Your paddle, next to the kayak itself, has the greatest influence on your performance on the water. Even a short tour requires thousands of strokes, so having the right paddle is essential. To select a kayak paddle, you must consider four basic concepts: If you want to learn everything about kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing and wakeboarding, then follow mykayakguide.com, a blog that gives top-rated kayaking information, guides and in-deph reviews.
- Length: Paddle length is determined by the width of your boat and your height. If you are buying a best river paddle board then length of paddle should be more.
- Materials and price: Lightweight materials improve performance but raise the price of a paddle.
- Blade choice: The size and shape of your paddle’s blades affect its overall efficiency in the water.
- Shaft selection: A bent shaft or feathered blades can also improve the effectiveness of a paddle.
Paddle Length
Choosing the proper size (length) of paddle is surprisingly simple. The longer your paddle, the wider your boat must be. Your height is also an important consideration, especially for a narrower boat: Longer paddles are required for taller paddlers.
As a result, paddle makers size their products based on these two factors (the paddles are sized in centimetres even though the boats are measured in inches). The Werner Paddles chart is shown below.
Tweener Sizes
If you’re in between sizes, it’s usually better to go shorter. Either size should work, but a shorter paddle will save you a few ounces. However, if you have a shorter torso, the extra reach will come in handy, and you should choose the longer paddle.Low- and High-Angle Paddles
The low-angle stroke is performed with the shaft only slightly tilted—your top hand remains below the level of your shoulder. This stroke is ideal for flat-water recreational kayaking.
The high-angle stroke, with its more tilted shaft and close-to-the-boat blade path, is one that some paddlers progress to for more speed. The stroke requires precision and is exhausting if you don’t have it. It necessitates a shorter paddle with a wider blade than a paddle used for a low-angle stroke.
Paddles are classified as low-angle or high-angle kayaking, with different size charts for each. To know more details about kayak paddle board size, you can follow My Kayak Guide, a full-stack kayaking and paddle board blog.
Materials
Blade Materials
The rule that losing weight equals better performance and a higher price also applies to lawn mowers. Because you have to raise the blade higher than the shaft, lighter materials help reduce fatigue. The efficiency of different blade materials in transferring energy to your stroke varies.
“Plastic” is a broad term that can be used to describe a number of materials. In this context, you’ll see terms like “polymer,” “polypropylene,” or different types of plastic blends that have been infused with materials like nylon or fibreglass. Each type of plastic may result in a minor improvement in performance (and price). Additionally, “composite” is a term that can be used to describe both carbon-fiber and fibreglass.
Plastic/Nylon Blades
Plastic kayaks are often chosen by recreational paddlers because they are low-cost and indestructible. However, plastic kayaks can crack and degrade when left in the sun. Additionally, the flexibility of plastic kayaks sacrifice stroke efficiency in water.
Fiberglass Blades
These paddles provide excellent performance and durability without being too expensive. The fibreglass blades are lighter than plastic, but they may chip if they hit something hard. However, they will not usually crack all the way through. In the water, rigid fibreglass blades are very effective.
Carbon-Fiber Blades
Carbon-fiber is the best option if you’re looking for top performance and are willing to pay a premium price. It is both ultralight and ultrastiff, meaning that it allows for excellent energy transfer with each stroke.
Shaft Materials
Plastic shafts are uncommon. Aluminum, the most cost-effective shaft material, is both durable and serviceable. It can also get very cold or very hot, so you should glove up before grabbing it in cold weather and keep it in the shade in hot weather.
Carbon and fibreglass shafts are strong, lightweight, and long-lasting. When you combine one of those shaft materials with either of those lightweight composite blade materials, you get the lightest and most efficient paddle option—and the price reflects that level of performance.