Swift Pack Boat | Gear Review and Paddling Test

In this video I'm doing a full review of the Swift Pack Boat canoe/kayak by taking it out for a paddling test in Killarney Provincial Park.
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#PaddleTales #SwiftCanoes

[@CanoehoundAdventures]

Personally I own a 14ft Swift Prospector Pack Canoe in Kevlar fusion. The canoe is a dream to paddle and is slightly more stable than the Cruiser Series... holds all my camping gear, my dog and all my camera gear when recording... LOVE my Swift.

[@bobboitt3126]

Thats the exact Canoe I hope to get, glad to hear you like yours!

[@frogsnacks]

How would these be to paddle with a single blade paddle? I'm a lifelong canoeist and I just don't like double bladed paddles, even with those fancy drip guard things they always drip in the boat soak your clothes. These would be a dream canoe for me if I can paddle it with a J or indian stroke.

[@jimwortham8634]

Would appreciate you showing getting in and getting out

[@bertschuh5720]

Today I test paddled some of the Swift pack boat line at Algonquin Outfitters on Oxtongue Lake. Specifically the Cruiser 14.8, the Keewaydin 15, and the Pack 13.6. The Cruiser 14.8 is a joy to paddle kayak style, clearly designed to maximize comfort and performance in paddling with the double blade. It paddled well also with a shortish single blade. My 2nd best like was the Pack 13.6, liked it more than I expected. It was also my favourite esthetically. The Keewaydin 15 Pack was least favourite of these three. Too much canoe dna, not enough kayak. My interest in pack boats comes about from being 70 yrs old and my feet do not do well kneeling for long periods in a solo canoe, and then sitting is less stable than in a pack boat. Very interested in adding the 14.8 Cruiser to my fleet so that I can sit in comfort and still have performance and stability. However I should sell off one or two of my five canoes first to make room!

[@jimwortham8634]

Thanks for posting x kayaker here have new pack boat love it biggest problem getting in and out

[@jimwortham8634]

Wow thanks for posting exactly what I am looking for

[@kevinbobo2149]

Really impressed. As I get older I find I’m less in need of a kayak but don’t want to lose the tracking abilities. This might be a good alternative.

[@maggievenables9472]

Just got mine. I'm a kayaker, sorry was a kayaker,...sold the the third stroke during a test paddle, it was like it was home. I'm a 128 lb 48 year old female and I now can go anywhere I want in my Swift Cruiser 12.8, weight with yoke 24lbs.👍😁. Kayak was 53lbs. Everything thing mentioned in this video is all true. Truly an awesome boat.

[@PaddleTV]

Right on! Hope you're enjoying it, Maggie!

[@mplsmark222]

A couple years ago I bought a very old pack canoe. I’ve had so much fun and great experiences with it. I started mostly paddling with a kayak paddle,but now mostly paddle with a canoe paddle, I enjoy the challenge of paddling this way. The other reason is I was getting a lot of water in the boat with the double bladed paddle. I go out in the winter some, and my gloves stay completely dry when using the canoe paddle. Plus my gear and legs stay drier too. I’ve never paddled a Swift, but they look like fabulous craft.

[@S.L.1211]

These are fantastic. I test paddled one and loved it. Ultimately went with the solo Keewaydin canoe as I preferred the traditional canoe seat

[@letmypeoplegosurfing]

Amazing product review, thank you! Please do more!!

[@Freynightwalker]

Packboats are becoming more popular and it would be very informative if you were able to discuss or review what paddles you would use in a packboat like the swift 14 8 or 15 8. That is what length, style weight etc.

[@roncharles1432]

Just got my mine delivered (in NJ) and took the maiden voyage. Everything you said is spot on 👍🏼

[@MarEkkertsen]

Thanks for a look at the Swift pack boat. I’d just begun looking at solo canoe. Timely.

[@jeffreyarsenault2017]

I have been checking out these boats myself. It is good to have your experience and input. I found it helpful. Please do more boat reviews I think that's helpful for a lot of people looking for a new boat.

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks for the note. More to come!

[@migrantdc]

Super high quality canoe that is, and Expensive of course 😁, definitely my dream canoe.

[@davidstrand3942]

Really nice review of the Swift Cruiser !

[@shannonherb2048]

I have an old town sanarac. Heavy as can be but I can my wife and I can stay on the water all day with a lot of gear to beach and camp. I love the lightweight idea for a great solo trip though.

[@AinlayPhysics]

Thanks. More gear reviews Please. Nice to hear an expert unbiased review. Love to see some tripping tandem canoe reviews

[@PaddleTV]

More to come!

[@slowfaller]

Loving my 15.8 cruiser in emerald

[@chriss.4258]

Love the review renting one in a couple weeks. Thx

[@PaddleTV]

Enjoy! Shouldn't be hard to! :)

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Love my NRS Boundary Boots and Velocity Shoes.

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! I agree 100%.

[@paulcarter8215]

Thank Ken, another informative video. I started with an inflatable (Sevylor Rios), then sit on top (FF Nomad) and late last year a sit inside Dagger Axis. I like the performance of the Axis but I'm not as flexible as I used to be so keeping the thing the right way on take off and landing can be a challenge This lightweight canoe that can be paddles like a kayak looks just the thing - I'll be looking for a UK supplier when I post this comment. Great scenery - you're spoilt !

[@PaddleTV]

My pleasure... and yes, I am pretty spoiled with the amazing paddling locations we have within a 5-hour drive from here. :) That being said, one of these days I would love to explore the UK! You have some amazing places as well. Cheers.

[@rickquist3992]

Those are right up there with, "As Good as It Gets!"

[@bertschuh5720]

Great review ...awesome location!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks! I'm excited to be heading back there next week!

[@graveltravelcanada]

25 years ago. Banff, Kicking Horse, Paul H, etc....long time no see. Glad to see your still on the water

[@PaddleTV]

Hey Ted! Long time indeed! Hope all is going well.

[@flightographist]

Wild, I was a volunteer ranger in Killarney, long tradition among foresters. That is where I came up with my solo guide...aka pack canoe design. Built it, paddled it everywhere, then sold it 25 yrs later for a profit. I am now a solid kayaker, big quiver, guide on the St Lawrence. Ima just remind your pack boat, even though it be a swift, is not a kevlar boat...it has one, maybe two, layers of kevlar, the rest is other fabric. Edit: I built many of the 90's era boardwalk trails and privy's hauling lumber on an 18 foot cedar canvas prospector, sometimes about a ton of wood!

[@PaddleTV]

Wow! Very cool. I'm jealous that you got to spend so much time in Killarney!

[@catq275]

Thank you for this review! I am wondering if you could do a review with the boat packed and a large dog (85 lbs) in it as well?

[@CN-re5ut]

How would it perform in higher winds being so light? LOVE the gear review.

[@PaddleTV]

Good question. If you were paddling it empty, with a canoe paddle, then high winds would be very challenging - as they are for any canoe. The fact that you can use a kayak paddle comfortably greatly improves its performance in high winds though. It's also less impacted by wind than many other canoes, because it has a lower profile to the water - which means there's less boat for the wind to grab. Bottom line... paddling in high winds will suck, but not anymore than it does with other canoes. Potentially less.

[@catsaberhagen5266]

How does it handle if you come outcor tip getting back in?

[@piyachetty3023]

Awesome review really impressed on the way that boat performs would like to see the 12.4 review did you try out the stealth 480 fusion boat

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks! I haven't tried the Stealth 480. In fact, I'd never seen it until you mentioned it. Looks pretty cool! Hopefully one day I'll be able to test it.

[@piyachetty3023]

@@PaddleTV awesome can't wait to see that video when you do it

[@TheCozzz]

This looks great. I may have missed it, but didn't catch cost of one of these?

[@brodiwheeler7583]

Really intriguing boat... I like to stand up paddle my canoes, so maybe the 2 person or a wider version of this design would be a great choice when I save up enough lunch money. 👌🏼🛶

[@reelrydor1]

Sold me one!

[@1979Spica]

Has anyone clocked these on a gps? Cruising speed? Top speed? Trying to compare to past kayaks. I might start saving for one of these

[@woodsy3596]

Hey Ken, I am wondering whether 2 people could go for a leisurely paddle in the cruiser 14.5, or is it too tight on the ends. I'm looking for something that I can use solo most of the time, but flexibility to go for a paddle with a friend or family member. Also debating between kayak and pack canoe. I am a smallish person. thanks ahead for your thoughts.

[@PaddleTV]

Goo question... My gut is telling me that the 14.5 is probably too small for a good/comfortable experience for 2 paddlers. Swift does have a canoe specifically designed to 'double-duty' like this. Here's a link swiftcanoe.com/boat/keewaydin-16-combi/

[@annakrichevsky2779]

Hmm, judging by the name, I thought it was a foldable boat. I am paddling an inflatable kayak Advanced Elements Convertible DS. Obviously, not nearly as fast or fun to paddle (though with zipper deck it can easily be converted from an open boat to closed one, and from solo to tandem and vice versa). And, of course if I want to paddle in Bunff, I can fly from California and take my boat with me. Now, for shorter trips. I guess you transport the boat on the car top. I have no experience with that. How would one prevent a $3000 boat from being stolen overnight when you sleep in a hotel/motel/cabin? I am considering a fast rigid boat, but need to understand how to handle them. Thank you in advance.

[@marklemmon7539]

Hey Ken, I was wondering what size paddle is used in this video? Thanks

[@PaddleTV]

I'm pretty sure it's a 235cm paddle. Long, but not crazy long.

[@marklemmon7539]

@@PaddleTV I love hearing it as I've purchased a 240 to use in my new Cruiser 14.6

[@TPITEOTG]

What size on kayak paddle will fit Canoe? ❤

[@andfletcher55]

What size paddle are you using? Do you find you need a longer paddle than you would use in a kayak?

[@PaddleTV]

I was using my standard touring paddle, which is 230cm. It wasn't a problem in this boat, because the sides of the canoe pull in slightly to accommodate a kayak stroke. I do have long arms though, and so that could make a difference. It wouldn't hurt to have a slightly longer paddle.

[@back40canoe]

You need to try out a Clipper Sea-1

[@Michiganfootmodels_tickled]

That looks like a wonderful canoe however I can only imagine how expensive it is with it being made out of Kevlar

[@PaddleTV]

It's about $3500 Canadian. Not cheap, but it's definitely a lifetime boat.

[@nunyabidness3075]

You can get hundreds off buying a used one. That’s still expensive, but if you are the buy and trade type, you can use one for a few years, then get most of your money back.

[@gemwebb]

Joan much weight of gear can it handle?

[@PaddleTV]

Quite a bit. Max capacity is around 400lbs I think.

[@micmac6400]

👍🏻

[@gildoreth]

Would you ever take this out where you might hit a wave? The low profile and open top seems like a risky combination.

[@PaddleTV]

Yeah, it's not designed for open water. You could get swamped pretty easy if there was significant waves.

[@lancebuckley7086]

I don't know the properties of kevlar. Would this sink if overturned or just float at the gunnel level? Great video! I love the lightweight idea and easier to get into and out of than a small kayak cockpit.

[@richardnewns15]

I would definitely install airbags in the bow and stern to prevent the boat from sinking if swamped. Palm sell some for example.

[@bertschuh5720]

All the Swift boats have a floatation chamber in the bow and stern, it won't sink

[@bradlepaddle9512]

What ended up being the real hardest part is getting out of the Swift at the end and having to give it back instead of take it home

[@PaddleTV]

so true...

[@lancebuckley7086]

Would this canoe sink if overturned? Should a person add floatation bags?

[@richardnewns15]

Absolutely use them, no additional weight, why risk sinking?

[@bertschuh5720]

No, they have floatation chambers built into bow and stern, won't sink

[@jwiereng]

What is the difference between the Cruiser pack vs the Cruiser Canoe? Just the seat position?

[@billswift8022]

The Cruiser Pack boats have the kayak seat and foot braces in them. The Cruiser canoes have an elevated Contour seat with an adjustable foot bar.

[@IamNothing82]

When you don't use a boat for trips, wil you still prefer this over a kayak?

[@PaddleTV]

I'll almost always prefer a canoe over a kayak if there's a lot of portaging to do. If there isn't, I'll nearly always choose a kayak.

[@IamNothing82]

@@PaddleTV thank you for your reply! But this video went abt a packboat, not a canoe :-). Is this just as good as a kayak, or is a kayak still better if you just want to do trips for a few hours and maybe 3-5 multi day trips a year? I can inmagine that a packboat is a mix of both, but can never fully replace a kayak in handling etc.

[@Chrismzeller]

Cool video and I like the concept. Too bad there isn’t a tandem version with the same low profile and enough gear hauling capability. When portaging there are advantages to paddling tandem.

[@stevel5771]

check out swifts website , there is a tandem

[@movidoabits]

send to brazil?

[@ADVENTUREKM]

How are they over rocks

[@PaddleTV]

You do want to be careful of slamming into rocks... but they're incredibly well built and strong. I just finished a 5 day canoe trip with a tandem canoe made the same way. We were careful, but we banged into many rocks during the trip without incident. Man, was it ever nice on the portages too!

[@ADVENTUREKM]

@@PaddleTV will that be a video coming up? Cheers

[@PaddleTV]

@@ADVENTUREKM Yup. That Paddle Tales episode will release in the spring.

[@nunyabidness3075]

Consider inegra if you generally run into rocks. I have a Kevlar 14.8 with the white bottom. It hides lots of scratches. I once ran up on a sharp rock. It made a terrifying noise, and it was hard getting off of it. Scratch did not go deep enough to require repair or filler though. I hear the real danger is dropping the boat off of a car. Don’t do that. 😀

[@JohnSavagepresents]

If you want to do a paddle in Ottawa, tell me and I can give you some tour ideas.

[@PaddleTV]

I appreciate it! I haven't paddled in Ottawa in years!

[@JohnSavagepresents]

@@PaddleTV great. Did you know that paddlers have been converging here fir thousands of years. It's a wonderful urban paddling area fir packed of all kinds. Our downtown waterway is an urban oasis with up to 8 different routes on the Lower Ottawa alone along nature conservancies, archaeological sites, and urban landscapes. Perfect destination for your viewers who may want something different to do when they visit Ottawa.

[@theoutdoordad7395]

How does this compare to something like a Eddyline Sitka LT on the water? (14’ sea kayak)

[@CanadianTexaninLiguria]

portawge

[@martin.feuchtwanger]

Love the concept of a hybrid canoe-kayak. Dislike the name -- not descriptive enough and too much like "pack raft". Suggest *canayak* or *kayoo*

[@xx12aabc52]

Kayoo!

[@azukarzuchastux8066]

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”