Wood Directory

Use this Directory to help choose the wood that best suits your needs.

All of the woods below are wonderful for all levels of impact play. They are strong and suitable for many variations of use. The different species of wood offer not only visual interest but functional/feel as well.

OAK: (Natural or Kona stained)
This North American medium density hardwood, provides a heavier overall paddle with more thud. Recommended for beginner users and those looking for a higher level of impact and weightier balance at a great price point. 

CEDAR: This aromatic North American native is a lightweight contender in our collection, ideal for those just embarking on their impact play journey. Its lower density means a softer touch, great for teasing and warming up. What Cedar lacks in density, it makes up for with its rich scent and distinct visual appeal.

MAHOGANY:
This African beauty features a mixture of straight and interlocking grain, producing wonderful chatoyancy (a natural refracting of light) when finished. This wood has been a popular wood for everything from fine furniture to boat building around the world. As a paddle, it provides a wonderfully balanced weight in the hand, and plenty of impact on the receiving end. 

WALNUT: 
A fantastic North American domestic hardwood that falls in the medium density range, like oak. This hardwood has been an American favorite since before the US was founded. Coveted for it’s chocolaty brown tones and wonderful weight, Walnut works very well for a strong & stingy paddle with a little extra oomph. 

JATOBA: 
Also known as Brazilian Cherr, this South American heavyweight is for those who appreciate a firm and solid impact. Its tight grain and warm, reddish-brown hue that deepens with age, add to its visual charm. If you're seeking a blend of beauty and brawn, Jatoba is the choice for you. *This wood can be hard to obtain depending on the season and prices fluctuate greatly.

PADAUK: 
A wonderful African medium to high density hardwood offering a fantastic balance between thud and sting. The bright red/orange color naturally ages into a beautifully rich reddish brown over the years. More weighty than oak and walnut, this is a great paddle for those looking for a solid and colorful mix of thud and sting. 

PURPLEHEART: 
Found from Mexico to southern Brazil, purpleheart is a favorite in the community for its rich purple color. Not only beautiful, but very hard and heavy, making it superbly balanced for paddle work, and handles. However, unlike many that you see online, we do not artificially dye or stain our purpleheart. We use the ancient, and tedious, art of Shou Sugi Ban to preserve the brilliant eggplant purple color for life!

CANARYWOOD: 
Its visually striking grain and dynamic color variations give each piece an awe-inspiring unique character. In your hand, Canarywood promises a blend of comfort and confidence, lots of pop without being too weighty. Known for its swirling colors of yellow, pink, to dark red, every piece is extremely unique. *This wood can be hard to get depending on the season and prices fluctuate greatly.  

CHECHEN: 
Experience the exotic allure of the Caribbean with Chechen. This medium to high-density hardwood offers a satisfying balance of thud and sting. The spectacular grain patterns and rich color variations, ranging from golden brown to deep brown with hints of red, make each Chechen piece a work of art. Lots of chatoyance, the visual depth and in-hand balance makes this a personal favorite.

OSAGE ORANGE:
From the heartland of America, Osage Orange is not for the wall-flower hiding in the corner. As one of the more dense options, it guarantees to providing a powerful impact that's sure to command attention. Known for its natural bright yellow color that richens with age, this wonderful fruit tree will add a wild touch to your collection.

ZEBRAWOOD:
Along with Bocote, Zebrawood has such a wonderful grain it basically makes words moot. Contrasting light and dark tones in the figure give anything made with zebrawood an immediate amount of draw and character.

BUBINGA: 
This African powerhouse with wonderful grain features. This wood was born to be a paddle!  It has an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio making it a great choice for those looking for a lot of strength but not as much weight as the beastly Katalox. *This wood can be very hard to get post pandemic, price fluctuations have been wide.

WENGE:
This Central African wood has a fantastic grain height and texture, and although very dark and uniform in color, it still has a ton of character. Wenge is another superb paddle wood for those looking for something uniquely beautiful and elegant, in look and function. 

KATALOX:
This superbly dense Mexican Ebony is perfect for those looking for serious weight and thud from an all-wooden paddle. This paddle is weighty, similar to our steel paddles! And it has all of the thud to back it up. There is a TON of variation in the grain and tonal patterns of this wood. I will use my best taste to select pieces that offer the most interest. Front and back colorings are nearly always beautifully different. *This wood can be very hard to get post pandemic, price fluctuations have been wide.

BOCOTE:
From Mexico, Bocote is one of those woods that makes a description pointless. Just look at it...Yes, it's dense, heavy, and pretty hard. But really, just look at it, not much else matters. Unfortunately, that 'ooooh' factor also comes with a price tag almost as heavy as the wood itself. 

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