As I get ready to purchase some equipment I am getting curious about this.
It says on Werner's site that their paddles are made in WA state but where are the others make?
thanks, John
I am clearly not getting much response from my question. I wonder why.
What I have found out is that Kailoa paddles are made in the US. What about the Quick Blades and others?
John
As far as I know all the major paddles are made in the US. I think Kialoa is in Bend, OR. Dave Chun used to be on the forum from time to time, so he could chime in. Warner is up in Washington, I forget the name of the town. Something odd like Salima or Sultana. I think Jim Terrell (Quickblade) is in california
Yeap, Quickblade, Werner and Kialoa are the US made brands. And when you break one, it can usually be repaired right here in the USA.
Not a throw away Chinese paddle.
I just love that something can be made in the US and sold at a price the Chinese can't beat ;D
C4 is out of Canada , Jimmy Lewis is out of somewhere back east like Illinois , Kialoa is Oregon and I make mine on the south shore of Oahu . By the way I was up at Expressive Designs on the North shore and was checking out Kialoas rice paper laminates , the Hinano ones . Man all that ink on the sheet must weight like an ounce or two , but they sure looked nice .
Werner is in Sultan, Washington. On the banks of the Sultan River, a NW classic class 4 river, and just off the banks of the Skykomish, THE classic western Washington whitewater river. They've been there since the 60's at least.
Kialoa, yes, Bend, Oregon.
Quickblade, Socal. I forget which city, maybe San Clemente? Honestly it all kind of blends together for me down there!
Ditto on the comments about avoiding paddles not made by experts. Paddles take a lot of stress and abuse per their weight/materials and MUST be built to exacting standards to last and perform well.
There's also a handful of wooden paddle makers in the US.....Sawyer (OR), Whiskeyjack, Bigstick......and probably other small cool local makers all over.
~matt
Don't forget
SANTAS WORKSHOP
The only paddle I know anything about is the Kialoa. They are all hand built up in Oragon.
Keep in mind when looking at paddles , if you are wanting a true US made paddle, that there is a difference in paddles that are actually "hand made" in the US and paddles that have their over seas produced parts assembled in the US.