Arrow Canoe Paddle

My first Arrow paddle goes back about 10 years. It was purchased because Gander Mountain had a big sale,, off season,,, beautiful wooden paddle and dirt cheap,, 30 bucks?

I use an abused that paddle for several years,, sand and refinished twice,, and then for the long trip of 2016,(1,300 miles), I purchased two more. I own,, what? 6 ,, 7 ? of them now? (The last two,,, embarrassing to relate,,, did you ever go on a long canoe trip,,, and arrive with no paddles in the truck? Cheaper, faster,, easier,, I ordered two more and had them shipped to the launch location. ) Lots of miles, (10,000 ?),, lots of white water, lots of rocks, shallow fast rivers, hanging up on a rock and paddle walk yourself over and off. I have never broken one. (I break everything !) I am tall,,, I own lengths of 60", 62", and 64" 60's are flatwater paddling,, 64s are white water paddling. I hate air strokes.

They are a reasonable price, 100 $, light, strong, flexible, slightly ovalized shaft,,, absolute joy to your hands. I have owned and broken many paddles. I have never found better, regardless of price, manufacturer. My highest rating for the Bending Branches Arrow paddle.

I think I own 5 Arrow paddles now. You always must take multiples when you go into the woods, wilderness, 'off piste'. And this past spring Bending Branches made a new pair for me,, 64 inches long. Eight weeks of paddling and 800 miles later,, Oh my, but they are lovely. To look at certainly,, but in the using? absolutely the best. The extra length is a requirement in Class III and Class IV, , the water can be a long way away.

I like a live shaft, I want to feel the pull. I also like a slender blade thickness,, I box stroke and Canadian frequently, the blade stays in the water. And I have never broken one. Never. And those paddles have stroked barely covered rocks in the tumult many times. I am not gentle with my paddles. I have broken every paddle I ever owned, except, those that have come from Bending Branches. Everyone has fancy paddles,, more expensive,, cupped, curved,, graphite, carbon, glass, aluminum, but, not any one of them is better

Arrow paddles by Bending Branches have my highest recommendation

I bought my first Bending Branches Arrow 8 years ago. That paddle has seen easily 2,000 miles of river travel. It has been lightly sanded and refinished once (needs it again after this last trip), but Oh ! what a magnificent expression of a woodworker's art. It sings in my hands.

There is something about a paddle stroke to me, well done, than may be the greatest why of paddling, canoeing, to me. I am a stern guy, don't put me in the bow, and I like to single hand. My strokes are not frenetic, but rather deep and long. I bend forward from my butt, straight arms, slip the blade in silently and then and then a deep paddle bending pull all the way to a Canadian correction well behind the stern, feather the blade on the return, blade tip barely above the surface and repeat. And a good paddle, like the Arrow, allows me a tactile feel of the art of a single stroke like no other plastic, steel, aluminum, graphite, EVER could. I like wood. And these are so well built, so durable, they will astound you, 22 ounces of art.

I own two now, both 60 inches, both just traveled 250 miles in western Montana with me. And I may have looked a bit dorky with two wooden paddles bungeed together for the buses, trains, walking through downtown Chicago on layovers. But I paddle because it feels good, and these are what my fingers and hands like. They sing to me.

Certainly 10 out of 10 for what they are intended for and what they achieve. But I must add another ten for the extreme pleasure they afford me. So my score for the Bending Branches Arrow is about a 20.

I've had mine for over 10 years, paddled on the Rio Grande, the Buffalo, and Texas lakes. One corner of the rock guard finally began delaminating (my fault for not maintaining the finish). Web and customer service offered to repair or give me instructions. Did repair myself and it is now my back-up. Upgraded to a Bending Branches Espresso, love it.