Outfitting & Accessories

Gear that solves real problems on the water.

Every accessory in our line exists because we ran into a specific problem while paddling and couldn't find a good enough answer anywhere else. So we designed one. Gunwale Bags that stay put in rough water. Tether Tabs that transform your portage routine. Paddle Pockets that keep blades protected and out of the way.

Stock items, built with the same materials and attention we put into our custom covers and spray decks. No waiting for custom orders — everything here ships when you order it.

Canoe on the Manistique River outfitted with RedLeaf paddling accessories

RedLeaf Gunwale Bag in brown, designed to mount below the gunwale and keep essentials organized

Purpose-built from experience

Every product started the same way.

The Gunwale Bag exists because Jeremy was tired of gear rolling around in the bottom of the hull and portages that looked like cleaning up after a yard sale. It attaches below the gunwale, holds four liters of at-hand essentials, and stays put in rough water. Simple problem. Right answer.

That's the design process behind every accessory we make. We paddle. We notice what's missing or broken. We build the solution with the same marine-grade materials and construction standards we use for our custom covers and expedition spray decks. No generic alternatives repackaged with a new logo.

Our Story

The full lineup.

Stock items, ready to ship. Built to the same standard as everything that leaves our loft.

Tether Tabs $14.95

Tether Tabs are one of our secret weapons for ninja-like portages and clean, organized paddling. They'll securely hold painter lines, paddle shafts, fishing rods (and more!) to your boat's thwarts or end decks. The RedLeaf Gang typically have 4 on each of our canoes - a set at the bow and stern for our painter lines and another set on the mid-ship thwarts to hold the shafts of our paddles (combined with snug, blade-cradling Paddle Pockets for the win). They wrap around your thwarts with 1-1/2" Velcro and are held securely in place with a non-slip pad on the underside. The hold fast is a bungie-and-ball system that's easy to release with a quick tug on the 1" webbing release tab (witness the magic in our video below!). They easily fit on 2-1/2" wide wood thwarts and can be trimmed to snugly fit round aluminum thwarts, too. Own a scuppered, wooden end deck without a carrying thwart like those found on Northstar and Bell canoes? No worries! We make a special 1" wide version just for you.

Paddle Pocket from $24.00

Made from durable ripstop polyester and marine mesh, Paddle Pockets attach to the side of your hull with 1” adhesive Velcro and give you a place to park your canoe paddle blade. Combine them with one of our thwart Tether Tabs to secure the paddle shaft and you’ll be able to paddle and portage with securely housed paddles. The standard Paddle Pocket will hold paddles up to 8" wide, while the wide version will accept 9" blades. If you would like a replacement set of attachment strips or would like to use one Paddle Pocket in multiple boats, you can order additional 1" wide x 13" long adhesive loop velcro strips here. Note that adhesive Velcro is not a permanent installation and you can expect to replace it after a season or two. Using 3M Primer 94 improves the bond to semi-permanent. A permanent bond can be made with epoxy, but should be approached with consideration and care. Full installation and care instructions are in our Resources Library, here: Paddle Pocket Installation Instructions

Gunwale Bag from $35.00

Chapstick. Your phone. A camera. Sunblock. Bug spray. Snacks. A hat and gloves. Fishing tackle. Wrappers and trash. Your headlamp.What do all of those things have in common? You want to access them from your canoe seat without having to dig through a portage pack that is, no doubt, just out of reach. They're also the things that roll around in the bottom of the boat, getting wet and making portages look like you're cleaning up after a yard sale. The Gunwale Bag, lovingly known around the shop as a JGB (Jeremy's Gunwale Bag), solves those problems. It easily attaches just below the gunwale with two strips of adhesive loop Velcro and adhesive YKK SNAD snaps. They come in two sizes, small and large. The small is about a liter in volume and is perfect for low-profile storage in racing canoes, pack canoes, and the tight bow of fast tandems. The large gunwale bag holds about 4 liters of stuff, easily swallowing a rain jacket, a water bottle, and a huge assortment of at-hand gear, plus has compression straps and attachment loops to tether gear that you don't want to lose. Both sizes will keep gear secure during portages, so you can grab your pack, put your canoe on your shoulders, and go, without having to do a bunch of housekeeping, first. We think the JGBs are pretty rad and hope you do, too.Housekeeping notes: The small JGB is only available in black. Also, JGBs are not waterproof! Installation and care instructions are in our Resources Library, here: Gunwale Bag Installation Instructions If you would like to use the gunwale bag in multiple canoes, additional mounting kits are available here: Gunwale Bag Mounting Kit

Padded Paddle Case $79.00

Our padded, durable paddle cases are like Fort Knox for your canoe and kayak paddles. Made from a durable, breathable WeatherMax LT fabric exterior and padded with quilted polyester lining, these cases protect your paddles from more than the casual bumps and drops. Each case will hold two canoe paddles or one two-piece kayak paddle in compartments separated by a quilted and padded divider. If you don't mind your paddles sharing compartments, they'll hold four canoe paddles or two two-piece kayak paddles. The cases have a convenient, balanced carrying handle, a secure Velcro closure, and hold paddles narrower than 11”. The case size indicates the longest paddle they will hold; if you have a 56" paddle, the 56" paddle case will comfortably protect it with a bit more than an inch to spare.Personally, we keep our primary and spare paddles for solo paddling in one of these cases and a second case with our tandem paddles in it. Details: Shell: WeatherMax LT Padding and lining: Quilted polyester Trim: Polyester binding Other: Velcro closure and webbing handle Note: If you want to keep your paddles safe from scratches and bumps in your car, but think that our padded paddle cases are more than you need, click here to learn about our lighter, premium polyester paddle socks.

Daisy Chain from $17.00

Low-profile Daisy Chains are a great way to secure or tether gear in your canoe, offering increased stability and preventing items from shifting in rough water or during a capsize. We often combine them with our Cargo Ladders to hold down portage packs and barrels, but they're also fantastic for floatation air bags, smaller gear dry bags, coolers, and anything else that you need to secure. The webbing loops are soft and collapsible, preventing damage to gear and feet, but also strong enough to withstand the most demanding expeditions and adventures. They're easily installed with vinyl-compatible adhesives (we recommend HH-66 vinyl adhesive for composite, T-formex, and Royalex canoes) and don't require drilling or hardware.

Sold out

Solid-braid Floating Rope from $0.50

PLEASE NOTE: The specialty manufacturer who made this fantastic rope for us has closed their doors after decades of production in North Carolina. We are limited to the stock on hand, which is just a few hundred feet of each size as of October 3, 2025. We are working to find a new manufacturing partner to make a new production run of rope to the same specifications for us, but have not yet found one. _________________________ This solid-braid, floating, polypropylene rope is our favorite rope for canoe painter lines and sea kayak and canoe tow lines. It's fine, 100% multifilament polypropylene braid is soft in the hand, holds knots beautifully, and withstands the daily wear, tear, and abrasion that a working rope is exposed to. We carry this rope in 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch diameters and, personally, we find that the 1/4-inch diameter is perfect for our own use. If you're lining a heavy tandem or otherwise prefer a larger diameter rope for easier handling, consider getting the 3/8-inch diameter. We are proud to have it made for us by a specialty manufacturer in North Carolina who meets the American Cordage Institutes standards for quality, safety, and ethical production practices. 900 pound tensile strength (1/4-inch); 1800 pound tensile strength (3/8-inch) 100% multifilament polypropylene (MFP) solid braid construction Floats UV-resistant Solid-pigment, non-dyed fibers resist fading and won’t bleed color Waterproof Mildew-resistant Low-stretch High-visibility safety orange color PRICING IS PER FOOT. All orders are cut in a single, continuous length with each end cut and sealed with a hot knife unless you tell us otherwise. If you would like multiple lengths, each cut and sealed, please place an order for the total length and leave a note at checkout telling us how you want the lengths divided.

Stern Flag $12.00

Our stern flags are made from 3-inch wide, highly UV-resistant, vinyl-coated polyester with a 10-inch long attachment loop made from 3/4-inch wide nylon webbing. They can be attached to a rudder, stern handle, carrying thwart, pad-eye, or anything else that the attachment loop will slip through. Length Red vinyl-coated polyester: 3x30 inchesLength of attachment loop: 10-inch Total length: 40 inches

Canoe Seat Pad from $35.00

Spend more time in your canoe while enjoying the luxury of a plush and comfortable seat pad. Two sizes to fit almost any caned or woven canoe seat. Ideal for: Covering more miles Staying comfortable in the boat during long days Epic adventures

Basic Patch Repair Kit $6.99

Accidents happen; be prepared with this light weight, basic patch kit. Small holes and cracks are quickly and easily prepped and sealed with the included utility cloth, alcohol wipes, and 4”x4” hydro tape patches, all vacuum sealed into a flat, waterproof kit. To use, simply dry the repair area with the cloth, clean it with the alcohol wipe, peel the backing from the patch and apply it to the repair, and then rub the patch firmly onto the hull. The hydro tape adheres to wet surfaces and has a 1.5mm thick layer of adhesive to seal and conform to the damaged surface. The RedLeaf Crew usually has one patch kit in a PFD pocket and another taped under the canoe seat or kayak deck. Note: The tape may be clear or black, depending on what our supplier has in stock. Both colors perform equally well.

Cargo Ladder from $64.00

We are firm believers in securing our gear so that we always know where it is, it stays with the boat after a capsize, and portages and unloading become smooth routines. The RedLeaf Designs Cargo Ladder helps achieve those goals by securing portage packs, bear barrels, and other cargo in solo and tandem canoes. They are fantastically adjustable for loads of different sizes and profiles and are easily configured to fit your boat and preferences. They pair perfectly with our 27-inch Daisy Chains, but can also clip to other secure points in a canoe.

Adjustable Foot Strap $35.00

NOTE: Currently out of stock and taking orders for a production run of 50 sets of foot straps with a shipping date of April 3, 2026. Marathon racers have known this secret for decades. Now you do too. A proper foot connection to the hull changes everything — your drive, your rotation, your boat control, your ability to move a canoe the way it's meant to move. It's one of the highest-return outfitting upgrades you can make to a canoe paddle sit-and-switch with a foot bar. Most foot straps on the market are an afterthought — a strip of one-inch webbing stretched across a bar and called a solution. Ours aren't. RedLeaf foot straps are 1.5 inches wide, padded with neoprene for all-day comfort, and adjustable via 1.5-inch hook-and-loop so they fit bare feet, neoprene socks, or paddling shoes without compromise. They clamp to aluminum or carbon foot bars with included stainless steel hardware — no improvising, no workarounds. Install them once and paddle better from that day forward. The result is a positive, responsive connection between your body and your hull. Better drive. Better rotation. Better boat handling. The kind of difference you feel the first time you take a stroke. Available in two configurations: Standard — fits most solo and tandem canoes. C1 — designed for narrow, USCA-spec C1s.

What makes these different

The detail serious paddlers notice.

Same design philosophy, same materials, same loft — just a different kind of problem to solve.

Designed on the water, not at a desk.

Every product started as a real problem encountered while paddling. That direct experience shapes decisions a catalog designer wouldn't think to make — like where a Tether Tab needs reinforcement, or why a Gunwale Bag needs brass drain grommets in the bottom.

Built with materials that last outdoors.

We don't downgrade materials because it's an accessory instead of a cover. The same marine-grade fabrics, Amman Outdoor Pro thread, and reinforced stitching go into a $15 set of Tether Tabs as a $600 expedition spray deck. Everything gets the same standard.

Stock items. No wait.

Unlike our custom covers and spray decks, accessories ship when you order them. We batch-produce in our loft to keep inventory ready, so the gear that solves your problem is in your hands quickly.

Small gear, real difference.

Bought Tether Tabs on a whim. Now I can't believe I portaged for twenty years without them. Everything stays put. Simple as that.

Karen M. — Tether Tabs, Minnesota

The Gunwale Bag is one of those things that seems small until you use it. Phone, sunscreen, snacks, water bottle — all right there. No more digging through a dry bag every ten minutes.

Steve L. — Gunwale Bag, Ontario

Ordered the Paddle Pockets for a canoe trip. The stitching and materials are noticeably better than anything else I've seen in this price range. These people clearly care about what they build.

Jason R. — Paddle Pockets, Wisconsin

Protective Covers

Protect your hull off the water.

Hull-specific covers for transport and storage, cut from our proprietary pattern library using Sunbrella Marine fabric. 45 years of proven protection. Made to order.

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Spray Decks & Splash Covers

Keep the lake out of your canoe.

Custom-patterned expedition spray decks and splash covers for serious open-water conditions. Built from the same pattern library, the same materials, the same loft.

Shop Spray Decks