Canoe vs. Kayak: Which to Choose?

Traverse waterways your way by picking the best craft for you.

By Dana Benner
Published on December 8, 2020
article image
by Dana Benner

The choice between using a canoe vs. kayak comes down to your specific transportation needs. If you’re traveling with a partner or cargo, then a canoe might be best. However, if speed and agility are of top importance to you, consider a kayak.

People often ask me what I consider my most important tool. I’ve learned that the most important tool is the one you need at that moment. One item that could be useful to many people is a canoe or kayak. When a disaster hits, your life may depend on your ability to move quickly and silently. A canoe or kayak will allow you to do this. Since neither needs fuel, they’re always ready to go.

Historically, waterways were the highways, and canoes the vehicles, long before pavement crisscrossed the landscape. Both canoes and kayaks have been around for thousands of years. These watercrafts were used to haul people and supplies from one place to another, and no home was without a canoe. In the case of Indigenous peoples in the Arctic, the mode of travel was a kayak.

Our ways of using canoes and kayaks have since changed. Instead of being used for work, they’re mostly operated as recreational crafts. Canoes and kayaks have been designed for everything imaginable, and for every skill level. There are crafts made for whitewater and open-water touring; ocean kayaks; kayaks and canoes designed for racing; and canoes for weekend warriors at lakeside campsites.

Canoe vs. Kayak

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-803-7096