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Paddles are the most underappreciated aspect of boating, at least until you’ve had to use one for more than five minutes. 

In fact, while one of our favorite ways to spend the work day is drooling over the kayaks and canoes in our warehouse, paddles deserve just as much attention. They’re the most direct link between a paddler and the water, and they can mean the difference between a good or bad day in your rig. 

Not all paddles are created equal, though, and they’re certainly not one size fits all. Weight, material, length, blade angle and shape…all are factors that can have a huge impact on how much of your physical effort converts into the energy that propels your boat. We’ve had paddlers tell us they’re not in love with their kayak (or even the sport), only to find out they’ve been using a paddle that’s low quality or a poor match for their technique or biomechanics. 

This holiday season, if the kayaker in your life (or just you!) already has a small fleet of boats, consider upgrading paddles. It could breathe new life into their next excursion and spark a newfound love for the sport. The options are near limitless, and we’ve compiled a list of the best kayak paddles, canoe paddles, SUP paddles and more. We’re always available to chat if you have any questions or want more suggestions. Better yet, pay us a visit and try some out for yourself! 

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Buy Once, Cry Once: Aqua Bound Aerial Major Carbon

If you’re serious about performance on whitewater, the Aqua Bound Aerial Major Carbon is the way to go. This paddle is engineered specifically for strong paddlers in excellent paddling shape who need superior responsiveness with every stroke. Strengthened by 33 feet of Aqua Bound’s Lam-Lok technology, it’s an exceptionally well-balanced and well-constructed piece of gear that’s built to last, even under persistent use in challenging conditions. Aqua Bound has dialed in every aspect here from the 45.5-centimeter by 12.2-centimeter blades to the full-length carbon shaft. The result will have you bending the water to your will. This is definitely a whitewater kayak paddle where you get what you pay for. 

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Value Pick (Kayak): Werner Tybee Hooked Paddle

Looking for the best kayak paddle for fishing? Known for high-quality fishing kayak paddles, Werner put together the Tybee Hooked model for the more budget-conscious angler. With features comparable to more expensive Werner paddles, the Tybee Hooked has fiberglass-reinforced, nylon-injection molded blades known for their durability. Those blades are designed after Werner’s Premium Performance line, meaning you’ll get a similarly smooth catch and stability.

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Bending Branches Expedition Plus Canoe Paddle

For the canoers among us, consider the Bending Branches Expedition Plus, the best canoe paddle around. It starts at the top with a power T-grip that sits comfortably in hands of all sizes, and it ends with a reinforced 8.2-inch by 19-inch blade that boasts Bending Branch’s Rockgard edge protection. It’s also a beautifully made piece of artwork with stripes of red alder, basswood and roasted basswood, which enhance its durability. Note that this paddle isn’t recommended for Class IV or V whitewater, so it’s more appropriate for those wanting a step up from entry-level canoe paddles. 

 

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Bending Branches Angler Navigator Hybrid 

The Bending Branches Angler Navigator Hybrid paddle will have you turning heads with every stroke. In addition to its features — which are many — it’s really one of the most beautiful kayak paddles on the market, thanks to Bending Branch’s signature designs of striped red alder and basswood. It’s not all about the looks though. The shaft is 100% carbon, keeping it lightweight at 28 ounces and built to last. That durability extends to the hardwood blades as well, which are wrapped in fiberglass and bolstered by Bending Branch’s patented Rockgard edge protection. The three-hole, snap-button ferrule allows for adjustable feather angles, giving you flexibility to dial it in from 0 to 60 degrees. 

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Aqua Bound Freedom SUP 76/86

And for the best SUP paddle? The Aqua Bound Freedom SUP is one of our most popular SUP paddles for a reason. Designed for comfort and efficiency, the Freedom is meant for cruising on flatwater and engineered for good vibes. A fully carbon shaft connects a contoured palm grip to a 7.5-inch by 14.5-inch dihedral blade whose surface area covers a general 85 square inches. That and the feather-like 23.5-ounce weight allows SUPers to take a higher-cadence approach without fatiguing quickly. 

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Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid

If you’re looking for the power to move more water, check out the Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid kayak paddle. It packs an oversized 102.5-square-inch, dihedral blade for quick maneuverability and enough horsepower to keep you and your gear — all your gear — moving. To offset the size of the blade, Aqua Bound attached a tightly woven carbon shaft to keep the weight at a manageable 31 ounces and ensure you don’t peter out on long trips. Paddlers can also adjust the blade degree on the fly thanks to the Posi-Lok ferrule that allows for 15-degree adjustments when conditions necessitate it. 

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Paddles are to kayaks and canoes what tires are to cars. They’re the last link in the kinetic chain that moves your boat, and they’re one of the most important factors in how a kayak handles and how you perform as a paddler. 

Luckily, paddlers today have a wealth of choices, and our team at Appomattox River Company has tried nearly all of them. We hope this 2024 holiday gift guide helped you hone in on the best paddle for your next adventure on the water.

Check out our website or give us a call if you have any questions, need more recommendations or just want to talk paddling! 

Once seen as a novelty, stand-up paddleboards — or SUPs for short — are now fully a part of mainstream paddlesports. And while balancing upright on choppy water may seem daunting for the uninitiated, advances in SUP construction have made stand-ups just as accessible as their traditional sit-down counterparts. 

The allure of SUPs is just as much about the unique ride as it is about portability. With a wealth of lightweight inflatable boards on the market, SUPs are easy to transport in the trunk or backseat of your vehicle. Plus, they’re easy to launch solo. And once you’re on the water, you’re free to sit, stand or even lie down and listen to the water lapping at the rails. 

SUPs aren’t just for touring though. Fishing SUPs like the SIC Mangrove 11.6 are plentiful and provide both stability and hauling capacity for a full day on the water. That’s not to mention lightweight blow-up stand up paddleboards, the pedal-drive rigs that will give you a workout like you’ve never experienced, and yoga-friendly boards that redefine “boat pose.” 

But like most things in paddlesports, finding the right boat can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best stand-up paddleboards as part of our holiday gift guide series outlining the best gifts for boaters in 2024. Read on to find the right fit for yourself, your friends or your family!

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Vince’s Pick: Hobie IEclipse Pedal Board
While the P in SUP usually stands for paddleboard, the Hobie IEclipse is all about pedal power. Combine the portability of an inflatable kayak with the fun of a stand-up setup, throw in a smooth-as-butter pedal and steering system, and you have one of the most unique rigs out there. And with a two-piece removable handlebar, a high-pressure hand pump and a high-volume electric pump, everything you need to set up and start pedaling is included. Toss this Hobie stand-up pedal board in your vehicle, pump it up at your destination, and set off for a truly fun ride. Just remember to let your buddies have a turn! 

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Buy Once, Cry Once: Hobie Eclipse Ace Pedal Board
Like its inflatable cousin, the Hobie Eclipse Ace is one of the most fun and uniquely designed SUPs on the market. With Hobie’s MirageDrive GT pedal propulsion system, the Eclipse Ace is built for cruising, but it’s ready to open up on the water as well. It’s also quite spacious at 11.5’ long and 36.6” wide, and the ACE-TEC construction means it’s durable for the long haul. 

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Best Value: Badfish Flyweight
No need to look for stand-up paddleboards on sale, when you can get such a great value with the Badfish Flyweight. Though it’s the most affordable in our fleet of SUPs, the smaller price tag doesn’t mean it’s an inferior product. This inflatable stand-up paddleboard is among the most accessible and convenient rigs around from its super light weight (only 18 pounds!) to its high-quality construction. In fact, it’s that construction that makes the Flyweight such a strong value. Using Badfish’s AirLite drop-stitch technology, the Flyweight has excellent rigidity and durability when inflated, but it remains soft and pliable (and easy to transport) when deflated. The Flyweight measures in at 10’6” long and has plenty of features and accessories that make it outperform its price tag. Among those are a GoPro camera mount, a breakdown travel paddle, backpack board bag, 11’ ankle leash and a removable tri-fin. 

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Tahe SUP-Yak 11’ Cross Tec
Looking for a SUP, but don’t want to give up your seat? Check out the Tahe Beach SUP-Yak. This is a two-in-one stand-up paddleboard kayak hybrid that’s perfect for both standing or seated ventures. Launch it as a traditional SUP with a spacious 11’ by 34” frame. Then simply attach the clip-on seat to convert it into a sit-on-top kayak when you need a breather. The Tahe SUP-Yak comes with all kinds of stand-up paddleboard accessories including everything you need for both setups: a detachable seat, footrest, ankle leash and collapsible paddle. With a capacity of 285 pounds and a price tag under $1,000, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more versatile setup for the money.

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SIC Mangrove 11.6”
Love stand-up paddleboard yoga? Always wanted a fishing SUP? Or maybe you’re looking for one of the best stand-up paddleboards for dogs. The SIC Mangrove does it all. It’s big enough for solo or tandem ventures if you want to bring along the kids or pets, and it has plenty of room to secure all your gear, be it fishing, camping or whatever else you may be hauling to your destination. Its biggest advantage over other SUPs is stability, buoyed by a flat bottom and full rails that will allow you to work on your mountain pose or square up to haul in a lunker. (We love this stand-up paddleboard for fishing!) It also comes with two FCS II Fin boxes on the rail so you can maneuver through all types of water. 

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In conclusion, stand-up paddleboards can get you almost anywhere their traditional sit-down counterparts can, and they’ll provide a fun, unique experience in doing so. Whether you’re an angler, an adventurer, a novice or a seasoned veteran, there’s a SUP out there for you. We hope our holiday gift guide 2024 series has shined a light on the array of SUPs available and helped provide some ideas for the best gifts for boaters in your life!

One thing any kayaker can never have enough of is MORE kayaks, but we don’t advise pulling just any old boat off the shelf and putting it under the tree. To help you sift through our many rigs and pick the perfect fishing kayak for your friend or family, we’ve pulled together a holiday gift guide listing a few of our favorites for your consideration.

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Last week I attended the inaugural PTC Colab event at Riversport OKC in Oklahoma City. As a board member for the Paddlesports Trade Coalition, I had the opportunity to serve as a facilitator and moderator during the event. It was an absolute joy to spend time with so many passionate industry professionals from brands, to retailers, to reps and associates.That's not to say that we didn't have some tough conversations as well. Because we most certainly did.

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This past Sunday we hit the James River with 8 adults and 8 kids for a 2 + mile float within the James River State Park. It was the perfect time to test out the NRS Approach 120 Fishing raft. Shoutout to Matt and Coltin at the shop for getting one set up and ready to enjoy.

The NRS Approach 120 is 49" wide and 12'ft long. It weights in at 160lbs fully rigged with options to rig at 132lbs, 120lbs and raft only at 70lbs. Its lightweight enough to car top or slide into the bed of a pick up. It's the ultimate grab and go raft set up for fishing. 

With dry boxes under the seats, rod holder frame slide tubes and a whitewater tough construction, the Approach is ready for adventure. Our first test was not so fishing specific, but rather how would it handle itself as a buffet table. 

My wife can pack a river lunch. It's a point of pride in our household, and she out did herself on this trip. Can you comfortably fish from the bow perch with the standing cast platform? Yes! I did so through multiple ripples and rock banging low water environments. But the Approach can also be an excellent buffet table for 16. 

Rowing was new to me, and at first I let me wife take the helm so I could fish. The slip resistant flooring was rock solid, and I enjoyed my time at the bow performing various "Titanic" movie poses. 

Being out on the river with our crew was an absolute joy. I love spending time outside with good people. That's the essence of why we all get in paddlecraft to begin with after all. It's the shared experience.

After lunch I got an extended time behind the helm of the raft with my eldest in the front fishing. It took a bit, but I quickly grasped the concept of rowing and began to really enjoy the paddle. Combined with my wide brimmed hat, I felt like I was leaning into the part of raft guide. 

Out on the water that day, we also had the Jackson Riviera which our youngest paddled. She enjoyed it's sleek design. It's a great livery option and fantastic for kids. Multiple folks paddled the Jackson Staxx which likewise proved a good option. My wife paddled the Hurricane Sweetwater (it's on sale) when our oldest wasn't paddling it. It's a very nice thermoformed option with a quick, well designed hull that glides down the river or across flatwater. Any question about thermoformed integrity can be put to rest after my kids had a chance to bang that thing down the river on a bony, low water day. Here's my wife searching for smallmouth. 

The NRS Approach 120 was enjoyable enough that I will take it out again. I want more time in it. That is a testament in itself. This was a fun ride in a craft that was easily manageable in and out of the water. It provided a lot of storage, flexibility for adventure, and a dry ride. I look forward to more trips and the opportunity to test out the fishability of this platform. Given our short run, I'm confident it will perform.

The raft realm is new for us. But we are diving into the inflatable market on many angles given the interest from our customers. So give us a call with any questions. If the Approach isn't on the water, it's in the showroom ready to be shopped. 

As for river trips with friends - take as many as you can. It's well worth it. We all know this fact. It's why we do what we do. Make the time. 

 

You won't regret spending more time with people you enjoy in the great outdoors. It's a fact. Trust us. And if we can get you outfitted for those adventures, all the better. It's what we live for at ARC. Thanks y'all!