I'm looking to buy a good brand of beaver tail paddle and was wondering what are some good brands and models that everyone would recommend?

Bending Branches is what I have and love it!!

Bruce

quote Arkansas Man: "Bending Branches is what I have and love it!!

Bruce"

I have the Bending Branches also and love it. I try to carry it as my spare when I'm tripping, that is if one of my sons has not taken it to use, I guess they like it as much as I do.

Dri-Ki

Best to order them through e bay.

dri ki on ebay

Wow! Those Dri-Ki paddles look really nice and the price!!!! I might have to order one and try it out!

I picked up a Shaw & Tenney paddle on ebay, and I really like it.

I also have one of the Dri-Ki beavertails. The Shaw & Tenney's nicer, but you can't beat the Dri-ki price. The shaft of my Dri-ki is somewhat square, just fyi. It doesn't bother me at all, but I'm sure that is part of what makes such a low price possible. Some may not like that about it though.

Just found these guys online a couple of weeks ago. They make some beautiful paddles.

Sanborn Canoe Company

You might consider the Wapasha or Sam's Special 6.5*25in blade and 7.5*20in blade respectively, or if you wanted to get really crazy the Little Sag, a bent bent version of the Sam's Special.

I've got a few of these and like them. Very light and none of them have failed me. I used the first one a lot before going to carbon. Now I often take one as a spare. They are worth the $$$.

Is the paddle shape just personal preference or are there performance/situational merits of different shaped paddles?

quote TeamTuna06: "Is the paddle shape just personal preference or are there performance/situational merits of different shaped paddles?


"

Oh yeah. But that requires another thread!

I have a Sawyer ceder beavertail and love it. Very light. So much that when I first received it, I was worried it would break. Have used it hard for 5 trips and it looks new, its very sturdy.

quote TeamTuna06: "Is the paddle shape just personal preference or are there performance/situational merits of different shaped paddles?


"

Both. bent shafts offer more power strait shafts a larger variety of stroke options. Different Shaped strait blades offer up even more options, but it all comes down to how you want to use your paddle.

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. I love the Sanborn Paddles. Thanks for the link for them. I've seen some Grey Owl ones I also like.

quote BearDown: "I have a Sawyer ceder beavertail and love it. Very light. So much that when I first received it, I was worried it would break. Have used it hard for 5 trips and it looks new, its very sturdy."

This is what I have also...

Grey Owl makes great beaver tail paddles.

The paddles in the link on Ebay are pretty but they come with a bit of weight compared to cedar paddles.

quote mooseplums: "

quote BearDown: "I have a Sawyer ceder beavertail and love it. Very light. So much that when I first received it, I was worried it would break. Have used it hard for 5 trips and it looks new, its very sturdy."

This is what I have also... "

I like that paddle. And I like that pack.

Badger Paddles is a company that makes a nice paddle IMO.

quote Cedarboy: "Badger Paddles is a company that makes a nice paddle IMO."

I saw the Badger paddles at Canoecopia this year. My wife and I both thought they were really nice looking paddles.