I hated carrying 60-plus-pound aluminum boats on portages when I was guiding in the Boundry Waters Canoe Area, so I鈥檓 a fan of the Wenonah Minnesota II Kevlar Ultra-light ($2,649; ). The canoe is 42 pounds and 18-and-a-half feet, both of which make portaging and paddling far more enjoyable.
Still, I’ve paddled lightweight boats that feel too fragile, like you can鈥檛 even touch a rock without risking a Titanic situation. But the Minnesota II is nearly bulletproof, which means wrapping it around a boulder or dropping it in the middle of a mile-long portage may dent it but won鈥檛 destroy it. More important, it feels stable and fast on the water, and with a maximum width of 35 inches and a center depth of 13.5 inches, you can load it up with fat Duluth Packs. My two small quibbles with the Minnesota II are its sharp V shape in the bow and stern, which limits leg room in the bow. And while the sliding bucket seats are comfortable, they look industrial. (I’d also note that the Minnesota II line starts with the 58-pound, Tuf-weave, Flex-Core version, for $1,799.)
If you鈥檙e planning a solo trip, wait until Mad River unveils the MRC Serenade ($1,499 for aluminum, or $1,719 for wood; ) on September 15. The Serenade is a 13-foot canoe/kayak hybrid and would be ideal for a one-person BWCA ride. Its solo hull and comfortable center canoe-style seat make it a fun boat to paddle鈥攚hich you can do with either a single or double blade鈥攁nd the open hull makes loading, unloading, and portaging a lot easier than a kayak. It’s also light (36 to 39 pounds) and relatively petite, so plan a route that weaves through smaller, more protected lakes (that also means you鈥檒l get a better workout from all the portages).
If aesthetics are a factor (and money isn’t), you can’t go wrong with L.L Bean鈥檚 100th Anniversary Canoe ($7,500; ). Built for L.L. Bean by Old Town Canoe, it’s forest green and constructed from wood and canvas. The cedar-strip design Old Town used is how canoes have been built for more than a century. You’ll have to act fast, though鈥攐nly ten will be produced.
鈥擲tephanie Pearson