Paddle Grips

One of the advantages of a custom made paddle, is that any grip may be combined with any blade, and made to any size.  I've used many different grips, experimented making them, and offered them for sale.  In the end, these are the grips that have withstood the tests of time, use, and customer acceptance.  If you don' see a grip offered here that appeals to you, I can still make it for you.

For the record, the Classic grip gets used on about 80% of paddles ordered, the Northwoods grip about 15%, and the remaining 5% by all other grips.

The Classic grip was developed from the Northwoods grip.  I loved the sculptural quality of the shaping of the Northwoods grip, but felt that it was "too much" for most paddlers.  So, I cut out all of the grip that wasn't "essential".  The result retains the beautiful sculptural qualities and the ergonomic advantages of the Northwoods grip.  A very simplified version of the Classic grip would be the Voyageur grip (see below).

The great ergonomic advantage of the Classic and the Northwoods grips, is that it allows your grip hand to move through its natural motions while doing any corrections.  No more "cranking" your wrist through contortions while executing the "J" stroke!  See Using the Northwoods Stroke, for further details of using these grips.

 

Standard Grips

Bentshaft

Classic

Northwoods

Passamaquoddy

Freestyle
 

      

 

                                 

        

The Bentshaft grip is designed to fit the hand perfectly while the paddle is in the vertical position.  This results in the grip hand being held directly over the top of the grip, and the thumb wrapped under the grip.  This grip is asymmetrical.

 

 

The Classic grip is a simplified version of the Northwood grip, blending the best of conventional "over the top" grips, with the ergonomic advantages of the "along the side"  Northwoods grip.  There is no undercut for the thumb as this grip is intended to be held slightly off center.  Shown in Cherry (left) and Walnut (right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Northwoods grip was  developed  in the "Northwoods" of Maine by the professional guides.  Using pre-existing grips used by the local Native People, they needed a paddle that was ergonomically efficient, and versatile enough to allow for a variety of grip positions, effectively changing the length of the paddle as conditions demanded.  To learn more about how to use the Northwoods grip, please see Using the Northwoods Grip.Shown in Cherry (left) and Walnut (right

The Passamaquoddy grip is our interpretation of an 1849 paddle grip documented by E.T. Adney.  Shaped with a thick side and hollowed along the centerline, this grip is intended to be used solely along the side.  It is amazingly comfortable to use, and will raise many eyebrows among the curious.  Be prepared to talk about it!  To learn more about Historic  paddles, please see here.

 

 

Freestyle utilizes many vertical paddle placement and palm rolls. To enhance this, the Freestyle grip combines a broad radius across the top, a full rounded section to fill the palm, and an undercut for the thumb. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historic

For more information read about Historic Paddles

  

Western Cree "Man's" Paddle Passamaquoddy 1849 Pasamaquoddy flat Tetes de Boule Voyageur

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