The long central tube of the paddle is called the shaft, with the outer few inches of both sides of the shaft - the parts that actually dip into the water - known as the throat. In tandem with your own muscles and motion, the kayak paddle is your propulsion system, your rudder for steering, and your best line of defense against rocks, hanging branches, floating debris, and any other obstacles that stand in your way during a paddling trip downriver or out on open water.įirst, let's take a moment to cover the terminology used in discussing kayak paddles. Indeed, after the boat itself, the paddle is far and away the most essential piece of gear the paddler owns and uses.
To the dedicated kayaker, the sport is not even called kayaking, but rather is referred to as paddling.
Kayak paddles plus#
Overall, we thought the Carlisle Magic Plus best for most people, since its versatile design and sturdy fiberglass construction make it perfect for recreational kayaking of any sort. The SeaSense Xtreme II, for example, is perfect for casual paddles out on the bay or in other marine environments, while the Werner Skagit CF is compact and rugged enough to hold up during aggressive white water adventures. We combed through over two dozens models while putting it together, and made sure to select a wide enough variety to cover all experience levels and aquatic applications. Whether you're heading out for some leisurely cruising at your local lake or preparing to navigate wilder waters, you're sure to find a kayak paddle to suits your needs on this list. If you are thinking of taking your children out on the water, be sure to outfit them and yourself with proper safety equipment first, such as a life vest and a helmet. 75 inches) so it's less cumbersome for little ones to maneuver. The shaft is thinner and therefore better-suited to small hands, while the length is a mere 190 centimeters (approx. This is not something that will bother a newbie, but more seasoned kayakers will probably find the experience quite underwhelming.įor water-loving youngsters, the Carlisle Kids is a suitable scaled-down version that will be easier to control compared to the rest of our choices. Unfortunately, the connection of the two halves can be a little wobbly, and occasionally the grips may shift when in use. We retained the SeaSense Xtreme II, which is longer again, as another affordable pick as it sports many of the features of a more advanced model: it's rather light, and the blades can be feathered at three angles. 90 inches) and is in a similar price bracket. For a longer length, the Oceanbroad Unisex offers 230 centimeters (approx. That said, if you have a torso of roughly 28 inches this will be a good size for you. The grip area of this selection is particularly good, but at only 213 centimeters (84 inches) it falls slightly short of conventional adult paddles. We were sure to maintain a budget offering in our selection by adding the Attwood 11768-2, which is ideal for beginners. The Carlisle Magic Plus retained a place on our list as it's considerably less expensive than all of the aforementioned suggestions, however, it's not as light as the top picks, nor does it have as good a ferrule system. Coming in at over a pound heavier, the Werner Camano caught our eye due to its blade design, which can assist the user in furthering their distance without exerting themselves unnecessarily.
Both of these models sport carbon fiber shafts and blades, though the former does offer a fiberglass variation for those who prefer it. In this round of updates, we increased the amount of top-end selections and introduced some ultra-lightweight options, such as the Wilderness Systems Pungo and the Aqua Bound Sting Ray.