What's Better - A Canoe or a Kayak?

Take your FREE online ACA Paddlesports safety course here: americancanoe.org/paddlesport...
Today, we're digging into one of life's great debates: what's better - a canoe or a kayak? It depends on the type of paddling you're planning to do, so I'm weighing in on the pros and cons of each.
SPONSORED BY
Aqua-Bound: www.aquabound.com/
NRS: www.nrs.com/
MADE POSSIBLE with the Support of:
Bell Fund: bellfund.ca/
Gear I have tested and recommend:
Paddles:
Aqua-bound Shred (whitewater) tidd.ly/3HRZCyq
Aqua-bound Manta Ray Carbon 2-piece (rec/touring) tidd.ly/3jND8qB
PFDs:
NRS Chinook PFD (fishing) tidd.ly/3XodlTv
NRS Zen PFD (whitewater) tidd.ly/3Yy7yMk
NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec) tidd.ly/3xcsXih
Dry Gear / Layers:
NRS Flux Drytop tidd.ly/3KfoYcH
NRS Riptide Splash Jacket tidd.ly/40Kf0pi
NRS Axiom Dry Suit tidd.ly/3YGUSmg
Jackets:
Cotopaxi Fuego Down Hooded Jacket www.cotopaxi.com/products/fue...
Shirts:
NRS Silkweight Long-Sleeve Shirt - Mens tidd.ly/3DVrNva
NRS Guide Short Sleeve Shirt tidd.ly/3YIa6XV
Pants:
NRS Benny Board Shorts tidd.ly/3lrG78z
Footwear:
NRS Boundary Boot tidd.ly/3DXamKT
Astral PFD Sandal tidd.ly/3xjPtWI
Sunglasses
Wiley X Outdoor Sunglasses bit.ly/3NtJQKR
Other Paddling Gear
NRS WRSI Current Helmet tidd.ly/40EUkiB
NRS Drylander Shock Cord Sprayskirt tidd.ly/3YHTaBD
Surf Ears Ear Plugs bit.ly/3AbMl1y
GoPro Hero 11 Black amzn.to/3ZWVXHN
Rapid Pure Purifier amzn.to/3iuIo1C
Zoleo Satellite Communicator amzn.to/3kv0hOt
NOTE: These are affiliate links in which I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you, but it is a great way to show your support. Thanks!
Special thanks to my Global Partners for supporting my mission of helping get people on the water and creating life-long outdoor participants.
Outdoorplay: outdoorplay.com
NRS: nrs.com
Wiley X: wileyx.com
Check out our full Paddling Gear Guide here: in4adventure.com/paddling-buy...
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY and subscribe to our NEW Blog, In4adventure.com!
FOLLOW ME
Facebook: / gopaddle
Instagram: / paddle365
Twitter: / gopaddle
Blog: in4adventure.com
PRODUCED BY
Heliconia: www.heliconia.ca
Contact: [e-mail]
MADE POSSIBLE with the Support of:
Ontario Creates: www.ontariocreates.ca/

[@PaddleTV]

Take your FREE online ACA Paddlesports safety course here: americancanoe.org/paddlesports-online-course/

[@alannorr]

Just to add another vote for kayaks. Since switching from canoe to kayaks, the arguments my wife and I had in the canoe have stopped. She can paddle wherever and however she likes, even if she is still wrong. IMHO

[@ArthurHanna]

Nononono, my friend, your wife is ALWAYS right

[@drakemclemore7964]

Lol. Great point!

[@deepmarsh]

Once when my wife was right and she was in a kayak, she walked the river bank back to the truck while the kayak was pinned under a tree. In a canoe, she can be right or wrong because I’m steering.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

Then never buy a tandem kayak-- They're called divorce boats.

[@ZentaBon]

@@keithmoriyama5421 I think the issue isn't the kayak :P

[@nelsonthomas4899]

Good points. I paddle both, but consider myself more of a canoeist. I think of the kayak as the sports car and the canoe as the SUV.

[@foojibb]

Yep! I totally agree! Great way to look at it.

[@donaldsperrazza5817]

I love that analogy I’m more of kayaker myself but you can’t argue with the utility of a canoe.

[@dysonspreybar4903]

I believe the technical term is canoodler 😉

[@Okk030]

A Canoe

[@SevenFootPelican]

I always thought of both as bikes of the water. Small motorboats as motorcycles, and big boats as cars

[@jefffski]

Paddling a canoe in the ocean, as I do with my partner, definitely has drawbacks, (e.g. limited in high wind and waves, difficulty doing a self rescue, slower), however as you mentioned, there are advantages (e.g. comfort, ease of portaging). Another one to consider assumes that most advanced kayakers prefer to paddle solo because tandem kayaks can be quite cumbersome. Being in a tandem canoe enables couples to be together and each paddle as hard as they want without distancing themselves from the other if they were in solo kayaks. While kayaks are faster, there's not much difference over a whole day. Consider going on an overnight or multi day trip. A kayaker averages 6 km/h. That's just over 4 hours for a 25 km day. We average 5 km/h in our canoe, so we'd take 5 hours, an hour more, for the same distance. However, we load or unload gear and ourselves in under 5 minutes, while a kayaker might take upwards of 30 minutes. Taking that into account, we cover the same distance in roughly the same time. Finally, there's cost. Given similar quality, a canoe costs about the same as a kayak. However, couples who canoe only need one boat. So essentially canoes are half the price.

[@erickincaid9779]

Great points. I have and love both. One thing is, if you're out with two people, being in a canoe is generally much more social, as it's easier to communicate.

[@BrianYoungPhoto]

Multi-day kayaking can be easier if you are accustomed to multi-day hiking trips. If you pack half the house and the kitchen sink, the canoe is really the only option. I can fit 3-4 days of gear and food into a single hatch and a single dry bag easily. It's definitely NOT what most people would call comfortable, but many weight conscious hikers would consider my kit "excessive". I don't paddle bays and lakes often, so my portages are usually not much longer than the distance required to get by a low head dam. With that being said, if I was paddling with someone who is not like minded or required more comforts, the canoe would be the way to go. I don't think either is 'better'. It's like deciding between a truck or a car. Both do some things much better than the other.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

I can pack double in a kayak than I can comfortably carry on a long distance hike. 80lbs v 40lbs. Seems like a luxury once you're allowed to double your load.

[@francescoecobi]

thanks, as an ultralight hiker I didnt see the point when in the video the dude says that you cant be that comfortable in a kaykak, i fit into my small pack everything to stay comfortable in the mountains so why I wouldnt in a river?

[@tonyallen4573]

@@francescoecobi His comment is about seating positions. In a kayak you sit upright with your legs stretched out for pretty much the entire journey, in a canoe, you can move around. In a canoe you can keep all your gear for camping in a backpack, my pack has to be emptied to fit in the kayak

[@joshb0508]

Good video. I'm a canoeist through and through. I'd rather paddle a canoe solo than go kayaking any day of the week.

[@jailen461]

I totally agree with everything you said, on both boats. I've been doing both for 45 years. Love them both. That why I agree with you 100%.

[@danielhathaway8042]

You hit all of the issues that I have experienced especially the wind issue . I paddled in to a bay on the south side of Detroit reservoir in Oregon it was dead calm. 30 minutes after I got to where I was going to start fish I was in 3’ waves and 20 mph wind it took me 4 hours to work my way back to the main lake. I was also having to deal with power boaters blasting by at full throttle. Four multi day trips with a load of gear they are great or family day trips. I to prefer the Kayak for most of my needs.

[@PaddleTV]

Yikes! 4 hours to get back! Glad it worked out! :)

[@danbev8542]

Good discussion. I think, in the end, its whatever is most comfortable to you. You didn't include C-1 in your discussion. Perhaps very few people know about them. A C-1 is a decked canoe. To the uninitiated it looks like a kayak. A kayaker sits with on the bottom of the boat with legs in front (under the deck) and uses a double bladed paddle. A C-1 paddler KNEELS in the cockpit on a small seat and uses a single bladed paddle with a T grip. A kayak has more power because each stroke is a power stroke. A canoeist must stroke-recover, stroke-recover -- however a canoe stroke uses more torso muscles and even quadriceps when paddling. A canoeist is sitting up higher & can read water more easily. There are many more fine points to differences, but you should choose what you like best.

[@MichaelCarson1]

Right now I'm digging my solo canoe. It's super nice just throwing my gear and not messing about with hatches. Of course, each has its own pros and cons. Just happy to be paddling anything at the end of the day!

[@PaddleTV]

I hear you! I tried a Swift Pack Boat this year, which is a canoe/kayak hybrid. It's super light and open like a canoe, but it has a seat and foot pegs so that you can paddle it like a kayak if you want to. Great for inexperienced canoeists to paddle solo in windy conditions.

[@conniewaite1996]

@@PaddleTV did you try the 12ft vs.the 14ft?I want one,but undecided

[@PaddleTV]

I used the 14' foot boat. I actually did a full boat review on it too. Here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4Kld3evhK9ogdU

[@teebteeb1268]

Amen

[@petersmith4974]

Great job! Long time sea kayaker here. The differences show up on river trips! On a mixed (kayak/canoe) river trip, I saw every canoe blown to the wrong side of a wide river, while we kayakers eased along with no problem. On another river trip, the water was shallow and we had to frequently hop out and walk boats. Sea kayaks are not great for hopping in and out. I wished I had a canoe that day! Finally, if anyone in a kayak has a drink from a single-use bottle (less common now!) having someone in a canoe along is great because you can throw the empty in the canoe sort of like a garbage can.

[@foojibb]

Different boats for different conditions. I really enjoy both.

[@madmack7501]

I agree with all your points. It really comes down to what your individual needs are to which one is more versatile too.

[@DragonsinGenesisPodcast]

Another point for canoes is they’re cooler in the summer. In extreme heat, such as mid summer in the Deep South, a kayak turns into a pressure cooker. The heat inside becomes miserable. The open air design of the canoe makes it much more comfortable in 100 degree temps with direct sun. That’s why I opt for a hybrid (Old Town Next). Low center of gravity and maneuverability of a kayak, but open air and storage capacity of a canoe. It can swamp like a canoe, but I don’t do any serious rapids so that’s not a concern for me. So it’s a perfect boat for me.

[@nancystrickland5507]

For my 65th birthday in the spring I am buying my first kayak. I can't wait and already have a trip planned. Thanks for your tips as I am new to this.

[@ZentaBon]

Ooo do enjoy! I do suggest if you already hadn't, wait until winter to buy it instead and plan for next year. The price triples on beginner kayaks... Oorr buy a good one your first time around :P

[@Saltfly]

Solo canoe/ pack boat. With covers made, they are awesome on the open ocean also

[@KittyMatador]

I love canoeing with my daughter and kayaking on my own. Both are delightful.

[@willysr2]

Great points, I agree totally as a River guide and a Maine sea kayak guide.

[@TheShanegrila]

I love them all. Most recently I used an NRS inflatable kayak to run the Snake River, it was cool. But my love is my canoe, because I'm a mountain man. It's old and has a a ton of patches from getting banged up on the rivers. I've only run a few Class 3 rapids in my canoe, it's just a big kayak to me.

[@TonySousa]

Very well explained. Thanks for sharing.

[@cindyhamblin5673]

I've done both, but both have great attributes... Love em both!

[@AdammJarvis]

Thank you for the video. I'm looking to get into the sport. I hate swimming but want to enjoy the waterways here in the Pacific northwest. I appreciate your time and content.

[@Sanctuarysurvival]

I have canoed for years and recently started kayaking because i feel there are so many cool paddling options available these days, it would be rude not too! The kayak is still scary at the moment being new, but i have found i can utilise strokes from canoeing such as sculling and draw strokes. I will persist and hopefully be as smooth as you make it look one day ! Thank you for your time and effort in making these videos for us. It looks like a terrible job and i don't know how you cope ! ha ha! Happy paddling guy's. Tom from the UK

[@reddeercanoe]

The pack boat makes this discussion obsolete. Checkout Swift packboats used by a number of KZbin presenters. I am a 70 year old Canadian canoeist. I use a pack boat which is a 14’ canoe hull with a kayak seat . This I can paddle with a kayak paddle. Or a canoe paddle and it’s capacity is all you need for a multi week trip , held in canoe packs. While weighing under 30 pounds. None portage trips in deep water where you don’t need to disembark due to sandbars is where an ocean kayak shines.

[@PaddleTV]

The Swift Packboat was actually the first boat I ever reviewed on KZbin! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4Kld3evhK9ogdU Loved it...

[@westbayoutdoors123]

Normally a kayaker myself, I was limited to canoeing because that's all I could rent at the small park in my neighborhood (Bangkok). To keep my kayak skills up, I added about 2' to my kayak paddle and used that in the rental canoes. Made a big, favorable difference in my ability to get around in the canoe. A few weeks in, I started seeing other renters bringing their own kayak paddles.

[@ionageman]

Answered the debate for me .. thank you

[@davehaggerty3405]

Seaward (A Canadian company) makes excellent touring kayaks for multiple day excursions. I owned one for a while in Florida. I sold it to a Canadian couple. I only did overtime trips. And didn't need the extra volume.

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

Good overview for people like me. Many thanks (UK)

[@joshphillips4656]

"Spot on" Good point's!

[@davidcook7008]

Hey Ken, I was there when you started at Wilderness Tours! Im a canoe always have been always will be, however, whatever gets you out that's what is best!

[@justme-wh5li]

Got a background in small boats of 40 yrs.... rowing, sailing, tidal,, coastal, windsports... recently got kayaks and canoe due for inland waters. I agree 100% with your conclusions.

[@philschaefer4651]

I'd say you nailed it. I paddle both, I've done multi day trips in both, and day fishing trips in both. My kayak is my go to for fun trips in challenging or unknown waters, the canoe when I need to bring more gear, do portages or jump in and out frequently to fish. That's the one point you missed in the comparison, the canoe is easier to get in and out of.

[@jailen461]

Depends on which kind of kayak you have. That used to be more true, but now they have sit on and sit in.

[@philschaefer4651]

@@jailen461 good point. But I've still never seen a sit on top that will carry as much as a 15' canoe.

[@jailen461]

Your right. Can't disagree euthanasia you on that.

[@PeteLovesPixels]

We are primarily kayakers. We can each paddle where we want. We do multi day (4-5) and location selection is influenced by portages. We avoid them and prefer Georgian Bay Islands for trips now. I like to think of the kayak as a sports car and the canoe is a pick up truck. We took 2 novice paddlers and put them in the canoe while we took our kayaks. Cargo capacity of the canoe is a game changer on what you can choose to bring with you.

[@bowhunter9288]

This is the first good explanation of the differences between the two I've watched.

[@toddheil42]

Great breakdown. Those have been my takes too. I love the excitement of WW, and a kayak can handle it easier, faster learn time, I believe, but.. I am looking towards longer trekking tandem trips, and thus packing gear , the canoe is my directional focus. Learning rapids on a canoe with good rocker, but then plan to spend most of my time treking or with grandkids fishing in canoe. Thank you.

[@danbev8542]

Actually, a whitewater canoe can go anywhere a kayak can. I have a large poster of a local (Washington D.C.) champion canoe paddler going over a waterfall on the Potomac River!

[@williamdavis6056]

Good to see you here Champ! I competed in the '97 Worlds on the Ottawa as well, in OC-1. You had a great rodeo. Canoes vs. Kayaks? I'll say what I always say. "Half the paddle, twice the man." : )

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! I'm pretty sure the saying goes 'Twice the paddle, twice the man!' :)

[@granthaller9544]

I used a Folbot in the Boundary Waters for a multi day trip. I rigged up a canoe yolk that I could remove easily. It was great when I had a big wave day on one of the larger lakes as I had a spray skirt. But a guy going light and with an UL solo canoe caught up with me at the end of a portage and threw in his pack and was off while I was still packing my kayak. I love canoes but it depends on where you live. It is like bicycles, you got to have a few!

[@carlosmanuelgonzalez310]

Excelente charla!

[@andrewmacomber1638]

You’re not a fool. Great info. Thank you. ✌️

[@PaddleTV]

Well... not a complete fool at least. :)

[@MadRiverReggie]

For most conditions there is a large common overlap between a canoe and kayak . Each has its' advantages that shine in the extremes of this overlap. My solution has always been to use a decked Kruger canoe. Can not hold a family though. But best of both worlds for solo paddling :-)

[@skipper99991]

Can't get enough. Keep it coming.

[@PaddleTV]

More to come!

[@lawrence7065]

Excellent tips

[@capng]

I agree with everything you've said & I own both a canoe & several kayaks - started with the former first many decades ago. I would add one additional point to your list of pros & cons. If you are doing multiple ins & outs of the craft, especially if you have mobility issues or are aging, the canoe can be easier to get in & out of than a kayak. For solo paddling, the kayak is my choice, especially if there are winds. For 2+ people, the canoe has advantages. Just my opinions FYI. Watch a lot of your vids up here in the north.

[@FrankLadd]

All good points and lately I'm liking my outrigger the most, but the SUP is easiest for the short after work paddle.

[@SWATT101]

I have 1 canoe and 2 kayaks...fishing kayak...rec kayak...16 foot canoe and a new solo canoe coming...got most bases covered....one or the other does not do everything well...

[@wisenber]

Don't forget the Klepper style folding kayaks and the Kruger canoes. A folding kayak has a similar payload to a canoe. A Kruger can handle some of the toughest seas. And how about your Trak for a portage? That being said, the largest selling segment in kayaks are now those huge sit on top fishing kayaks which really don't have much in the way of the benefits you mentioned. Sadly, sea kayaking is a dying breed in the US. It's rare to see anyone under 40 in a sea kayak.

[@teiuriz]

I just saw this video and wanted to say thank you. your the first person who has reviewed the Kayak and Canoe with true openmindedness. I agree with everything you say. Each has it place and strengths. I have been battling this with my wife for years. Although you must understand I come from a second generation Canoist family, and I use a monster paddle and have extreme upper body strength and endurance. In a kayak, my wife can out run me hands down without a question no matter what I do, however in my dad's 70 year old cedar/canvas 18' trappers canoe with my favorite paddle (12" wide x 36" Long blade), I can out run her solo. I know I am the exception. Again thank you for this video and all of your others, I watch them intently and look forward to more. By the way you should try to promote taking disabled people out in the canoe its great therapy. I know I am a two times cancer survivor who has mobility problems.

[@teiuriz]

Please contact me if you want to chat further.

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks! I agree on using paddling/outdoors as a therapy technique. I have some good friends who are very active and successful doing so with 'Heroes on the Water'. Cheers!

[@lewisrountreeiii2937]

Great info sir, thank you!

[@PaddleTV]

Any time!

[@joeso8114]

All good points but one. I use a kayak-style paddle in my canoe, and a lot of people do now. So you can canoe having two blades in the water it's becoming more and more popular.

[@PaddleTV]

Very true! I recently did a gear review of a Swift Packboat - an ultralight canoe/kayak hybrid. Here's a link if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4Kld3evhK9ogdU

[@margalidabauzaensenat5648]

Living in an island there is not argue. Sea kayak of course 😉

[@wyndwalkerranger7421]

Good video, thanks. I switched from a kayak to canoe about three years ago after kayaking for maybe 20 years. Two main re3ason I do a limited amount of camping and found that difficult with the kayak as you mentioned. The second reason is that I do a lot of fishing and find an open canoe far superior to a kayak for this.

[@miajoseph1966]

Thank you so much for this information ‼️💯

[@PaddleTV]

You're very welcome!

[@jewelcitizen2567]

Very informative, thanks…

[@PaddleTV]

You're welcome!

[@scottgarriott3884]

A very good summary. I would add that a high quality canoe (excellent hull design) has both primary and secondary stability, with secondary stability far exceeding that of most kayaks, so concluding that "stability" of a kayak is better is not really correct when you consider really good canoes. Also (for really good canoes), a spray skirt can cover the entire deck making the boat almost as impervious to rain and waves as a kayak. For this reason numerous world record paddling expeditions (including thousands of km of sea-paddling) have been carried out in canoes that are so equipped, though admittedly, this is not the norm; by default, kayaks are better than "normal" canoes in this respect. Thanks for this excellent comparison!

[@keithmoriyama5421]

A sea kayak is ALL about secondary stability! They are poor performers in primary stability.

[@mattlewandowski73]

@@keithmoriyama5421 one could argue that a vessel that is designed to roll over easily is NOT about stability it is about nimble recovery... ye don't learn "the eskimo roll" as a canoeist. :D

[@TheLisaDonald]

I love that as a kayaker you don't slam canoes but give the advantages of both 🙂 I have a few more awesomnesses to add to the canoe side. When our kids were younger we fit our family of 5 plus everything we needed for a 10-day free crownland holiday into our 17-foot canoe. I'm waterfront director at a kids' camp near Ottawa and I hate when canoes are shunned by beginners because it's easier to track a kayak straight without learning specific strokes. I guard standing in my 14-foot fixer-upper canoe using canoeing strokes with a kayak paddle (keeping a canoeing paddle in the boat, too). It's stable and maneuverable, forward, backward, can turn on a dime ... And I can easily shuttle kids between the docks and the water trampoline by sitting them down by my feet (weight all in one spot) and don't have to worry about banging the paddle into them because I'm standing above them. I leave the fully equipped canoe tied to the dock all summer and it's super easy to empty in seconds after a rain.

[@PaddleTV]

I hear you! I just finished a 5-day canoe trip in Killarney Provincial Park with the family. The 3 of us took an 18-foot canoe, and we had tons of space! Love canoe trips... love that park too! Algonquin is amazing, but I've been finding myself driving the extra 4 hours to go to Killarney for the past 5 years. Cheers!

[@simonbirkslarsen1632]

Nice talk!

[@Slatfatf]

You nailed it.

[@bdh3949]

What it comes down to is that kayaking is easy enough to learn to get into and do a river trip sooner. You can spend a morning solo or tandem learning the basics, pack, and go. Canoeing doesn't work like that especially solo. And tandem can be very difficult to master until you find a practiced enthusiast to partner with. However there is nothing as spectacular as taking a canoe down a set of difficult rapids with all of your gear and with the knowledge and experience to do so safely and efficiently. You are truly self-reliant and free, not to mention the feeling of watching a kayaker make the same run and think to yourself "hmmm...half the paddle, twice the man (or woman)."

[@ArthurHanna]

I laughed soooo loud when you said you left a plastic trail...

[@tombeckett4340]

Older people have a real problem just getting In or out of a kayak. I just prefer the canoe over a kayak for fishing because you can get at your gear much easier. And also move around when you start cramping. Can you just imagine trying to get a cramp out of your leg in a kayak. OMG ! Things you must think about as you get older. Thanks for your thoughts.👍🇨🇦

[@gozer87]

I grew up canoeing on streams, lakes and bays in summertime South Jersey, so a canoe feels more "normal" to me, but I love my inflatable open kayak. Inflated I can load it on the car roof and port if myself to any of the lakes near Seattle and be in the water quickly.

[@lowcountryrob170]

I don’t argue over which is better. Each has their advantages and disadvantages, and it all depends on what you want to do. I’ve been around both and I like both. I like the pirogue too, especially in the swamp. It all depends on what I’m doing.

[@HudsonZRoamer]

That helped a lot thank you.

[@PaddleTV]

My pleasure.

[@johnroberts7924]

Great advice!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks!

[@jessielee1369]

Having owned both myself. I agree wholeheartedly.

[@iguanaamphibioustruck7352]

I am a river man. I build my rods and tie my dry flies. I build my kayaks after owning a 16 foot Canuck square ender. Over 50 years ago my buddies and I started floating the S fork ot the Flathead from the Bob Marshal to the dude ranch 12 miles down stream. The last evening, Bob and I were on a sand bar about half mile upstream. We were talking and thinking about how nice it would be to stay on the river and how little we would need to do that. We shared a two man military surplus boat but if each man had his own boat and other necessities, we could go into the Bob Marshal, 30 miles and float out. The following August we checked in to Birch Glen on Swan Lake with our families and the three of us hiked to Holland Lake, up over Pendant Pass and down to Big Salmon Lake, packed up and hiked another mile to the S Fork or the Flathead River. We each had packs just under 50 pounds, containing our Sevylor blow up boats, our beds with a tarp, and gear for a week. We also had kid sized canoe paddles that we used for a walking stick Our fly rods were attached to the side of our packs. We had a pistol, first aid kit, camera, hatchet, dry noodles, canned bacon, fry pan, boiling pot. Turned out that each of us had added snake bite medicine although only one fifth was designated. By 10 am we were on the river and "throwing cutthroats over both shoulders". Our favorite river song was Delta Dawn. What a great trip, 30 miles hiking in and floating 30 miles out. Had to pack out the last two miles when the river turned on edge. I talked to Jim the other day and remined him, that was 45 years ago. We had five more float trips together on the Blackfoot. Bob is gone but we still meet often in our dreams. Iguana

[@KevinSmith-wr1sy]

30 years of kayaking and the only time I rented a canoe I spent a couple hours spinning in circles due to wind gusts. That killed my canoe stoke once and for all!

[@j.t.c.9157]

100% depends on what your doing, that's for sure!

[@highloughsdrifter1629]

If I have to chose (ie just one boat) its got to be the traditional open canoe. Its just so versatile. I can solo or take the family, paddle with a single or double paddle, from any position in the boat, kneeling, sitting or even standing. I can pole, row or sail (best way to deal with wind on open water, use it). Plus I know I can do a solo deep water recovery with a canoe, my kayak skills are no where near that good (re-enter and roll? I can't roll reliably). I'd like a sea kayak but it would have to be as well as a canoe, not instead of.

[@flaekjaflintstone5656]

thanks that was helpfull

[@ponymoore6140]

So, neither is better! They are just 'different' as you have described

[@thomasstevens4622]

Nice makes since I go Jeeping in the mountains and can't fit 2 or 3 kayaks on the roof rack. Thanks

[@trevorsowers]

Most of the time...a Canoe. I have both and there are times when the Sea Kayak has a distinctive advantage but I mostly prefer a Canoe.

[@georgewilliamssr5230]

I think it's a preference. I can take my kayaks anywhere I canoe.I can't take a canoe everywhere I kayak. Equipment wise, I have loaded upwards of 200 lbs in my Jackson Karma RG. And have done 5 day self contained trips. I prefer my kayak. But I do love paddling all kinds of crafts. And for extremely long trips. I prefer a raft.

[@SQWIB]

Whats better Pickup Truck or Sedan?... Depends on your needs/wants, it is really like comparing Apples to Oranges. With that said, I'll share my experiences with Canoes/Kayaks. Just a quick disclaimer, this has been "my" experience with my canoe and kayaks, canoe's are not all the same, just like kayaks are not all the same. First off, the ease of me tossing the Kayak in the car and headed out for a quick paddle is a lot more doable then with the canoe. My back would kill me after a 5 hour day in the canoe, even with the sit-backers, in the Kayak, no problem. Ever year we do a multi-day winter River trip down the Delaware River, "Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area". and what I can tell you is, I'll never take a canoe down the river again. My latest trip down the river was in a kayak and it was the most pleasant trip I have had so far. Wind nearly killed me in the Canoe, we were in a head wind that literally would turn us sideways and blow us upstream. This year in the Kayak, we had a pretty rough headwind, the worst yet...no problem in the Kayak. As far as portaging, I look at it like this, 2 guys in a canoe with gear vs. 2 guys in 2 kayaks with gear. The canoe would be more of a chore to portage, two guys can easily carry 2 kayaks fully loaded. This is why I believe that to be true, well for me anyway...when you multi-day with a canoe, you unintentionally or intentionally bring too much crap, the Kayak sort of forces you to make better choices, anyhow that's my take on it.

[@teebteeb1268]

Have both, my solo canoe with a double bladed paddle is the winner for me. My canoe can do everything my friends kayaks can (maybe not as well) but their kayaks can’t do what my canoe can. Best of both worlds. I only disagree on one point… stability. I can stand and paddle on my canoe to get a glimpse of the river ahead. Most kayak cockpits, at least those setup with a skirt or more for ww, would undoubtedly tip if you tried to maneuver your way to a standing position. A canoe will displace more water, more stability.

[@nativelands6190]

I was always a kayak person through and through but after seeing deliverance I decided to try canoeing 🛶 and I love it I am now a canoe person

[@robertc190]

I paddle my canoe in the ocean with side stabilizers with a long kayak paddle. Also with a 2 HP outboard.

[@TheSaneHatter]

I only have a little bit of experience with either, and it's canoeing that really appeals to me. But I intend to learn both and, realistically, it's going to depend on what I actually turn out to have more *talent* for.

[@kevchard5214]

I have been paddling for 40+ years now and started with a pirogue (I grew up in south Louisiana) and moved up to a canoe then moved to the west coast and moved up again to a kayak. I agree completely wit your comments all have their place depending on the situation. Something I learned about a few years ago is a pack canoe which is suppose to be the best of both worlds. They are light like a canoe but you sit on the floor to paddle like a kayak. I haven't paddled one yet but I would like to try one and see if they are as tipsy as a canoe which is what I always hated about canoes.

[@ericl2969]

If you can kneel, canoes are not "tipsy". With any boat, the secret to being secure in rough water is loose hips, letting the boat rock somewhat freely beneath you (within reason, as at some point a brace might be needed). When kneeling you can let the canoe rock an extreme amount while your body remains centered, but at the same time, distributing some of your weight on the floor via your knees (about half your weight is still on the seat when kneeling) greatly reduces the need to worry about such things in the first place. I've been kneeling in canoes for almost 20 years and would never go back to plain old sitting. Even if you can't kneel for hours at a time like some people, you might be able to kneel long enough for those short passages through whitewater or during a windy crossing.

[@kevchard5214]

@@ericl2969 I will try that but I don't know how long I can kneel. I like the idea of the weight savings and capacity of a canoe over a kayak but my experience over the past 40 years has been kayak open water on all the coast in the US as well as many small rivers.Have you ever paddled a pack canoe like the swift? You actually sit in it on the floor like a kayak that is what I have been think about getting since I am retiring to Arkansas.

[@ericl2969]

@@kevchard5214 For the coastal paddling you describe, the kayak certainly has the advantage. And it would not be unusual for someone your age (you've been paddling 40 years) to have lost the ability to kneel in a canoe for long periods, but the idea seemed worth mentioning. As to the packboat question, I can only offer this: I have a couple of "canoe-shaped" rowboats with seats that are just a few inches off the floor (one of them is actually has the words "Pack Boat" as part of the model name), and they are stable to the point of being nearly idiot-proof. I would expect similar attributes in a true pack canoe that has the seat set so low. It would be great if you could find a way to test paddle a pack canoe (or any other boat) before buying, but many of us don't get that option.

[@kevchard5214]

@@ericl2969 I agree but like you said trying one is not a option for me. It looks like they are popular in Canada but no so much her in the lower 48. I will never give up kayaking I have very fond memories paddling the west , south and east coast but a 60 lbs kayak is a little heavy if you have to portage in small rivers but was great in oceans surf. My oldest kayak(early 1980s vintage) has seen water from north and south California as well as both sides of Florida and Georgia coast but moving inland changes ones perspectives.

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

Its clear a kayak has the attributes you mention, and worthy of consideration. It all depends on the personal use and situation. Myself I prefer the open canoe, when encountering multiple beaver dams for example the ease of in and out of the boat is greatly appreciated in a canoe. Another aspect Paddle TV should cover is Poling a canoe, with low summer waters a pole is a great tool for your canoe, to slow and pick, snubbing, your way down the river or to push your way up the river.

[@trevorsowers]

Good points. Also a spray cover on a canoe makes them more adept at open water and big waves although still no match for a sea kayak in big open water.

[@bjrnolavlangvad3061]

I have been canoeing for some years now, I have also owned a kayak. I prefer the canoe because It is more easy to get in and out of. And because I paddle solo, I paddle my canoe with a kayak paddle.

[@ericl2969]

It takes a few years of practice get fairly good at paddling a solo canoe with a standard single-blade paddle, but oh, it opens up a whole new world of boat control. I started out paddling solo with a double-blade paddle too, but would never go back to paddling that way now. To each his own, though.

[@DannyB-cs9vx]

In a kayak, you can only reach what is directly in front of you., or in your seat area. If your sandwich is packed in a hatch, you will be hungry until landfall.

[@bradleedenney]

I cannot sit for a long time, without standing or move my legs. Kayaks are great, canoes are great...purchased an inflatable fishing "kayak", but more canoe than kayak. I can stand in calm waters.

[@carolbeckett9712]

The canoe is best for fishing and that’s important on long trips on rivers especially. 👍

[@JamesHunterRoss]

Have you paddled, say, an OC-1; I call those an "outrigger"? I'd love your thoughts. Here in Orange County CA we have mostly SUP, kayak, and OC-1 outriggers heading out into the ocean. The OC-1 and Kayaks both seem to do well, SUP too until it gets windy or choppy.

[@danbarrell6802]

I agree with you 100%. I'm a canoe where though . I'm 65 canoeing for 40 years. I'd like the room I like sitting and I can. I like the ice chest and all the goodies that go with it. I have kayak. Much easier to get around especially in the wind.

[@PaddleTV]

Yup! I think everyone needs one of each! :)

[@brianpalmer8171]

Now I have an understanding of the differences

[@MsTigerseye77]

Not a fool. You're great! Nice vid!🙂

[@Vylkeer]

To me kayaks are the best. Specifically, touring kayaks and surfskis. Having both would be just the perfect combo for me. For now I have a touring kayak, a Delta 12.10 and in a few years I hope I’ll be able to get an Epic V5 Surfski to complete my dream set :)

[@lloydlarsen67]

I own both a canoe and sea kayak and like them both, but in reading through most of the comments didn't see any mention that canoeing has more paddle strokes than kayaking. Granted that makes canoeing harder to learn, but I enjoy doing the different canoe strokes over the simple kayak strokes. That said if you want to go fast pick a kayak.

[@PaddleTV]

That's one of the reasons I love mixing it up and hopping into both kayaks and canoes. Keeps things interesting, and develops different skills. Cheers!

[@j.t.c.9157]

Also comparing a kayak to a canoe is like comparing a pick up truck to a sedan. Both do one thing great, but don't cross over to the others territory well..they can but it's usually awkward for all but the experts.

[@martinsinclair55]

Thanks for the information. I too hate paddling a canoe solo due to winds etc. What I'm wondering is how big water can you take a tripping kayak through? For example the Cline River canyon can be done with a whitewater kayak. What about a tripping one?

[@ryancooper3629]

It really depends on your skill level and the specifics of a tripping kayak. I follow another channel (Gatewood Brown) and that dude takes fishing kayaks down whitewater regularity. That said, it isn't going to handle that situation like a whitewater boat. A tripping boat is heavier and less maneuverable. I'd approach it like I would if I were running the rapids in a canoe more than a kayak. Never trusting that I can make course corrections quickly. Scout rapids and makes sure to run them at the ideal angle, don't plan to adjust course mid rapid. Also, be willing to line or port rapids that could be risky.

[@drakemclemore7964]

Thanks for the great video. I’ve been looking into outfitting a kayak for wildlife photography. Now I’m thinking a canoe may be the better option.

[@Gabe310m]

I have a canoe I use it for wildlife photography and I love it there is lots of room and I can sometimes fit s tripod when my lens gets too heavy

[@calvinfinley8340]

I am a pro Photographer and canoe is the way to go if you're going to do wildlife and landscape photography can carry all the equipment you need easily and also very easy to get in and out of

[@highloughsdrifter1629]

Definitely canoe for that. Much more initial stability, so you can put the paddle down without going over, plus near silent paddling (Indian stroke).

[@palicar]

I subscribed when he said ‘similarily’. 🎉

[@2legit2quuit]

Kayaks you need more than one canoe is less expensive, most versatile. Solo canoe, sit near the middle on your strong side. canoe windage can be an advantage with a canoe with no keel, nose in to the wind and slightly vear off in the direction you want to go. The hull will act like a sail and help you go. You are not always moving in the direction you are pointed.

[@NorthPaddle]

You pretty much made my argument for me to show my wife. I need both for sure. It’s basically like asking what’s better a Corvette or a pick up. It really depends what you’re doing that day.

[@RuneCarverLLC]

👍 Well balance!

[@DylTyrril]

You could always go with a pack boat, and get the best of both worlds! 😀👍

[@randyfrederick1060]

Very good