How to Choose a Kayak Paddle

You found a kayak you love and the store even has it in the color you want.� Your life vest fits like a glove and it matches your new kayak perfectly.� Now your eyeing a rack of kayak paddles and are attempting to�make sense�those various paddle�lengths and blade designs.� At this point, a kayak salesperson will likely grab a few different paddles from the rack and apply some cryptic method for choosing the right size.� It usually involves resting the paddle on your head, which right away should indicate flawed logic.� Unless the paddle comes with a chin strap, ignore the salesperson’s advise and follow these logical steps in choosing your new kayak paddle.

Kayak paddles come in� a wide range of lengths, but flatwater kayaking paddles are typically 200 to 240 cm in length, or so.��Paddles are available in various materials and the blades come in different sizes.� First, consider what you will be using the paddle for.� If you will be engaging in a lot of paddling at long durations, choose a narrow blade and as light a kayak paddle as you can afford.� The lighter materials like kevlar and carbon fiber typically cost much more than aluminum and plastic kayak paddles.� Wood kayak paddles are usually pretty light and fall btween the aluminum and kevlar paddles in price.� If you are going to be taking shorter kayaking trips, you may want to choose a larger paddle blade since fatigue over the long haul won’t be an issue.
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Okay, so now the most important part – choosing the kayak paddle length.� First, consider the width of your kayak’s deck, not your height.� The paddle has to clear the kayak’s width and allow the blade to reach the water.� You don’t want a too much of the paddle’s blade going into the water.� Choose a kayak paddle that will allow about 3/4 of the blade into the water, but no more.�� Any more than that and you are only causing drag and wasting your energy.
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Another consideration when choosing a kayak paddle is the type of water you will be kayaking in most often.� Will there be big swells, such as on the ocean?� If so, you may need a longer kayak paddle in order to maintain contact with the water.� Will the water be mainly calm?� In this case you can go with a shorter kayak paddle.��

Ultimately, the best thing to do is try out a few different sizes while in the kayak you will be paddling.� Check that the paddle doesn’t bang on the kayak’s�deck a lot (the kayak paddle is too short) and that the shaft doesn’t touch the water or submerge with every stroke (the kayak paddle is too long).� The fact of the matter is, a short paddler could very well end up paddling with the same length kayak paddle as a tall paddler, depending on�kayak type and the other previously mentioned factors.� Take your time and choose the right paddle.� It’s going to be accompanying you on, and making a big difference in, the kayak trips you take.