BENDING BRANCHES Whisper 2-Piece Recreational Kayak Paddle

I rated this 5 stars because:- This is a great introductory, beginner-level paddle. I bought a sit-on-top kayak for my dogs, cuz that's the kind of guy I am. But El Cheapo kayak didn't come with a paddle. So snagged this one. Didn't need anything fancy. It wasn't going to be here in time for a given outing, so I splurged and bought a Werner Skagit CF which would be here on time. I was planning to buy a nicer kayak for my own enjoyment and was going to need it anyway. Skagit became my immediate favorite (duh) and this one was relegated to being "back up" paddle.- It got pressed into duty when a friend bought an inflatable kayak that came with a four piece joke of a paddle and it was marginally usable. We pressed the Whisper into service. If the inflatable kayak had not been a nightmare in its own right, the paddle would have saved the day. But, alas, regardless of how good your paddle is, you cannot propell a giant marshmallow in the wind with it. Ask me how I know.- Whisper got used again and again as a temporary paddle for inflatable-kayak-friend who bought a different kayak that did not come with a paddle. She has since bought a Werner Skagit FG paddle (notice a trend here?), but used this one in the interim. It's been a solid paddle. There's a reason kayak rental places use them a lot.- It's reasonably light for being aluminum. As a beginner, it's been a good paddle. Obviously, as one gains experience, etc., you're going to want something lighter. But this is not like a lead boat anchor. I don't find it to be unwieldy or clunky.This is a nice beginner/intermediate paddle. Be great for kids who might need something a little more sturdy and up for abuse.Not sorry I bought it and I bring it with me as a backup to my Werner.I also got it for $69, instead of the typical $99 which made it a nice score.

I was looking for an alternative to my carbon fiber kayak paddle, which I was finding to be too short for my wider new kayak and whose shaft had come to feel too thick for my hands to grip easily without fatigue. I was prepared to purchase another, longer carbon fiber paddle when a review of that paddle by an Amazon customer sent me to the Bending Branches Whisper paddle. I'm glad I made that trip.Pros:+ The shaft has a smaller circumference which I can manage it easily with a relaxed grip.+ The subtle oval shaping of the shaft in the grip area assists in its ease of use.+ The 3M material already added to the shaft really DOES make the grip comfortable without any additional cushioning needed (so also no added weight!).+ The aluminum construction is light - quite comparable to carbon fiber paddle weight - at least for those at a modest price point.+ The blades are stiff and seem able to withstand wear and tear.+ The fit of the two pieces is solid - no jiggle.+ The price is reasonable.+ It's made in Wisconsin.Con (only 1 so far):+ The two pre-drilled options for blade offset (60° left or right) are not what I'd have chosen. My original carbon fiber paddle has a locking mechanism that allows a range of offsets. I'd prefer having something like that feature on the Whisper, but the lack of such a feature does not outweigh my DEFINITE pleasure with this new paddle.I chose the 240 cm paddle for my 32 in wide sit-on-top Perception Zip 9.5 kayak. I am 5'5" tall. This length seems to work well. I expect to be using the Whisper for many future outings on the water. You should seriously consider it.

We purchased both the 230 and the 240 sizes of the Whisper paddles to use with our Advanced Elements hybrid kayaks. Read many, many reviews on various paddles along with recommendations on how to choose the correct size and type. For us, these fit the bill! For the recreational lake kayaking that we do, spending big dollars on carbon fiber paddles did not make good sense. We spent an 8 hour day on the lake recently, paddling pretty much the entire time (other than 2 quick bathroom breaks), and never felt like these paddles were too heavy. We like how durable they seem, and the break apart feature is a must for us. Since we are able to put both of our kayaks into a little Honda Fit to run to the lake, we needed paddles that would easily fit in there, also. When the two halves are snapped in place, it is a solid unit with no play noticeable to us. A fellow kayaker mentioned to me that she wished the blades on her paddle were contoured like ours. They offer a better bite with less effort on each stroke. As a comparison reference for anyone out there wondering about what length to purchase, here is what I can offer from our situation. Our kayaks are 32" wide. The 230 works very well for me with my torso length of 30" and the 240 is great for my husband whose torso length is 32". Some reviewers were unhappy that the paddle grips leave a bit of black residue on your hands; it washes right off, so we do not feel that it is an issue.

Work well wish there was padding or thicker rubber for hands . But great overall !!

This paddle was recommended as a excellent budget paddle. I am not disappointed. I've never actually held a $300 paddle so as far as I'm concerned this is fairly light weight to me. The two halves fit together snugly with no wiggle making it feel like one solid piece. I have small hands and while I would prefer a smaller diameter, they are still reasonable and they'll be more than comfortable for the average person on a long trip. The blades are solid and have only the tiniest of flex. The drip guards are different than those I have seen on rental kayak paddles and seem like they will hold up a lot better.I have yet to use the paddle but I'm very happy with the construction. They are great deal for $65 and I recommend them if you don't want to spend a lot of money.Update: I went kayaking with a co-worker who bought $120 carbon fiber paddle. There was no noticeable difference in weight between the two.