Outdoor Gear Reviews | ub Outdoors

April 28, 2011 in Water by Carl H. Martens

Gearing up for a summer filled with outdoor fun, this year I decided to add a canoe to my assets.  The search led me to an used 1991 16′ Mohawk Blazer canoe that I found from a local seller on Craigslist.  The seller confessed to me that he had barely used the canoe…purchased it thinking it’d bring fun to the family, but neither his wife or kids showed any interest.  He was the original owner and had always stored it inside.  The boat is pretty much flawless, a steal for what I paid!  Next, I turned my focus to upgrading paddles and after much research (more on this in a later article), I purchased the Bending Branches Espresso Plus 14 canoe paddle. 

None of my local shops carried stock of this paddle, so I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting, but knowing the Bending Branches brand I knew the quality and craftsmanship that would go into the production of it.  The order was placed on Monday and although it was less than a 120 hour wait to receive the paddles I was quite impatient…it was constantly on my mind and I couldn’t wait for Thursday (today) to arrive.

Made from Black Willow wood, the Espresso 14 is a premium bent shaft wood canoe paddle (also available in a straight shaft model:  Espresso ST).  To call it gorgeous would be an understatement.    It is solid shaft, weighs a light 18 ounces, available in 48, 50, 52, 54 inch lengths, has a classic palm grip, and has a blade 8″ x 20″ that is reinforced with a glassed blade and wrap around Rockgard.  Retail price is right around $120.

Founded in 1982 and boasting craftsmanship from people with 25+ years making paddles the company has built a reputation upon uncompromising craftsmanship.  It was this reputation that has had me excited all week to receive the two paddles I ordered from my local shop, Go With the Flow in Roswell, Georgia.

When you first hold your Espresso 14 your eyes will be drawn to richness of color and grain of the Black Willow.  Next, you might notice it’s lightweight, but you knew you were getting a lightweight paddle.  The true fixation for you will be the beauty of the paddle and the passion that it will instill inside of you.  You could be someone that owns a canoe and gets out every once and awhile, but when you own a paddle like this you will have a desire and a mission to get out on the water more frequently…trust me!

Check back as I plan to publish a review of the Bending Branches Espresso 14 paddle after I put it to serious use this weekend.  It is going to be a fun filled weekend spent on the water for me!  How do you plan to spend your weekend?