I've finally committed. After four years of traveling into the BWCA, I've bought my first canoe. A Bell Northwind. My question is, what are everyone's preferences for paddles? There are many choices. Looking for durability and lightweight. Not too expensive. In that order.

Lots of good choices will be offered. My first choice is the carbon Wenonah Black Lite bent shaft. It is very lightweight, tough, and under $200.

For a straight shaft paddle, I chose a Bending Branches Java ST. It is about $140.

Pick 2 out of your desires. Yes lots out there and the usual "it depends" applies.
Durability is often not obvious, the only paddles I have broken in use were Coleman and generic aluminum shafted plastics. The very lightweight 8-10 ounce Zaveral's I own have the most use on them, none have broke.
Weight varies from 24+ ounces for wood or the plastics, 18 and less for somewhat high mid-range wood laminates less for carbon blade wood shafts, to well under 10 for all carbon fiber. I find weight most important for long paddling days.
Cost from under $50 for basic simple construction. $75-$150 more crafted wood and wood composites, higher for art fashioned yet very use-able. $150 on up for custom wood and carbon-fiber made to specifications. I have learned cost is the least important as it's one ited you will handle and use more than any other piece of paddling gear.

Nice as crafted woods look I prefer proper sized carbon paddles over any other style the weight is that important to me.

butthead

I use a Bending Branches Espresso with a bent shaft. It is no longer made but I believe the Java ST is the replacement.
I used a Bending Branches Special for many years before getting the Espresso. Both have served me very well. Although the rock guard came off one of my BB Specials after a few years of use. It is easy to epoxy back in place if you don't lose the rock guard itself.

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https://www.outdoorplay.com/werner-nantahala-1-piece-fiberglass-canoe-paddle?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2d37_uSd4QIVyLXACh2bRwtYEAQYByABEgLy4vD_BwE

Our favorite paddles are Zaverals but I’m guessing that they may not qualify as not too expensive. I do think that Bending Branches has a good line of paddles to look at and ponder the various trade offs. I’d also look at the selection on Piragis (Piragis.com) as they have a wide range from metal and plastic on up. Except for Zaverals you need to go to zre.com.

Tomcat: "Sorry, can not figure out how to add link.

https://www.outdoorplay.com/werner-nantahala-1-piece-fiberglass-canoe-paddle?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2d37_uSd4QIVyLXACh2bRwtYEAQYByABEgLy4vD_BwE"

https://www.outdoorplay.com/werner-nantahala-1-piece-fiberglass-canoe-paddle?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2d37_uSd4QIVyLXACh2bRwtYEAQYByABEgLy4vD_BwE

We have a couple fairly simple wooden bent shaft paddles that we like, not even sure of the brand. But we've got one trip now with a used carbon ZRE and my wife loves it, I like it. I feel the blade itself is a little smaller than I'd like and I don't quite get the volume of water moved compared to our wooden ones. But, it's very light and nice and she loves it.

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You cant go wrong with Bending Branches paddles. All sorts of different models for different purposes. I like collecting paddles like I collect fishing lures. You can never have too many!

huntfun2: "You cant go wrong with Bending Branches paddles. All sorts of different models for different purposes. I like collecting paddles like I collect fishing lures. You can never have too many!"

+1

Zaverals and many similar paddles do have smaller blades than many standard straight shaft paddles. I carry both on trips and like having the variety. While the smaller paddle and bent shaft are very efficient with a higher stroke rate there are times when I like the feel of moving more water per stroke but fewer strokes. You can get Zaverals made with different size blades if you want something else.

I use the Wenonah Black lite carbon bent shaft one a Northwind 17 and owned a Nothwind solo. Even at 14 oz there are lighter paddles out there that people use, which really makes me laugh. Back in the early 90s I started bringing my carbon Barton Bent shaft racing paddle (14oz) up to the BW. I would get all sorts of comments from people saying it wouldn't last a week. Now people routinely recommend an 11 oz racing paddle

cyclones30: "We have a couple fairly simple wooden bent shaft paddles that we like, not even sure of the brand. But we've got one trip now with a used carbon ZRE and my wife loves it, I like it. I feel the blade itself is a little smaller than I'd like and I don't quite get the volume of water moved compared to our wooden ones. But, it's very light and nice and she loves it. "

Hopefully lots of water is never moved. Yes there is slippage but the aim is to plant the paddle and pull your boat past it

Zavs are light high cadence paddles.. Yes they do have less area but are designed to be paddled at a higher stroke rate than you would want to do with a wooden paddle.. Try 60 strokes a minute with each and you will understand.

Paddles are highly personal, depending on aesthetics, function, and expense. If you're a fast tourer, bent shafts are gold, whether wood or carbon. If you're more casual, or plan to paddle whitewater, then straight shafts are more appropriate. Bent shafts work best with "sit and switch" styles, where there is little steering correction to the stroke. If you're a J-stroker, straight shafts work better. For straight shafts, there are beavertails, ottertails, Sugar Island (or some such), and various others. Selection is personal preference and somewhat related to water depth. Personally, I use Zaveral, Grey Owl, and Wenonah paddles, all bent, both wood and carbon. Bending Branches is a common brand, but I've had better luck with Grey Owl, but they can be hard to find. My 14 oz. Zaveral (heavy for its ilk) I've used for over 20 years, and I have Grey Owls I've had for closer to 35 years. And then you can have a light weight bent for cruising and a bruiser straight for the tough stuff, since spare paddles can be useful.

I am mostly following this thread. We are in the market to get my son his own paddle this year.

Personally, I have a Clement that is almost 40 years old (can't get them anymore) that is my all time favorite as a big blade for lakes. I am a straight shaft kind of gal...just what I grew up used to using. My whitewater paddle is a Grey Owl (Canadian company) which has held up very well the last 30 years.

I've saved $35 twice buying "scratch and dent" Zav Ultra-Lights in case that counts as "not too expensive". Paddle days at a time with one, and you'll likely appreciate having made the investment. And, btw, I can't tell on either where the blemish that qualified them as a "second" is.

OzarkNative: "I've finally committed. After four years of traveling into the BWCA, I've bought my first canoe. A Bell Northwind. My question is, what are everyone's preferences for paddles? There are many choices. Looking for durability and lightweight. Not too expensive. In that order."

Well, like a lot of people have said there are a lot of options out there.

Straight shaft or bent? Wood or composite? Beaver tail, otter tail, modified otter tail? How long do I get? Kayak paddle if going solo?

My only advice is to get an affordable paddle and start using it. I got two bending branches straight shaft paddles off Craigslist years ago. One was 60", the other 56". I learned how to use the 56" and felt comfortable pulling and steering the canoe with it. Then I got a 7 degree bent paddle from the forum here. Made of red cedar from Sanborn Canoe. Absolutely my favorite paddle: Little Sag A friend at work just this week gave me a 14 degree paddle he made. I am looking forward to trying that out this spring. If I were you, get a straight and bent shaft and start canoeing. Eventually, you might build up a giant collection of paddles, like some members here on the forum.

Someone said paddles are "Personal" and I concur. Sometimes I feel like using a nice Ottertail or Beavertail paddle and sometimes I need a paddle on the river with some "Bite." And on long days or when I'm not feeling as strong, the carbon Zaverals and Wenonahs suit me. I suggest you try a few different paddles in your boat and see what feels good. If you live here in the Ozarks, I could lend you a few to try out. Heck, since I bought my new Wenonah Carbon last year, one of my Zaverals is sitting on the porch in need of a grip. I could probably let it go for free as a good will gesture to a new paddler?

As for price, I've bought two Zaveral "Blems," one in 2003 and one in 2004. Only damage is that I got plastic grips and high DEET bug juice melted the one plastic handle. Back then, I paid just a bit over $100. Last year I paid about the same for my Wenonah carbon paddle.

It takes a little paddling to get used to the bent shaft, but I felt comfortable with one in a few hours. They were developed by/for canoe racers for that high cadence, as Yellowcanoe said. BUT, I am not a racer nor a fast paddler and love the bent carbon paddles. They're easier on my shoulders and with heart issues they are easier on my body period with the super light weight. Envision a paddle about the weight of a Wiffle ball bat! With practice you can easily J-stroke with them and even do underwater recoveries (Canadian strokes). A well known "Know-it-all" pooh-poohed my use of carbon bent shaft paddles on another website for such use, but it feels good to ME. So I could care less if I'm using them "Wrong" in the eyes of any self appointed experts!

Just want to toss out here a company not often mentioned in the midwest. Fox Worx Paddle
A bunch of very good designs at prices better than most. I bought a few when they were "Camp Paddle". Sill have a Standard and a Microlight. They do not get much use though now I have some Zaveral's.

butthead

butthead: "Just want to toss out here a company not often mentioned in the midwest. Fox Worx Paddle
A bunch of very good designs at prices better than most. I bought a few when they were "Camp Paddle". Sill have a Standard and a Microlight. They do not get much use though now I have some Zaveral's.


butthead"

Those are some really nice looking paddles! And, while I've never used one, my wife has one their kayak paddles that she uses in her solo canoe. I bought her a fancy Swift paddle for several hundred more than the Fox. Guess which she prefers?

ozarkpaddler, my wife used this one a lot last fall.

Tomcat: "ozarkpaddler, my wife used this one a lot last fall.


"

(LOL) looks like a nice, comfy way to paddle, John!

Another vote for the carbon light bent shaft. At least for distance paddling on flat water.

Mid priced Bending Branches work for me. I have a BB Special bent shaft and a BB Beaver Tail I use interchangeably on lakes. On shallower rivers I use a BB Loon. Price on these was under $100 last I looked.

jhb8426: "Mid priced Bending Branches work for me. I have a BB Special bent shaft and a BB Beaver Tail I use interchangeably on lakes. On shallower rivers I use a BB Loon. Price on these was under $100 last I looked."

Me too. Our primary paddles are a pair of BB Special bent shaft, and for times when I want a straight paddle I use a BB Beavertail. Although I generally do bent, I do really like the beavertail design, and at $95 it's a bargain.

Maybe not quite as durable or as lightweight as other options, but I LOVE my Sanborn paddles. I like the look, feel, and smell of a wood paddle and the Sanborns are beautiful. My wife and I have a Gunflint and a Minnesota.

I do see they now make carbon backed wood paddles to shave some weight.