For a while now I’ve been looking for a canoe. Well, not actively looking since I have to cut down expenses while my wife (and later me) is home with our youngest daughter. But I’ve been all over the Internet drooling over different kinds of canoes. I enjoy paddling a lot, even though I rarely do it. But I like the possibility to get to remote islands without people, and to be able to enjoy the scenery even when there aren’t any trails near the lakes. It also allows me to pack heavier and have more food with me.

I’ve watched canoe-journeys from the YouTube-channel Burley Outdoors a while ago, and got introduced to Swift Canoes from the videos. They make really lightweight canoes, kayaks and packboats. They’re made of either Carbon fusion (the lightest option), Kevlar fusion or Expedition Kevlar (the heaviest and most durable option). I first had my eyes set on an Adirondack Pack 13.6. These canoes are way over my price range, but i did drool over it as the light weight really appealed to me.

However I found another canoe that I immediately fell in love with. The Swedish made Esker Wood Ki Chi Saga 13 made out of Canadian Red Cedar.

I think that it is one of the most beautiful canoes I’ve seen. At 22 kg it’s heavier than a Swift Canoe, 9 kg heavier than the heaviest version of Adirondack Pack 13.6. But for me it was an instant love. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to prioritize buying this canoe any time soon. I’m putting away money for a trip next summer to the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland and I don’t think I’ll be able to get a canoe next year. But one can dream, and hopefully I’ll be able to get my hands on one in the near future.