Single Blade Kayak Paddles

We make a variety of single blade paddles both for canoe and kayaks. Our single blade kayak paddles are designed based on historical paddle shapes from across the north. We produce both custom designs and paddles based on historical shapes for personal use. A single blade paddle can be a great help when exploring a tight spot with lots of over growth such as mangroves and wetland areas. We have found that the single blade paddle can make a great spare paddle particularly for folks with smaller boats who have limited deck space.

UnalaskaTlingitSitkaKodiakKodiakKodiakKodiakKing IslandHooper BayKing Island

Click on a paddles to learn more

The single blade paddle is often thought of as a canoe paddle. However, historically the single blade paddle has long been use with the kayak as well. In the Canadian Northwestern and Alaska, Inuit frequently used single blade paddles as a primary paddle. From the perspective of a traditional hunter the single blade has an advantage over a double blade paddle in that the single blade is more stealthy. Consider that with a single blade you would not have the visual distraction of the off water end of the paddle waving in the air with each stroke.  It is also very likely that the single blade evolved into the double blade over time and thus may have been an earlier paddle form  

Paddle soxIf you are a traditional kayaker it is both fun and challenging to try working with a single blade just to test your skills.  

 

Sign up for our Email Newsletter