C-Forum

I love my new mitchell.

They feel great. don't knwo about the other you asked about but would love to hear some feedback. I would love to have a whole slew of nice paddles to choose from..

good luck...


Adam Trunnell

I bought a Bailey a few years back, he just happened to have a lightweight spoon that he could make a paddle on in the next batch so I went with that. 6 months later I got my paddle in the mail. I loved it, it was the best feeling paddle I had ever paddled with. Unfortunately as Bailey had warned, the light layup wouldn't stand up to a lot of abuse...being the idiot that I am, I didn't listen. I broke the blade, repaired it, broke it again, repaired it again, etc...

So, I needed a paddle and I bought a Mitchel, dam nice paddle, great catch, nice feel, a little flutter when doing a in water recovery on my off side (probably something I did) no flutter on an on side recovery stroke, strong, great construction, durable and light. Also it only took a couple of weeks to get it and good people to deal with.

Now, I am planing on calling Bailey, sending my paddle back for repairs and ordering another standardweight spoon blade that will be my main paddle, it may take 2 years to get but there is just something that feels somehow warm and comfortable about the Bailey paddles (the one I own and ones I've tried that friends own). Yeah, I know "warm and comfortable" sounds kinda happy but I don't know how to technically describe it, they just feel good and somehow feel "right", like "this is what I'm supposed to be paddling with".

I have nothing against the Mitchel, it's a fine paddle and has done me well since I've owned it and I don't have a single complaint about it but for me I'd rather have a Clinch River Paddle (the real name of Bailey's paddles) in my hands.

They're expensive, but consider the Galasport 3M in carbon-Kevlar. Very light, just enough flex, and quite durable. Great feel too.

I'll second the Galasport if you want an uber-lightweight paddle, and also suggest you seriously consider Echo Paddles. NZMatt's have held up VERY well, especially considering where he paddles, have GREAT water feel, and Andy is great to deal with.

If you want a lightweight, bomber paddle check out a Rough Stuff. Not as nice water feel as the other's you're looking at, but very durable sticks.

Harrison,

I've owned a Clinch River paddle for a year and a half now. The paddle has held up very well. The blade has a carbon cover with the resin tip. There is very little wear on the tip. I've paddled the Chattooga, Tellico, Ocoee, LRC and some Sand Mountain runs, so it has seen plenty of abuse on typical SE streams. The shallow rocky streams of the SE US are notorious for eating up paddles, as you well know. Bailey builds paddles that hold up under this abuse. As a consequence, they can be quite stiff. The blade may have some flex, but the shaft is not very flexible. They have, as mshelton stated, a warm and comfortable feel you won't find in other wooden paddles. On cold days that is an advantage over paddles made of other materials.

One of my friends has a Mitchell paddle that has not held up as well as my Clinch River. He has gotten it repaired by Mitchell and been given good customer service. His paddle is lighter than my Baileystick and it is more flexible (shaft and blade). So if you want it to last longer I would buy a Clinch River. One of my friends has a Baileystick with a spoon blade that has held up very well after several years of use. He has had no breaks and little wear on the tip. Herman is very pleased with it and doesn't paddle his Spanish Fly with anything else. Except when he gets to Lake Tugaloo. Then he wisely uses a breakdown for the two miles of flatwater.

If this terrible SE drought continues, George and I are planning on doing some low water runs on Sect IV to explore the exposed undercuts. We did this last summer and it was a lot of fun exploring the potholes at Seven Foot, Crack-in-the-Rock, Ravens Chute, etc. Very educational and fun to boot. You should come along for one of our trips when you've had your fill of the Ocoee crowds.

Michael

Mitchell, Mitchell, Mitchell. I have used nothing but wood Mitchells for 27 years. You can't go wrong.

I have been using a Galasport TE5 Elite for about a month now in lieu of a Mitchel Carbon/Carbon paddle. The TE5 blade is a little smaller so I immediatley noticed a little less power; however, with time, the blade is so much more slicier that it more than makes up for loss of blade size. Also, the TE5 Elite layup feels like it weighs half as much as the Mitchel C/C. The Galasport paddle whether 3M or TE5 is going to have a better grip that is bumped out a little for more torque control. In all, the TE5 is a much better paddle. My biggest complaint with the Mitchell was the ropey or jittery feel it has when slicing the blade forward, especially on the offside. I think that is due to the exposed spine of the shaft on the Mitchell blade. I am a life long Mitchell user and have nothing but praise for their products and support. You cannot go wrong with them. The Galasport is light years better product wise although very pricey. Durabilty seems pretty good as they are heavily used in the Slalom racing world.

Hope this help,

Tom

MITCHELL!

Think about Backlund as well! Pricy but worth it. You'll still be stroking when the others are broken! But they others noted make good sticks too! Paul C.

Viking!

Well, Keith Backlund is basically making that paddle now, so this vote goes to Backlund by default.

Personally, I have a Mitchell and like it a lot. Don't know about the others.

KNeal

Sir Adam wrote:I'll second the Galasport if you want an uber-lightweight paddle, and also suggest you seriously consider Echo Paddles. NZMatt's have held up VERY well, especially considering where he paddles, have GREAT water feel, and Andy is great to deal with.

If you want a lightweight, bomber paddle check out a Rough Stuff. Not as nice water feel as the other's you're looking at, but very durable sticks.

I second the comment on Echo Paddles. I have 2 and I'm very pleased with them. I have an all-carbon Pursuit (spooned blade) with a slightly stiffer shaft. It is stiff! I also have an all-wood Pursuit -- a beauty that wears well.

The short D handle garden shovels work real nice




get one of both.......

Has anyone out there used the ECHO paddles? I have talked with Andy, he makes them, and he really know his business. Can't wait to get one!

I have 2 Echo'Pursuits and have had Mitchell's previously. Andy at Echo is great to deal with, he will make adjustments as requested when building your paddle. I had one of the Pursuits laid up for creeking and it has held up really well after 2 hard years (I is heavier and a lot stiffer but it has always got me to the take out), the other is a light weight model I use when pretending to slalom race

Like others, I don't have any complaints about the Mitchell's I owned, but the service and customer work from Andy is hard to beat.

I have paddled with Bailey blades as well and liked them. Personally I don't think you can go wrong with any of these three.

Steward