Blade width: Wider blades are perfect for high-angle paddlers because they create a lot more resistance as they move through the water than narrower blades do. This resistance is also what makes wider blades more physically taxing.
Narrow blades are not as high-performance, but offer much less resistance, making them easier to use for long periods. Asymmetric blades: While canoe paddle blades tend to be more squared, many kayak blades are asymmetrical, with the height of a blade being at the top and tapering slightly toward the bottom. Feathered paddles have rotated blades that slice through the water at a side angle, rather than straight down.
Some paddles let you manually personalize the degree of feathering. Unfeathered blades are not rotated and have no offset.
Some kayakers prefer a feathered paddle because of its ability to cut through the wind. Others prefer unfeathered because it is simpler to use and does not strain the wrist as much.
Wing paddles: Racers and competitive kayakers almost exclusively use wing paddles because they provide a powerful forward stroke. However, for everyday recreational use, wing paddles are not usually the best choice. Dihedral blades: Dihedral paddle blades have a raised core, or spine, down the center that helps distribute water flow evenly over each side of the blade. While this creates less resistance, it also creates less stability.
Navigation is a bit trickier with dihedral blades. Are There Kayak Paddles for Kids? Maintain good posture: Good posture means sitting up straight and releasing the tension in your body. While you are paddling, avoid resting against the backrest.
Keep your feet pressed firmly against the floor of the kayak, or against the footpegs. Avoid gripping your paddle too hard: While a firm grip is essential for maintaining control of your kayak, try not to keep your hands in a constant, tightly gripped state. A firm, yet light, hold is ideal. You should also try your best to keep your wrists straight while paddling.
The tension created in bending your wrists or gripping your paddle too firmly will lead to choppier, less fluid movements in the water and will leave you with sore hands at the end of the day.
Let your torso do the work: While you are sitting up straight, allow your torso to do a lot of the paddling work. As you make your paddle strokes, turn your torso, rather than using only your arms or shoulders. We us cookies to improve your browsing experience! By continuing to use this website, you agree to the terms outlined in our Privacy Policy , and to the receipt of targeted communications through our marketing platforms.
We do not sell your personal information, and only obtain personal information with your consent. For more details, please refer to our Privacy Policy. Yes, I agree. Check out our new EZ Port -- the widest port on the market. Now available for pre-orders! We switched from one paddle to another, ran timed sprint laps, and launched off gravel bars using the paddle to push ourselves, all to test the blades' flex, power transfer, and how it succumbed to wear and tear.
The design of the dihedral blades and high-end materials used in the Werner Kalliste , the Aqua-Bound Sting Ray Carbon , and the Werner Camano helped these paddles perform exceptionally well in our tests.
The Kalliste stood out for its ultralight carbon construction and buoyant blade design. None of these blades flexed in use under pressure, providing an efficient transfer of power for the paddler.
In addition, their materials provide the paddler with an extra assist to help you float across the water. Other paddles tested in this review such as the Whisper Sea Extreme and Poseidon have basic plastic blades, which, although durable, flex under pressure and deliver a less efficient power stroke. Although flex in the paddle blade does not equate with higher performance, a slight flex in the shaft delivers a more comfortable stroke and improved efficiency.
Therefore we prefer paddles with a carbon or fiberglass shaft over those that use a more rigid aluminum shaft. Each paddle we purchased is adjustable, but some paddles sport a greater degree of options than others. All the paddles we purchased offer the opportunity to adjust the feather of the paddle blades to suit a left-handed paddler, right-handed paddler, or neutral. Some paddles offer a greater degree of options for the more discerning paddler. The Wilderness System Pungo takes this adjustability to another dimension with its additional feature of allowing paddlers to alter the paddle length.
When considering how easy each paddle is to adjust, we also factor in how easy it is to dismantle it, experimenting with cold hands and under pressure in choppy, white cap conditions when we really did not want to capsize.
At first glance, the conventional snap button system also referred to as a push button is obvious and easy to use. However, testers repeatedly found that this system is quick to jam after repeated use in sandy conditions and becomes difficult to adjust without help.
In cold conditions, when we start to lose coordination and strength in our fingers, the snap button systems can be exceptionally difficult to use. The Werner Skagit and the Camano use a Smart-view adjustment system for their paddle connection. This is easier to adjust than the snap button systems, especially under pressure or with cold hands. In addition, the clear marking system makes it easy to identify the correct feather and right or left-handedness of the paddle.
This feature is useful if you intend to share the paddle with other kayakers with different blade angle preferences or if you expect to change the feather angle during paddling sessions.
Aqua-Bound offers some of their touring paddles with the Snap Button option, or, for a little extra, you can get the significantly superior Posi-Lok system, which is considerably more secure and easy to operate.
Based on our testing experience, we think it is easily justifiable to spend the extra ten dollars when this option is available. Offering the option to adjust the feather of the blades AND the length of the paddle, Wilderness Systems provides the ultimate adjustment system. The LeverLock employs a simple lever lock mechanism that is adequately sized so that no paddler should struggle to use it, even when their dexterity is challenged.
This system enables the paddler to release a plunger washer that keeps the paddle pieces locked tight together when tightened. The result is a paddle performance that feels uncompromised and exceptionally secure.
The adjustment systems that are easiest to use also feel the most secure to paddle with. Good design can make a product user-friendly and improve performance. Under blind testing, paddlers identified the Sting Ray , the Pungo , and the Apex as a one-piece paddle. No one noticed any rotational or horizontal give. These systems maintained the securing over time. The Kalliste , the Skagit , and the Camano also scored well in this metric. Their Smart View internal locking mechanism provides a secure feel, resulting in no rotational movement in the paddle while kayaking.
We did notice that out of the water, a horizontal pull resulted in some give, but we hardly ever felt this when using the paddle in the water. The snap button system used by the Baja , the Poisedon , the Whisper , the Sea Extreme , and the Carlisle Magic Plus allowed the most give when paddling.
After extensive use, these paddles tended to become even less secure over time, resulting in a less efficient paddle stroke and an overall less enjoyable paddling experience. At first, kayakers may not notice the impact of the weight differences between paddles. However, once you are a mile into your journey, your arms will notice the extra weight. A lighter paddle also helps paddlers to maintain their form as they fatigue less quickly.
This further enhances their overall performance as paddlers can maximize the efficiency of each of their strokes. Those looking to enjoy extended journeys in their kayak will want to consider the lightweight Kalliste , Pungo , or Camano.
With the Kalliste standing out in this field. These paddles are significantly lighter than other kayak paddles in this review fleet. They are also more expensive. Heavier paddles tend to be more affordable, making them better choices for short, casual kayak tours.
We noted wear and tear to each paddle during testing to get a sense of its durability over time. In particular, we focused on the durability of the blades and the joint. Your paddle is of no use to you if you can't put it together. The Carlisle Magic Plus is a top performer when it comes to durability.
The fiberglass-reinforced blades will handle anything you throw them, are not prone to dings, scratches, or dents like some paddles made of more fragile materials.
The polished finish of the Posi-Lok's internal shaft meant that it's not prone to collecting sand or grit. It was consistently easy to use. The abX Carbon Reinforced Nylon blades withstood use in rocky and sandy conditions, with no evidence of wear on the blades.
The fiberglass Camano and carbon Kalliste blades were not as durable, and users should be considerate with how they store and travel with these delicate paddles. The fiberglass-infused nylon and polypropylene blades fared well in the gravel tests, showing how these materials can withstand quite a battering.
However, the snap button system in the paddle's shaft lowered their overall durability scores, as they are prone to jamming. While high angle paddles are designed to be held more vertically, low angle paddles are designed to be held more horizontally. Your hands will be closer together in height through your stroke.
This technique is less tiring and therefore good for kayak touring or multi-day trips. The wing blade is designed for an even more vertical paddle than the high angle blade. This makes it a good choice for racers, but may prove uncomfortable for recreational paddlers.
These blades have one face with a shallow scoped shape which helps to increase the efficiency and power of your forward stroke. Dihedral blades have two power faces. They intend to minimise vibration during the stroke, allowing your blade to better catch the water. You can tell a blade is dihedral because it will have two faces sloping slightly down from the middle of the blade.
You may think your height will be the main deciding factor in your kayak paddle sizing. But actually your torso length is more important to choose a paddle. The easiest way to measure your torso is to sit down in a straight-backed chair and measure the distance from the seat to your nose. This is your torso length. The other option is if you're already on the water with a paddle.
Try holding your paddle out in front of you - make sure your arms are bent at degree angles. If your hands fall around two-thirds from the middle of the paddle to where the shaft and blade meet, the paddle is a good fit for you.
Racers or those tackling whitewater will find that a shorter paddle allows you to take shorter and faster strokes. As a simple rule of thumb, the wider the kayak you're paddling, the longer the kayak paddle length you'll need.
This enables you to maintain proper paddling form when reaching beyond the edges of your kayak. Otherwise, you could lose some all important power from the paddle in the water. As an example, tandem kayak paddles are generally longer than those used in a solo recreational kayak due to their width. For a lower stroke angle - often used in casual touring - a slightly longer paddle would be best. If you need a little more flexibility in your paddle length, then why not opt for an adjustable paddle?
Generally, they can extend up to 10cm, for example from cm to cm, and can provide you with more options. Paddles come in a wide variety of materials. The material you choose will come down to elements such as price and durability. Here we take you through some of the main paddle materials you'll see in the market.
Here are some pointers on choosing the best kayak paddle for you -your trusty, double-bladed sidekick. Paddles and oars are terms often mixed up. Oars are what you often see on a rowboat and are used for the act of rowing.
Oars have only one blade which enters the water, and a segment of the shaft rests on the side of the boat in what are usually a half-ring-shaped device, known as an oar lock.
The rower holds one end of the oar as they pull it through the water. Other types of boats such as rafts can also be outfitted with oarlocks to use with oars, as well. If oars are what you are looking for, you can find them in the Old Town Store. Kayak paddles have a shaft as an oar would, however a kayak paddle has blades at both ends and are held near where each blade meets the shaft.
A kayak paddle is not fixed to the boat, and you guide the paddle through the water with the position of your arms and rotation of your body. Kayak paddles are used for the act of paddling and that is exactly what we are looking for here.
Your kayak paddle length is one of the most important decisions in choosing the best paddle for you. Three factors go into choosing the correct length:. Just what happens if you choose an improper kayak paddle length? If your paddle is too short you will constantly bang your hands on the side of the kayak and have difficulty reaching the water with your paddle.
Kayak paddles which are too long have disadvantages, also. A longer paddle is heavier. The weight and excess length produce more strain increasing your risk of injury. A paddle that is longer than necessary for your kayak also means your strokes may be further from the boat, causing you to zig-zag rather than travel straight -- creating a lot of extra work.
Here is a kayak paddle size chart to find a recommended length based on your height, and boat width:. Once you have more paddling experience you will find room for adjustments in your desired length, but the chart provides a good basis to start. You can find paddle blades made of just about any type of material from plastic to fiberglass to carbon fiber or even wood.
There are advantages and disadvantages of each. Some are lightweight and durable while others may be highly flexible and some are heavier. We are going to share a couple of options which are light, durable, and affordable. Polypropylene blades are made of a high impact plastic. Meaning they can withstand abuse and will bend instead of break when hitting rocks and other obstructions. These paddle blades are also the most affordable. Polypropylene ones like the Carlisle Standard Kayak Paddle are a great choice for recreational paddlers.
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