Some Traditions Endure For A Reason
``There is magic in the feel of a paddle and the movement of a canoe, a magic compounded of distance, adventure, solitude, and peace. The way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness and of a freedom almost forgotten. It is an antidote to insecurity, the open door to waterways of ages past and a way of life with profound and abiding satisfactions. When a man is part of his canoe, he is part of all that canoes have ever known.`` ~ Sigurd F. Olson
Badger® Paddles designs and builds premium, made-to-order solid wood traditional canoe paddles. We’re a husband-and-wife team based in Muskoka, ON, running a cottage-industry business from our home and an off-site workshop in a combination with Swift Canoe. Every paddle is handcrafted with a commitment to excellence. After more than 15 years of paddle making, we remain grounded in tradition and driven by a spirit of innovation. From our signature finishes to our thoughtful shaping process to our reforestation initiative, every detail reflects our passion for the backcountry—and the gear that gets you there.
We believe time spent in nature and the wilderness is essential, and its benefits invaluable. The canoe connects you to that wild world, by way of lakes and rivers, while your paddle links you to the canoe and the water itself. A well-balanced, handcrafted Badger canoe paddle deepens that connection, bringing you even closer to nature and tradition.
Badger Paddles is named in honour of Fiona’s great-grandfather’s wood finishing business, Badger & Son. Today, Mike and Fiona continue to use many of the same recipes and wood finishing techniques that Sidney Badger relied on back in the 1940s.
We handcraft our traditional canoe paddles from Cherry, Ash, Walnut, and other specialty woods. Badger offers customizations and unique finishes, including our signature Watercolours™ and hand-rubbed oil and varnish combination finishes. In addition to paddles, we distribute the one-size-fits-most Badger Paddle Sock and our 100% all natural Badger Wood Oil for canoe paddle maintanence.
Let your next adventure begin with a Badger paddle. Browse our collection today.
