Ultralight, All Heart: Adirondack Pack Canoes by Hornbeck
Listen to our episode with Josh Trombley from Hornbeck Boats, made in the ADK.
All photos courtesy Hornbeck Boats.
Hornbeck Boats started as one paddler’s experiment and became an Adirondack icon.
In the early 1970s, Pete Hornbeck moved to the mountains with his wife Ann, built fiberglass kayaks on the lawn, then stumbled onto something timeless: the pack boat—canoe-shaped, paddled with a double blade, light enough to shoulder into wild water. By the late ’70s, he was working with Kevlar (“I’m never going back,” he said), and the rest is Adirondack history.
What sets a Hornbeck apart?
Its unique features are what make Hornbecks stand out in the world of canoes.
Weight & independence. Boats starting around ~15 lbs mean more days on the water, solo.
Performance without frills. No heavy gelcoat; scratches are the “patina of use.”
Signature look. That red stripe? It began as a joke—and became a calling card.
Who buys them? Everyone, from backcountry anglers to Boundary Waters trippers — many of whom are women — values easy lifting and loading.
From Pete & Ann to Josh.
From the hands of Pete and Ann Hornbeck to the modern era with Josh, the company has evolved. Josh, with his innovative strategies, demo appointments at the modernized pond) while preserving the minimalist DNA. The surge in demand during and after the pandemic has normalized, paving the way for smart growth.
Go Midwest, young man.
Shipping ultralight boats is tricky. The solution: Hornbeck Midwest in Minnesota—closer to the Boundary Waters and a new audience, including a fast-growing duck-hunting segment. Expect minor, thoughtful adaptations for that market without compromising the Hornbeck ethos.
Links & mentions in this episode.
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