The main innovations on the whitewater side involve size. To combat shrinking kayaks, manufacturers have switched from standard two-piece paddles to three- and four-piece shafts, some even with detachable blades. This allows users to fit them into their sterns, without much sacrifice in quality.

How do you choose one? Begin by looking at the performance of the blade, weight of the paddle, and durability—the same factors you would look for in a one-piece. Also look at the ferrules. Will heat or cold affect how the paddle goes together or comes apart? How much play does it have? And don’t buy the cheapest paddle you can find. Like Blakeney, you may end up having to use it.

Adventure Technology/Revealed Water Products
1240 E 2100S, Ste. 400, Salt Lake City, UT 84106; (801) 466-4757,
Fax (801) 485-9622, www.atpaddle.com
Adventure Technology produces some of the most advanced bent-shaft touring and whitewater paddles available. Only one of them, however, is available in one- or two-piece design. The Xception Touring paddle in its two-piece form features your choice of a fixed-feather spring-pin ferrule, or AT’s Friction Lok with infinite feather and five-cm length adjustment. The internal expansion joint on the Friction Lok is one of the most advanced designs available, eliminating bulky external locking joints and resulting in a clean union. Simply loosen the joint and retighten it at the desired position; the joint has almost no play (even as it wears) because of the internal expansion system (which comes with replacement expansion washers). Lengths are made to order between 220 and 245 cm with any fixed feather from 0 to 60 degrees. The Xception ($409-435) features a carbon/Kevlar-braided shaft with carbon, foam-core blades.

Aqua-Bound Technology
19077 95A Ave., Surrey, BC V4N 3P9 CN; U.S. Office: 1160 Yew Ave., Blaine, WA 98230; (604) 882-2052, Fax (604) 882-9988, www.aquabound.com
Surrey, B.C.’s Aqua-Bound has been recognized by elite paddlers for years, partly because of the company’s innovative AMT blade-molding process, producing durable blades for all disciplines. In breakdowns for both whitewater and touring, Aqua-Bound utilizes a unique four-piece system with equally unique composite thermoplastic (found to wear much slower than fiberglass) ferrules. Water absorption in the fiber-reinforced nylon ferrule is less than in fiberglass, and they feature a series of longitudinal ribs which promote a tighter fit and allow dirt and salt to lie in the channels between ribs to avoid jamming. The four-piece breaks down so small you can carry it in your pocket and, when assembled, you hardly even know it’s a breakdown. Eleven blade designs are available in one-, two- and four-piece design, and paddlers have a choice of aluminum, fiberglass or carbon fiber shafts.

Carlisle Paddles
P.O. Box 488, Grayling, MI 49738;
(800) 258-0290, (517) 348-9886,
Fax (517) 348-8242
A leader in plastic and aluminum canoe and kayak paddles for years, Grayling, Mich.’s Carlisle this year is debuting its new breakdown RS Xtreme. Although not a breakdown in the true sense of the word, the plastic blades detach from the one-piece aluminum shaft (32 oz., sealed for flotation) and can be switched out for different types of paddling. Blades snap-lock in at 60 degrees or in-line, with shafts available in 214, 228, or 244 cm. The lightweight shaft features indexing on a 10-inch right-hand section with a comfortable heat-shrink rubber grip.

Current Designs
10124 McDonald Park Road, Sidney,
BC V8L 5X6 CN; (250) 655-1822, Fax (250) 655-1596, www.cdkayak.com
Sidney, B.C.’s Current Designs has four styles of touring paddles (fiberglass or graphite in hand-laid vacuum-bag construction) available in two-piece design, with each style suiting a different paddling purpose. Current Designs’ paddle shafts—available straight or bent with oval handgrips—are comfortable to hold, light as a feather, and easy to orient. They are available in lengths of 212, 216, or 220 cm.

Descente Paddles/Futura Surf Skis
180 Southwood Dr., San Francisco, CA 94112; (415) 586-0331, www.surfskis.com
Descente is a New Zealand manufacturer of wing, whitewater, surf and touring paddles, imported by San Francisco’s Futura Surf Skis. All of its wing paddles (carbon, $320) feature two-piece shafts that adjust up to 180 degrees in feather and 8 cm in length. Also available are slalom, freestyle and touring paddles, with either the take-apart Descente Quiklok Shaft or Smart Shaft. The Quiklok is positive locking and “splined” with one-cm length adjustment increments and offset adjustments in five-degree increments. The Smart Shaft features 10 cm of length adjustment and offsets of 70, 80, or
90 degrees.

Epic Paddles
6657 58th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98115; (206) 523-6306, Fax (206) 524-4888, www.epicpaddles.com
Olympic sprint kayaker Greg Barton’s Epic Paddles (specialty touring and racing paddles) feature one of the most technical take apart systems—in one of the lightest paddles available. The company’s patented Length-Lock adjustable take-apart system was one
of the first breakdown paddles to feature length adjustment (10 cm) and infinite feather adjustment, and the system received industry acclaim. It’s still the only adjustable breakdown touring paddle to be marked for exact adjustment. The Length-Lock mechanism consists of a threaded set of plastic collars; the inner collar is bonded to the shaft and allows the ferrule to slide to the desired setting before the outer collar screws it securely into place. It provides a very solid connection. The Length-Lock is available on all Epic Wayfarer touring and eXcalibur wing paddles, with a cost $30 more than standard Epic breakdowns ($60 more than one-piece).

Freedom and Harmony Paddles
165 Dancer Drive, Easley, S.C. 29642;
(800) 591-2282, www.freedompaddles.com, www.harmonygear.com
Freedom Paddles is a new line of technical, composite paddles from the revamped Harmony Accessories Group (a Watermark company). The line includes three choices in touring and two in whitewater, and all are available with the Freedom TAP connector, which features Harmony’s patented Crown technology. The crowning on the shaft ends (in combination with a standard push-button, internal ferrule system) creates a rock solid connection that lasts for years without play. Whitewater paddles are available in one-, two- and three-piece versions; touring in one- and two-piece only (standard construction, $249). In Harmony’s touring line, only the wooden Shearwater is available in take-apart, and features an external graphite ferrule. In whitewater, all eight designs are available with the Crown take-apart technology patented by the company more than 10 years ago.

Lightning Paddles
22800 S. Unger Rd., Colton, OR 97017;
(503) 824-2938, Fax (503) 824-6960, www.paddles.com, lightning@paddles.com
Northwestern paddlers are familiar with Lightning Paddle’s lightness and durability, attained by compression molding composites. Paddlers pick and choose blade shapes, colors and materials from a variety of styles and models—all of which available in breakdown. Prices for both touring and whitewater paddles vary with materials (all fiberglass, $235), and Lightning sells a breakdown-kit for $29). Paddles feature fiberglass ferrules and stainless steel push-button technology, with three feather positions (Whitewater: 60 Right, 0 and 60 Left; Touring: 75 Right, 0 and 75 Left).

Voyageur
P.O. Box 4339, Archale, NC 27263;
(336) 434-7470, Fax: (336)434-6912, www.youcanpaddle.com
Confluence breathed new life into its Voyageur accessory line this year and gave birth to three hot new touring paddles, all available as breakdowns. The Atlantic (fiberglass shaft, $125; carbon, $180) is a synthetic, all-around touring paddle featuring injection-molded Nylite(tm) blades; it’s available with a fiberglass or carbon take-apart shaft and optional 60-degree feather with right or left control. The new Pacific has the same construction, features and price points but is designed with a larger blade for paddlers who like to play in rock gardens and surf. For extended trips or for those who prefer a little more finesse, try Voyageur’s North Sea, available with an aluminum (210-cm only), fiberglass, or carbon take-apart shaft. All paddles promise good results at affordable pricing.

Werner Paddles
P.O. Box 1139, Sultan, WA 98294;
(800) 275-3311, www.wernerpaddles.com
Werner Paddles are an industry standard for well-made, light and durable fiberglass paddles. With the advent of its Midline kayak series last year, Werner is finally able to offer a three-piece breakdown for playboaters ($175). Once assembled, it’s as fine a paddle as any Werner one-piece, fits into a 32-inch space, and features internal fiberglass ferrules with push-button action and two feather settings. And the push button placement doesn’t get in the way of your grip. Another innovation from Werner is its four-piece breakdown for touring (standard $285; color $305, all carbon $420), developed for the adventure traveler with folding and inflatable kayaks (they’ll fit in the overhead of most airplanes). Werner premium paddles (five touring styles and four whitewater styles) are available in one- or two-piece versions, as well as the four-piece premium touring (standard construction $228, color $248, all carbon $363).

Other Breakdown Resources

Boreal Design
108 Amsterdam, Ind. Park, St. Augustin, QB G3A 1V9 CN; (418) 878-3099,
Fax (418) 878-3459, www.borealde@quebectel.com, borealde@globetrotter.com

Cadence Paddles
We-no-nah Canoe, P.O. Box 247, Winona, MN 55987; (507) 454-5430, www.wenonah.com.

Cobra Paddles/Glenwa Inc.
P.O. Box 3134, Gardena, CA 90247;
(310) 327-9216, Fax (310) 327-8952, www.cobrakayaks.com

Mitchell Paddles
RR 2, Box 922, Canaan, NH 03741;
(603) 523-7004, Fax (603) 523-7363, www.mitchellpaddles.com

Riot Kayaks
3700 St. Patrick Ste. 109, Door 20, Montreal, QB H4E 1A2; (514) 931-0366, Fax (514) 931-4421, www.riotkayaks.com

Swift Paddle Co.
Swift Paddles, 15466 Ashten Rd., Burlington, WA 98233; (360) 757-2300,
Fax (360) 757-2302

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