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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.

My experience was positive in the use, cut to a 67" length it was perfect and felt good paddling the canoe in rapids. 6 Weeks the shaft failed. Snapped while I was holding it. I was less than pleased with Werners response to my situation,, another 700 miles to go in the trip. I got to use a terminal a week later,, I emailed and explained my difficulty. At the next bit of civilization, there was no offered solution. I was treated as if I were a weekender and told to mail it to them,, and "they would take a look at it." It was labeled as customer service. It was not. It was company service. I would love to try other Werner paddles,, the Nantahala, the Bandit. I love the paddles,,, but if I break another one,, I know I will be stuffing another 2 pound wooden dowel and epoxy down the center and wrapping the break with fiberglass,, while supported by a couple of tree limbs along side the river. 5 stars for the paddle 0 for Company service.

North Water built for me a custom spray deck,, both to my specifications and to the style I use a canoe. I travel long distances on rivers,, normally solo in an expedition size canoe (20'). When the boat was built, custom layup, custom thwart and seat placements, North Water not only adapted to those dimensions and configurations,, but also to how I go through big white water. I sit on the stern seat normally on flat water, but I always go to my knees and slide forward in the Class II and up. The skirt had to be constructed to allow the normal position of on my knees and forward,, and comfortable sitting in the flat sections. North Water's solutions were both unique and nearly faultless. The spray deck has now survived 2,500 miles of travel in 4 years time, something just less than 200 nights camping along the river, Class I to Class V rapids, several total submersions, innumerable (500 to 1,000) bow plunges bringing solid water racing aft on the deck,, a spectacularly durable and effective canoe deck. My highest regard and ratings for that deck cover and the artists that built it.

800 miles this spring. Rocks and rapids. Sand bars, snow, strong winds, sideways on rocks twice, (Yeah, my fault.) and survived it all and is on the truck as I write. Dinosaur had 1,500 cfs,, that is like a lawn sprinkler keeping the boulder tops wet. Or 20,000 cfs in Deso/Gray,, with plenty of water and lots of rocks to thump.
I have bragged that my McKenzie just needs a heavy dew on grass to float,, and there is some truth in that. Lightly loaded,, 700 pounds, (2,000 capacity) she floats high and easy and can get through just about anything,, and is so tough, she has survived rocks, big water, and me,, 3,000+ miles, flat water, and white water, Class I, II, III, IV, and V to date.

My absolute highest recommendation for this boat and the people that built her.

Clipper Canoe, Western Canoe and Kayak,, Abbotsford, B.C.

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 one three years ago. I travel with multiple paddles in case of loss or breakage, but the Expedition Plus has been on now,, 3,000 miles of trips? That paddle alone has been used for about one thousand miles,, and a fair bit of that white water. It looks and feels like new. The durability is astounding. I have BB Arrow paddles that have been refinished multiple times. (I love Arrow paddles), however the Expedition Plus has never needed a touch. Yes,, it has a few marks in and on it,, but I have three week old paddles that don't look as good as the three year old Expedition.

Laughing,, would I buy it again,, absolutely, no question. But I may never have to.

I liked the paddle, shaft, grip, blade,, mine was 67 inches. Air strokes in big water are not desirable.

However, 6 weeks into the trip, the shaft snapped. Black spiral wound carbon? glass? And Werner would not stand by their product. They offered no help. They would not warrant the product. I repaired the shaft finally at the side of the Colorado river with a 40 inch dowel epoxied down the center and a e-glass wrap on the exterior,, doubling the weight, Needed, but close to useless.

It was a great paddle,, but I will never buy another Werner product. I'd love to,,, because I liked the paddle I want to try the Nantahala,,, but they did not stand by their product and customer service was miss named,, it was strictly company service.

My absolute highest reccomendations.

My MacKenzie 20 was built for me and for a specific expedition. I did a 'Powell'. I began in Green River, Wyoming, and finished at Lake Havasu City, Arizona. 1,200 plus map miles,, 1300 plus gps miles. Flaming Gorge at high water, Desolation/ Gray, Cataract Canyon, the Grand Canyon until the cover failed.

This MacKenzie 20 was built extra tough to withstand the rocks and thunks along the way, seat and thwart were positioned for me.. It survived the entire way. Including my ineptitude in Big Drop 3 and quite a few in the Grand Canyon. Big Drop 3, I blew my entrance entirely and dropped straight into the big hole at the top. That hole can eat a school bus. Yes, it rolled me quite a few times, hammered body, paddle, (the paddle was snapped in my hand) and boat, but we floated out eventually and though damaged, she was bailed out and headed down the Colorado 20 minutes later. There is not another canoe that I know that could have withstood my error and paddled away. Most, or all, would have been cracked in half or wadded up like an old newspaper.,,I've paddled many, and many manufacturers, and for that hole, on that day,, the MacKenzie came through.

There were failures,, the cover finally surrendered and I could not keep the water out,, but the boat made it all the way through.

Clipper's kevlar boat, with additional layers of S-glass inside and out. It is a tank, that paddles easily and fast, I could paddle Mead and Powell at a steady easy 3+ mph, and for short stretches at up to 5mph, and I am considering using the same boat for the Yukon, or the Yellowstone.

My absolute highest regard for Clipper Canoe.

great fabric, great screen zippers. Large #10 door zippers are rubbish,, poorly manufactured... roughness internally? The zippers damage their own plastic teeth. One door totally inoperable... poorly set up... They eat the neighboring fabric and jam , and jam, and jam.
Tiny, tiny aluminum poles can't stand up to any wind... tent just screws down to the ground. Poor, poor wind design.
Trash, rubbish... Distinctly NOT an outfitters tent. Backyards, scout camp outs, swimming party changing room ONLY. Do not take it into the woods or down the river.

Just bought one... it was a garage queen, hung, dry, and as shiny as new. No longer the case - well on the way to adding 'character' to her. 8 outings so far.

Good initial stability, excellent secondary. 33,5 at the waterline 37 max with some tumblehome to keep the gunwales close. Fast. A knot faster than a Grumman 18. 1/2 knot slower than a Minn II. If you are driving hard and flat... she tracks so well, you'd think she would not turn. A keel, but a bit of rocker too. But, heel her over a bit on a cheek and she turns in her own length. I did two 90's, left, then right to follow the current around a rock ledge, she turned like 13-foot solo canoe.

When she plunged through a series of 2+ foot tall rapids, the bow shape punched the crests to the side... as long as I held dead straight the only water to enter was that taller than the bow. 13.5 inch center depth stayed bone dry.

A good craft - 71 pounds, so not a light weight, but not horrible.
I'll keep it.