Welcome to Echo Paddles!

Echo Paddles are custom, hand made paddles for the discriminating paddler. They are made in small numbers from sustainably harvested local wood in a variety of models from flat water style paddling to whitewater creeking. Custom lay ups are available, allowing you to create a paddle to match your paddling style, be it heavy duty creeking to lightweight slalom racing or flat water cruising. A fine balance between strength, durability and light weight result in beautifully crafted paddles that are a pleasure to use.

We’re Celebrating 10 Years!

This year marks ten years since Echo Paddles opened its doors for business and, looking back, we’ve come a long way in that time. From a modest start in a garage, we have expanded to fill our new 1400 square foot, off-grid, passive solar, solar powered straw bale workshop. We also added to the family this year with the arrival of Benjamin in April and added to the homestead by completing a new house across from the workshop. It too is powered by solar panels. It has been a busy couple of years to say the least, but well worth the sweat and sore muscles.

Keeping our manufacturing process local, traceable and sustainable has been a long term vision for the company -- a continuing process which is coming to fruition. We now use wood from trees selectively harvested from our own property, and make the power we need for manufacturing from the sun. While we still purchase some wood and occasionally have to run our generator, these decisions significantly reduce our footprint.

Echo Paddles is about far more than simply paddle making; it is about intentional living and managing a business in an environmentally responsible way. Living and working off-grid keeps us in tune with our environment and acutely aware of just how much energy it takes to live and run a business.

Amidst the chaos, we have continued with production and innovation in the workshop. In 2007 we launched a children’s paddle - the Solstice, a whitewater Kayak paddle - the Freestyle, and a slalom racing paddle - the Concept. In 2008 we are launching a new series of ornamental paddles, a sea kayaking paddle, and a lightweight all-wood paddle built for durability in the stern of a tandem boat. Please watch our Paddles Page for details.

Thank you to the paddling community for ten years of supporting us in what we love to do.