I just did my first solo trip for 9 days this summer.  I brought a kayak paddle and a bentshaft single-blade paddle for my backup.  The plan was to use the kayak paddle for travelling and the single-blade for fishing.  Less than a mile into my trip, I stowed the 'yak paddle and it became my emergency backup, never to get used again. 

I have never done any kayaking and I found the yak paddle used a whole different motion and different muscles than a regular paddle.  For me, that motion was awkward and uncomfortable.  I paddled in some pretty crazy winds on that trip, coming at me from all directions and never once was I tempted to use the yak paddle again.

I use a 9ft kayak paddle for my primary paddle in "most" conditions, with bent shaft as a back-up.

I don't disagree with SD or Mad_Mat, I don't worry about Karma( maybe I should), I just find the double paddle suits MY way of getting around.
I don't get to paddle as much as those guy's, once a year for 2 weeks, "maybe" some local weekend stuff.
I would say my canoe paddling skills are a C+, what I lack in technique, I usually can make up with power and endurance.
 The double paddle does work a different set of muscles and IF your a single paddler that spends more than 1 trip a year in a canoe, over the years  you've developed "muscle memory" from the constant repetitive single paddle strokes.
For me, and probably others that don't get as much time as we would like, whether re-learning the single or a double, the first few days are "awkward"  anyway.
I'm always amazed how better I feel and how smoothly I move along, the last few days, compared to the first one's.
 I got into the double paddle after my second solo trip, I ran into a Middle-age Canadian guy coming from Conk Lk, into Quetico Lk, heading for Beaverhouse take-out.
 The wind was strong that day, and he was heading directly into it, with his double paddle, just hauling the mail.
  He saw me and pulled along side. He was wearing a big strap-on back brace! I was really impressed, when he told me that he had started
on Basswood and that he was going in for MAJOR surgery when he got home.
I asked about the double paddle, he said that being a occasional kayak-er, he saw the "potential" in the double paddle for solo canoeing.
I laughed, and said the "traditionalist's" would be rolling over in their graves!
He said that he had been in a canoe since he was a little kid. He had a dozen canoes/kayaks between him/wife and kids. He raced them and did white water trips.
 He told me that providing you can adapt to the extra "load", that in "certain" conditions, like directly into or with a strong wind, you could really make time.
He also had bent shaft and used it like I do, for trolling, easy cruising, maneuvering in tight areas, fast currents.
 His attitude was that whatever worked best for YOU was all that mattered
I figured if it was good enough for a guy like that, it was worth a try?
I tried it next trip and it worked for me. I work-out with the double paddle in mind, I don't find it more tiring or hard to get accustomed too, I'd have a relearning curve after a year off, no matter what I paddled with.
I wouldn't buy an expensive double paddle. Mine is made by Mohawk canoes, you need a 9 footer for canoe. I'd also try to learn the single paddle basics BEFORE getting into the double.
I see NO reason ( Karma a side) you can't use both IF it works for you

Kingfisher wrote on Aug 17^th, 2009 at 8:06pm:


KF was a lot more patient with the double-blade learning curve than me.  Then again, if I'd just invested $200 into a double-blade, I bet I would have been a lot more patient!

Do whatever you want!!!!    If a kayak paddle makes you smile, well go for it. Anyone who says different, needs to lighten up. I had a couple of guys in their mid 50's give me some bs about this very subject on LLC 2 years ago. One of them actually questioned if I knew how to paddle a solo. I smiled and in sign language made it clear he wasn't welcome on my island campsite. He had to take his break some where else. 

Mad_Mat wrote on Aug 18^th, 2009 at 1:19pm:


Funny you should say that
The first year I used double paddle, I only had a week, and hit really windy weather. Wound up getting as far as Jean Lk, and stayed there 2 days fishing it, Little Jean, and Ceph Lk.
When I hit the little bay after the portage into Jean, the wind was bad out of the East, and Jean was rolling in Whitecaps. I camped on makeshift site in little bay, as the popular point site was taken. Crossed over next morning before the wind whipped the lake into whitecaps again.
While lounging in my hammock, I looked out to see a tandem canoe going East down Jean, into the whitecaps at a unbelievable rate?
 I couldn't make them out very well, but something looked "amiss"?
Using my binoculars, I was pleasantly surprised too see the guys in the tandem were using 2 double paddles!
I use a cruising type stroke, they were using the big windmill type stroke you see kayakers use in certain conditions. They were perfectly in sync, and obviously had double paddle experience.
From the shore, it looked like they had a small motor on that canoe.
Turned out they were staying at the 5 star site on the point on west end of bay too. I didn't see any kayaks among the canoes of the group camped there, so I'm assuming they were using the double paddle like I would, and probably had singles as well?
I would of paddled over too ask, but it was late and the chop was up.
I crossed at first light, and never got a chance too see them or ask how they liked the double paddles?
I would be willing too bet, that 2 guys using the double paddle that had experience as kayakers, in a tandem canoe into the wind would out paddle 2 single paddlers assuming skill levels and loads were the same