Bending Branches Java ST

Some paddles are tools. The Java ST is a tool you'll want to show off.

The Bending Branches Java ST is a hand-crafted wood canoe paddle built in Osceola, Wisconsin, and the first thing most paddlers notice is the blade. The pinstriped pattern of basswood and roasted basswood is genuinely striking on the water, and no two paddles come out exactly the same. But the Java isn't just a good-looking paddle. The blade is wrapped in 2 oz. fibreglass for real-world durability, and full Rockgard edge protection keeps the tips intact through rocky put-ins, shallow crossings, and the general wear that comes with regular paddling on Canadian lakes and rivers.

The solid ovalized basswood shaft is comfortable in hand and warm to the touch, a quality that aluminium and carbon simply can't match on a cool spring morning. The freestyle palm grip suits a wide range of paddling styles, from flatwater cruising to more technical canoe work, and gives you confident control through draws, prys, and braces. At 19 oz., the Java ST carries well over a long day without feeling like a workout.

Available in straight shaft lengths from 52 to 60 inches in 2-inch increments, it fits a range of paddlers and hull styles. Wood density varies naturally, so expect a weight variance of up to 10% between individual paddles.

• Shaft: Solid ovalized basswood, straight
• Blade: Basswood and roasted basswood with 2 oz. fibreglass wrap
• Edge protection: Full Rockgard
• Grip: Freestyle palm grip
• Weight: 19 oz. (539 g), based on 54 in. shaft length
• Available lengths: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 in.
• Hand-built in Osceola, Wisconsin, USA