I am looking for a lightweight canoe paddle under $220. It will be paddled in the BWCA and Quetico so it can't be fragile. I take care of my paddles , but I will occasionally, carefully, push off of a boulder.

I currently have a 30 year old "Loon carbon paddle" and a greenish Wenonah paddle that i purchased used from an outfitter. I like both, but the Loon is showing its age.

All recommendations are welcome. And if anyone is selling a paddle or know of an outfitter who is selling. let me know.

Used carbon paddle like ZRE is the way to go.

They're not as fragile as they seem or feel.

No personal experience, but have heard good things:
GRB Paddles

Bending Branches Black Pearl 11. I got it at Piragis new, $50 off, paid $200 in 2019. Has about 60-70 days paddling in BWCA/Q. I’m pretty rough on it; push off rocks/shore, toss it on shore, put in the lake bottom/between rocks to steady the boat, etc and it’s still in great shape.

Definitely call around to some of the outfitters in Ely or on the Gunflint and ask if they any used outfitting paddles. Both the Bending Branches Black Pearl 11 and Wenonah Black Lite Elbow Carbon are fantastic. Just last week I got a previously used outfitter edition of the Wenonah Black Lite Elbow Carbon from Piragis for $100.

You didn't say straight or bent. For $220 you can get a lot of paddle. If you're tending toward bent, a ZRE (Zaveral) second is about $220, and will last a looooong time. GRB is a bit cheaper than ZRE, and is well thought of. And then there are nice paddles from Grey Owl and Bending Branches. Wenonah also lists some paddles, both straight and bent (wood and carbon).

For straight, lots of options, with wood Bending Branches, Grey Owl, and Sanford. Carbon paddles are harder to find, but ZRE and Wenonah list them. Bending Branches has a carbon/wood paddle, but is more like $250 I think. And if you're wanting more traditional paddles (e.g. ottertails, beavertails, usually heavier), there is Grey Owl and lots of small operators.

cyclones30: "Used carbon paddle like ZRE is the way to go.


They're not as fragile as they seem or feel. "

Thats what I use. You can get a blemished one for less money. I can't find the blemish on mine.

Piragis sells their used Wenonah graphite paddles from outfitting for around $125. Not as light as ZRE but still light and strong. I'd up the ante and just buy a "blemished" ZRE, as Blatz noted I can't find the blemish on either one of my paddles and at around 7.5oz a piece by far the best bit of gear I've spent money on.

If you prefer wood, the Sanborn Gunflint bent shaft. The look and feel of a wood paddle is quite lovely. It’s lighter than some composites. Favorite paddle in my quiver.

San born paddles, beautiful light weight paddles, made in Minnesota.

scottiebaldwin: "If you prefer wood, the Sanborn Gunflint bent shaft. The look and feel of a wood paddle is quite lovely. It’s lighter than some composites. Favorite paddle in my quiver. "

Absolutely beautiful paddles. About the same weight as my beloved Gillespie- but after switching to a ZRE my Gillespie feels like a war club.

Resurrecting this old thread because it's the most recent carbon paddle thread I could find.

Literally 3 weeks ago I bought the Black Pearl 2 and one trip in so far, I am in love. Was a wood paddle only kind of guy up until now, I see the light (pun intended). Today, though I didn't need it at all, I scored a Wenonah black lite elbow for $100 in a deal I could not pass up, it's in extremely good condition, but it has on older logo on it. Just curious when Wenonah switched that up and if there's any discernable differences between the original black lite Elbow and the new one? It's a 50" paddle and weighs about 17.5 ounces. Not sure if that is on par with the new version. The Black Pearl 2 is about 16.5 ounces in a 52". I dont even know if I can paddle a 50" yet but I bought it as a spare and the guy said it was a 51", but I figure as a non-primary paddle that doesn't matter.

Get a ZRE blemished. I dare you to find the blemish

Blatz: "Get a ZRE blemished. I dare you to find the blemish"

EXACTLY

Blatz: "Get a ZRE blemished. I dare you to find the blemish"

Probably next on the list to add to the collection just to say I have one, but personally I dont find their paddles very comfortable in the hands and I also like to paddle at a slower cadence which doesn't jive so well with the smaller blades.

AlexanderSupertramp: "

Blatz: "Get a ZRE blemished. I dare you to find the blemish"

Probably next on the list to add to the collection just to say I have one, but personally I dont find their paddles very comfortable in the hands and I also like to paddle at a slower cadence which doesn't jive so well with the smaller blades.
"

You can order wider blades, though I would suggest you work to get comfortable with a quicker cadence, much better for efficiency and the health of your joints and ligaments. You don't have to reach a "race" pace just the slight uptick necessary to make up for the loss of blade surface area.

Blatz: "Get a ZRE blemished. I dare you to find the blemish"

I don't see any blemishes for sale on their website.

plmn: "

Blatz: "Get a ZRE blemished. I dare you to find the blemish"

I don't see any blemishes for sale on their website."

When you click on a paddle to buy online and it lists all the options, it's the "factory second" option. Looks like it's only a $23-$30 discount. Not really a screaming deal considering how much the cost of their paddles has increased over the years, but every dollar counts I suppose.

sns: "No personal experience, but have heard good things:
GRB Paddles "

I bought two of these, for my son and my Kruger attempt. Absolutly love GRB paddles. I think they were right around $200 at the time. Talked to the owner about length, bent-degree, etc. Took a couple months to get it in the mail - highly recommend!

If you are at all handy with tools, you can make a bent shaft paddle. There are lots of instructions online. You can choose the woods for looks and weight. The price of paddles these days is ridiculous.

OldGuide2: "If you are at all handy with tools, you can make a bent shaft paddle. There are lots of instructions online. You can choose the woods for looks and weight. The price of paddles these days is ridiculous. "

Any idea if ZRE parts are cross-compatible with the Wenonah Black Lite? It's my understanding that ZRE made those for them. I wouldn't mind changing up the shaft. Seems like most of the weight is in the shaft on this Wenonah paddle, and replacing that with a ZRE Ultralight could get the paddle down another 3-4 ounces I'd bet making it right in line with a ZRE in the same length/blade size.

AlexanderSupertramp: "
Any idea if ZRE parts are cross-compatible with the Wenonah Black Lite? It's my understanding that ZRE made those for them. I wouldn't mind changing up the shaft. Seems like most of the weight is in the shaft on this Wenonah paddle, and replacing that with a ZRE Ultralight could get the paddle down another 3-4 ounces I'd bet making it right in line with a ZRE in the same length/blade size."

I have two ZRE and two of the Wenonah- I'd say the Wenonah blade is considerably heavier. Shafts appear to be the same size, possibly even simply the same shaft.

I use straight shaft paddles and was impressed with my friend's Wenonah. The ZRE, Black Pearl ST & Werner Journey area all about the same blade area. The Wenonah has a blade size more inline with my wood paddles. I'm glad Wenonah's making something different than the others even though the weight is not as low as ZRE.

Banksiana: "

AlexanderSupertramp: "
Any idea if ZRE parts are cross-compatible with the Wenonah Black Lite? It's my understanding that ZRE made those for them. I wouldn't mind changing up the shaft. Seems like most of the weight is in the shaft on this Wenonah paddle, and replacing that with a ZRE Ultralight could get the paddle down another 3-4 ounces I'd bet making it right in line with a ZRE in the same length/blade size."

I have two ZRE and two of the Wenonah- I'd say the Wenonah blade is considerably heavier. Shafts appear to be the same size, possibly even simply the same shaft."

I wish ZRE would put the weights of their blades on the webpage, would this a lot easier for me, because if the shafts are indeed the same, I would just buy a factory second ZRE blade and probably a new handle if you are correct on that.

AlexanderSupertramp: "

Banksiana: "

AlexanderSupertramp: "
Any idea if ZRE parts are cross-compatible with the Wenonah Black Lite? It's my understanding that ZRE made those for them. I wouldn't mind changing up the shaft. Seems like most of the weight is in the shaft on this Wenonah paddle, and replacing that with a ZRE Ultralight could get the paddle down another 3-4 ounces I'd bet making it right in line with a ZRE in the same length/blade size."

I have two ZRE and two of the Wenonah- I'd say the Wenonah blade is considerably heavier. Shafts appear to be the same size, possibly even simply the same shaft."

I wish ZRE would put the weights of their blades on the webpage, would this a lot easier for me, because if the shafts are indeed the same, I would just buy a factory second ZRE blade and probably a new handle if you are correct on that. "

Just call ZRE, they pick will answer all your questions.