The innovative features of this paddle include angled blades that cut just below the water surface for glide rather than heavy dipping, changeable blades, bowed handle contoured like a kayak’s prow made of powder-coated aluminum for lightweight paddling and improved grip, and above all, an ergonomic design for hours of fatigue-free paddling. Generally speaking, athletic paddlers opt for shorter paddles that have wide blades which provide exceptional power with each stroke. Kayak paddles having blades in the same plane (when viewed down the shaft) are called “un-feathered.” Paddles with blades in different planes are called “feathered”. The Athena is the smart choice for smaller paddlers who have a low-angle style of paddling and want a blade to match their stature. Up-to-date pricing and reviews for kayak paddles on the market can be found at the kayak models website.
The Athena’s small size blades pull effortlessly through each stroke, for less fatigue in smaller paddlers. For sea kayakers and kayak anglers, the taller and wider the front of your kayak is, the longer the shaft of your paddle needs to be in order for you to be able to reach into the water for an efficient forward stroke. On the other hand, if you avoid kayaking in rough conditions and don’t plan to learn to roll, then paddles with long, narrow blades (called, low angle paddles) will work fine too, and they may be a little gentler on the shoulders.
Those looking to have a more relaxed approach to kayaking, or even athletic paddlers looking to be gentle on their bodies, may choose a mid to smaller size blade shape. This review is based on the needs of recreational flatwater kayakers, so we focused our research on low-angle touring kayak paddles. The blade shape is designed to catch the water efficiently and effectively at this angle, giving the paddler a powerful stroke.
Some kayak paddles are feathered, which means one blade is connected to the shaft at a different angle to the other, a bit like an airplane propeller. Kayak paddle where the blade at one end of the paddle is at an angle to the blade at the other end; for example, while the stroke blade with a 90-degree feathered paddle is face-on to the water, the blade in the air is flat to reduce air resistance. The Werner Powerhouse Fiberglass Bent Shaft Paddle is specially designed for seasoned kayakers tackling whitewater rivers and creeks.
Portable, light-weight, and easy to adjust, fiberglass shaft SUP paddle with a durable polycarbonate blade for great performance. A durable, light-weight, adjustable length 4-part touring paddle with rigid fiberglass shafts and glass filled Nylon blades. Total paddle length = 98 inches (250cm) Paddle weight = 2.1 pounds (34oz) 2 piece paddle with 3 adjustable blade angles and drip guards Carbon fiber shaft with reinforced ABS…
Carbon fiber shaft with reinforced fiberglass paddle blades (floats) Paddle blades can come in various shapes and sizes to provide for optimal paddling at different angles. We have a wide variety of kayak paddles – from day touring to lightweight whitewater – that are a perfect compliment to all of our kayaks !
Kayak paddles differ from most other paddle powered water sports as the one paddle features blades on either side. There are both bent and straight options for touring kayak paddles but the blade size and paddle materials will be vastly different. The key to these kayak paddles is cutting as much weight as possible without sacrificing any of the durability or strength, a good example are fiberglass shaft.
This is the best carbon fiber paddle that will allow you to power through the water with ease with its feathered blade design. If you are going to be doing a lot of kayak touring, especially in open water, a feathered paddle will be a good choice because it can make paddling easier in these conditions. Feathered paddles can decrease the resistance from a headwind or tailwind while you paddle because one blade will be positioned at an angle to cut through the air while the other pushes water.
Mid-range blades often have fiberglass blades and carbon shafts, representing a compromise between weight, durability and price. While choosing a kayak paddle may seem as easy as acquiring something with two blades to propel you through the water, there is a little more to it. It features a larger fiberglass reinforced nylon blades with built-in retrieval hook, a longer adjustable fiberglass shaft for wider kayaks like the CATCH 120NXT, drip rings, 0 – 65˚ blade angle adjustment, a tape measure along the shaft and a safety whistle integrated in the ferrule.
With its all-carbon shaft and large, abXII fiberglass-reinforced blades, the Manta Ray Hybrid has a low swing weight and provides both comfort and power at a great price point. • Feathering a paddle means the blades are not lined up. You can buy single shaft paddles with the blades offset at a fixed angle, or a take apart paddle where the ferrule lets you lock the two parts together with different amounts of blade angle. Like with low angle paddles, the goal is to get all of the blade in the water, but the more vertical stroke lets that happen with a shorter blade.
Low v. High Angle Paddler: When talking kayak paddling, low and high refer to the angle the paddle is held across the paddler’s chest during a normal forward stroke. Few people noticed the reduction in diameter from the old standard size wood shaft, and before long these smaller fiberglass shafts became the new standard size (Later when carbon paddle shafts came on the scene, they copied the popular diameter used on fiberglass shafts, and even most newer wood paddles have submitted to roughly this diameter shaft). Way back when all kayak paddles were made of wood, the typical paddle shaft had a larger diameter than the fiberglass and carbon shafts on today’s paddles.
If the asymmetry is well matched to your stroke style (i.e. high vs. low angle forward stroke technique), you will get equal water pressure on both sides of the blade during the planting of your paddle, and this reduces the tendency of the paddle to twist in your hand. A little bit of curvature may reduce the splash as the paddle enters the water, however, the more curved a blade is, generally the less forgiving it will be. Practically all sea kayak paddles are asymmetric (angled at the tip). In comparison to most traditional arctic kayak paddles (which are beyond the scope of this guide), almost all modern (Euro”) style paddles have short, wide blades.
This feature called ‘indexing’, allows kayakers to easily feel the angle at which they are holding their kayak paddle, enabling them to have better awareness and control over the blade’s angle of entry into the water. Intermediate and advanced paddlers will also notice the flex that these blades produce, which results in a less effective and enjoyable stroke. Some paddle manufacturers offer the same paddle design with different blade sizes to suit individual styles of paddling.
The Werner and Aquan-Bound paddles offered the paddler the opportunity to make incremental adjustments to the feather of their kayak blades. Some paddlers prefer a high angle paddling style. The low angle paddling style favors a stroke where the paddler’s wrists do not rise above their heads.
A whitewater kayaking paddle is poorly suited for kayak touring, mainly because touring kayakers should use a much longer paddle than a whitewater kayaker — the narrower and shorter the boat, the shorter the paddle length needed. I mostly prefer unfeathered blades from an ergonomic standpoint, though… after paddling a feathered blade all day, rotating my wrists back and forth to get the angle right on each stroke, my wrists and elbows start really burning in a way that makes me worry about long-term joint damage. Most of the time these specific type of paddles use asymmetrical dihedral blades.
These type of paddles will give you a huge blade option with trivial weight shafts. The first one is a style that is basically relaxing and the paddles you use for this type is going to have slimmer blades. It’s a master of high-angle paddling, and its nylon, abX blades can move in the water.
This lets paddlers get more power behind each stroke, making it ideal for the average kayak. For the most efficient paddle, pair a carbon fiber or fiberglass blade with a shaft of the same material. High-angle paddles have blades closer to the boats.
A low-angle paddle is for relaxed, recreational kayaking in calm water. Made with rich-looking alder, roasted basswood and basswood, the Bending Branches Angler Navigator Plus has a proven blade design that is more flexible than composite paddles. The Assassin kayak paddles not only display the patented hook and teeth” blade design and raised graphics package, they also provide unsurpassed performance and versatility.
Made with a polypropylene blade and aluminum shaft, paddlers will appreciate it’s responsive performance and… Weight -33oz Blade- Fiberglass n6 Shaft – Carbon Fiber. Too many paddlers waste time and a lot of energy holding their paddles incorrectly.
Everything from the blade to shaft to size of the paddle has been designed in a certain way. This style paddle has been designed for more calm settings since the blades are smaller and symmetrical. There are nearly as many styles of paddles as there are types of kayaks.
When a paddle is feathered, it simply means that the angle of the two blades is different. Q: Why Are The Best Kayaking Paddles Feathered? A: The best recreational kayak paddles have two blades attached by a long pole.
To make the best touring kayak paddle, the materials used will be higher quality than that of recreational ones, in fact, a touring paddle is meant to travel longer distances which means even an extra ounce of weight will be magnified over time. The smaller blade size won’t slow you down since you move it more rapidly than other paddlers. These kayak paddles will be a little bit longer than their counterpart with a more slender blade that allows you to fully extend through your stroke.
Having both styles of paddles will allow you the opportunity to seamlessly paddle in any type of water. The strong angle on this type of paddle will allow you to cut through the air quickly delivering the fast strokes needed to maneuver in this type of water. High-angle paddling, on the other hand, is more used by experienced kayakers tackling more challenging waters.
These types of paddles feature horizontal thin blades that are generally longer in length. Depending on your skill and the type of water you are paddling through, your paddle style is bound to change. Larger paddlers, those taller or heavier, should opt for a bigger paddle that with a wide blade will deliver a slower yet efficient stroke.
Depending on the type of kayak you buy, your personal height and your stroke style you should choose your paddle length accordingly. Being able to break this lightweight kayak paddle into two pieces helps when finding a place to store it. Don’t worry about having to dive into the water to find this paddle as it has been designed to stay afloat no matter what kind of water you are in. It has a contour molded blade which helps propel paddlers easily through the water.
If the two blades are set at different angles, this means the paddle is feathered. If both blades on a paddle are set at an equal angle when the blade lays flat on the ground, then the paddle is unfeathered. Feathering on a kayak paddle refers to the angle of the two blades.
They are a common choice for kayak touring and recreational paddlers. The shafts can be cold in chilly weather and due to their heavier weight would not be as enjoyable to paddle on a multi-day tour as a carbon fiber or fiberglass paddle. This is a good kayak paddle choice for racers and may be uncomfortable for the recreational paddler who prefers more mellow, low-angle strokes.
Blades on these low angle paddles are longer and skinnier than high angle paddles. View our selection of whitewater kayak paddles in Paddling Buyer’s Guide. The blades on high angle paddles are shorter and broader.
A kayak paddle that fits you and your paddling style can make the difference between a fun, rewarding experience on the water, or sore hands and shoulders at the end of the day. Your kayaking paddle will be in your hands the entire time you’re on the water, so picking the right one is critical. Paddles can be feathered for left- and right-handed paddlers.
Typically a touring paddle’ blades are feathered, meaning that the blades point to different directions. Most kayak paddles do the same with their blades. Due to the oversize nature of one piece whitewater and SUP paddles, and recent changes in the shipping industry, standard shipping on these items starts at $14.95. One-Piece Kayak and SUP Paddles cannot be shipped internationally via the United States Postal Service.
Choosing a whitewater kayak paddle greatly depends on the type of paddling that you will be doing. Kayak touring paddle sizing depends on your torso length, boat beam width (widest point of your boat) and paddling style. While these paddles are great for forward strokes, they are not ideal for whitewater or other stroking styles, which require maneuverability.
These guidelines will help provide you with the basics to get started and are based on the goal of providing you with a paddle length that will put the whole blade in the water during the power phase of your stroke while leaving your body in a comfortable paddling position. 2 Bent shaft paddles, popular with tripping and marathon canoers, have a blade that is angled from the shaft, usually 12 to 15 degrees. They are generally less flat and are curved to catch more water which will enable racing paddlers to maximize the efficiency of their stroke.
Cheaper kayak paddles have an aluminium shaft while more expensive ones use a lighter fibreglass or carbon fibre shaft. Paddles for use in kayaks are longer, with a blade on each end; they are handled from the middle of the shaft. Paddles commonly used in canoes consist of a wooden , fibreglass , carbon fibre , or metal rod (the shaft) with a handle on one end and a rigid sheet (the blade) on the other end. Be sure to visit kayak models for the best kayak paddles on the market to buy.
The Gullwing Ergonomic Kayak Paddle was designed for paddlers with back or shoulder issues, but has been enthusiastically received by a wide variety of paddlers. Fiberglass reinforced nylon, injection molded blades are impact and wear resistant, a combination of light swing weight for the value yet premium patented Smart View Adjustable ferrule allows for the solid feel of a 1-piece paddle and nothing to snag your gear.