Synthetic vs. Wood Paddle

By Nick Pritchard

This week we'll be talking about paddle design. There are so many different options available that it can be difficult to choose but we'll try and break it down to one step each day.

When looking for a canoe paddle one of the first things that you'll notice is that there are composite paddles and there are wood paddles. Each of these materials have pros and cons and excel in different venues. Let's break down each one.

Wood Paddles:
Wooden canoe paddles hold a special place with many paddlers because they are what canoeing started with. Many paddlers enjoy quality wooden paddles because each one is different, you can smell the wood, and they just feel good in your hands. From a performance perspective wooden paddles have more flex than a composite paddle which is easier on your body, but it's at the sacrifice of efficiency. The flex is not so severe that you can actually see the blade flex but if you compare similar composite and wooden paddles you can likely feel the "lag" with the wood paddle. Wooden paddles have traditionally weighed more than composite paddles but they are now getting the high quality wooden paddles very light(18oz.) and they are often wrapped in fiberglass to strengthen them. Some wooden paddles also have edge protection on the blade to protect the blade from rocks (i.e Bending Branches Rockgard).

Wooden Paddle Pros:

• They are traditional
• They have some flex which is easier on your joints
• They are lightweight

Wooden Paddle Cons:

• They have some flex which cuts efficiency
• They are typically not as strong as composites
• They require more maintenance

Some paddlers use wooden paddles for all of their paddling including whitewater. I like to use wooden paddles when I am flat water paddling or paddling on slow big rivers. I enjoy the traditional aspects of them as well as the flex which is easier on my body. There is no correct answer though. They make both flat water and whitewater wooden paddles so you can pick and choose when you would like to use a wooden paddle

Composite Paddles:

Composite paddles are relatively new. The two materials that are most commonly used are fiberglass or carbon fiber. They are strong, lightweight, and rigid (don't flex) when compared to wooden paddles. These paddles are particularly well suited for moving water when you need a strong and responsive paddle. 

Composite Paddle Pros:

• They are strong 
• They are lightweight
• They are very responsive and efficient
• They require almost no maintenance

Composite Paddle Cons:

• They are rigid (harder on your body)
• They don't have the traditional aspects that you get with a wooden paddle

I prefer to use my composite paddle for moving/whitewater. I take comfort in their strength, and the responsiveness of a carbon paddle is fantastic. As with wooden paddles they make flat water and whitewater composite paddles so can choose when you would like to paddle composite. 

You may have noticed that we have not mentioned plastic/aluminum paddles. These paddles are well suited for outfitters and businesses that need affordable, durable paddles. If you are getting into paddling DO NOT cheat yourself by buying a plastic/aluminum paddle. They have significant flex, they are heavy, and many of them have questionable strength. Your paddle is one of those things where you should save up and spend a little extra. Typically you get what you pay for. Now this doesn't mean you have to buy the best paddle out there, but do some research and make the investment. 

As always feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! We are more than happy to help you out.