Paddles

Featured review by Wade In The Water

Light, stiff, and just a little picky... you just might paddle further and faster than you ever thought possible.

  These are a few of my favorite things... Werner started out in the family garage making paddles and kayaks for their own personal use. Now located in Washington State, they are committed to handcrafting the very best paddles available. Their stated mission is to obtain the Ultimate Paddle Performance through attention to detail and by building to a higher standard. Visit their website to learn more about their products and their very interesting story. Me? I'm no pro, instructor, or racer.

Read more: Werner Cyprus reviews (3)

Featured review by Second Gear

Great bang for the buck in this paddle. While it isn't the lightest or fanciest paddle on the market, it's a great workhorse that is easy to use for hours and hours. Think of this as the old diesel work horse that doesn't run at high RPM, but produces massive torque!

I wanted a better paddle to take on my Missouri Breaks than the paddles that came with the used canoe I bought, since they really were not comfortable (as I learned on a 50-mile Ross Lake trip I had taken two years earlier).  So, I started the process of finding a reasonably priced, solid paddle that would fit the bill that worked the way I wanted.  Thus, I discovered the bent paddle designs. The back paddle is the Bending Branches To be honest, I lusted over the Whiskey Jill bent paddle, but the price tag was more than I was willing to spend for how much I really wind up using the canoe.  (The Whiskey Jill is the front paddle) My friend and I swapped paddles for a time to fairly assess each other's paddles.  My research led me to REI.

Read more: Bending Branches BB Special reviews (3)

Reviewed by Vladimir Gorbunov

The super lightweight paddle for flatwater paddling enthusiasts—with exceptional quality, look, and feel. For some people it’ll be psychologically difficult to take this paddle to hardcore adventures, because the blade material is fragile, and the gorgeous look will be lost quickly. It’s definitely not for whitewater use, where the blades will degrade inevitably. With a massive 40% discount for the “cosmetic second” label, this paddle offered incredible price-to-weight value to me.

Background and First Look By the moment of writing this, I've been an avid packrafter for two seasons, and after the end of my first season I decided to improve my gear—namely the paddles. Initially I was able to grab the Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid paddle at an extremely attractive price, and while I was largely satisfied with my purchase, my heart was still longing for a more special one. Luckily for me, at the end of 2021 Aqua Bound offered several top-of-the-line paddles at 40% discount due to cosmetic imperfections.

Read more: Aqua Bound Whiskey Fiberglass review (1)

Reviewed by Wade In The Water

An ancient design with a modern flare, this Greenland style paddle combines Inuit experience and traditions with modern materials and manufacturing.

What is a Greenland Style Paddle So far as we know, what we call the Greenland style paddle today was originally developed and used by the Inuit, Aleut, and Yup'ik, peoples between 2000 and 5000 years ago. Among the many myths about these paddles is that the skinny blade, called a pautik by its creators, was a compromise due to living in an environment with little wood to be found. The reality is that demanding sea conditions and a need to cover large distances for food and survival, led them to the invention of the kayak and along with it the best propulsion system possible to thrust it; even under what could often be adverse conditions.

Read more: Gearlab Outdoors Kalleq review (1)

Featured review by Meghan Elizabeth

Love this paddle! Lightweight, durable, with easy adjustment for feathering (or not). Great for low-angle paddlers. I've used this on lakes and the choppy ocean, and always been pleased with the performance!

Since I got this paddle 3 months ago, I've been using it at least three times a week and am always happy with it.  It was affordable, and is proving to be quite durable! The fiberglass-reinforced nylon blades make it way lighter than a plastic paddle, and I've felt consistently that my (low-angle) strokes have been smooth and efficient. This is an excellent paddle for recreational kayakers, and I've been recommending it as an affordable upgrade to all my friends!  The paddle breaks down into two pieces, which makes it easier to transport in my car or attached to a backpack.  The button that holds the pieces together doesn't stick out like on a lot of lesser paddles, so it feels like a solid one-piece once it's assembled.

Read more: Werner Skagit FG IM reviews (3)

Reviewed by D Williams

A classic redone with a robust edge guard and modern wood finish. This paddle isn't for white water, but on a lake or quiet stream, it's a lovely paddle to hold and use.

I received this paddle as a birthday gift from my wife yesterday. I'm quite taken with it—it's so "Moonrise Kingdom." The wood used is straight-grained and clear of imperfection. The paddle is understated and beautiful. Beavertail paddles are a classic choice for lake paddling. Once the paddle is submerged, its shape allows it to be held very close to the canoe, which keeps the boat tracking straighter than it would otherwise. Beavertail paddles have traditionally been crafted from a single piece of Ash.

Read more: L.L.Bean Beavertail Canoe Paddle review (1)

Featured review by TAR

I borrowed my wife’s Shuna and found it a blessed relief after the Coryvreckan. It flowed, perfect balance, exactly right in every way, might have been custom made for me. More than light enough. Not that expensive really. You might think one paddle is much like another, but I assure you this is not so - ideally your technique is good, but even then each paddler is different, with different requirements. I liked it so much I ordered a one-piece version in citrus fade. I doubt I’ll ever use anything else.

Used this a lot in Pembrokeshire, North Wales. We own a Perception 2-man sit on top (heresy, I know - I can hear you spit and mutter ‘tourists!’). We both found the Shuna perfect for both of us - ‘one instinctively knows when something is right’. I had been experimenting with an Oracle (hated it, dead in the hand, hard work to use) and the Werner Corryvreckan (just too big a paddle for distance). The Shuna was a relief. Not only covering distance but also manoeuvring into caves and between stacks we noticed immediately how much more nimble we had become, not just through practice - blade size and shape was a major advance for both of us - but the efficiency, the responsiveness far superior.

Read more: Werner Shuna reviews (2)

Featured review by Canoelover

It's my go-to paddle when I paddle rough water and in surf conditions. The big blade doesn't slip when you crank on it, and it's super-light.

The Ikelos is one of my favorite kayak paddles. The weight might make you think it's a potato chip, but I use it for tough conditions and it has held up great. The ferrule system is the best one in the kayak paddle market, period. It's almost like it becomes a one-piece, the lock is so positive. The only downsides? It's a very big blade, so it'll kill your shoulders if you don't need a big blade. In that case, get a Cyprus, which is the same paddle, just smaller. Other downside is that it's spendy. That said, so are Porsches and you get what you pay for.

Read more: Werner Ikelos reviews (2)

Featured review by Swampcat

Excellent ultra light paddle with lots of adjustability. Packs down in two pieces, drip rings included, and very little "flutter" when paddling hard.

I got this paddle as a present with my kayak for Christmas from my wife. I was used to an aluminum shaft paddle on my last kayak. Immediately I noticed that this thing is light. I thought my aluminum paddle was light. I was wrong! At just over a pound, this paddle is almost non-existent in your hands. It has a positive locking ferrule that has locking positions every 10 degrees up to 60° of offset both ways from 0. The blades themselves have a split angle design, something I've never used before, and seem to cut down the "flutter" that flat blades tend to have when really digging in and paddling hard.

Read more: Aqua Bound Sting Ray Carbon reviews (2)

Reviewed by Arnie

Most comfortable paddle I've used for long distance paddling. The curved shaft really makes a big difference.

I purchased this canoe paddle to replace my 20-year-old Bending Branches bent paddle that finally took some damage after many miles. This one has the curved shaft as well as the bend where the paddle connects. The curved shaft really makes a big difference for comfort, it just feels good. I also feel like I can steer better with the Viper as opposed to my old bent paddle, maybe it's just me. I used to bring a straight paddle for two people, using the straight one in back to steer, especially for river paddling.

Read more: Bending Branches Viper review (1)