Kayak Paddles | Choosing The Right Kayak Paddle

Kayak paddles are your #1 piece of equipment. It provides your propulsion and steering and will be in your hands nearly all the time. Next to your kayak, your paddle is the most important piece of gear you'll purchase. Let's take a look at some kayak paddle options.

Touring paddles are usually sold as two-piece models for ease of storage and transport. Touring paddles are usually between 210-240 centimeters in length. Best advice: Try a 220-cm paddle to start out and fine-tune to what works best for you.

Whitewater paddles are usually between 191-200 centimeters in length. Size a paddle by gripping the shaft, hands four or five inches from the blades, and place the shaft on top of your head. Your elbows should be at 90 degrees. Whitewater paddles take quite a beating and require excellent durability. They're usually one-piece and have a fiberglass shaft and epoxy blades.

Kayak Paddle Blade Shapes

Wider blades (6 to 8 inches or more) supply greater resistance and are considered more powerful for acceleration than narrow blades, but the added width can cause more strain on the wrist, arm, and shoulder tendons.

Touring design paddles have long, narrow blades (5 inches or less). These paddles tend to have slower acceleration and less overall power, but they are less fatiguing, especially on longer trips with a loaded kayak.

Kayak racers use an extreme paddle design called a "wing" with a pronounced scoop to its blade; this provides a more positive "bite" on the water during a forward stroke but can take some getting used to, especially with other strokes.

Kayak Paddles | Feathered or Unfeathered?

A feathered paddle has the blades rotated at an angle on the axis of the shaft. An unfeathered paddle has its blades on the same plane.

Feathered blades offer less resistance to a headwind, while unfeathered blades are best in a wind from the side. Unfeathered blades also require less wrist and forearm motion and are less likely to cause tendonitis.

Each type works well under different circumstances and neither is best for all conditions. The best solution is to purchase a two-piece breakdown paddle that adjusts to either feathered or unfeathered position and stick with the one that feels and works best for you.

Kayak Paddle Materials

Kayak paddles are available in a wide variety of materials which determine the paddle's strength, weight, durability, and cost. The heaviest and least-expensive paddles have metal shafts and plastic blades. Fiberglass or wood is common for mid-weight, midprice paddles: wooden paddles tend to be as light or lighter than fiberglass, but not as durable. Kayak paddles made from Kevlar, graphite, or carbon fiber are usually the lightest, but they also tend to be less durable and expensive.

Blade and Shaft Weight

The most expensive kayak paddles are nearly always the lightest in weight. These can weigh well under two pounds, while the heaviest can run more than three pounds. This weight range of little more than a pound can seem insignificant at first, but after a long day on the water it makes a big difference.

The average paddler makes about one thousand paddle strokes per mile, hence, a few ounces in paddle weight over the course of a day begins to count heavily. Bottom line: don't scrimp when purchasing a paddle. Money spent on a decent kayak paddle will seem well worth it in the long run. The lightest paddles are great for long distance touring on flat water, but you may want something sturdier for more challenging conditions or for practicing your skills.

What's The Right Length?

There is no formula for selecting the correct kayak paddle length. Beyond a few basic considerations, it's a matter of personal preference. The most common length for a general touring paddle is between seven and eight feet or 210 to 240 centimeters. A good rule of thumb is to raise your right arm straight over your head; now take a paddle, stand it on end, and if the top of the uppermost blade reaches the top of your hand, you're in the right ballpark.

The best paddle for you is one suited to your strength and the size and handling of your kayak. Wider kayaks require longer paddles and narrower kayaks require shorter paddles. Longer paddles put more leverage into each stroke, but require more effort. Shorter paddles require less leverage and allow for a faster cadence and smoother acceleration.