has anyone ever used MEC paddles?

[fattwins]

Has anyone ever used MEC paddles? If so what do you think about them?
Im snapping paddles like chopsticks these days and really need 2 new paddles so the budget is tight.

Another question what is another good kayak forum site?

[BakerBoy]

www.boatertalk.com

What paddles are you snapping and where at (conditions as well as paddle location?)

[fattwins]

Here in japan I paddle a few good waves and do a 2 river runs a week.
max class 4 on a good day average class 2 water. Im not near the constant big water.

[fattwins]

bump for help

[mntlion]

average product at average prices for most of the inhouse stuff.

staff is usually less than average.

I'm coming from a skiing/hiking side of things, boating stuff might be better, but I dont think so.

[L7]

Pretty good stuff at quite reasonable prices with some very stellar and knowledgeable staff and some less so. Mtnlion has long referred to them as 'the communists' which is funny from a guy bent on undercutting retail markets by flogging tons of specialty rental gear.

Use a lot of their paddling stuff and it's all worked out great but not actually paddles. Never heard anything bad about it but nothing good either. The bad stuff tends to carry further.

[fattwins]

I find the mec gortex stuff is ok but that is a different story. We could debate about that for a while.

Im in need of a paddle at a good price... alsothat is worth it's price. Some of the paddles out there are just way to much money for me. Ive looked at lighting paddles ,but after I convert the money to cdn, then ship them to canada, a possible duty charge, I figure that ill pay 300 or more bucks.

Anyone selling any used paddles in Canada right now then? Or does anyone have an idea about where to get a good paddle at say no more than 200 cdn shipped?

[Foggy_Goggles]

Try Lightning. Although I absolutely destroyed one, I think they are high quality. With paddles, some people break and loose them, some don't. That being said, you can certainly tell the difference between a entry level paddle and something sweet. One day I'll have a Woody, Backland, Silver, Snyder etc.

[fattwins]

Ive owned a sweet paddle before a bent robson. It broke in half when I hit a rock while rolling. Ill keep looking for now im using a six year old robson that I hate.

[Beaver]

I've had really good luck with my Werner. I've beat the crap out of it for 5 years and reduced it's lenght by a couple cm on each blade from hitting rocks and it has never shown any sign of stress. My first paddle (aqua-bound? aqua-quest?) busted in under 2 months without hitting anything. It was replaced for free but it did leave my in the middle of a big rapid with only on blade. I made for an interesting run.

[igBand]

Second that on Werner....can't go wrong there. The wife has a Waterstick that she loves. Unique blade design, but totally bomber. They went out of business last year from what's I've heard, but you should be able to pick up a used one on Boatertalk for a good price. And if you're into bent shafts, give AT paddles a dance...also a bomber paddle.

[powdagroova]

Hey Man it's Nathan. I picked up the Carbon blade paddle and it's taken all the abuse of our bony S.Ab rivers. No problem on those Kyoto rivers.

Oh, just got in some great tracks on Rae Gl Saturday! Winter's on it's way.

[SGP]

MEC paddles are made by aquabound but just has the MEC name on it. Lots of MEC products are like this. So if you think aquabound paddles are good then the MEC ones should be of the same quality.

[cloudpeak]

We've (spouse, self, and two sons) have had good luck with Lightning and Werner. Both brands have held up well.