Paddling Education

Canoe Tripping on the Green River in Utah

If you search for the best canoeing destinations in North America, Utah’s section of the Green River will be near the top of the list.

How to Repair a Wooden Canoe Paddle

Jason Eke, Canadian canoeist and filmmaker, shares his process for repairing a wooden canoe paddle so it looks and performs as good as new…

Ed Vater on Our “Black Pearl” All-Carbon Canoe Paddle

The lightest canoe paddles we make are the Black Pearl ST and Black Pearl 11—the straight and bent shaft versions of these all-carbon, sleek black paddles.

Paddle and Portage: A Media Company Anchored by the Boundary Waters
Paddle and Portage is a media company with offices in Grand Marais and Ely, Minnesota—Boundary Waters country. And while the company is new (founded in January 2024), its owners bring decades of media experience and canoeing love to its audience.
29 Canoeing Books for Your Reading List
Canoe tripping offers incredible adventure, stunning scenery and an opportunity to face our own strengths, weaknesses and perspectives in ways not possible in our everyday lives. Here’s a collection of wonderful books about real-life canoeing adventures by the folks who lived them.
Canoe Camping: Bear Safety

If you canoe camp in bear country—which includes much of North America and parts of Scandinavia—you need to understand and follow bear safety to protect you, your group and the local bear population.

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.
A Good Read: “Gunflint Falling: Blowdown in the Boundary Waters”
Canoeists everywhere—especially wilderness canoeists—will appreciate reading Gunflint Falling: Blowdown in the Boundary Waters by Cary J. Griffith. It'll hit home, whether we’ve been anywhere near that type of event or not.
Is Your Canoe Camping Environmentally Friendly?
Canoe camping is a marvelous way to enjoy wilderness areas, rivers and parks. How can we help protect these areas from negative human impact for future generations of canoeists?
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.
Even if You Rent Canoes, Buy Your Own Paddle! Here’s Why
If you love canoeing but prefer to rent canoes, it’s still absolutely worthwhile to invest in buying your own canoe paddle. There are several reasons for that…
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.
Interview with Rob Bossen: Branches, Grey Duck & the Future of Paddling in the US
Minnesotan Rob Bossen has his hands in several paddling-related ventures including Bending Branches, Greg Duck Outdoor and US paddling’s newest trade coalition. We were able to catch him for an interview recently. Here’s what we learned from Rob…
Our Readers’ Favorite Paddling Content of 2023
Thousands of you read our blog! We thought it’d be fun to highlight your favorite canoeing and kayak fishing content of 2023.
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).
Kevlar or Aluminum Canoe? How to Choose Yours
Modern canoes are made of many different materials, with Kevlar and aluminum being two of the most popular. How do you know which to look for when shopping for a canoe?
An Inflatable Canoe? Why Not?
Inflatable kayaks and paddle boards are everywhere—but an inflatable canoe? It’s worth considering if space is at a premium both for storage and transport but you love canoeing.
River vs Flatwater Canoe: What’s the Difference?
Our friends at Minnesota-based Midwest Mountaineering offer a helpful walk-through of the differences between river and flatwater canoes. Before buying a canoe, watch this video first so you buy the correct type for your paddling excursions.