Ergo Paddle, the world's most innovative and ergonomic canoe and kayak paddles...and the coolest!
Hi, I'm Dennis Czubin, inventor of Ergo Paddle. Why did I invent Ergo Paddle? After all, the basic designs of canoe and kayak paddles have been around for thousands of years. They have been used by native people, including many of our ancestors, from the arctic to the tropics, on rivers, lakes and oceans, on every continent except (until recently) Antarctica. Even today, except for subtle changes in paddle shapes, shaft cross section, and the materials used to make them, canoe and kayak paddles have not changed much since ancient times. If a paddler from thousands of years ago had been frozen in ice and brought back to life today and given a modern paddle, it would be immediately familiar to him. So why would anyone want to make such a dramatic change to such a time-tested tool?
Ergo Paddle: Why and How?
I had been paddling canoes since my two brothers and I bought our first wooden canoe when I was 12 years old, over half a century ago! We would paddle on the Wisconsin River for miles, going upstream or downstream and back. When my wife and I got married, one of our first big purchases was a used Golden Hawk canoe, which we still have today and is featured in many of this website's photos. Then our three children arrived and we bought a longer Sawyer canoe. Now that they are all grown, we are back to the Golden Hawk. We would paddle for hours through remote lakes and flat rivers. Several years ago I started having pain in my wrists and shoulders, and after a half hour of paddling it was very uncomfortable. People said I should just buy a trolling motor, but I knew I would miss the feeling of propelling myself. Besides, a trolling motor wouldn't be able to go through some of the places we take our canoe!
Most of my life I have worked as an engineer, designing tools that have to be ergonomic for people doing repetitive processes, keeping their joints as stress-free as possible. I realized that I might be able to do the same for a canoe paddle! During the winter of 2016-2017, I reviewed the US OSHA and Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety guidelines on hand tool ergonomic design, since paddles are, essentially, hand tools that require constant repetitive motions. I first tried designing a single blade canoe paddle with all the proper hand and wrist positions, but found it was all wrong when switching hands. Then I realized that with a two-blade paddle, each hand could have a proper, ergonomic grip. I made the first prototype from copper tubing and a kayak paddle I cut for the blades. Ergo Paddle was born! It worked better than I had expected! Not only was it more comfortable, but I could go faster and straighter, and no water was carried into the canoe from switching sides! I was able to canoe for hours at a time again! Over the years I found local suppliers for the tubing (I call them Handlebars, because it feels like holding bicycle handlebars) and powder coating, and suppliers for the other components. I made several versions of prototypes before, finally, getting a design that worked best, and looked good, for canoeing.
Kayak Ergo Paddle
The next year my wife bought me a kayak for Fathers' Day, a wonderful gift! I used one of my prototype Ergo Paddles and compared it to a straight paddle. Again, it was more comfortable, tracked straighter, and no water got into the kayak! Not being a long-time kayaker, I asked several accomplished kayakers to try the Canoe Ergo Paddle with their kayaks. Some felt they had to hold the paddle too high and a lower paddle would work better with a kayak. I redesigned the Ergo Paddle to a new kayak version. Again, I had some more experienced kayakers I met (sending thanks to the Kayak Ergo Paddle testers that helped me at Audie Lake!) test out the new versions. Finally, I had one version that felt and looked good for kayaks, which is what we have taken into production.
Who Needs an Ergo Paddle?
Well, no one probably needs an Ergo Paddle. But then, most people don't need to go canoeing or kayaking. What we need is to eat, sleep, and breathe. But for those of us who eat, sleep, and breathe canoeing or kayaking, we want to do as much as possible for as long as possible! Ergo Paddle is one device that can help us obtain that goal.
Will Ergo Paddle replace all other paddles? Absolutely not! There are many fine paddle manufacturers that produce wonderful paddles. We recommend not using Ergo Paddle in any rapids classified greater than Class I. The occasional paddler who rarely spends more than a half hour or so at a time actually paddling may may find it to be a luxury, not a necessity. Someone who finds the newest, most innovative products to be irresistible will find that Ergo Paddle will definitely turn heads and get others to ask, "Where did you get that paddle?" I know this is true...it happens to me nearly every time I go paddling now!
Who benefits most from Ergo Paddle? Well, obviously, people with joint issues, and all who wish to prevent future joint issues, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. Anyone piloting a solo canoe or those canoeing into wind and waves will love the Canoe Ergo Paddle! Novice canoeist find Ergo Paddle much easier to learn than traditional canoe paddles. Kayakers using Ergo Paddle will stay dryer, paddle longer with more comfort, and will stand out from the crowd!
Please feel free to browse our store or contact us!
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