Paddling & Johnson Outdoors

Dip a paddle and pull. Feel the boat glide beneath you, away from the shore. No highway signs out here, no path to follow. You set your own course on the water.

Paddle a canoe or kayak and you tap into a deep vein of tradition. Today’s boats have evolved from designs created and perfected over thousands of years by native peoples of North America. At Johnson Outdoors, we embrace the tradition of paddling as we work to develop the continued evolution of the sport.

We got our start in paddling in the 1970s, with the acquisition of Old Town Canoe, a company steeped in the boat-building traditions of the Maine woods. Through Old Town, Johnson Outdoors combined traditional design and modern materials to introduce the first durable, convenient plastic boat. Today, Johnson Outdoors is the global leader in plastic canoes and kayaks. Our paddling brands offer boats ranging from elegant wooden canoes to the latest composite kayaks for touring, white-water and sit-on-top adventure, and the accessories you need to make the most of every stroke. Each stays true to the traditions and essential pleasure of paddling.