Branches LLC
As the world’s largest manufacturer of quality canoe and kayak paddles, we remain a privately held company in Northwestern Wisconsin staffed by paddling enthusiasts. This translates into designs that are clever and practical, providing the perfect combination of durability, comfort, fit, weight and style. Millions of customers have found our paddles to be their long-term companions on adventures, both long and short.
Our mission
To create a healthy, growing company
• For our employees: a fun, safe and rewarding place to work
• For our community: a good place to live
• For our customers: to enhance their outdoor and on-the-water experience
• For our independent reps and dealers: we make selling paddles easy and profitable
In 1982, whitewater and touring canoeist Dale Kicker and flat-water racer Ron Hultman teamed up to create the first composite-tipped canoe paddle. This unique innovation revolutionized the paddle industry and gave birth to Bending Branches.
Since then, paddles from this small, privately held company in Wisconsin have propelled more than a million paddlers to places and experiences that are something to write home about.
And this spirit of pushing forward continues to drive Bending Branches today. We're committed to bringing new features to the water that enhance your paddling experience.
In late 2008, Mark purchased Aqua-Bound Technology, Ltd. from Joe Matuska and his partners in Vancouver, BC. Aqua-Bound is the number one producer of plastic bladed kayak paddles, the first to introduce gas-assist molded paddle blades and a company with an extremely strong reputation for service.
We build paddles for recreational enthusiasts who value every minute they spend on the water. Our customers are those that live to take a weeklong paddling trip each summer, go on many outings on local rivers, or get up every morning to tour the lake they live on. They love to be outdoors and on the water, alone or with family and friends.