What are your current solo canoes and how do you like them?

@dutchlennart , tell me about the Next. People who have never paddled a solo canoe occasionally ask me about it, and I'm always reluctant to say much because I have yet to even see one in person. I'd like to be able to assume (as I suspect) that it's a good non-intimidating intro to solo canoeing or canoeing in general.

You apparently removed the seat and use a kneeling thwart, correct? Have you weighed it in this configuration?

Can you compare its efficiency to similar length kayaks or similar composite canoes?

Do you use a single blade, or a double? Would you describe it as OT suggests, as extremely user-friendly?

Maybe this should be its own thread.

Old Town Pack, Royalex
Esquif Echo in T-Formax Lite
The Pack is still my go to for small protected & difficult to access water. It's pretty much perfect for poking around on my local slow moving wood infested TVA controlled creeks and sloughs.
The Echo is faster and sportier, better for camping and river running. Although I managed those things pretty well in the Pack for ages its nice to have a new boat.
Id like to have something in a composite, long light and fast, to paddle the big open water on the TN River and other local reservoirs, but I can't really justify the expense for a boat that I would probably only use for the exercise. Would probably get used about as much as a stationary bicycle or something, lol. I think a sea kayak would actually be the best boat for that purpose, but the canoe or yak debate is pretty irrelevant because I can't see myself spending the bucks for either.
Unless....I could get a decent price for the pedal fishing yak. That would go a long way towards the cost of another boat and free up room in the garage. Talk about a white elephant, something I thought Id use but dont, that thing is just a PITA taking up valuable garage space.

Just getting going in the canoe world, so just one to date, Old Town Sportsman 119. I'm sure there will be more, I'm kinda wanting a pack canoe now.

The Hornbeck canoes that Black Fly posted a link for in another thread look pretty cool and sound amazing. The 14' Classic sounds perfect at 400lb capacity for the mid profile, 25.5 pounds is LESS than half the weight of my OT. I'm sure shipping would be redonkulous to Louisiana, but it's only 21 hours from here to the MN location. I'd also know it wasn't being thrown around by a shipping company if I go pick it up. I just did the math, $450 round trip from here for gas. I kinda hinted at the wife about a vacation to Minneapolis next summer, pick up a new canoe and hit a bunch of cool paddle locations on the way home. I didn't get a no!

I've been searching up some of the boats you guys are listing. Y'all have some NICE boats!

My wife doesn't mind my canoe addiction as much since I bought her one of the 10 1/2 foot, 14 pound Hornbeck "Lost Pond" canoes. Maybe one for her would help your cause.

Watch the Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. I found my wife's Hornbeck for cheap (really!) on Craigslist. Sometimes they do pop up in the South.

SouthernKevlar said:

My wife doesn't mind my canoe addiction as much since I bought her one of the 10 1/2 foot, 14 pound Hornbeck "Lost Pond" canoes. Maybe one for her would help your cause.

Watch the Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. I found my wife's Hornbeck for cheap (really!) on Craigslist. Sometimes they do pop up in the South.

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Not a bad idea, thanks. It would have to be a surprise, she loves her kayak. 14 pounds though, man! I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.

Rusty Ole' Bucket said:

Not a bad idea, thanks. It would have to be a surprise, she loves her kayak. 14 pounds though, man! I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.

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14 pounds would earn a whole lot of like no matter how much you think you like your kayak!

A 10.5 foot Hornbeck has taken me on frequent trips well off trail to many remote Adirondack ponds, and on a 185 mile cross-Adirondack SW to NE diagonal trek from one side to the other and beyond with all gear and food I needed for a full week. Wind and waves on the larger lakes (including crossing Lake Champlain) were not any major problem. Keep weight well centered and bow and stern will simply bob up and over large waves without taking on water.

Maybe we drive up to Minnesota next summer with an empty canoe rack on the truck and get two boats. Tell her we're going to get my boat and surprise her. Hmmmm....

Steve in Idaho said:

@dutchlennart , tell me about the Next. People who have never paddled a solo canoe occasionally ask me about it, and I'm always reluctant to say much because I have yet to even see one in person. I'd like to be able to assume (as I suspect) that it's a good non-intimidating intro to solo canoeing or canoeing in general.

You apparently removed the seat and use a kneeling thwart, correct? Have you weighed it in this configuration?

Can you compare its efficiency to similar length kayaks or similar composite canoes?

Do you use a single blade, or a double? Would you describe it as OT suggests, as extremely user-friendly?

Maybe this should be its own thread.

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In 2022, I was in the market for a solo tripping canoe and was considering everything out there. I finally got things down to two models. I was considering a Hornbeck and a OT NEXT. I watched dozens of videos and read everything I could on the subject and decided on the OT NEXT. for my tripping. After 4 years and many trips to the Adirondacks I am very pleased with my decision. The light weight of the other solo boats would have been great but considering everything the NEXT fits my needs the best.

Since I was going to use the canoe for tripping on lakes only, some factors were more importin than others.
First on my list was getting in and out. The NEXT won this argument easily over the Hornbeck. No need for wet feet with the NEXT.
Other factors were tracking, load capacity and toughness. I was sure the NEXT could carry my gear and track for a comfortable ride.
After reading reviews and watching the NEXT on You Tube channels like Adirondack Addicts, I was confident the NEXT would handle everything I wanted to do.
With most conversation concerning the NEXT the seat comes up. With my legs and back condition, I found the seat helped me the most to be able to continue canoeing. Not only does the seat provide a very confortable ride but I remove it and use it at camp for a chair. I found it much better than sitting on the floor or bench seats like other canoes.

Since no canoe is perfect, I wish the NEXT was a little longer for more room and maybe cut some of the weight. But, since I carry and load the NEXT on my car at 77 years old maybe that's not a real issue.

Since getting and using my NEXT, I've had a chance to look and compare many different canoes. There is a lot of very good tripping canoes out there all with good qualities, but for my needs the value of the NEXT is best for me.

Steve in Idaho said:

I don't know how it compares to a Phoenix. Wish I could say I do.

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The seller was nice enough to let me test paddle the Sojourn yesterday. I was in a creek; at the put-in the current was almost imperceptible, just upstream it got shallow with enough current to have to work upstream a little. I spent about 10 min in the boat and tried my beavertail and bent-shaft paddles as well as the sellers recommended 230cm double-blade. I was feeling very cognizant of the seller waiting on shore and taking too much of his time, even though he was very nice about it and encouraged me to take my time.

I have to say, having read up on the Sojourn, I surprised it didn't track that much better than the Phoenix. I started kneeling but eventually figured out that sitting seemed to put the weight farther back and sink the stern a bit, which helped. But, I think based on reviews I was expecting to be impressed. Maybe a 14ft boat is only ever going to track at a moderate level compared to a longer one. I feel like I was wowed by the tracking of the NW Solo I tried when I bought my Phoenix, but I'd never paddled a solo canoe at that point. If I'd tried the Sojourn when I didn't have a solo I'd have gone for it. But between cost, lack of room in the garage, and lack of feeling like it tracked a whole lot better than the Phoenix, I didn't go for it. I will say it was a nice ride, plenty stable and tracked pretty well - obviously the Phoenix turns better when leaned. The other nice thing people say about the Sojourn is performance in wind and wave, which I didn't get to try in the creek.

The NW Solo has asymmetrical rocker, like the Polaris. Don’t know about the Sojourn? Tracking in my Polaris is great, and of course maneuverability is much better in the Polaris than my Wenonah Prism. The Prism has sticky stems and is a tracking monster! The Phoenix is more maneuverable still, and tracking takes a hit. Mine yaws whenever I coast. My Polaris does not. I think I’d have been very happy with the NW Solo, but since I solo the Polaris so much I’m content with my variety as is. I’d have to be a much better paddler to decide any one my boats need replacing. Need =/= want

Need =/= want indeed! When tripping lakes I sometimes wish I had something with stickier stems like a Prism, NW Solo or even Magic. When I'm in the twisty creeks I'm glad to have the Phoenix. It does tend to wander when drifting though. I was hoping the Sojourn would be more like a Prism, but seems like not as much as I'd hoped.

Since my OP in this thread, I have acquired a 29 lb. Swift Keewaydin 15 solo canoe in carbon fusion layup. It has jumped to the top of my list and not only because it my lightest and most liftable canoe for my ancientness.

It has lovely and efficient glide, and is well behaved in wind and waves. It is now my first choice for lake and quiet water cruising, and would be my first choice for lake-to-lake portage trips.




For river trips with rapids I would take my Hemlock SRT. For very twisty streams requiring maneuverability, my Bell Wildfire, though I'm planning on giving the Kee 15 a shot in the tortuous NJ Pine Barrens in October.

Very jelly you’re gonna do the pine barrens! Plz make a trip report!

Tsuga8 said:

The seller was nice enough to let me test paddle the Sojourn yesterday. I was in a creek; at the put-in the current was almost imperceptible, just upstream it got shallow with enough current to have to work upstream a little. I spent about 10 min in the boat and tried my beavertail and bent-shaft paddles as well as the sellers recommended 230cm double-blade. I was feeling very cognizant of the seller waiting on shore and taking too much of his time, even though he was very nice about it and encouraged me to take my time.

I have to say, having read up on the Sojourn, I surprised it didn't track that much better than the Phoenix. I started kneeling but eventually figured out that sitting seemed to put the weight farther back and sink the stern a bit, which helped. But, I think based on reviews I was expecting to be impressed. Maybe a 14ft boat is only ever going to track at a moderate level compared to a longer one. I feel like I was wowed by the tracking of the NW Solo I tried when I bought my Phoenix, but I'd never paddled a solo canoe at that point. If I'd tried the Sojourn when I didn't have a solo I'd have gone for it. But between cost, lack of room in the garage, and lack of feeling like it tracked a whole lot better than the Phoenix, I didn't go for it. I will say it was a nice ride, plenty stable and tracked pretty well - obviously the Phoenix turns better when leaned. The other nice thing people say about the Sojourn is performance in wind and wave, which I didn't get to try in the creek.

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I was never impressed with how the Sojourn did with the ottertail. Or maybe I should state that in the reverse. The Sojourn pretty much demanded either a Sugar Island style or the Zav. Could it be that the paddler in your Phoenix tracks so well that you aren't noticing any improvement with the Sojourn?

You're just reenforcing my suspicion that I could probably be happy in most places with a Phoenix.

I've mentioned elsewhere that I picked up and repaired a Wenonah Moccasin. I'm still trying to decide how much I will like it, compared to my other solos. It does track well (it certainly should) and it moves easy. Definitely a flat water boat. Stability is solid, and it turns okay for a 15.5' canoe having no rocker. Best thing about it was the price - ~$250, including repair costs.


Gotta get with a buddy to do some side by side comparison with the Solitude.

Steve in Idaho said:

I was never impressed with how the Sojourn did with the ottertail. Or maybe I should state that in the reverse. The Sojourn pretty much demanded either a Sugar Island style or the Zav. Could it be that the paddler in your Phoenix tracks so well that you aren't noticing any improvement with the Sojourn?

You're just reenforcing my suspicion that I could probably be happy in most places with a Phoenix.

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I actually brought a beavertail and a bent-shaft Sugar Island-y paddle (homemade, I think, came with a used boat) to try both, thinking that if the Sojourn was a good tracker it might finally get me into using the bent shaft sit-and-switch. Now I am definitely not proficient at bent shaft sit-and-switch, but I couldn't impress myself with the Sojourn using either paddle, at least not enough to justify coming home with it on top of the Phoenix. Again, if I didn't already have the Phoenix, the Sojourn would have been a great find.

(I certainly won't claim any great proficiency of paddler regardless of paddle, not among this crowd!)

Nice get with that Mocassin! I've been trying to get out with a friend to do side-by-side comparisons with the Penobscot and Rx Morningstar, but haven't managed it yet for flatwater this year. Hopefully you have better luck.

Steve in Idaho said:

I've mentioned elsewhere that I picked up and repaired a Wenonah Moccasin. I'm still trying to decide how much I will like it, compared to my other solos. It does track well (it certainly should) and it moves easy. Definitely a flat water boat. Stability is solid, and it turns okay for a 15.5' canoe having no rocker. Best thing about it was the price - ~$250, including repair costs.
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Gotta get with a buddy to do some side by side comparison with the Solitude.

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Wow, good job what a great fine. I kept looking but I can never find a deal like that. Nothing but Colemans and Al canoes.

Penns Woods said:

Wow, good job what a great fine. I kept looking but I can never find a deal like that. Nothing but Colemans and Al canoes.

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Really hate those Artificial Intelligence canoes!

I don't own one, but I don't know a better place to mention it....
Last week, I happened to meet a fellow who was kind enough to let me try out his brand new Swift Prospector 14. I was in it for only about 30 minutes, but put it through enough moves to be able to say I like it a lot. An extremely well mannered and responsive canoe. Definitely one of those I could happily live with as an only canoe.

Good choice of colors too.