wooden and carbon fiber greenland paddles laid out on a dock
a paintbrush adding oil to the tip of a greenland paddle
paddler holding a wooden greenland paddle across the deck of a kayak
kayaker with a greenland paddle in hand leaning down to pick kayak up off dock
a kayaker in a traditional skin on frame kayak paddling with a greenland paddle
detail of the looms of four greenland paddles
four wooden greenland paddles leaning against a wall
a wooden greenland paddle on a workbench
detail of the wood grain on a cedar greenland paddle
detail of four wooden greenland paddles leaning against a wall
five oiled greenland paddles sitting on sawhorses
wooden and carbon fiber greenland paddles sitting on a dock
kayaker finishing a roll using a wooden greenland paddle
a detail shot of a traditional greenland kayak with a greenland paddle held on deck by leather straps and extended to the side of the kayak as a stabilizer

Why use a Greenland Paddle?

In the last few years the Greenland paddle has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, and for good reason: the Greenland paddle is an excellent kayaking tool.  Its slender profile catches less wind, a lighter grip on the water means less shoulder strain, a wider shaft eliminates the need to grip tightly, reducing hand fatigue. Designed to be extended, it provides a variable range of extension in forward, bracing, and recovery strokes. Its natural buoyancy and in-line blades provide commonsense indexing that allows for easier orientation underwater, making sculling to the surface and rolling up much easier. Finally, a Greenland paddle tucked beneath a deck line and projecting down into the water makes a perfect stabilizer so you can eat lunch, manage gear, fish, take photos, or answer the call of nature with less risk of capsize.

Build your own, for Free!

We have a completely free video series on YouTube that shows you the super-efficient building techniques we developed to make lightweight Greenland paddles that are perfectly fitted to your body and boat. These are the same paddles that I used for decades in extreme surf and wind conditions. If you prefer to watch the videos without commercials, we have the same video course available for free on our learning platform, and consider supporting the free content we release by purchasing our comprehensive Greenland paddle plan set, which includes exact sizing and shaping guidelines.

A Beginner’s Guide to Greenland Paddles

Introduction: Build Your Own Greenland Paddle

Gearlab Carbon Fiber Greenland Paddles

For those who prefer to buy instead of build, we stock Gearlab’s Kalleq and Ipik carbon fiber paddles. Both of these are excellent Greenland paddles which we personally use.

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