Gear Review: Esquif Raven Solo Canoe
The Raven is an excellent river running solo canoe made by Esquif. It is just over eleven feet long and thirty and a half inches wide. It is made with T-Formex which will give you the best combination of being lightweight while also durable. This material is easy to repair and can take the abuse that most canoe adventures can dish out.
This canoe was designed for the beginner paddler all the way up to the expert paddler. The Raven is a river runner that offers excellent tracking and a forgiving hull. I’ve had the opportunity to paddle this in both low and high-water scenarios and found it can handle both quite well. The first thing that stood out to me was stability. It has great initial and secondary stability which helped keep me upright through many rapids. You can lean on a low brace and have confidence a hip snap will bring you back to center. This extra stability also helps when dealing with turbulent or airyated water.
While the width is another factor that helps add stability, it also slows the canoe down a bit. Raven isn’t the fastest or sharpest edged model in Esquif’s line up. If your goal is to go as fast as possible and perform slalom style eddy turns, I’d take a look at their Zephyr 2.0. Other than that, the Raven’s style is a ton of fun on a variety of whitewater. I enjoy its ability to slow down a bit so I can change up my line as needed when I enter a rapid. This keeps me agile and nimble when I haven't necessarily scouted my line. Anyone who jumps in this canoe will find it confidence inspiring and an overall joy to paddle.
The factory outfitting is extremely comfortable and easy to adjust to a specific paddler size. It comes with 2 sets of thigh straps in place to secure you in the canoe as much as possible. This would be an excellent boat to learn how to roll an open boat in. This canoe could pack some weight in for an overnight trip, but it definitely is not designed to be a gear hauler.
Overall the Raven is one of the most approachable modern open solo canoe designs on the market today. It’s comfortable, stable, and easy to maneuver. Whether you are new to canoeing or are an expert looking for a for a confidence inspiring companion, the Raven is a great option.
