Best Canoes · #8
New Trick 12
Hornbeck Boats
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Adirondack pack canoe at 16 pounds. The lightest real boat here.
Pros
- Unmatched ultralight weight, making portages effortless
- Excellent for solo paddling and accessing remote waters
- Surprisingly good tracking and maneuverability for its class
- High-quality composite construction for durability
- Exceptional ease of transport and car-topping
Cons
- Higher cost due to specialized materials and craftsmanship
- Limited capacity for gear compared to heavier canoes
- Less stable in rough water or high winds than wider boats
- Not designed for tandem use or heavy loads
Best uses
- Solo backcountry paddling
- Fly fishing small lakes
- Quick day trips
- Exploring shallow waterways
- Easy portaging
Specifications
- Maker
- Hornbeck Boats
- Model
- New Trick 12
- Type
- Adirondack Pack Canoe
- Length
- 12 feet
- Weight
- 16 pounds
- Paddler Type
- Solo
Pricing
We don't publish a price we haven't verified. The retailer links below open the live listing for this exact model.
Best for
Solo backcountry paddling, Fly fishing small lakes, Quick day trips, Exploring shallow waterways, Easy portaging
Where to buy the New Trick 12
We don't have a direct Amazon listing on file yet — this opens an Amazon search for the exact make and model.
Some links are affiliate links. Buying through them supports our testing at no extra cost to you.
The Hornbeck Boats New Trick 12 isn't just a canoe; it's a statement about minimalist paddling. Weighing in at a mere 16 pounds, this Adirondack-style pack canoe redefines what's possible for solo portages and quick, unencumbered trips into remote waters. Hornbeck has a long-standing reputation for crafting ultralight, high-performance canoes, and the New Trick 12 is a prime example of their expertise. While many ultralight boats achieve their weight savings through compromises in stability or tracking, the New Trick 12 manages to offer a surprisingly capable and enjoyable paddling experience. It’s designed for those who prioritize ease of transport above all else, without sacrificing the fundamental qualities of a good paddling craft. This isn't a boat for hauling heavy loads or tackling big waves, but for the paddler who values solitude and access to hard-to-reach places, it’s an exceptional tool. Its construction speaks to its purpose. Hornbeck uses aerospace-grade composites to achieve this featherlight build, ensuring that while it's light, it's not flimsy. The design is optimized for efficiency with a single-blade paddle, making it intuitive for experienced canoeists and a forgiving entry point for new paddlers familiar with kayak strokes. This boat truly shines when you're loading it onto a car roof by yourself, carrying it over a long portage, or simply wanting to get on the water with minimal fuss. For its specific niche, the New Trick 12 is hard to beat, offering a unique blend of portability and on-water performance that sets it apart from heavier, more traditional canoes.
Who It's Really For
This canoe is purpose-built for the solo paddler who values ultralight gear and access to remote, smaller bodies of water. It's an ideal choice for backcountry anglers, birdwatchers, or anyone seeking a quiet, personal connection with nature without the burden of a heavy boat. While it can handle calm lakes and slow-moving rivers, it's not designed for white water or high winds. Its stability and maneuverability are well-suited for someone looking to explore hidden coves and navigate tight waterways where larger canoes simply can't go. If your paddling involves frequent portages or you simply want to get on the water with minimal effort, this boat is a top contender.
Materials and Construction
Hornbeck utilizes advanced composite materials, typically a blend of carbon fiber, kevlar, and fiberglass, to achieve the New Trick 12's astonishingly low weight. The precise layup ensures a balance of rigidity and resilience. Unlike many mass-produced boats, Hornbecks are handcrafted, which contributes to their meticulous finish and attention to detail. The seats are often webbing or a simple contoured composite, again prioritizing weight savings. The design features a shallow arch hull and a moderate rocker, contributing to both its initial stability and surprising maneuverability for its length. Every component, from the gunwales to the thwarts, is chosen for its strength-to-weight ratio.
Real-World Performance
On the water, the New Trick 12 feels responsive and surprisingly efficient for such a light boat. It tracks well enough for its intended use on calm waters, and its maneuverability is excellent, allowing for easy navigation through tight spots or around obstacles. While it will be affected by stronger winds more than a heavier boat, a skilled paddler can manage these conditions. The low freeboard keeps the paddler close to the water, enhancing the sense of connection. Initial stability is good, making it feel secure even for those new to solo canoeing, though secondary stability is not as robust as a wider, heavier tandem canoe. It carries a surprising amount of gear for its size, assuming careful packing.
Weight and Packability
At 16 pounds, the New Trick 12 is virtually effortless to carry. One person can easily shoulder it for extended portages, load it onto a vehicle, or carry it down to the water without breaking a sweat. This extreme portability is its standout feature, allowing access to waters that would be impractical with heavier canoes. Its 12-foot length is manageable for storage in a garage or shed, and it fits comfortably atop most cars without the need for specialized racks beyond standard crossbars. The overall profile is sleek, minimizing bulk when transported. This is the boat you grab when you want to minimize the 'getting there' part of your adventure.
Durability and Longevity
Despite its light weight, the New Trick 12 is surprisingly durable. The composite construction is designed to withstand typical paddling abuse, though it's not indestructible. Hornbeck boats are known for their longevity with proper care. Like any composite boat, sharp impacts on rocks or rough handling can cause damage, but repairs are generally straightforward. The key to its long life is treating it with the respect due to a finely crafted, lightweight piece of equipment. With reasonable attention, including avoiding unnecessary scrapes and storing it properly, this canoe will provide decades of reliable service. It holds its value well in the used market, a testament to its build quality.
How we chose
We started with a long list of best canoes that people actually buy, cut anything that could not clear our baseline for durability and field performance, then ranked the 10 that were left against the same criteria. Rankings are editorial. No brand pays for placement, and affiliate links never move a pick up or down.
- Real-world durability
- How the material, stitching, or steel holds up after a season of hard use — not how it looks new.
- Performance in bad conditions
- Wind, rain, cold, and grit are the test. Anything that only works on a nice day gets marked down.
- Weight and packability
- Every ounce has to earn its place in the pack, but not at the cost of something that fails in the field.
- Ease of use
- Setup, adjustment, and maintenance with cold hands, in the dark, without the manual.
- Value at its price point
- Compared against the closest competitors in the same tier, not against cheaper gear in a different class.
- Repairability and support
- Field-fixable design, available parts, and a warranty the maker actually honors.
New Trick 12 — frequently asked questions
- Is the New Trick 12 worth it?
- We rank it #8 in Best Canoes. Adirondack pack canoe at 16 pounds. The lightest real boat here.
- What is the New Trick 12 best for?
- Best for solo backcountry paddling, fly fishing small lakes, quick day trips and exploring shallow waterways. Standouts: unmatched ultralight weight, making portages effortless and excellent for solo paddling and accessing remote waters.
- What are the downsides of the New Trick 12?
- Higher cost due to specialized materials and craftsmanship, Limited capacity for gear compared to heavier canoes and Less stable in rough water or high winds than wider boats.
- What are the key specs of the New Trick 12?
- Maker: Hornbeck Boats · Model: New Trick 12 · Type: Adirondack Pack Canoe · Length: 12 feet · Weight: 16 pounds
- Who It's Really For?
- This canoe is purpose-built for the solo paddler who values ultralight gear and access to remote, smaller bodies of water. It's an ideal choice for backcountry anglers, birdwatchers, or anyone seeking a quiet, personal connection with nature without the burden of a heavy boat.
- Materials and Construction — what should I know about the New Trick 12?
- Hornbeck utilizes advanced composite materials, typically a blend of carbon fiber, kevlar, and fiberglass, to achieve the New Trick 12's astonishingly low weight. The precise layup ensures a balance of rigidity and resilience.
Compare side by side
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