THE EXPLORER – HAP WILSON | CANOE PADDLE

THE EXPLORER – HANDCRAFTED CANOE PADDLE

A HAP WILSON x BADGER COLLABORATION

ALL-AROUND WILDERNESS TRIPPING CANOE PADDLE

Designed in collaboration with legendary Canadian canoeist, artist, cartographer, and author Hap Wilson, The Explorer is a handcrafted solid wood canoe paddle built for rivers, moving water, wilderness tripping, and expedition canoe travel. This paddles features a traditional teardrop-style beavertail blade with a graphite-infused, epoxy-dipped blade tip and a Northwoods-inspired grip. The Explorer canoe paddle is made in Canada for paddlers who demand durability, control, and efficiency on the water.

Hap, Andrea, and Mike at the Woodshop in Muskoka (Gravenhurst, ON)

– Spring 2026 –

After three seasons of testing, Hap and Andrea pick up the first two paddles from the inaugural annual limited run of The Explorer.

LIMITED ANNUAL RUN – THE EXPLORER CANOE PADDLE

Teardrop beavertail with a Northwoods-style grip.

Made for rivers, moving water, and demanding backcountry canoe trips.

• Handcrafted solid wood construction
• Traditional beavertail, teardrop blade design
• Woodland (Northwoods-style) grip
• Individually serialized shaft engraving
• Exclusive Hap Wilson artwork engraving
• Hap Wilson signature engraving
• Graphite-infused, epoxy-dipped blade tip protection
• Built for rivers, moving water, and all-around wilderness tripping
• Handcrafted in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada
• Portion of proceeds donated to charity

THE EXPLORER CANOE PADDLE

A WORKHORSE FOR THE WILDERNESS

If every canoe paddle has a story, then The Explorer has more than one author.

The Backstory:

We were beyond honoured when Hap first started using Badger paddles many years ago. We had taken his incredible guidebooks on our trips and, living in the Temiskaming Shores area for a time, heard countless stories about his Temagami adventures and his dedication to conservation. He definitely had our respect and admiration.

It was actually through a long-standing friendship with his wife, Andrea, that Hap later became a trusted friend and one of our biggest supporters. For well over a decade now, he and Andrea have paddled Badger canoe paddles throughout canoe country, sharing honest feedback, putting them through real wilderness travel, and serving as unofficial ambassadors for our brand long before we launched our Ambassador Program and made it official.

Having admired Hap’s work for years prior to knowing him personally, it has always felt like an honour to outfit him with the gear he trusts. Because Hap works in the wilderness, he knows what works in the wilderness. Now, that relationship and knowledge has come full circle. Designing a Signature Series paddle with our friend, someone we have long admired as a canoeist, writer, artist, and conservationist felt like the natural next step in our ongoing parallel narratives.

The Paddle:

Named in honour of Hap’s lifetime of wilderness travel, The Explorer is built on the style of paddle he has trusted for decades. Featuring a shallow teardrop beavertail blade paired with our Woodland grip, an interpretation of the classic Northwoods grip, it delivers the control, efficiency, and maneuverability needed for rivers, moving water, and wilderness travel. A graphite-infused epoxy-dipped blade tip adds durable protection where it matters most, while exclusive Hap Wilson artwork, his engraved signature, and an individual serial number make every paddle both a dependable wilderness tool and a lasting piece of Canadian canoeing heritage.

And yet, the story of The Explorer canoe paddle doesn’t have to end here. It’s only waiting for you to write the next chapter.

The Explorer Canoe Paddle Features

Handcrafted Solid Wood Construction

Carefully shaped and finished for strength, balance, natural flex, and efficiency on the water. The Explorer canoe paddle was specially designed for Hap’s rugged wilderness trips and moving loads to and from Cabin Falls Ecolodge on the Lady Evelyn River in Temagami, Ontario, Canada. Available in Cherry or Walnut, and when available, Ash or Sassafras.

All-Around Tripping Design

Built to perform across changing conditions — from open lakes to technical river sections. This short teardrop-style beavertail blade gives great power in shallow conditions as well as deep water.

Designed with a longer shaft and shorter blade, The Explorer excels at the corrective and steering strokes essential for river travel, offering precise control and maneuverability in moving water while remaining versatile enough for lake travel.

Graphite-Infused Epoxy-Dipped Blade Protection NEW

The Explorer paddle is finished with our customary Badger oil mix and features a blade tip that has been triple-dipped in graphite-infused epoxy to create a durable sacrificial layer that slides easily over rocks, creating less friction. This helps to seal the end grain and protect the wood in high-wear areas during river travel, shallow water paddling, and wilderness tripping.

Woodland Grip – Traditional Northwoods Grip Style

The Explorer handcrafted canoe paddle features a traditional Northwoods-style Woodland grip designed for comfort, control, and all-day paddling. Designed by Mike, the Woodland grip allows for varied hand placement while maintaining a secure, responsive feel on the water. Compared to our classic grip, the Woodland grip features a less rounded top profile that feels closer to a traditional T-grip for added control and responsiveness.

Exclusive Hap Wilson Artwork & Signature

Every Explorer paddle is laser engraved with an original illustration hand drawn by Hap Wilson.

The artwork depicts a lone canoeist viewed from behind, paddling quietly across calm water—a simple but powerful representation of solitude, exploration, and connection to the wilderness.

Beneath the artwork is Hap Wilson’s engraved signature, creating a lasting tribute to one of Canada’s most influential canoeists and storytellers.

Individually Numbered

No two Explorer paddles are exactly alike.

Each paddle is discreetly laser engraved on the shaft with its own unique production number, paddle name, and the year the paddle was built:

001 • THE EXPLORER • 2026

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This serialized marking makes every paddle part of a limited production run and creates a permanent record of its place in the collection.

Badger Paddle Sock for Added Paddle Protection

The Explorer canoe paddle includes a Badger Paddle Sock to protect your paddle in transport or storage. Badger Paddle Socks are a one-size-fits-most and are made in Canada.

Made in Canada

Handcrafted for paddlers who value traditional craftsmanship and wilderness performance.

Paddling It Forward

For decades, Hap has inspired people to explore and has fought to protect the wild places that make those adventures possible. In keeping with that legacy, a portion of the proceeds from this special collaboration will be donated to an environmentally focused charitable organization, such as Earthroots.

Designed with Hap Wilson

Over the years Hap Wilson has explored, mapped, written about, painted, and documented some of Canada’s most iconic canoe routes. The Explorer canoe paddle reflects that lifetime of experience on the water — a dependable all-around tripping paddle designed for paddlers who appreciate craftsmanship, versatility, and true canoe-country heritage.

Hap Wilson, Explorer

Hap Wilson is one of Canada’s most respected canoeists, wilderness travellers, artists, writers, and conservation advocates.

Through his books, maps, artwork, and a lifetime of exploration, he has inspired generations of paddlers to discover—and protect—the wild places that define Canada’s canoeing heritage.

Today, he and his wife Andrea operate Cabin Falls Ecolodge in Temagami, ON Canada, sharing their passion for wilderness, conservation, and canoe tripping with visitors from around the world.

Catch up will all of Hap’s adventures and offerings online: hapwilson.com • cabinfalls.ca

TEARDROP BEAVERTAIL, WOODLAND/NORTHWOODS GRIP, ALL AROUND TRIPPING PADDLE

BEST FOR SHALLOW/MOVING WATER, RIVERS, RIVER TRAVEL, WILDERNESS CANOE TRIPPING, EXPEDITION CANOEING

NAMED FOR THE RENOWNED EXPLORER HAP WILSON, A PORTION OF PROCEEDS GO TO CHARITY OF HAP’S CHOICE

THE EXPLORER | HAP WILSON CANOE PADDLE FULL SPECIFICATIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

• What type of canoe paddle is The Explorer?
The Explorer is a handcrafted solid wood teardrop beavertail canoe paddle with a Northwoods-style grip designed for wilderness tripping, river travel, and all-around canoeing.

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• Where is The Explorer canoe paddle made?
Every Explorer paddle is handcrafted in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada by Badger Paddles.

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• Who is Hap Wilson?
Hap Wilson is a prominent Canadian canoeist, explorer, author, artist, and conservation advocate whose books and maps have inspired generations of paddlers. He and his wife, Andrea, also own and operate the renowned and remote Cabin Falls Ecolodge in Temagami, ON.

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• Is The Explorer a limited-edition canoe paddle?
Yes. Each paddle is individually numbered and produced as part of a limited annual run.

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• Is the blade tip made of epoxy?
No. The bottom 2 inches of the solid wood blade tip is triple-dipped in a graphite-infused epoxy mix to create a sacrificial layer to better protect the tip from abrasion and wear.

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• Is the graphite-infused epoxy-dipped tip maintainable?
Yes. The graphite-infused epoxy-dipped tips are able to be maintained by re-dipping or re-coating the tip. Contact us for more information.

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• Why do you use graphite-infused epoxy-dipped paddle tips instead of traditional router-jointed epoxy tips?
Our paddles feature graphite-infused epoxy-dipped tips because they’re easier to maintain over the life of the paddle. Traditional router-jointed epoxy tips can break off over time, often requiring more extensive repairs. Our dipped tips can simply be re-dipped or re-coated when needed, restoring protection and extending the paddle’s lifespan with minimal maintenance. We believe this approach offers a more practical, serviceable, and long-lasting solution for paddlers.

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• Does The Explorer canoe paddle come with a Paddle Sock?
Yes, a Badger Paddle Sock is included every Explorer canoe paddle unless otherwise specified. (e.g. Prototypes, demo paddles, etc.)