Canoes are usually open-top boats, often designed to seat two or more people either sitting on benches running across the beam of the craft or kneeling down.

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There are a number of other bits of gear that are different too – the closed design of kayaks means most kayakers wear a spraydeck to prevent water overflowing into the cockpit.

Because kayaks are more commonly used for running rapids and paddling whitewater, kayakers often wear helmets and noseplugs too. They’re also more likely to wear buoyancy aids which allow more freedom of movement than the collared life jackets sometimes worn by canoeists.

Kayaking History vs. Canoeing History

The history of kayaking and the history of canoeing are different, with the two developing in different parts of the world, at least initially. The oldest example of a canoe ever discovered is the Pesse Canoe. Incredibly, it’s believed to date from somewhere between 8,000 and 7,500BC.

A simple dugout, the canoe was found near Pesse in Holland when a new motorway was being constructed. Not only is it the world’s oldest canoe, it is the oldest boat of any type ever found.

Kayaks were developed separately and their genealogy can be traced to one particular region of the world – they were invented by the Inuit tribes who live in the far north of what is now Canada, Alaska and Greenland.

Designed as hunting boats, the early kayaks were handmade by individual hunters using seal skins stretched over wood, or carved whale bones when there was no wood available, as in the treeless landscapes of northern Nunavut and Greenland. (Perhaps that’s why this whale nearly killed two kayakers recently?) A quiet mode of transport, they were ideal for sneaking up on seals undetected.

Scandinavian missionaries and explorers were the first Europeans to take up kayaking, learning techniques like the eskimo roll from locals. Oluf Christian Dietrichson a member of the Greenland expedition led by Norwegian explorer Nansen publicly demonstrated an eskimo roll in Norway in 1889. But it wasn’t until the 20th century that kayaking caught on a sport in Europe and elsewhere – around the same time as sports like alpine skiing, but much slower than rock climbing or other action sports.

Kayaking Techniques vs. Canoeing Techniques

Another difference between canoe and kayak are the techniques used. Kayaking techniques differ from canoeing techniques. Most obviously the difference between the paddles necessitates different paddling techniques.

Canoeists use their single bladed paddles to alternate strokes on either side of the boat. One hand grips the t-shaped handle at end of the paddle while the other grips halfway down the paddle shaft.

Kayakers on the other hand grip their double-bladed paddles in the middle and propel themselves forward by pushing with first the right and then the left blade in the water. With the blades set at 90 degrees to each other, a twisting technique is required to ensure that the pushing power is maximised and the wind resistance minimised.

There are more advanced techniques that kayakers can learn too, including the eskimo roll. This is a way of righting a kayak after it has capsized using your hips and the paddle. The open topped design of canoes means this is impossible.

Kayaking Centres in the UK vs. Canoeing Centres in the UK

There are a proliferation of places to go canoeing and kayaking in the UK where you can learn basic kayaking techniques and start learning the ins and outs of the sport including the basics of racing, whitewater kayaking and even freestyle kayaking.

While many kayaking centres will also teach canoeing, the open topped design of canoes means they aren’t as well suited for paddling in whitewater or running rapids. If you want to learn to canoe, it’s worth checking that the centre you’re visiting will teach canoeing as well as kayaking – and perhaps avoid UK white water centres.

Kayaking Abroad vs. Canoeing Abroad

Because of their different strengths and weaknesses, going kayaking abroad and going canoeing abroad tend to involve visiting different destinations.

Canoes are usually used on waterways that are flatter, and easier to navigate, so canoes are popular for exploring inland waterways all over the world. Canoeing in France is popular, while canoe holidays are also popular in the US, Canada and places where there are a lot of canals, like Holland.

Kayaking abroad often involves an element of white water and so kayakers often head to mountainous regions with fast-flowing rivers to get their kicks. Kayaking is popular amongst travellers in Nepal and northern India, while Uganda is considered a kayaking Mecca amongst serious paddlers because of the White Nile. Similarly kayaking on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe and Zambia is popular.

Sea kayaks – longer boats designed to handle waves and sea conditions – also provide a great way to see a country’s coastline, or explore outlying islands. So kayaking in Puerto Rico is popular, as is kayaking in Florida. Closer to home, there is also excellent sea kayaking in Scotland. Have a look of Mpora’s recommendations of the best places in the world to go kayaking here.

Now that you know the difference between canoe and kayak, which one do you prefer?

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