I usually carry a Wind Swift as my wind/spare paddle. I love to use the paddle -- every time I see it go into and come out of the water, I'm just super-pleased to be out on the water with such a fine piece of equipment. The blades are flat-faced rather than dihedral. OMG heaven... my paddling improved monumentally. When I learned the construction combined fiberglass & wood I was excited to give one a try, knowing the combination would give me a lightweight paddle resulting in little fatigue with use. 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars from 3 reviews 5 3. Whether in a kayak or canoe, I do lots of swamp and river paddling, and having a paddle that's unreliable when pushing off mud or sand due to the ferrule, especially when you're dealing with a current and strainers on a river, is a real issue in my opinion. Due to a raw material shortage, the Angler Navigator will ship in mid-December. fiberglass for durability. Bending Branches Navigator Paddle – Review. The drip rings are good and firm so they stay put. In the Navigator, Bending Branches has combined high-tech, ultra lightweight, T-700 carbon shaft material with a proven blade design made out of rich-looking black willow wood. I’ve never seen a paddle I love the looks of more than the new Bending Branches Navigator paddle. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community! Angler Navigator and Angler Pro (in Radiant) kayak fishing paddles (photo courtesy of Justin Floyd) We’ll show you how they’re alike and how they’re different so you can make your best choice: Angler Pro and Angler Pro Carbon Kayak Fishing Paddles The Angler Pro has … This paddle is light, functional and beautiful, capable of touring all day efficiently. 95. The blade section is really a masterpiece of form and function. There's a problem loading this menu right now. The paddler overall is very light and very stiff. As a 69 year young novice female kayaker, I was looking for a lightweight recreational kayak & a compatible paddle. And the weight is carried to the blades rather than the shaft so it works very well. For expedition paddling, I prefer a Werner Athena, and for day trips I use the Bending Branches Navigator. Here's a in-depth look at the Navigator kayak paddle from Andrew Stern at Bending Branches. It's a wide (36" at the widest), stable boat, and so I often paddle it standing up in flat water. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community! I do not treat it much differently now than I did my resin and fiberglass one. I was a little concerned how the ferrel would hold up, but I have had no trouble with it so far. I have several paddles and find that switching between them requires a "rethink" of your technique but the Bending Branches Navigator felt like I had been using it for years after about 1 hour of paddling. I initially bought this paddle for its great looks and light weight. Bending Branches Whisper 2-Piece Snap-Button Recreational Kayak Paddle; (Aluminium Shaft/Black Blade - 230cm) ... BENDING BRANCHES Angler Navigator Hybrid Wood 2-Piece Kayak Paddle. Here at Bending Branches, we build all of our paddles to order (much like a fast food restaurant), so paddles do not collect dust or become dated. Even though I’ve been kayaking flat water, sloughs have weird currents that are grabby. The Navigator’s shaft is made of aviation-grade T-700 carbon, and its blades are hand-crafted of beautiful hardwoods. Rock Guard is a protective resin which covers the edges Bending Branches paddles and on this model, Rock Guard covers the tip and most of the bottom edge of the paddle. Also check out our Bending Branches … (205) 767-3201 Home I appreciate the quality construction, the beauty of the wood, and the protective surface on the outside edge of the wood. For added durability, the blades are wrapped in fiberglass and protected with a Rockgard edge around the blade. The other thing I noticed was that it, to me, seemed like it was a lot "quieter" in the water than my old paddle. The blade is now made out of rich-looking red adler and roasted basswood, compared to the previous black willow wood. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2016, Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2013. Bottom line: This is a paddle that amply rewards practice and good form. The Bending Branches new "Navigator Wood" paddle boasts a new slick look from from its predecessor. Moreover, once loose, of course it's very difficult to paddle with the feathering angle changing and shifting as you apply force. The first thing I appreciated was the effortless paddling. A poor or careless stroke causes a lot of flutter and the paddle may feel like it will be snatched from your hands. It's a good surf paddle, but I tend not to want to use it when rock gardening despite the rock guard. The bright yellow paddles are a nice safety feature, and the decorative, wide-yellow strip … Main complaint is that the carbon on the shaft has chipped on one edge at the ferrule joint, and compared to some other similar ferrules the joint is a little stickier. Please try again later. Technique is everything and I immediately developed a bond with this paddle and its effortless design made it a real pleasure right from the get go. I borrowed my neighbors offset carbon fiber with smaller blades and worked my butt off trying to get my cheap boat not to dog walk across the water. I use this for flat water but probably will not for potentially rocky rivers. Touring to me means just that, easy efficient paddling for long cursing trips with the ability to cover lots of water effortlessly. I'd been using an Adventure Tech (AT) Search Angler paddle that telescopes from 240-250cm, which has been great, but I wanted something with more of a symmetrical blade, and one that would take to steering strokes a little more smoothly while I paddle standing up (I do this paddle-board style, using only one blade and alternating sides, or poling in shallow water). The Bending Branches Angler Navigator Hybrid Wood 2-Piece Kayak Paddle - The Bending Branches Angler Navigator Hybrid Wood 2-Piece Kayak Paddle has a proven blade design that is more flexible than composite paddles. The Navigator comes with either a snug-fitting traditional 3 hole snap-button ferrule (adjustable for feathering angles 0° and 60°, L or R) or a more versatile telescoping ferrule with infinite feathering angles. The blade tip and leading edge are protected with Bending Branches’ proprietary “Rockguard”, which resists nicks and chips. If you want a good looking paddle for all day use, look at this one. The Navigator’s shaft is made of aviation-grade T-700 carbon, and its blades are hand-crafted of beautiful hardwoods. So, I assumed the Navigator, at 240cm fully extended, would be long enough. The Bending Branches Angler Navigator paddle is an old-school beauty in a beefed-up paddle that meets the needs of the modern-day angler. Being able to find the most comfortable length and feather is a great option. Going upstream and around sharp bends and obstacles, having a paddle suddenly come loose and spin while you're pushing off a bank is extremely frustrating. wrap of fiberglass for power and protection. If you are looking for a touring style paddle I don't think you can go wrong with this one, it's a real winner! With this paddle, there is little between a buttery smooth and powerful stroke and one that feels wounded and tottering. Also because of the curve, I find it harder to find the best angle for a stationary sculling brace. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. $299.95 $ 299. Also works well for solo canoe paddling. in.) The first issue is one I'd consider a design flaw. Nice paddle, but with a design flaw...I got this paddle hoping it would satisfy a blend of paddling styles. The Navigator with a snap-button ferrule comes is lengths from 210cm to 240cm, in 10 cm increments. The wood blades are fiberglass reinforced for strength and durability. It's too bad, as otherwise this would probably be a 5-star paddle. I love this paddle, but my rating deserves some qualifications due to the learning curve. This paddle has a large, beefy blade (126 sq. The Bending Branches Navigator wood kayak paddle dares to combine high-tech materials with the natural beauty of red alder and roasted basswood. As soon as you place your order, a real person in our Osceola, Wisconsin factory will start preparing your paddle. The material combination provides unique flex and the unmatched fit and finish you … I rather wish it went further along the top edge, too, though the paddle has proven to be adequately durable--indeed, more durable than I first thought. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Period. I solo paddle a Wenonah Heron canoe quite a bit. What I didn't account for is that my AT Search has much wider, shorted blades - the blades of the Navigator are longer and thinner, nice for a long day's paddling but resulting in a paddle shaft that's a bit shorter than a 240cm paddle with short, wide blades. UPC: 717320332994. It is stiff, lightweight, high-tech and classic in design -- all in one. I recently lost my carbon fiber Manta Ray paddle when traveling (TIE your gear down!) Forest. ... Goodreads Book reviews & … 5.0 out of 5 stars 4. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Above all, this is a truly beautiful paddle, a piece of art which gets noticed and will take you about anywhere you can paddle a sea kayak. Because there is no spine on the power face, there is no cavity on the back side of the blade, which means that there's few or none of those power-robbing vortices which can form at the ends of the blade--if you have a proper paddle stroke. The Bending Branches Navigator wood kayak paddle dares to combine high-tech materials with the natural beauty of red alder and roasted basswood. It allows a paddler to cover a lot of distance quickly without fatigue. It wasn't a "speed" paddle like the Manta Ray but it was much more efficient in transitioning energy to the water. Performance: this paddle is rather unforgiving, but when used correctly it is a wonder. December 8, 2018 jkincy. The navigator skulls well and is particularly well designed for a high brace. The carbon fiber shaft is bonded to a beautifully designed touring blade and the fit and finish looked very good. $64.95 . The Angler Navigator comes with a snug-fitting 3 hole snap-button ferrule that allows for adjustable feather angles of 0° and 60°, left or right hand control. The Navigator has been delightfully easy to learn to use, I even feel smooth & efficient as I enjoy this new sport. Watch the video for a full product overview. I love the ferrule -- which allows easy locking from 215 to 230 cm, and 60-degree left or right. The Navigator Plus comes with a more versatile telescoping ferrule with infinite feathering angles. $299.95 . There was a problem filtering reviews right now. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Handcrafted from a combination of basswood, roasted basswood, red alder, and maple remnants from other Bending Branches first-quality paddles, giving new life to what might have gone to waste. This allows for very efficient propulsion--with a proper stroke. This new kayak paddle from Bending Branches sports a classic natural look but has the same feel and durability that makes Bending Branches paddles the best around. The paddle fit together very well and had no "wobble" feel at all when assembled. While the smallish blade will not provide great power, it is perfect for most of the paddling I do these days. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, Bending Branches Navigator Snap-Button Kayak Paddle, See all details for Bending Branches Navigator Snap-Button Kayak Paddle, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The Angler Navigator has a … I waxed nostalgic for the look of the wood paddle but it needed some work so I decided to look for options, After much research and considering my kayaking ability and general usage I came across the Bending Branches Navigator, a blend of new and old technology. Press enter for more information. Lightweight, gorgeous wood paddle connected with carbon fiber. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. When I switch to the Athena after working out with the Navigator, I feel like superman. The rock guard seems to hold up well against rocks, though the paddle already looks pretty scuffed after my river trip (within reason - it was a rocky river). I also used this paddle with my sea kayak (fully collapsed to it's 225cm length). 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