I’m looking at the Foxworks XL lite and the Sawyer Cedar Voyageur. Basically I want sturdy standard straight paddle that is light in weight. I won’t be using it for much whitewater.
Thanks.
Location
– Last Updated: Mar-16-11 8:07 AM EST –
While I personally prefer FoxWerx, if you're East coast, go FoxWorX, if West coast, Sawyer.
Support your local.....
Ain;t got a Foxwoyks…
– Last Updated: Mar-15-11 9:13 PM EST –
so ah' kin not speak about those but ah' do gots two o' dem Sawyer Cedar Voyageurs. Mighty purdy paddle it be. Handles quite well too usin' me mostly used Indian Stroke in deep water. Ah' highly reecommend dem.
FE
Longitudinal Centre
Charlie, I am very near the center of the continent, and neither one of these is local. I have many paddles, but am thinking I want to try something new. I broke a Grey Owl Voyageur (not its fault), and am looking for a lighter replacement.
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I can speak to the light weight of Foxworx paddles, very light and very well made paddles.
Can’t compare them, but…
… I’ve been using a Cedar Voyageur for many years now as my main paddle, and I love it. It is remarkably light for a wood paddle. The top grip is my favorite of any paddle I’ve ever tried (though I’ve never used any of the super-pricey brands), and though the new versions have a grip that’s just a tad more bulbous, with “fatter corners”, than the old ones, a small-handed person could shape it to their liking if necessary. I also like the extremely thin but rigid blade. It’s the thinnest blade I’ve yet seen on a wood paddle, making slicing strokes a joy. I know nothing about the other paddle you mentioned, but I have no doubt you’d like the Voyageur.
ditto fatelmo’s, although the shaft is
– Last Updated: Mar-19-11 3:04 PM EST –
kinda narrow = hence might be a little uncomfortable to some, Sawyer's Voyager is a good straightshaft. Has a nice, big grip that one can tweak... Most of all it's flex is imho middle of the road, which is nice when the wind begins to blow. *Think I'd probably love the Grey Owl though as well...;-)
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3/19 EDIT: I didn't really emphasize the light-feeling of this Sawyer paddle = really is a lightweight with solid wood. Think there are tradeoffs wherever you go...try to find this one and at least pick it up to feel weight. Haven't had any flutter whatsoever..
I recommend both companies
I have two bent shafts from Camp Paddles, which was the predecessor of Foxworx. Both have foam construction in the blades. They are nice and light and hold up if you are careful with them.
I also have two Sawyers, one an old lollipop and the other a single bend cedar Manta, which I use a lot. The Voyageur has always looked like a very nice paddle to me, and surely stronger but heavier than the Foxworx balsa and foam construction.
A couple of Foxworx paddles had shafts that were too whippy for me, probably to save weigh. There are variations in wood quality within the same models with some of these handmade paddles.
so many choices
after acouple of foxwerks,I’ve been using a mitchell for the last two years,that just fit me so nice ,but … just bought abending branches sunburst xl carbon shaft- so very sweet
Carbon Shaft?
Is carbon better as a blade or shaft material?
I really liked the look of the carbon shaft paddle I saw, and I believe it had a spider-web of carbon on the blade, too.
It seems to me that in a paddle, it would make more sense to put the carbon on the blade, where it would reduce swing weight. Is this what Mitchell does?
I understand carbon is amazing stuff, and really an all-carbon paddle makes sense, but I think these wood/carbon hybrids might mostly be using carbon because it looks so nice next to the wood.
I’ve sort of taken Charlie’s advice and found myself a more local custom paddle builder.
I might get a Voyageur too . . . or any other paddle I pick up. I really should stay away from canoe stores!