The Grey Owl 'Scout' Paddle is a basic, elegant entry level paddle with a tough shaft and a teardrop blade.

Recreational paddles are characterized by shorter, wider blades than traditional paddles. Usually they are laminated - often of contrasting woods for aesthetic and practical reasons. 

Recreational paddles tend to have a stiffer flex to makes the paddle more efficient by limiting the loss of power transferred from the paddle stroke. But this makes the paddle harder on the joints, and more tiring to use for a weaker paddler.  They are easier to use in the shallows, particularly in depths of 18” or less, better in moving water and generally less expensive than traditional paddles.