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#3 on this list
Cedar Tripper
Sanborn Canoe Co.
Minnesota-made cedar with a laminated grip that fits a hand perfectly after a full day.
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#4 on this list
ZRE Power Surge
Zaveral Racing Equipment
The carbon benchmark at under 10 ounces. Racers and Boundary Waters veterans buy nothing else.
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Specs side by side
| Spec | Cedar Tripper | ZRE Power Surge |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Solid Cedar, Laminated Grip | — |
| Blade Style | Traditional Beavertail | Bent Shaft, Power |
| Intended Use | Touring, Tripping | Racing, Touring, Expedition |
| Shaft Shape | Round | — |
| Made In | Minnesota, USA | — |
| Maker | — | Zaveral Racing Equipment |
| Material | — | Carbon Fiber |
| Weight | — | Sub 10 oz (approx 280g) |
| Shaft | — | Hollow Carbon Fiber |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Cedar Tripper
- Exceptional comfort, especially the hand-conforming laminated grip
- Beautiful craftsmanship and classic aesthetic
- Natural flex of cedar reduces paddling fatigue
- Durable with proper care, repairable if damaged
- Provides a strong, traditional connection to paddling
- Heavier than most composite alternatives
- Requires more maintenance than synthetic paddles
- Not ideal for aggressive, high-cadence paddling styles
ZRE Power Surge
- Unmatched lightweight performance significantly reduces fatigue
- Exceptional stiffness translates directly to power and efficiency
- Bent shaft design optimizes stroke mechanics for speed
- High-quality carbon fiber construction ensures strength
- Ideal for racing, long tours, and covering serious mileage
- High price point is a significant investment
- Carbon fiber can be susceptible to damage from direct impacts
- Bent shaft takes getting used to for some paddlers
- Not ideal for pushing off submerged rocks or heavy poling
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