If it works for ski poles, why not canoe paddles? That’s the theory behind a new line of bamboo canoe paddles manufactured by Grass Sticks, a Steamboat Springs, Colo.-based company known for its bamboo ski poles. Grass Sticks has now taken its high-grade Bambusoideae technology to the canoe market.
Built tough but light enough for a long day of paddling, Grass Sticks’ hand-sanded shafts are made from kiln-dried Calcutta bamboo with a high strength-to-weight ratio and a medium/stiff flex that’s easy on the body, said the company. “Compared to stiffer shafts, the natural flex of bamboo fibers transfers energy to the water seamlessly, making braces, draws and other strokes easy and efficient,” said Grass Sticks.
The paddles’ fiberglass blades—available in tropical grass design, red and blue, and bent at an 11-degree offset—come with extra reinforcement for durability and are available in 88- and 100-square-inch sizes. A carbon fiber blade reduces weight further, complete with a bamboo veneer top sheet. Paddle grips are made of carbon fiber and available in a traditional T-grip or triangular palm. Grass Sticks also hand sands multiple layers of marine-grade coating, giving each shaft a durable, beautiful finish that stays soft and grippy when wet.
“While carbon, fiberglass and other materials rely on a thin wall to reduce weight, bamboo’s thick walls provide a strong yet lightweight paddle, letting you paddle longer and harder,” says owner Andrew Beckler. “Plus, it feels great in your hand, and the fibers’ natural flex let you feel the reaction of the water.”
For Beckler, it’s also about environmental sustainability. “Industrially manufactured carbon fiber and aluminum shafts use an incredible amount of energy and burden the environment,” he says. “Per acre harvested, bamboo produces three times as much lumber as trees, absorbs more C02, and produces more oxygen than any other plant. It’s a more sustainable, durable, light weight, and better looking paddle.”
The paddles also come with an unlimited, no-questions-asked, two-year warranty.
