from the competition is its unique approach to having three conversions of decks in a single canoe.

Advanced Elements brought up a fresh idea and design with this canoe which lets you modify the canoe to your liking and depending upon the occasion. The first one is called an open deck conversion where no compartments are made and what you get is an open space with two seats, just like any other inflatable canoe.

The second conversion is what they call double deck conversion, which forms a double seater kayak ready for tandem rafting while also leaving space for storing supplies.

The third one is a solo kayak conversion which makes canoe strictly a single person boat ready for the extreme whitewater rafting. In this conversion the paddler gets access to a series of d-rings with bungee deck lacing, arched deck riser stays and a rear cargo hatch.

AdvancedFrame Convertible a closed deck solo kayak in a matter of seconds! The Single Deck sports a series of d-rings with bungee deck lacing, arched deck riser aluminum stays, and a rear cargo hatch. So all in all, this boat really gives you the perks of a canoe with the open deck and of a kayak with the other two.

The only reason this stays away from our top spot, even after these features is the weight. The boat weighs 55 pounds, which is still considerably lower than many others but not even near the Rover 220. If you’re not too concerned about the weight, this boat has an awful lot to offer, which makes it even better than our top pick in some areas.

We feature another Driftsun Rover but this time, it’s the best solo foldable canoe you’ll find today. It’s as great as its successor is which has all the great features 220 has and forms a smaller boat meant for a single paddler.

The weight is the same at 22 pounds, which lower than many canoes available right now. It achieves this by creating innovative PVC materials that are heavy-duty but still stay lightweight. When inflated, you shouldn’t worry about any bumps or punctures that may occur, because in the long run they probably won’t.

The floor is what they call a “drop-stitch floor” which essentially means a strong and rigid PVC flooring that protect the floor of the canoe from various hits that it will get. Since it’s a whitewater rafting canoe, such durability measures become obvious and it’s apparent that Driftsun does it all masterfully.

Furthermore, the boat comes with a comfortable seat, an aluminum oar, a legitimate pump and can endure a weight of 300 pounds, which is enough for a single person and their supplies.

If you’re looking for going easy on your pocket, try giving this canoe a try. The Explorer K2 is the best folding canoe available right now if you’re looking for one under a hundred dollars. And since there has been an off on Amazon on this canoe, you can get it for even less!

But cheap doesn’t mean a compromise on quality here. For durability, Intex utilizes its in-house rugged PVC which is dubbed as the heavy-duty puncture-resistant vinyl. Being exactly that, the boat rarely made problems for paddler and enthusiasts and have been rather claimed to be quite durable even in harsher conditions.

And like any other expensive canoe, the boat features a rigid I-beam floor which inflatable. It is not only rigid and immune to punctures but also makes the floor comfortable.

If you’re a novice wanting to have a boat for a casual cruise on the lakes and not wanting to spend a ton, this just might be the best there is for you.

It’s rare that we find a 3 person tandem canoe which can be rafted into rivers. Sea Eagle, however, has been whitewater certified fold up canoes since they started and the word of mouth is that they deliver the most amazing performance than many other. And now that they have a canoe that can have 3 people on board, it’s turning heads.

The canoe stays durable and lightweight, which is a custom amongst Sea Eagle canoes in general. The 370 uses thick 33-millimeter Polykrylar hull on the outside inflatable chambers and an I-beam construction floor for extra rigidity and comfort. The seats are attached to the boat and are comfortable for most. It could’ve been much better if the seats were adjustable or removable but that’s just how it is.

The boat when inflated weighs an amazing 26 pounds, which comes close to our number one pick. It can withstand 600 pounds of weight. So, if grown-up adults are going to ride this canoe, they should be cautious with their supplies.

Continuing our list of the best folding canoes, we present you another Intex canoe. This time, the Excursion Pro takes the place with its respectable features and rugged PVC construction. Like every other Intex canoes, this also delivers reasonable protection against bumps and tears.

With the super-tough laminate material with polyester core, this boat will take almost all the beating you’ll throw at it. A high-pressure canoe, the floor is also inflatable ensuring the canoe doesn’t feel uncomfortable to the paddlers. After all, that’s the last thing you’d want.

For better directional control, it includes two removable skegs. One for more shallower water and other is a standard directional skeg. Both combined can give reasonable assistance while you’re on the cruise.

The boat weight 43 pounds and can withstand a total weight of 400 pounds, which is enough for two people and light supplies. We’d recommend packing less with this one.

If you’re planning to have all of your family on the boat, the Intex Excursion allows 5 people to sit on it with no hassle. A fold up canoe which is easily inflated and deflated uses heavy-duty puncture-resistant PVC that ensures no leakage of air happens when you’re on the cruise.

The floor of the canoe features two inflatable sofas rather seats with backrests that are fairly comfortable. For children or the fifth adult, a seat without a backrest is placed in the middle which can rather be used to place your supplies.

This can be the best folding canoe for families if they want to fish. This canoe is long enough o have a little space for supplies like hooks and dedicated fishing rod holders that help in a great deal keeping them away when not in use. The gear pouch can be found easily on the canoe to store light tools.

All in all, this is a simple canoe with no fancy features. The main emphasis of the boat clearly goes to durability and weight management. Since this boat can endure up to 1300 pounds, it’s well enough to have 5 people on the boat. Considering this boat can have so much weight even after being so lightweight, it becomes a legitimate portable paddle boat for families.

If you’re a true fishing enthusiast, the Sevylor Coleman Colorado has made a canoe that features everything a fisherman would want in a boat. Even though it’s not the lightest of all as other portable paddle boats, it’s practical. It swaps such features for certain things that will be far more practical and usable.

The high quality Berkley Quick Set Holders lets people adjust their pole angle which helps in tandem paddling greatly. Other than that, it also helps with the hands-free fishing experience.

For durability, Sevylor uses 18-gauge PVC with a thick tarpaulin bottom. This all gets wrapped up in thick nylon cover which adds like a second shield against the bumps and punctures. As a result, you get a boat that can stay in water for a while, without worrying the sun or a branch will affect your boat’s longevity.