Paddling Education
Retailer Highlight: Ozark Mountain Trading Company, Arkansas
Ozark Mountain Trading Company (OMTC) is a family-owned paddlesports retailer based in northern Arkansas that’s celebrating its 20th year in business in 2024.
The Key Role of Continual Innovation
Bending Branches’ mission is to inspire meaningful outdoor experiences by offering premium products worth bragging about. Having an innovation mindset plays a vital role in carrying out that mission.
Independent Retailer Spotlight: The Complete Paddler (Ontario, Canada)
The Complete Paddler (TCP) has been North America’s largest paddlesports shop since 2005. Its Toronto headquarters is just minutes from Lake Ontario and just a couple of hours from some of Canada’s best canoeing destinations.
Independent Retailer Spotlight: La Maison du Canoë, France
La Maison du Canoë is a canoe and kayak shop that serves paddling enthusiasts of all skill levels in beautiful southeast France.
Independent Retailer Spotlight: Whitewater the Canoe Centre, England
Whitewater the Canoe Centre (WWTCC) is a paddlesports specialty shop near London, England, located on the banks of the River Thames. It’s been serving canoeists and kayakers in their region since 1954.
Gear List for Kayak Camping
Ever wonder what to bring along for a kayak fishing and camping trip? Bending Branches Regional Ambassador Moo Lee shares his gear list with us from a recent trip of his.
Kayaking for Seniors: Why To and How To
Kayaking and kayak fishing are ideal activities for older adults. Bending Branches ProStaff team member Bill Schultz is himself a senior and an avid kayak angler. He offers his best tips and tricks below.
Our Purpose? To Inspire Memorable Outdoor Experiences
You might think our underlying purpose at Bending Branches is to craft world-class canoe and kayak fishing paddles. But our Why goes deeper than that—it’s to inspire YOU to have memorable outdoor experiences on the water!
20 Apps for Canoeists, Kayakers & Kayak Anglers
Today’s paddlers and anglers have technology at our fingertips we could only dream about a few years ago—thanks to our handheld GPS and computer systems (commonly known as smartphones).
How to Canoe and Kayak with Your Dog
Do you have a furry best friend you want to bring kayaking or canoeing with you? Some of our readers graciously gave us their best tips for how they trained their dog(s) as paddle partners.
How to Get Kids into Kayaking & Kayak Fishing
Bending Branches Regional Ambassador Steve Hrynewycz is a huge believer and action-taker in getting kids in kayaks, whether for recreation or fishing.
Summer Playlist
Lets jam out together!
We created the ultimate summer playlist with songs suggested by Bending Branches team members, employees, and you. Listen now and suggest your favorite songs below.
Sea Kayaking Alaska’s Inside Passage: How to Choose a Campsite
Chris Whittaker and Nuka de Jocas are their own main characters in their ongoing story of For Fun’s Sake Expedition. Here we take a look at Episode 8 of their 1,600-km kayak journey: How to choose a campsite along the Alaskan coast.
The Role of Kayaks in Alaskan Subsistence Living
Bending Branches Ambassador Josiah Pleasant (and many of his fellow Alaskans) lives a “subsistence” life most of us think disappeared 100+ years ago. Josiah shares with us why that is, and how kayaking plays a role.
Kayak or Canoe: Which Option Suits You Best?
Recreational paddlers might wonder whether they should invest in a kayak or canoe, at least as a first boat. Here are some questions to ask yourself in order to make the best choice for you…
Kayak vs Canoe vs Paddleboard: What’s the Best?
So, you’re trying to decide between a kayak, canoe or paddleboard. How do you know which one is best for you? Recreational paddling on any of these watercraft is lots of fun, great exercise and an ideal way to enjoy the lakes, rivers or oceans around you. And they each have their own set of pros and cons.
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Paddle4Tomorrow Gets Kids OutsidePaddle4Tomorrow (P4T) is an Atlanta-based 501c3 that connects youth with each other and the outdoors, no matter their abilities or background. We’re proud to be a supporter of this wonderful organization.
Kayak Paddle Ferrule Systems: Snap-Button vs. Versa-Lok™
A kayak paddle’s ferrule system is one of its most important components. We offer two ferrule systems for our paddles here at Bending Branches: the snap-button and our (new for 2023) Versa-Lok.
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Learn these 3 Kayak RescuesDan Arbuckle, our friend from Headwaters Kayak, takes us through three kayak rescues in case you or someone else ends up in the water unintentionally. Joining him is his mom, who’s a Level 3 kayak instructor herself.
Canoeing Gear Ideas for Older Adults
One of the best things about paddle sports like canoeing and kayaking is that they’re low-impact, healthy activities we can continue to do well into our older years. Here are a few gear ideas that will make canoeing and kayaking easier as you get older.
Is Canoeing Harder than Kayaking?
If you’re a new paddler, the short answer is: yes, canoeing is harder than kayaking. In no way does that mean you shouldn’t give canoeing a try, though…and learn to kayak, too! But if you must choose between the two, most beginners find kayaking easier to learn.