I've been noticing some funny trends at canoe and kayak shops. If you look at their paddle sections you'll notice that the canoe paddles (if they even have any out here in the west) are mostly made of wood but the kayak paddles are made out of every synthetic available. Maybe you can find a couple of wood kayak paddles but they are not represented in big numbers. Obviously weight is a big factor in a paddle purchase. Perhaps carbon and glass are more popular with kayak paddles because we have to hold the kayak paddle up higher than a canoe paddle and hold it in that position longer. Perhaps the tradition of the canoe and a wood canoe paddle just have a certain allure.
Wood does have benefits: Flexibility, Renewable, Easy on the Skin, Beautiful, Repairable. The water we stick our paddle in has flex, our joints have flex, so why not a paddle that has a little more give? Stiff and light is certainly efficient but does it put more stress on our soft joints?
For me, a wood paddle just has a certain magic in the water. I've also been having fun using wood shafted/graphite bladed paddles. Light weight on the ends but comfy on the hands! I've walked through a wood paddle factory and a composite paddle factory and the wood one is just a more pleasant place to be. You can't have too many paddles...I enjoy having some natural wood paddles in my quiver.
