Viper Paddle

I have owned Bending Branches Arrow paddles since purchasing my Old Town Penobscot. This year I switched to a double-bend paddle and bought the Bending Branches Viper. The folks at Bending Branches were great in helping me decide on single- versus double-bend and also sizing. And the guy at Austin Canoe and Kayak was also really helpful in my final sizing decision.

I just finished a 10-day solo trip on the Green River (Labyrinth Canyon) and the Viper was amazing. I've been paddling the Viper since May...mostly lake and one three-day river trip. I haven't experienced any of the elbow fatigue I suffered last summer. It is a beautiful paddle, too. The large blade also can move some water!

Can't recommend the Viper enough and the folks at BB and ACK were great.

So far so good...my first two paddles, the Arrow, have been great. After last year's water play (both whitewater in my IK and canoe on the lake) my elbow felt like a pro tennis player's and my search for a new paddle began.

After much research and query I decided on the Bending Branches Viper which I purchased through Austin Kayak with a nice promo code/coupon from previous purchases through them.

Sizing worried me a bit but the folks at both Bending Branches and Austin Kayak were really friendly and helpful. I decided on the 50" after a long chat with Austin Kayak about sizing, canoe width (Penobscot 16RX) and torso length.

The paddle is light and enters the water beautifully. The longer and wider blade moves some water - something I really like on the lake...especially when the winds pick up (I mostly paddle Lake Dillon at 9,000' and the winds can get kind of intense).

If you're looking for a really nice double bend paddle with a beautiful face... get the Viper!

I've always wanted one of these to go with my Kruger boat. The paddle is beautiful, its curves elicit many a stare and compliment. Oh the feel of it in ones hands...the light weight, the ergonomically correct grip, and the angled, large blade make the day glide by. Finding it on clearance really helped sway my decision. Thanks Mountainman!

My Experience: I have worked for a canoe and kayak dealership for 11 years and paddle 3-4x a week. I have paddled every boat from 40 different manufacturers and have tested every paddle I can in my last 15 years of paddling.

CONS:
The Viper advertises the ergonomic bend to the shaft and claims to relieve sore wrists. My wife does claim it helps with her tendinitis but isn't sure if its just the light weight. This is where it looses points. It's unique, but I think the claims of BB are a bit lofty.

PROS:
This paddle is light weight, fast, and sexy. I prefer this paddle to any carbon because:
1)I don't race
2)Pulling wood is easier on the joints after a week of 10 hour paddling days on extended trips. Where I LOVE this paddle is that the bend in the stick allows it to do what no other bent shaft could. I am primarily a canadian style paddler. I paddle on one side and constantly cycle through canadian, indian, draw, and pry strokes. I never liked how a bent shaft hindered all of these strokes but I wanted the added efficiency. The bend in the shaft allows me to change my grip and have the blade enter at a right angle when I want that perfect draw or pry stroke. Canadian and Indian are still best done with a straight shaft (Never leave home without one). But for all day trips, this is the paddle that covers the most distance for me. Should make any advanced paddler happy. Hope this helps!