Selecting
the Correct Kayak Paddle: Quick Guide
Choosing the right kayak paddle is as important as choosing the right kayak.
It seams simple enough, and in reality it is. But paddles vary widely in size, shape,
weight, material, length and of course, price. Which is the right paddle for you? Well,
rule number one when choosing the right kayak paddle is there are no rules. That being
said, there are however some good guidelines to help you choose the right paddle.
Basically, there are three main points that need to be considered:
1) What type of paddling are you doing:
Touring / longer distances, recreational / day paddling, whitewater?
2) Your kayak: Length, width, sit-in or sit-on-top(seat height)
3) Your: Height, strength, body type?
Paddle Length
The biggest factor that will influence the length of your paddle is the
type of paddling you will be doing. Whitewater paddles are seldom longer than 205cm, most
being between 190-200cm. Touring and recreational paddles are seldom shorter than 210cm,
most being between 220-240cm, and sometimes 250cm or longer! An average length (if there
is one) for touring and recreational paddles is 230cm. Wider kayaks as well as
recreational sit-on-tops typically require a longer paddle while narrower kayaks allow the
use of a shorter paddle. As well, a taller paddler, typically, would use a longer paddle
and vise versa.
Blade Length and Shape
As with paddle length, the type of paddling you are doing will largely
determine what kind of blade you will be using. Typically, whitewater paddle blades are
shorter and wider than touring and recreational blades. Larger blades provide better
acceleration, but require more effort. Smaller blades with a narrow and longer shape don't
provide as much acceleration, but are less fatiguing. Hence, smaller blades are suitable
for touring, where acceleration is not critical but endurance is. Likewise, larger blades
with a shorter / wider shape are more suitable for whitewater where endurance is less
important than power and acceleration.
Materials and Construction
There are basically four categories of material used to make kayak
paddles. They are often combined to enhance certain qualities and they consist of:
Wood - Countless varieties of wood are used for both
shafts and blades.
Metal - Such as aluminum and titanium, typically used for shafts.
Composites - Fiberglass, Kevlar, Carbon and many other fibers are used for shafts and
blades.
Plastic - Various types, typically used for blades
They all have their advantages and
disadvantages. The four main points to consider when selecting a paddle material are
weight, durability, flex and of course cost. Aluminum shaft paddles with plastic blades
are value oriented and hardly ever more than $150, but they can be heavy. Paddles with
composite shafts and blades are typically much lighter, but seldom under $150. Wood
paddles run the gamut from under $100 to well over $400 or more. Spend as much as you can
afford on a paddle, as a light paddle with a low swing weight, a nice flex and blade shape
will make a tremendous difference in your paddling enjoyment. And that's what it's all
about after all.
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