Bending branches
Bending branches make very good kayak paddles. many around the 60$ mark. that is the only brand of kayak paddle I used when I paddled kayaks.
Check out the new H2O-Rec Tour
from H2O Paddles. It is a great paddle and very affordable. Check them out at www.h2opaddles.com.
Gavin
rainsinc@gmail.com
Werner Skagits are only $130
I was looking for one for a friend and found several online outfitters selling the Skagit for $130. Great basic paddle – I’ve got two of them.
A
huge plug for this guy in California: http://www.pacificpaddles.com/
I have one and it’s my favorite by far! All parts USA made too.
Thanks for the tip, jimx
I was not familiar with Pacific paddles – looks like an interesting design and prices and weight are good. I’ve been looking for a three piece to pack with my Feathercraft folding kayak for air travel and the “kid sized” one the guy makes looks perfect, just slightly longer than the GP I usually use and with slender blades. The fact that the shaft sections “nest” makes it a nice option for a deck stored spare. Just ordered one.
A Cheap, Down and Dirty option
I found Harmony “Drifters” on sale for less than thirty bucks. (Yes, aluminum shaft and plastic blades, but only a little over thirty ounces, and haven’t broken yet…me, bank account,or the paddles.)
I dare to disagree
When I started paddling I picked a GP up because it the guy I paddled with had one he did not use and it fitted me length-wise. I did not read up on how to use it, anything… A summer later I discovered I’m using canted stroke and all… GP is very intuitive and conductive to developing proper technique - you can “arm-paddle” a Euro, but you just can’t do it with GP, IMO.
It depends on what you are planning to do of course and one’s preferences, but there is nothing bad about picking up GP to begin with.