Kayak Paddles

      If you are going to kayak then you are going to need a paddle. There are all different sorts of paddles to choose from today, and making the right choice is important. Having the right paddle will help your ease of motion, your stamina, and your overall enjoyment of going out on the water. You must make sure you have the right type, weight, and length for your specific needs.

Also, different kayak paddle blades will have different effects on the control you have over your kayak. Click Here to learn more about kayak paddle blades on another one of our pages.

 

Paddle Information

      You might want to know what to expect when shopping for a kayak paddle. Granted, paddles come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials. They are made of wood, Kevlar, carbon fiber, aluminum, and graphite, just to name a few. What materials the paddle is made out of will affect the weight and strength of the paddle. There are also many different lengths that paddles come in. The length that you will need is determined by many different factors that will be discussed on this page. The shaft of the paddle may also be bent or straight, this is only to accommodate the preference of the paddler. Finally the shape and size of the blades of the paddle are important to notice.

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Things You Should Know

- Larger blade = More water resistance = faster movement in water/ more fatigue
- Smaller blade = less water resistance = Less fatigue/ less responsiveness
- Be prepared, paddles get more expensive than you may think. Don’t enter the store thinking you will find a decent kayak paddle for under $50. Also, don’t be afraid to spend the money because you only need to buy a paddle once and it is the second most important thing you are going to buy for kayaking.
- If you don’t want to commit to one specific paddle, don’t worry, they do make adjustable paddles that you can set up several different ways. (lengths, blade rotation or degrees)
- If you plan to be in real aggressive waters purchase a paddle leash just in case. Losing your paddle is not a good feeling and a leash is not expensive.

Choosing a Paddle

      Choosing a paddle is not a difficult task. You just need to consider a few things while making your decision:

- What kind of paddling you will be doing
      o Touring – Longest paddle you can handle with a medium sized blade
      o White water – Shorter paddle, larger blade
      o Recreational – Medium length, medium blade, or your preference.

- Your strength and height
         Shorter person, shorter paddle and vice versa

- Boat length
      o Same ratio as previous

Interactive Paddle selector at EpicKayaks.com

Maintaining a Kayak Paddle

There are not many things you need to do to maintain a kayak paddle, but I have heard of people waxing the blades of the paddle to keep the least resistance possible when cutting in and moving through the water.

Kayak Paddles

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