Selecting a length for your new canoe should be based on two factors: the amount of paddlers and gear you’ll need the boat to carry, and the body of water that you’re planning to paddle. Shorter canoes are better suited to smaller bodies of water: rivers, creeks, ponds and small inland lakes. Longer canoes track well and are better performers on large lakes and coastal tours. For short leisure paddles and day trips, you likely won’t be bringing much along, and won’t need the carrying capacity afforded by large canoes – check out our 15’ or 16’ tandem models. On the other hand, if you’re planning for a week or longer in a remote backcountry park, ensure you’ve got room for all of the gear you need – for the average tandem paddler, 16’ or 17’ canoes will suffice. For families or expedition paddlers, 17’ or 18’ feet are most popular.