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Backpacker Magazine – May 2008
Canoes: All Aboard!
Some of the country's best wilderness is accessible only by boat. To help you get there, our testers picked the top canoes in six key categories.
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Tags:
- Gear |
- Paddling |
- Kayaks |
- Gear Guide |
All-Purpose Bargain | Solo | Expedition | High-Performance Cruiser | Portable | River Runner | Bargain Boats | Canoes, Deconstructed
[Solo]
MAD RIVER FREEDOM SOLO
During a five-day trip down the Smith River Canyon in Montana, the Freedom was the boat every tester wanted to test again–and again, and again. It offers the thrill of solo paddling with versatile, high-performance handling. The shallow vee-shaped hull performed equally well whether we were cruising glassy lakes or running Class II rapids with tricky corners and strong eddy lines. The Freedom comes with deluxe features, including adjustable seat height and cup holders, and the innovative IQ gunwale system lets you easily attach–and detach–optional accessories like hanging storage bags and a spray deck. The 750-pound capacity is more than enough for an XXL paddler and a week's worth of gear. And the Royalex material, a sandwich of foam and vinyl, is rugged enough for a lifetime of abuse. Multiple seat options are available, from classic cane (pictured) to a low-slung tractor seat that's stable and comfortable, but requires frequent readjustments. $1,150 to $1,400 (depending on seat and gunwale system); 14' 6"; 55 lbs. (800) 445-3763; madrivercanoe.com.
All-Purpose Bargain | Solo | Expedition | High-Performance Cruiser | Portable | River Runner | Bargain Boats | Canoes, Deconstructed
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READERS COMMENTS
Recently, I returned from an 80 day, 1300 mile canoe trip from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. The Wenonah Champlain was the perfect canoe for the trip! The boat tracked like a dream across Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg and was agile and maneuverable in the white water on the Hayes and God's Rivers in Northern Manitoba! Keep making a great boats, Wenonah!
Recently, I returned from an 80 day, 1300 mile canoe trip from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. The Wenonah Champlain was the perfect canoe for the trip! The boat tracked like a dream across Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg and was agile and maneuverable in the white water on the Hayes and God's Rivers in Northern Manitoba! Keep making a great boats, Wenonah!
All the canoes reviewed are fine boats for their class, but what about a backpacking boat. Several friends and I go up to the Adirondacks a couple of times a year for some backpacking and trout fishing. The ponds we head to are miles from the trailhead and carrying a 50 lb canoe on top of a 40 pound pack is unbearable (especially for some of the older guys in our group). The solution is a lightweight solo canoe that can be packed into the woods, like a Hornbeck canoe (among others). Their bestseller only weighs 14-16 lbs and can carry up to 300 lbs.
Check them out here:
http://www.hornbeckboats.com/
Albert
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