The Travel Canoe is a full-size, 16-foot inflatable canoe that fits in the trunk of a car! But the question is, how well does it actually work as a canoe, and is it worth the price? Let’s see, with an in-depth and unbiased review.

The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe Specifications

Price: $1800-2000 (USD)
Width: 38”
Length: 16’
Weight: 64 LBS (29 KG)
Capacity: 915 LBS (415 KG)
Best use: All conditions

The Travel Canoe features:

• Drop stitch constructions that can be pumped to 10 psi
• Plastic bow and stern moulds to cut through the water
• Traditional wood and webbed seats
• A removable rear skeg
• 4 floor drains
• 6 D rings to secure things down
• 2 non-slip EVA deck pads

Set-Up

The big reason you don’t see inflatable canoes around is that they are so big! The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe is no exception. Despite that, it is very easy to assemble. It has three large chambers, a floor, and two sides, which need to be blown up to 10 psi. Blowing this up manually would take a long time, but using an electric pump took minimal effort.

Portability

One of the big drawbacks of canoes is that they are big, heavy, cumbersome, and hard to transport. So immediately the Sea Eagle Travel Canoe gets high marks for portability – it came straight out of my car trunk! It was also quick and easy to set up with an electric pump.

That being said, carrying this solo was not an easy task. While 64 LBS might be light for a canoe, it is fairly heavy to carry in a bag. On top of this, the bag is not a high-end, form-fitting carry bag. Once the canoe is fully inflated it is still difficult to carry. A 16’ and 64 LBS canoe is not easy to carry solo. Carrying it inflated or deflated would be much easier with a second person.

Comfort

The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe is a wide, open, inflated kayak so it feels spacious and comfortable. The seat is a classic webbed canoe seat. It has three sitting positions you can choose from. These positions depend on how many people are using the canoe. Overall it is a comfortable canoe seat without any special features.

Stability

The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe is the most stable canoe that I have ever paddled. I expected it to be stable due to its flat bottom but was still surprised by how stable it is. It is the type of canoe that anyone can feel comfortable in.

There are two types of stability. Primary stability is when the boat is flat on the water. The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe has a lot of primary stability. Then there is secondary stability. This is when you hold the boat on edge. It is more relevant for people who intend to take the boat into challenging water. The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe has really great secondary stability too. When holding it on the edge it locks into place.

Performance

As a general rule with paddle craft, when you have additional stability you typically give up performance. And that is the case with The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe too. It is not a speedy boat.

The Travel Canoe does travel through the water fairly efficiently due to the fact it is a 16’ canoe. But it does not compare to a canoe with a keel along the hull or a displacement hull that is designed for speed. The Travel Canoe is slower than other canoes.

Features

Canoes don’t tend to have a huge number of features, but there are a few features worth talking about.

The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe has drain holes. This means that you can open the drain holes if you get swamped while on the water. Drain holes work well in an inflatable canoe because the canoe will stay on the surface whether it is swamped or not, meaning the drain holes stay above water and work well too.

In fact, the inflatable nature of the Sea Eagle Travel Canoe means that it can never swamp and sink. You are basically paddling a giant life jacket. So if you flip the canoe you can simply flip it back over and paddle to the side without having to empty the boat. Perfect for paddling on large bodies of water or the sea.

The only other feature that this canoe has is the removable skeg. This is necessary on a canoe with such a flat hull because it helps the canoe track. Without the skeg, a little bit of wind would blow this canoe all over the place.

Who is The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe for?

This is a canoe for anybody who wants a canoe. But particularly for someone who wants a portable canoe. This boat allows you to throw it in the back of a car, and store it in an apartment, but also to take it on multi-day canoe trips. It has the stability for a beginner, but might not be as useful for advanced paddlers looking to cover a lot of distance.

Value

The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe retails for $1800 – 2000 (USD). This is about what you would expect to pay for a quality canoe. In fact, quality canoes can retail at even double this price. So for this price, you get a quality canoe with the added bonus of great portability. That means that, although it is a lot of money, it is really great value. It is definitely a canoe to consider.

Kayak: Sea Eagle Travel Canoe
Paddles:  Bending Branches Expedition Plus
PFD:   NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing:  NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X

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If you enjoy solo, multi-day paddle adventures, then definitely add this hybrid-style craft to your off-season scouting list. I'll get you started with some basics about pack boats, since I haven't covered the canoe designs. After that I will discuss my first-hand experiences with the Swift Cruiser. Let's get into it. 

What is a pack boat?

A pack boat is the ultimate solo-trip paddle craft that combines the best features of a canoe and a kayak. A pack boat uses the body of a sleek, lightweight canoe. There is a kayak style seat built into the center of the canoe. This means a double-bladed, kayak-style paddle is used (no J-stroke necessary with this guy). 

What are the advantages of a Swift Cruiser? 

A canoe is an excellent choice for multi-day paddling trips. Especially paddling trips that involve portages (like we saw in Killarney Provincial Park). The open cockpit of the canoe makes it easier to pack and stow gear in bulky bags. This gear can then be carried more efficiently over land during the portage.

Things have to be compartmentalized in smaller doses when packing a kayak. This means more work when it comes time to reconfigure for a lengthy portage.

Canoes are also more stable than kayaks, which is another advantage of the pack boat approach. I found that the Swift Cruiser had excellent initial stability (sitting flat), as well as secondary stability (holding the boat on edge). 

Standard Canoe vs Pack Boat

A pack boat, or a “pack canoe,” preserves the assets of the canoe (i.e. stability, storage capacity, and portage management). The pack boat gets the canoe closer to the paddling performance of a kayak.

Middle Seat, Foot Pegs and Sculpted Gunnels

This is done by adding in a middle seat, foot pegs for generating extra purchase, and sculpting the gunnels to avoid any knuckle-knocking while using the two-blade paddle. Because of the difference in sitting positions, pack boats have a lower center of gravity than a classic canoe, which gives it the edge in windy conditions.

Lightweight Canoe that is Easy to Carry

Pack boats are also significantly lighter than standard canoes, which makes them more nimble on the water and much easier to carry on land. The Swift Cruiser even come with a removable yoke to assist in the portage process. It can be screwed on as a shoulder brace when needed, and then simply tucked away when not. 

How much do pack boats weigh?

One of the clear advantages for solo paddlers is how ridiculously lightweight pack boats are. For instance, thanks to its carbon-kevlar composition, the Swift Cruiser 14.8 weighs only 25 pounds, while the 16.8 only notched the scale up to 29 pounds.

I was able to pick them up with little more than a finger. That's pretty spectacular for something that looks and smells like a canoe. These boats are not only a breeze to carry, but they feel fast and maneuverable on the water. I was able to get a good clip going (the boat held its course beautifully), and using that exceptional secondary stability, I was also able to turn swiftly whenever I wanted.

Is the Swift Cruiser a comfortable boat?

The kayak-style seat in the Swift Cruiser pack boat is super comfortable. When I was younger, I used to be able to get away with sitting on just about anything. Nowadays, a good seat is a must. The lumbar support, in particular, was clutch. It's also worth noting that in the larger, 16.8 (16 feet, 8 inches) Cruiser, the seat is on a track, which allows it to shift forward a bit in order to compensate for a fully-loaded canoe. And finally, the openness of the canoe body allowed me to sit cross-legged, or stretch out my legs whenever I wanted. 

So in conclusion, the Swift Cruiser pack boat (particular emphasis on the 14.8) was incredibly fun to paddle. Given how light, quick, and comfortable it was, I'm in agreement that this is the ultimate solo-tripping boat. If you have the pleasure of making it out to Killarney Provincial Park (here's another episode of Paddle Tales to entice you with), there is no better craft for that kind of adventure. If you liked this review, then make sure to head over to my PaddleTV channel for more gear-talk, paddling tips, and plenty of other beautiful paddling destinations.

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I'm going to break down many of the common questions and concerns for each of these vessels and, hopefully, shine some light on the choices of canoe vs kayak vs SUP. 

Is a canoe the right choice?

Canoes are the kings of camping trips, especially ones that involve portages. Portages are land routes for carrying your craft and your gear from one body of water to another. This is because canoes can store a lot of gear (essential and indulgent) in things like backpacks or large containers. These can then be carried more easily during the portage.

Potentially even at the same time as your canoe if you're strong enough or masochistic in nature. Anyone who has mastered the one-trip grocery carry will excel here. Canoes are also great for family trips. They allow for bringing the kids and the dog, safely and easily in the same boat. 

How to select the right canoe?

First time canoeists will want to consider a recreational or a multi-purpose model. The former prioritizes stability over agility and is best for easy-going days on flatwater, including fishing. The latter offers a higher carrying capacity for those multi-day trips. As well as some extra maneuverability to enhance paddling performance in some more adventurous conditions. From there, things like dimensions, design features, and materials should all be considered. 

What is more stable, canoe vs kayak? 

Kayaks tend to be more stable since they sit lower on the water and have a lower center of gravity. Therefore kayaks don't get pushed around as much in windy and wavy conditions. For either craft, recreational models are designed to be the most stable. 

Do canoes flip over easier?

Potentially. Canoes have a higher center of gravity and so they are more easily influenced by destabilizing movements or conditions. If you or your passengers shift about erratically, or if some unexpected turbulence arises, then yes, the canoe might capsize. The more experienced the canoeist gets with paddling and understanding/responding to the environment, the less likely this becomes. And again, a recreational canoe will be designed to help combat flipping. 

what is faster canoe vs kayak?

If all factors are equal, generally kayaks are faster since the double-bladed paddle and the design of the craft is better suited to performance. That being said, with two committed and synchronized paddlers, a canoe can definitely whiz. 

How much does a canoe cost?

As with all sporting goods equipment, canoes come with a wide range of price tags. The average retail price for a new canoe tends to be around $900-$1000 USD. This can range from $600 – $1500, with some entry-level models dipping a bit lower, and several advanced models greatly exceeding this. 

Is a kayak the right choice?

Kayaks tag in nicely for people who want to paddle their own boat, and/or feel more stable on the water, and/or engage in some faster, higher performance paddling. The two-bladed paddle offers more control and more power compared to the single bladed paddle of a canoe, and especially a stand up paddleboard.

Because of their lower-profile, and therefore lower center of gravity, kayaks tend to be more stable and can handle wind and waves better than the other two. Kayaks are also a standout option for fishing. In fact, there are a surprising number of models designed specifically for fishing or with fishing in mind. 

How to choose a kayak?

Like canoes, kayaks come in all different shapes, sizes, and categories. A different variable that kayaks present is perhaps the first question to consider, namely: Do I want a hard-shell or an inflatable kayak? The deciding factor here tends to be portability and transportability.

For anyone limited in storage space or a vehicle to get the kayak to the water, inflatable kayaks solve both of those problems. Hard-shell kayaks tend to be more comfortable, perform better, and have more features (such as storage for camping and gear tracks for fishing). From there, one's skill level and the expected paddling conditions should be considered across the spectrum of recreational to touring kayaks. 

What kayak is best for beginners?

Recreational kayaks are well-suited to beginners as they emphasize stability over performance. This will allow new paddlers, and even kids, to safely acquaint themselves with the sport and develop their passion. Sit-on-top style kayaks also tend to be appealing to beginners as they look more approachable, are easier to hop in and out of, and are easier to manage in the unlikely event of a capsize. 

Are kayaks easy to flip?

It depends. If the kayak is a wide, recreational model, with a flat hull, and the conditions are calm, then you'd have to be pretty determined to flip it. Most beginners will find themselves in this kind of set up. However, if someone of modest experience were to jump in a higher performance kayak, especially in rough conditions, then a capsize could certainly happen. 

Is a kayak for one person?

Most kayaks are designed for one person, although tandem kayaks are available. The one-person design is great for paddling autonomy, while the tandem style opens the door to family outings. With a young child up front, paddling becomes a fun option to dip in and out of – or they can simply enjoy the time on the water while mom or dad does the grunt work from the back seat. 

Are kayaks heavy?

They can be, but there are many lightweight models out there too. If weight is a concern, then the best options are inflatable or recreational kayaks, which typically weigh around 20 – 40 pounds (9-18 kilograms). Some fishing-specific kayaks can be quite heavy – weighing over 100 pounds (45 kilograms). 

How much does a kayak cost?

Beginner paddlers who gravitate toward inflatable or recreational hard-shell kayaks can expect to pay around $300 – $1000 USD. The price ranges increase for performance kayaks and fishing kayaks. 

Is a Stand Up Paddleboard the right choice?

SUPs aren't as stable as canoes or kayaks, they're a lot slower, and they aren't as good for covering long distances. So why are they in the discussion for new paddlers? They're fun, easy to get started with, and a great workout. This is why paddleboards are so popular around the cottage and are often rented at lakeside beaches. 

How to choose a stand up paddle board

A paddler's weight and experience level should be considered when buying a paddleboard. The wider, longer, and thicker the board is, the more buoyancy and stability it will have. An inflatable model is another appealing variable, just remember that the easier transportation comes with the time/energy cost of inflation, drying, and packing. 

Is Stand Up Paddleboarding good exercise? 

Yes! Depending on who you ask, this is the beauty of a stand up paddleboard. It is hard work to carry and/or inflate a paddleboard, it's difficult to balance on, and it takes sustained effort to cover any ground while paddling. This is why it makes for such a great workout. SUPs promote stable legs, a strong core, and will give a balanced upper body pump (so long as you remember to work your weak side just as much). For an even more advanced workout, try introducing some yoga – but be prepared to get wet. 

Are SUPs inflatable?

They sure can be. If you're a weekend warrior who is short on storage space then an inflatable SUP can be a wonderful asset. However, if you have a permanent set up near the water then an epoxy board might make more sense, since it will be ready to hit the water anytime, and will be more durable if kids are dragging it around the shore. 

How Much Does a Stand Up Paddle Board Coast?

Inflatable paddle boards are the lesser expensive of the two styles. You might find a starter board for as low as $300 (USD), but that can reach up to $1700 for high-end models. In terms of hard, or epoxy, boards, they are more in the $700 – $2,000 (USD) price range. 

Canoe vs Kayak vs SUP?

So there you have it! Three excellent choices for beginner paddlers, and perhaps some helpful tips for existing paddlers who are looking to switch up their craft. There are some pros and cons to consider, depending on your aspirations and set up, but the most important thing is to just get started.

If you've been thinking about paddling, then it's time to take the plunge! Whether you go with a canoe vs kayak vs stand up paddleboard, you'll be out on the water and loving life. 

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