North Water Paddle Scabbards | Gear Review by Chris Bracamonte

I have always been a fan of a two paddle system. For touring, I use a light euro blade complimented with a Greenland paddle in the event that I put in an exhausting amount of miles and want to change up the muscle groups I am using.

Washington Coast. Photo: Rob Riven

When I am exploring the open coast for rock garden and surfing options I will pair my light touring paddle with a robust 2 piece whitewater paddle for when I am in shallow and sharp rocky areas.

Because of my two paddle preference, the North Water Paddle Scabbards have become such an important piece of equipment for me that I have installed a set on each of my kayaks. The scabbards are designed to keep your paddles secure to your deck and allow waves and wind to wash over your deck without taking your paddles with them. This is where they play two important roles for me. They keep my paddles secure in big water while also allowing me to swap paddles at my leisure. As an added bonus, they have two quick release buckles that separate the scabbards and make access to your bow hatch without having to remove your paddles from your deck.

North Water products are hand made in Vancouver Canada and it shows in the build quality. I have been using their products for about 5 years now but I have run into people who have been using their equipment for 10+ years.

Washington Coast. Photos L-R, Will Wade & Deb Volturno

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About the Author

Chris Bracamonte is an avid rough water paddler whose freestyle sports background shows when he’s surfing. He runs Slappin Water where he teaches Kayak Surfing and leads guided trips along the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Port Angeles Washington.