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If you are anything like me, then you love nothing more than to get out in a canoe to explore the world from a different perspective. Sitting so close on the water is a great way to get closer to nature and explore what the outdoor world has to offer but having a full-size canoe has its flaws. Unless you have a large enough vehicle or a means of towing your canoe it can be a pain getting your boat on the water. If you live in a small apartment (also like me) but love canoeing, then you probably don’t have anywhere to store a full-size open-top canoe anyway. So how can you get around these issues and still enjoy a day or week on the water?

Inflatable canoes are the way forward! In recent years inflatable boats have come along way and are now durable and advanced enough to take on long camping trips down rivers and lakes. If you pick the right inflatable canoe you no longer have to worry about puncturing it in shallow water and risking all your camping gear getting soaked! You can now rely on an inflatable canoe almost as much as a traditional one, so much so that you can take them on multiday adventures into the wilderness.

There are some differences between inflatable and traditional canoes and of course you are never going to get exactly the same feel from an inflatable as you are from a solid canoe, but what you sacrifice in some ways you gain in others. For a start, you gain the ability to throw your inflatable canoe in the trunk of your car and take it almost anywhere. Having an inflatable canoe that packs down small is perfect for people that live in small apartments but want to head out to their local lake, river, or head out for a canoeing trip somewhere special every month. It also gets rid of the hassle of loading a canoe on to the roof and taking it down to the water. This is especially annoying for the solo explorer that likes getting out in nature by themselves.

There are a few differences between inflatable and standard canoes. You will never get the same weight capacity from an inflatable as you can get from a hard-shell canoe and they won’t cut through the water in the same way. Most high-quality inflatable canoes that are manufactured today feature fins to aid stability in the water but being highly buoyant, most of the canoe sits above the water so they do tend to have more water resistance. Don’t expect the same effortless glide as a traditional canoe, but don’t expect anything terrible either. It may take you some time to get used to paddling in an inflatable canoe, but once you do, you will be cutting through the water like it is nothing.

Although inflatable canoes can’t cope with as much weight as their traditional counterparts, there are a few types that are built for the additional weight of camping gear. These canoes have more than enough room and weight capacity for one to two people’s equipment for a week-long camping trip in the wilderness. Inflatable canoes that are suited for extended camping trips are designed to be rugged, durable, load-bearing, and comfortable so you can smash through the miles and enjoy your trip.

In this article, we have put together the top 5 inflatable canoes in 2020. These 5 different canoes offer something for everyone, we have one for the budget explorer, one for the solo camper, one for the keen fisherman, and some for multi-person multi-day camping. All of these canoes are highly-regarded and reviewed by us, so you can make the right choice when selecting the best inflatable canoe for your purpose. Enjoy!

Best Budget Inflatable Canoe

The Intex Explorer 2-person inflatable “kayak” is a reasonably priced inflatable canoe for exploring lakes and deeper rivers. Although this inflatable is listed as a kayak it is more of a canoe in its design. It features two inflatable, fully adjustable seats with backrests and plenty of space for day-trips and weekend excursions. It comes with everything you need to get started in the canoeing world with two lightweight aluminum oars, a carry bag, and a high-output pump for quick and easy inflation.

This inflatable canoe certainly isn’t built for white water or extended camping trips, but it will serve you well if you enjoy getting out on the water during calm days. It has a removable skeg (stabilizing fin) so the canoe has directional stability in the water when out on lakes and calm rivers. This canoe comes in at 10 feet x 3 feet when fully inflated and has a 400-pound loading weight (more than enough for two adults and a weekend camping kit). If you are looking for a cheap inflatable canoe for casual weekend use, or to escape the rat-race on weekdays then this is a good choice for you.

Best Inflatable Canoe for Solo Camping

Intex Excursion Pro 2-person Inflatable Canoe is a 2-person canoe that has removable seats. This canoe is easy enough to manage for use by one person and when used with one seat has plenty of storage for extended periods of exploration. You will have no problem fitting everything you need in this canoe and it has some handy features for comfort on the water and stowing away your camping gear.

It is made from a super tough laminate PVC with a polyester core that is highly resistant to damage from impact and sunlight. It can handle high-pressure inflation and features two removable skegs for stability in deep and shallow water, these features make this canoe extremely versatile and stable in a range of environments. It has floor-mounted footrests and an adjustable mounting rack for your phone or a GPS and if you enjoy fishing on your travels it has two integrated rod holders as well.

There is plenty of space for the solo canoeist with storage in the bow and stern with stainless steel D-rings to tie down your wet bags, so if you do capsize your kit will be dry, safe, and in one place. This canoe has a weight capacity of 400-pounds which gives you plenty of allowance for all your camping necessities and some creature-comforts too. This is a durable and versatile canoe that is ideal for the solo camper with a passion for longer trips or the couple that wants a camping canoe for weekend excursions.  

Best 2 Person Inflatable Canoe

The Sea Eagle 330 Pro 2-person Inflatable Sport Canoe is the most durable canoe on our list today. This boat is built to take a beating and is suitable in white water up to class 3. It has a 500-pound capacity and is the perfect expedition canoe due to its comfortable seats, rugged design, and excellent storage options. It comes with two skegs for stability in the water and it sits lower in the water when loaded compared to the Intex canoes, giving a hugely stable and natural feel in the water. This inflatable canoe comes with everything you need to get out on the water for an extremely competitive price. It has two aluminum paddles, a high-pressure hand pump, and a large backpack carry-bag.

There is one sacrifice that you must make with the Sea Eagle though. Great build-quality, durability, and high-impact resistance come at a price – weight. This inflatable canoe comes with a very handy and well-made backpack to carry the canoe from the car to the lake, but when this boat is packed down in the bag it weighs close to 40-pounds. That means if you are carrying this any distance on your back it is going to get uncomfortable however this is a small price to pay for such a rugged canoe.

The Sea Eagle in either 2 or 3-person variants is about as close to a traditional hard-body canoe as you can get. If you are looking for an expedition canoe that will fit in the boot of even the smallest city car then this one is for you!

Best 3 Person Inflatable Canoe

The Sea Eagle 370 Inflatable Canoe is our top choice for three people. Much like the 2-person variant, this canoe is extremely rugged and is as close as you can get to a standard canoe in an inflatable form. The 3-person variation can support up to 650-pounds and is suitable in class 3 white water and is guaranteed to impress on long-distance canoeing trips. It is designed in the same way as the 2-person variant and is extremely stable in the water, it comes in a complete kit with oars, carry bag, and a high-pressure foot pump.

As with the 2-person, this canoe is heavy to carry with this variant weighing around 60lbs – the weight of the material used is well worth it though, with some people saying they have been slammed against rocks in rough seas without a puncture!

This is the perfect canoe for a group of three that loves exploring lakes, rivers, coasts, and canoe camping in the wild. If you are a 2-person group that desires a bit more space in your canoe to accommodate extra camping gear for extended trips, then this is also a great option.

Best Inflatable Canoe for Fishing

The Sevylor Rio 1-person Fishing Canoe is the best inflatable canoe for the keen angler. It uses 18-gauge PVC and features a 1000D tarpaulin bottom for protection from punctures – a necessary when silently stalking fish in snag-filled lake margins. As well as being incredibly strong and almost puncture-proof, this boat is packed with features that the angler will love. It has paddle holders to conveniently stow away you paddles when fishing, a Berkley Quick-Set Rod Holder to hold your rod when your rowing or trawling, and it is full of mesh pockets for your tackle as well as stainless steel D-rings to tie down your dry bags.

If you want to take your fishing to the next level or you are getting older now, you may not want to paddle everywhere. This is where the Sevylor Canoe is great, it has the ability to install the Sevylor Trawling Motor for stealthy, precise movement across the water without putting paddle to water.

This is the perfect canoe for the aspiring angler or someone that wants a rugged exploration canoe with one seat. It caters to all ages and all experience levels, is a joy to use, and is versatile enough to use in most types of freshwater.