Choose the Right Paddle

Your paddle needs to be right if you want to get the most out of your paddling and there is more to it than you might think.

Although there are similarities we have given canoe paddles and kayak paddles their own separate pages as there is plenty to learn about each. We can start with some general principles that apply to both.

Blade Size

As well as overall length blade size affects the amount of force you can exert. The bigger the blade the more force you can apply. In less stable boats your blade is also a key means of support if the blade is too small you will feel less stable than if it is the right size. Again we will look in more detail at blade size on the specific kayak and canoe pages.

Shape

Shaft

The basic shaft is just a straight tube, however some paddlers prefer an oval shape which helps the paddler to know what angle they are holding the blade at (very useful when upside down and preparing to roll back up!). Wooden shafts can be made in an oval shape whilst round aluminium or composite shafts can be ovaled by the addition of a plastic insert which is fixed to the shaft under a layer of special "shrink to fit" plastic. It's a more elegant solution than it sounds! Some shafts are also fatter than others and a slimmer shaft will definitely be more comfortable for those with medium to small hands.

Finally there is the weirdly shaped cranked or bent shaft favoured by a small number of paddlers. The aim of these paddles is to change the way the wrist sits and is able to extend on the shaft. Some people find that they alleviate repetative strain injuries on the wrist and other people just find them a really comfortable shape for paddling.  

Blade

The most basic blade shape is a rectangle with some degree of rounding tapered at one end to fit into the shaft.  Some then have a scooped profile. Then there are asymmetric blade shapes in both flats and wings. The distance cruiser, sea paddler and racer would typically chose an asymmetric paddle whilst whitewater paddlers, surfers, slalom paddlers, polo players and canoe paddlers would all be seen with a more rectangular shaped blade.

Flats are traditional paddles that the man in the street would expect to see. We then have the less familiar "wing" paddles. These have a curled edge to grip the water and provide an element of lift in the same way that an aeroplane wing does. Again there are a range of wing shapes. Wings are extensively used by racing paddlers and are not used by canoes. More on these on the kayak paddles page.

Materials

Your paddle blade will almost certainly be made out of either polypropylene, a kevlar/ carbon / fibreglass composite or wood whilst the shaft may be made of aluminium, composite or wood.

Introductory paddles tend to use aluminium shafts and polypropylene blades as they are relatively cheap and hard wearing. When you make the switch to either wood or composite it will be like taking your big clumpy slightly oversized wellies off and putting on some really comfortable light weight running shoes. For the more serious paddlers wood remains fairly popular for canoe paddles but by far the most popular kayak paddles are those made of kevlar / carbon / fibreglass composites.

Both of these materials provide a lighter, more responsive feel and are warmer on the hands in cold weather than an aluminium shaft. Composite materials have the advantage of being made as individual components of shaft and blade which can be fitted together to suit the individual paddler. With canoe blades this is less of an issue but is a major advantage with kayak paddles. 

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