Paddling Education

When to Use an All-Carbon Canoe Paddle (and when not to)
An all-carbon canoe paddle is your best option for many canoeing environments. But it’s not your top choice for others. How do you know if you should add an all-carbon paddle to your collection?
How to Portage Your Canoe & Gear on Wilderness Trips
Portaging is part of canoe tripping in most wilderness destinations. Canada’s vast wilderness areas like the Quetico, America’s Boundary Waters and others like them offer many opportunities to carry your boat(s) and gear over land to the next body of water.
Which Canoe Paddle is Best for Recreational Paddlers?
Here at Bending Branches even our most affordable canoe paddles are handcrafted with care and made to last for years. These five wood models are ideal for recreational canoeists who want a beautiful, well-made paddle that won’t break the bank.
How to Properly Use a Bent-Shaft Canoe Paddle [Video]

Bent shaft canoe paddles have been around for a long time now, but many novice and recreational canoeists don’t know how their performance is different from a straight shaft paddle, or how to use one properly.

Most Helpful Canoeing Accessories
Day trips are a marvelous way to enjoy canoeing on local rivers and lakes. Whether you’re on the water for an hour or a full day, here are the most helpful accessories to make your day-long excursions comfortable and fun.
How to Size a Straight & Bent Shaft Canoe Paddle
Straight shaft and bent shaft canoe paddles are sized differently. Be sure you choose the size paddle that’s right for you, with help from our friends at Happy Paddlin.
Our Readers’ Favorite Content of 2022
Grab your beverage-of-choice, a comfortable seat and your digital device for an overview of your favorite content of 2022 on the Bending Branches blog.
Holiday Gift Guide for Kayak Anglers & Canoeists
If you’re making a list and checking it twice, we’re here to give you some holiday gift ideas. We have lots of friends in the paddle industry we’re happy to recommend, as well as some gear of our own that your family and friends will love.
Bending Branches’ Explorer Plus Canoe Paddle
The Explorer Plus wood canoe paddle is one of Bending Branches’ most popular paddles due to its reliability and ease of use in any flatwater paddling environment.
Use Paddle Planner for Your Next Canoe Trip
Paddle Planner is a unique online toolkit that makes planning your canoe and kayak trips easy and fun. “It’s Google directions for the Boundary Waters,” says founder Ben Strege.
Gear Strategy for River Canoe Camping
Canoe camping trips on rivers are somewhat different than in flatwater environments like the Boundary Waters or Quetico. Bending Branches’ long-time President and owner, Ed Vater, takes us through his gear list for river canoe camping.
Paddles for the Solo Canoeist

Many canoeists enjoy the benefits and challenge of solo canoeing over tandem canoeing. Or they solo canoe in addition to tandem canoeing, especially when a canoeing partner isn’t available all the time.

Wilderness Canoe Tripping: Minnesota vs. Maine
While canoeing in Minnesota and Maine are very similar in many ways—both have plenty of forests, lakes and rivers—the wilderness canoe cultures in these two US states are quite distinct from one another.
How to Transport a Canoe on Your Vehicle
It’s important you learn how to transport a canoe properly to avoid damaging either your canoe or your vehicle…or risk damaging other vehicles while you’re on the road.
Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Retired Paddle
Do you have a beloved canoe or kayak paddle that’s served its years faithfully, but you just can’t see it go? Repurpose it!
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.
Adaptive Kayaking and Canoeing Get More People on the Water
Here at Bending Branches, one of our main goals is to get more people out on the water in canoes and kayaks. That’s why we believe in adaptive kayak and canoe programs and equipment.
The Golden Rules of Portage Etiquette
With another season of increased interest in canoe camping, Mikaela Ferguson shares the Golden Rules of Portage Etiquette to get through any portage without incident.
Cosmetic Seconds FAQs
Want to know more about our cosmetic second blades? This article discusses how we determine what is a cosmetic second and accompanying frequently asked questions.
How to Purify Water when Canoe & Kayak Camping
No matter how clear and clean backcountry water looks, there’s no guarantee it’s safe for people to drink. Microorganisms in wilderness waters can cause an array of nasty consequences, from mild to severe.
Best Canoe Camping Spots in America’s Upper Midwest
Backcountry canoe camping is a pretty amazing way to spend a few days. You always have a lakeside campsite. You can fish, swim, relax. You can paddle from site to site or stay in one spot.