How to Choose a Kayak Paddle

After selecting the best kayak, the paddle has a huge impact on your performance on the water. Selecting the right size of paddle is more of an art. A proper paddle can make the difference in every stroke.
To choose a kayak paddle, you have to consider a few things. What are they? Take a look.

How to Choose a Kayak Paddle: 10 Things to Consider

 

1.      Durability and material
Shaft Material: Among various materials, we recommend you to choose the aluminum. As the plastic shafts became rare, the aluminum shafts are budget friendly, serviceable, and durable.
One more thing, we suggest you to glove-up because these shafts can get really hot or cold.
Carbon and fiberglass shafts are also durable. Paddlers adore them for their lightweight. These can be your efficient paddle option. The price is also worth it.

Blade material: Plastic blades are often chosen by the recreational paddlers as they are low-price leader. These are creakable and degrade in the sun. Plastic blades are flexible but not stroke-efficient.
Fiberglass blades are excellent in performance and middle in the price range. More durable and lightweight than plastic.
Carbon-fiber blades: If you want top performance, you can pay top dollar for carbon-fiber.

2.      Paddle length and sizing for different kayak
Its surprisingly straightforward to figure out the right length of paddle. Your paddle need to be long according to your boat’s width. Your own height is another factor, if you have a narrow boat. Long ones are for taller paddlers.
So paddles are made considering these two factors. If you fall between two sizes, we recommend you to to go shorter.

3.      Paddle shape
Modern paddle blades feature an asymmetrical dihedral shape. It is relatively narrow ans shorter one side. That helps it angle so that the surface area become more uniform when pushing though water.
Dihedral blade allows water to flow over both halves of it smoothly. As a result, it’s not very difficult to track straight.
Because of being lighter, narrow blades gives comfort in long stretches of paddling. Helpful for a long or multiday trip.
Wider blades provide powerful strokes that make your acceleration quicker. Most kayak riders prefer them for this feature.
Some of the specialized blades feature J-shaped notch for retrieving snared fishing lines and hooks.

4.      Paddling category
Low-angle: low-angle paddling is the another name of relaxed paddling. It’s ideal for casual recreational paddling and touring. It will not tire you although it’s not powerfull enough. Low angle paddling demands a longer paddle.
Low angle is the most common style. Most paddlers use this as this is comfortable.

High-angle: this is a more aggrasive paddling style for generating more powerful strokes. It demands a shorter paddle.
Subtract 10cm from your paddle if you want high-angle paddling.

5.      Seat height
Sit-on-top kayaks contains seats that sit little higher above the water level. This is common fact for fishing kayaks that have both high and low sitting conditions.
If you want to paddle sitting high, consider adding 8-10cm to compromise the distance from the water.

6.      Shaft design
Two types of shaft- straight shaft and bent shaft. The bent shaft paddles feature a “kinked” section that positions your hand s in more comfortable position during the power portion of a stroke, prevents fatigue and discomfort in your joints.
I recommend you to adjust your stroke technique if you’re switching from a straight shaft to a bent shaft.

7.      Blade design
It is quite complex to suggest about blade shapes. It can be simplified by depending on where you paddle.
For cruising on lakes or other flat water, long and skinny blades are the best.
Choose shorter and wider blades for surfing in river or shallow water.

8.      Weight
The weight of a paddle should be lighter that means less fatigue in your joints in a long day canoeing. Not only weight, but also consider the strength and flexibility before shopping.
In the case of flat water canoeing, a flexible paddle can help to absorb shock with each stroke.

9.      Performance
We suggest you to find high-tech paddles if you want the latest in paddling innovation. Lightweight performance paddles are manufactured to help reduce fatigue, swing weight so that you can concentrate on the adventure ahead.

10. Budget
After all these facts, budget is another core factor choosing a paddle. You may have to pay about $150 on average if you want to buy fiberglass models.
If you want to spend money on lightweight carbon paddles, you may have to cost among $275 and $500. We recommend you to select a lightweight paddle.

 

Conclusion

That’s all the factors to how to choose a kayak paddle. Consider these factors if you want the best paddle for your kayak.

You can visit this site for more help (kayakfisherly.com). Feel free to take advice from the experts. Happy paddling!