As the adage goes: You can’t travel too far up the creek without a paddle. Sure, you can contort your hands into diminutive kitchen spoons and inch yourself through a slow-moving stream — but that’s no fun. Or practical. But good news: the best kayak paddle is out there, just for you!
One of our goals at The Adventure Junkies is to provide you with not only practical information, but insight into what products are out there that will help you make the most out of any outing. Big or small; domestic or international. We just want to see you succeed in your odyssean travels.
Ready your online shopping carts and double-check your preferred paddle length, here are some of the best kayak paddles you can buy right now.
For more of our top kayaking gear recommendations, check out these popular articles:
Sea Kayaks | Sit on Top | Tandem | Canoes | Inflatable Kayaks
Paddles | Seats | PFDs | Dry Bags | Anchors | GPS
Wetsuits | Drysuits | Gloves | Shoes
Fishing Kayaks | Rods | Reels | Rod Holders | Fish Finders
SUPs | Inflatable SUPs | Paddles
QUICK ANSWER – THE BEST KAYAK PADDLES
1. AQUA-BOUND STING RAY POSI-LOK
2. WERNER CAMANO HOOKED
3. BENDING BRANCHES WHISPER
4. SEA SENSE X-1
5. WERNER KALLISTE — CARBON
6. AQUA-BOUND MANTA RAY POSI-LOK
7. WERNER TYBEE — FIBERGLASS
8. WERNER CYPRESS CARBON
9. TRAC-OUTDOOR PRODUCT CURVE
10. WERNER CAMANO
COMPARISON TABLE – THE BEST KAYAK PADDLES
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Werner Calliste Carbon |
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KAYAK PADDLES REVIEWS
AQUA-BOUND STING RAY POSI-LOK — FULL CARBON
Check out the latest price on:REI
BEST FOR: Open ocean kayaking, fishing, kayaking sprints, leisure
SHAFT MATERIALS: Carbon Fiber
BLADE MATERIALS: Carbon Fiber
PROS: Lightweight and completely rust and weather resistant
CONS: Quite a bit pricer than other aluminum or fiberglass models
WERNER CAMANO HOOKED STRAIGHT SHAFT
BEST FOR: Fishing, moderately aggressive waters, open ocean kayaking
SHAFT MATERIALS: Carbon Fiber Blend
BLADE MATERIALS: Polycarbonate
PROS: Fully rust and weather resistant
CONS: Expensive
BENDING BRANCHES WHISPER
BEST FOR: Fishing, leisure kayaking
SHAFT MATERIALS: Aluminum
BLADE MATERIALS: Fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene
PROS: One of the most portable kayak paddles currently on sale
CONS: Not constructed with the most high-end materials
SEA SENSE X-1
Check out the latest price on:Amazon
BEST FOR: Fishing
SHAFT MATERIALS: Aluminum
BLADE MATERIALS: Plastic
PROS: Two piece and weather-tested aluminum shaft, capable of withstanding open ocean use and weathering
CONS: Sub-par materials used to construct the blade
WERNER KALLISTE — CARBON
BEST FOR: Sporing endeavors, kayak sprints, white water
SHAFT MATERIALS: Carbon fiber
BLADE MATERIALS: Carbon fiber
PROS: With a full-carbon build construction, it’s able to withstand even the most aggressive or ripe tides or white waters
CONS: Expensive, only recommended for those who tend to kayak frequently or for sport
AQUA-BOUND MANTA RAY POSI-LOK — FULL CARBON
BEST FOR: Sporting endeavors, white waters, fishing, kayak sprints
SHAFT MATERIALS: Carbon Fiber
BLADE MATERIALS: Carbon Fiber
PROS: A high-angle styled paddle that’s constructed fully of carbon fiber and can be separated at the center for easy transportation
CONS: Blades are not removable
WERNER TYBEE — FIBERGLASS
Check out the latest price on:REI
BEST FOR: Fishing, paddling through moderately aggressive waters
SHAFT MATERIALS: Fiberglass-carbon Blend
BLADE MATERIALS: Fiberglass-reinforced Nylon
PROS: One of the more affordable sport-minded kayak paddles currently available
CONS: Made of fiberglass-composites, it’s not as strong as other full-carbon builds
WERNER CYPRUS CARBON
BEST FOR: White waters, kayak sprints, fishing
SHAFT MATERIALS: Carbon fiber
BLADE MATERIALS: Carbon fiber
PROS: Regarded as one the most well-built, full-carbon kayak paddles currently available
CONS: Expensive
TRAC-OUTDOOR PRODUCT CURVE
Check out the latest price on:Amazon
BEST FOR: Leisure use, kayaking through slow-moving streams and lakes
SHAFT MATERIALS: Aluminum and Plastic composites
BLADE MATERIALS: Plastic composites
PROS: Great entry-level kayak paddle
CONS: Not recommended for anything outside leisure use
WERNER CAMANO
BEST FOR: Leisure use, such as fishing and paddling through calm waters
SHAFT MATERIALS: Carbon Fiber and fiberglass Blend
BLADE MATERIALS: Fiberglass
PROS: Reliable, strong build quality
CONS: More expensive than other budget-friendly kayak paddles
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST KAYAK PADDLES
PADDLING STYLE
There are two kinds of people in this world: ones that row high, and ones that row low. Determine if you’re a low-angle or high-angle rower before you move from renting to purchasing. The following descriptions and basics on paddling article from REI.com help tell you which group you fall into.
HIGH-ANGLE PADDLERS
If you position your upper-hand above shoulder-height, then you’re angling the shaft at a steeper angle. Higher-angled stroking styles cause the blade to enter the water column at a higher angles. Because of the paddles alignment with the water column, shorter paddle lengths and wider blade widths are recommended for high-angle paddlers.
LOW-ANGLE PADDLERS
If you position your upper-hand below shoulder-height, then you’re angling the shaft at a more gradual angle. Lower-angled stroking styles cause the blade to enter the water at lower angle. Because of the paddles alignment with the water column, longer paddle lengths and narrower blade widths are recommended for low-angle paddlers.
PADDLE LENGTH
No two paddles are created equal—especially for you. Feel free to reference this sizing chart from REI.com to what your ideal paddle length may be. (Reminder: be sure you’ve identified your paddling style first before anything else.)
BLADE MATERIALS
From carbon fiber to polyurethane, we’re in a day-and-age where the fin-like extension on your paddle (the blade) can be made from a litany of materials. While carbon fiber is the most sought after medium, it’s pricey. For a more affordable blade materials, look toward plastics.
SHAFT MATERIAL
Shafts can be made from anything like aluminum, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Unlike blades where the lighter is better, shafts need to have some weight to them to attain a balanced feel.
FREQUENCY OF USE
Wether you’re a once-a-month kayaker or someone who takes-out your vessel almost daily, how often you kayak will play a role into which paddle is right for you. While plastic and off-brand paddles will be cheaper, odds are the carbon fiber, name-brand examples will outlast the more affordable options by a long ways.
RECREATION VS. SPORT
Are you someone who’s competing in kayaking and canoeing sprints or marathons? Then you’ll need to best, lightest, most durable paddle for your style and size. But, if you’re more into fishing from your kayak, fiberglass and plastics will do. We’d also recommend investing in a kayak anchor for recreational use, too.
WATER TYPE
Kayaking in freshwater doesn’t raise too many concerns in regards to rust and weathering. However, that completely changes when you begin paddling through brackish and oceanic waters. These two saline waters will wreck havoc on the wood, steel, and aluminum elements of any paddle.
WHITE-WATER VS. SLOW-MOVING-WATER
If you’re tackling level-four rapids, you’re going to need the strongest, most durable paddle you can find. But, if you’re primarily kayaking through the calm waters of a lake or slow-moving creek, a more affordable, less rigid paddle will suffice.
The post Best Kayak Paddles of 2018 appeared first on The Adventure Junkies.
from The Adventure Junkies http://bit.ly/2ShgOFL
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