One of the most necessary equipments a canoe needs is a canoe yoke. This device is placed on the inside of the canoe and is used to portage it. A good yoke would make carrying a canoe easier and better. And there are one too many instances that you do need to carry a relatively big and long canoe over your shoulders.

For starters, you needed to carry it from your trailer into the waters. If your canoe doesn't have a good yoke attached to it, this endeavor is really going to be physically taxing. So that you can be guided as to which canoe yoke you have to get, check out these suggestions:

1. It should fit smugly into the canoe. Since this is the device that you are going to use to carry the entire canoe toward the waters, it should be properly attached to the canoe. If it is an inch too small or too long, it is not going to be usable, unless you make the necessary modifications. There are many canoe yokes that are adjustable able to fit most canoe designs.

2. It should be padded. A padded yoke would reduce the strains on your shoulders as you carry the canoe. This is actually not a requirement, especially if you are big and strong. But for women out there who enjoys canoeing on their own, using a padded canoe yoke would be a real treat.

3. It should be made of high quality materials. The yoke will be used every time the canoe is taken out. It won't help if it is made of poor quality materials that tend to wilt and break. Remember, you needed it to hoist your canoe. If the yoke breaks as you are carrying the canoe, the result will sure be a disaster.

4. It should be comfortable to your neck. It is really not a good thought if you injure your neck as you carry your canoe on a trip. Since carrying a canoe requires the use of your hands, your shoulders, and your neck, these body parts should be properly considered and taken cared of by the canoe yoke you are going to get. If the yoke is comfortable enough, then it should be a good buy.

5. It should go well with your canoe. For aesthetic purposes, you might want to get a canoe yoke that matches the overall appearance of your canoe. Again, this is not really necessary. But if you have the liberty to choose from a range of yoke designs, why not get the one that suits your canoe best?

6. It should be reasonably priced. A regular canoe yoke that should be able to do the job is usually priced lower than $100. There are even some that are priced lower than $20. For affordability's sake, purchase the one that fits your budget and but still delivers the features you are looking for.

7. It should be lightweight and durable. Adding extra weight to an already oversized canoe is not necessary. If there is one canoe yoke that is relatively light but is durable enough, consider it a good buy.

These are but simple features that you should look for in the canoe yoke you are going to purchase. It might so happen that you are not going to find all these qualities in a single yoke though. All you have to do is to prioritize which features you needed the most so you can easily decide on a purchase.