Canoe Paddles

"Half the paddle, twice the man" is a famous saying amongst canoeists.  There are several components to a canoe paddle that one needs to consider: length, blade shape, blade size, grip style, type of materials, and straight vs. bent shafts.

Short, wide blades provide the most bite for quick acceleration.  Longer, narrower blades grip less water with each stroke, but require less energy, providing a more efficient cadence.  A bigger blade area lets you apply more power, but also demands more effort on each stroke. In whitewater, canoeists like shorter and wider, more powerful blades because they allow cranking quick turns.  On lakes or gentle rivers there's less need to turn quickly, making them well suited for smaller blade paddles . Smaller blades need to be paddled at a slightly higher stroke-rate, but demand less effort for individual stroke. This is usually easier on wrists and shoulders.

The most common grip styles at the top of the paddle are t-grip and palm or pear-shaped grips.  The T-grip gives greater control but can be uncomfortable over longer distances, so they tend to be more popular with whitewater paddles.  Palm and pear grips are more comfortable over long periods of paddling.

Canoe paddles are typically made of wood, laminates, composites or plastic.  Wood paddles provide liveliness, flex, and warmth in the hands. They are generally slightly heavier than composite paddles, but lighter than plastic ones.  Popular types of wood are maple, ash, cherry, basswood and spruce.  They require some maintenance, such as applying varnish or even sanding and refinishing.  Laminated wood paddles are made from strips of wood bonded together.  Lamination makes paddles stiff, giving the paddle more power.  The downside is they are less lively or shock absorbing.  The more layers of lamination, the stronger, stiffer, and more expensive a paddle will be.  Many wood and laminate paddle models have guards around the tips and edges for added protection.