Hey folks!

My son and I are joining the Border Route Challenge, and with that many miles, we're a little leery of using our home-made paddles for weight and heavy use. We are notoriously hard on gear.

While on our warm up trip to Rose, we stopped at Sawtooth Outfitters and were admiring the Northstar Voodoo bent shaft and a Wenonah Tour Lite Elbow. We were also thinking, in our Spirit 2, that we may want a little shorter than our regular-sized paddles that we crafted as we sit a little lower in that canoe. I'd love to be able to hold one and see how it feels...not sure if that may be possible.

Any recommendations on both paddle and length options? Will carbon or carbon/wood hybrid hold up to hard and heavy use? I'm hoping to keep them to $250 or under price range. Any advice appreciated.

Scott

Also - I'm within driving distance of Winona, MN, got off the phone with them and we could visit and check out their options first-hand. The Wenonah paddle I reference above was the Tour Lite Elbow.

For our 2018 Quetico trip, we rented a couple 54" Wenonah Black Lite Elbows. We both loved the weight, but both prefer straight paddles. For our 2019 trip we had our own 56" Black Lite Straights. Love them--the difference in how our shoulders feel the first couple days out is amazing.

TZ

I've used a Wenonah Black Lite Elbow paddle for several years after I bought it used from Piragis. The customers at Piragis did not treat it gingerly. It is a pretty tough paddle. Mine is 52" and 12 ounces. Wenonah's description for its Tour Lite Elbow says that it is a few ounces heavier than the Black Lite, so perhaps 15-16 ounces.

Go sit in your canoe. Decide where you want your grip hand to be. I prefer it to be no higher than the height of my shoulder. Others prefer it at the chin or the nose. Measure from that height to the water's surface: that is the length of the shaft that you'll want. If your paddling style is aggressive (high stroke cadence), I'd recommend a shorter shaft.

Ausable: "I've used a Wenonah Black Lite Elbow paddle for several years after I bought it used from Piragis. The customers at Piragis did not treat it gingerly. It is a pretty tough paddle. Mine is 52" and 12 ounces. Wenonah's description for its Tour Lite Elbow says that it is a few ounces heavier than the Black Lite, so perhaps 15-16 ounces.


Go sit in your canoe. Decide where you want your grip hand to be. I prefer it to be no higher than the height of my shoulder. Others prefer it at the chin or the nose. Measure from that height to the water's surface: that is the length of the shaft that you'll want. If your paddling style is aggressive (high stroke cadence), I'd recommend a shorter shaft."

This is great advice and info, thank you. My son and I have a pretty aggressive cadence together, and so I think we are right thinking we should shorten our normal paddle length.

I have the Black lite and Voodoo in straight shaft. I have had them both on many trips and they are much stronger than I wood have given them credit for. I highly recommend either one of them.

The thing that impressed me loading up the shuttles at Piragis for the Challenge the last few years, was the vast array of ZRE paddles. There must be a few thousand dollars worth of paddles there, many were $300. +. Do you need a fancy paddle? No, I've seen people do it with plain, wooden, straight shaft paddles and heavy, (compared to carbon) wooden bent shaft paddles. But let me say this, once you go black you'll never go back. I use a 49" ZRE, my wife a 48" and we have 2 wenonahs, 1# and 52" long. I like the 49" better, but I'm in a solo. I think I'd prefer one a hair longer in the Mn II. It would be best to try before you buy. I'm uncertain if you could buy long and shorten and re-glue the grip on some brands or not. The 1/2 # difference in weight between my ZRE and Wenonah translates to thousands of pounds difference in weight lifted and swung over 250 miles. You can buy blems from ZRE at a discount too.

I love my ZRE paddle … feather light and tough.

Wally13: "I love my ZRE paddle … feather light and tough. "

Can I ask a few questions?
Where did you get it - did you order online?
What shaft angle did you order? Or do you prefer straight? I think my son prefers bent and I straight.
How long did it take for them to ship? Doable in less than 7 weeks?

No to jump on Wally13, but I do use two ZRE Lites, a straight shaft 8.5 inch 50 inch shaft, and a 15 degree 8.25 48 inch, each under nine ounces. Seven years now solo paddling.

Ordered online as desired right from ZRE.
15 degree bent and a straight.
Back in 2014 the order arrived at my home in two weeks.

They will hold up to hard use. Still no need to abuse any paddle even under competition use. Check out some canoe races. Most all use light carbon fiber paddles, the races are often in shallow water, rocks tree branches and turns in close quarters.

butthead

When I purchased ZRE paddles for my wife and I, I called them to discuss lengths and blade area. They know canoes and so made specific recommendations based on what we use. Hopefully, they still offer that sort of personal advice. At the very least, it doesn't hurt to ask. And we love the paddles. To keep the price down you could stick with the recreational paddle and ask if seconds are available. Ours are seconds due to visual blemishes that I've never been able to find.

ZRE

I have a ZRE....it's night and day difference to anything non-carbon. As for what you should get....just make sure it's carbon haha

I just ordered from this company. Full carbon, 10 oz.. I have yet to try the paddle, but the price is within your range, and should ship quickly.
https://www.grbnewmandesigns.com/paddles-and-accessories

I have several ZRE paddles and agree that they stand up to hard use. I also have one carbon paddle from GRB Newman Designs and I think it is every bit as good as the ZRE's at a lower price. If you are brave you can order either a ZRE or a GRB on the long side with the grip unglued and you can trim the shaft a little bit at a time with a hacksaw (securing the grip with tape) until the length feels perfect. Then epoxy the grip. Most epoxies (including the stuff ZRE and GRB use) can be easily loosened with a heat gun.

The ZRE paddles (and also the GRB) seem to come in two main varieties - power surge that have somewhat concave blades like a spoon, and the Z line that are flat - then each line coming with different weights. I'm curious if people here prefer the flat or the concave for recreational tripping? The GRB site suggest the concave may do a bit better job of "gripping" the water but might require a bit more technique in your stroke. Is that more suited for racing than touring?

Jaywalker: "The ZRE paddles (and also the GRB) seem to come in two main varieties - power surge that have somewhat concave blades like a spoon, and the Z line that are flat - then each line coming with different weights. I'm curious if people here prefer the flat or the concave for recreational tripping? The GRB site suggest the concave may do a bit better job of "gripping" the water but might require a bit more technique in your stroke. Is that more suited for racing than touring? "

I had the same question - guessing the flat sided is better suited to touring.

Thanks for all the advice and information folks. Right now I'm looking at the GRB 12 degree flat for my son, and maybe the 6 degree or a different straight blade carbon for me in the stern.

I love my flat for trips (but never used a cupped one)

Mine is the 6 degree. It may be my favorite paddle ever. I usually kneel and use either a straight shaft carbon paddle or the 6 degree. I have a Bell Magic that I sit in and then I use a 12 degree.

Our 2 ZREs are power surge, but it such a subtle difference it would probably only matter to a racer. I'd forgotten about Newman paddles. I've heard good things and cheaper pricing than Zavs.

I tried my first carbon paddle just a couple of weeks ago, and it quickly spoiled me. My favorite wood paddles now feel like they are filled with lead! I still take my straight shaft wood for "finesse" moves, but for getting across the lake fast I grab my ZRE.

Scotttimm,

Sorry for taking so long to respond to your questions regarding my ZRE Paddle.

I bought a 52 inch ZRE Paddle Surge 8 degree Bent shaft that is 8.5 inches wide direct from ZRE.

I use it for paddling my 1992 Wenonah 18.5 MN II Tandem. I also use it for my 2006 Bell Magic solo when I am not using my Werner Kayaking Fiberglass paddle.

I definitely prefer a bent shaft canoe paddle, but to each his own. I recently upgraded my kayak paddle for my solo canoe to a Werner carbon fiber bent shaft. A bent shaft is so much more "Efficient" for me vs. a straight.

I would recommend you try a bent shaft and see how you like it. Many seasoned paddlers still go with a straight shaft.

Like Butthead said ZRE paddles are of the highest quality, ultra lightweight and will hold up to heavy use. My ZRE is at least 20 years old and still going strong.

You can paddle all day with a ZRE and not feel fatigued or get sore ( important for this 66 year old).

Anyone still on this thread? I posted on another:
Hey All,

Thanks for al the feedback! I ordered a pair of GRB paddles for my son and my upcoming trip. I got a 12 degree for my son, a 6 degree for me. On Gene's suggestion - I ordered a 52" for my son, who is 6' tall and a 50" for me at 5'6". Gene thinks it'll be on the way late next week. We were just out doing some training, with a 54" paddle and my son remarked "this seems a bit short.". Crap. The $200 paddle I bought him is 4 inches shorter than THAT.

Did I screw up, or is he just not used to the shorter paddle length? We're in a Wenonah Spirit2. He made his old bent-shaft paddle to the height of his chin and has used it for two years. There is a chance I could change the order, not enough time to get a different one if I am wrong...thoughts?

scotttimm: "Anyone still on this thread? I posted on another:
Hey All,


Thanks for al the feedback! I ordered a pair of GRB paddles for my son and my upcoming trip. I got a 12 degree for my son, a 6 degree for me. On Gene's suggestion - I ordered a 52" for my son, who is 6' tall and a 50" for me at 5'6". Gene thinks it'll be on the way late next week. We were just out doing some training, with a 54" paddle and my son remarked "this seems a bit short.". Crap. The $200 paddle I bought him is 4 inches shorter than THAT.


Did I screw up, or is he just not used to the shorter paddle length? We're in a Wenonah Spirit2. He made his old bent-shaft paddle to the height of his chin and has used it for two years. There is a chance I could change the order, not enough time to get a different one if I am wrong...thoughts?"

My wife is 5'-7" and I'm 5-11; we're both using 56" paddles. We prefer straight paddles, however, and that might impact things. We've also observed that the seat height (off water surface), which can vary considerably from canoe to canoe, changes our paddle length preference.

TZ

I would just rent one for your trip. Get the paddle you paddle you want to buy to the correct length