Kayak Paddles

Featured review by Wade In The Water

Light, stiff, and just a little picky... you just might paddle further and faster than you ever thought possible.

  These are a few of my favorite things... Werner started out in the family garage making paddles and kayaks for their own personal use. Now located in Washington State, they are committed to handcrafting the very best paddles available. Their stated mission is to obtain the Ultimate Paddle Performance through attention to detail and by building to a higher standard. Visit their website to learn more about their products and their very interesting story. Me? I'm no pro, instructor, or racer.

Read more: Werner Cyprus reviews (3)

Reviewed by Vladimir Gorbunov

The super lightweight paddle for flatwater paddling enthusiasts—with exceptional quality, look, and feel. For some people it’ll be psychologically difficult to take this paddle to hardcore adventures, because the blade material is fragile, and the gorgeous look will be lost quickly. It’s definitely not for whitewater use, where the blades will degrade inevitably. With a massive 40% discount for the “cosmetic second” label, this paddle offered incredible price-to-weight value to me.

Background and First Look By the moment of writing this, I've been an avid packrafter for two seasons, and after the end of my first season I decided to improve my gear—namely the paddles. Initially I was able to grab the Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid paddle at an extremely attractive price, and while I was largely satisfied with my purchase, my heart was still longing for a more special one. Luckily for me, at the end of 2021 Aqua Bound offered several top-of-the-line paddles at 40% discount due to cosmetic imperfections.

Read more: Aqua Bound Whiskey Fiberglass review (1)

Reviewed by Wade In The Water

An ancient design with a modern flare, this Greenland style paddle combines Inuit experience and traditions with modern materials and manufacturing.

What is a Greenland Style Paddle So far as we know, what we call the Greenland style paddle today was originally developed and used by the Inuit, Aleut, and Yup'ik, peoples between 2000 and 5000 years ago. Among the many myths about these paddles is that the skinny blade, called a pautik by its creators, was a compromise due to living in an environment with little wood to be found. The reality is that demanding sea conditions and a need to cover large distances for food and survival, led them to the invention of the kayak and along with it the best propulsion system possible to thrust it; even under what could often be adverse conditions.

Read more: Gearlab Outdoors Kalleq review (1)

Featured review by Meghan Elizabeth

Love this paddle! Lightweight, durable, with easy adjustment for feathering (or not). Great for low-angle paddlers. I've used this on lakes and the choppy ocean, and always been pleased with the performance!

Since I got this paddle 3 months ago, I've been using it at least three times a week and am always happy with it.  It was affordable, and is proving to be quite durable! The fiberglass-reinforced nylon blades make it way lighter than a plastic paddle, and I've felt consistently that my (low-angle) strokes have been smooth and efficient. This is an excellent paddle for recreational kayakers, and I've been recommending it as an affordable upgrade to all my friends!  The paddle breaks down into two pieces, which makes it easier to transport in my car or attached to a backpack.  The button that holds the pieces together doesn't stick out like on a lot of lesser paddles, so it feels like a solid one-piece once it's assembled.

Read more: Werner Skagit FG IM reviews (3)

Featured review by TAR

I borrowed my wife’s Shuna and found it a blessed relief after the Coryvreckan. It flowed, perfect balance, exactly right in every way, might have been custom made for me. More than light enough. Not that expensive really. You might think one paddle is much like another, but I assure you this is not so - ideally your technique is good, but even then each paddler is different, with different requirements. I liked it so much I ordered a one-piece version in citrus fade. I doubt I’ll ever use anything else.

Used this a lot in Pembrokeshire, North Wales. We own a Perception 2-man sit on top (heresy, I know - I can hear you spit and mutter ‘tourists!’). We both found the Shuna perfect for both of us - ‘one instinctively knows when something is right’. I had been experimenting with an Oracle (hated it, dead in the hand, hard work to use) and the Werner Corryvreckan (just too big a paddle for distance). The Shuna was a relief. Not only covering distance but also manoeuvring into caves and between stacks we noticed immediately how much more nimble we had become, not just through practice - blade size and shape was a major advance for both of us - but the efficiency, the responsiveness far superior.

Read more: Werner Shuna reviews (2)

Featured review by Swampcat

Excellent ultra light paddle with lots of adjustability. Packs down in two pieces, drip rings included, and very little "flutter" when paddling hard.

I got this paddle as a present with my kayak for Christmas from my wife. I was used to an aluminum shaft paddle on my last kayak. Immediately I noticed that this thing is light. I thought my aluminum paddle was light. I was wrong! At just over a pound, this paddle is almost non-existent in your hands. It has a positive locking ferrule that has locking positions every 10 degrees up to 60° of offset both ways from 0. The blades themselves have a split angle design, something I've never used before, and seem to cut down the "flutter" that flat blades tend to have when really digging in and paddling hard.

Read more: Aqua Bound Sting Ray Carbon reviews (2)

Reviewed by Vladimir Gorbunov

The 4-piece Aqua-Bound Manta Ray Hybrid combines the sub-1 kg (32.4 oz) weight with multi-angle ferrule in a travel-friendly package. This carbon/plastic paddle is a great rational choice for packrafting on flat and moving water. It hits the middle ground between strong whitewater-ready paddles and ultralight high-end models—at an attractive price.

After a 15-km (9 mi) trip below freezing temperature   Introduction to Aqua-Bound ‘Ray’ paddles My paddle belongs to the Aqua-Bound ‘Ray’ series, which is intended for flatwater use. There are 3 models: Sting Ray has the smallest blades in the series, Eagle Ray — for sea kayaking with long and narrow blades, Manta Ray is made for intense high angle paddling, with its shorter and wider blades. The Ray paddles are quite long, ranging from 210 to 250 cm, which hints at their flatwater focusing.  While not intended for whitewater (WW) use, the Manta Ray is the closest of the three to dedicated WW paddles, and it’s especially well suited for heavy boats and packrafts (in 4-piece version, which is reviewed here).

Read more: Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid review (1)

Reviewed by Sheila Bergin Goss

I am not a kayaker, but when I purchased a new solo canoe, it was suggested to me, that in addition to my regular canoe paddle, I look into getting a basic kayak paddle, to try with the solo canoe. I saw this Carlisle Magic paddle at LL Bean, and it looked as though it would meet my needs. It has done quite well for me, and I can recommend this paddle as a basic, recreational paddle for a kayak or canoe.

I had never used a kayak paddle before I purchased my solo boat; I have found this basic paddle to be easy to use ( assemble and take apart), is comfortable to grip and use while paddling, and allows me to paddle smoothly across expanses of lakes and ponds. (I tend to use my regular wooden canoe paddle for slow, shallow water explorations). The shaft is aluminum and the blades are polypropylene, with fiberglass reinforcement. It has held up well, being banged against rocky shorelines, thrown in the back of the car, and other normal wear and tear uses.

Read more: Carlisle Magic review (1)

Reviewed by Teri Anderson

Excellent price, lightweight, and comfortable grip.

I received this paddle as a Christmas gift. It was my second paddle, and I LOVED it. The quality, weight, and ease of use made me think this was a very expensive gift. It has a nice, natural grip and is pre-wrapped, so I have not had to add the usual Yak-Grips that I always put on my paddle shaft.  I have a small boat (9.5 foot kayak), and this paddle pushes me quickly through the water, even in a very strong head wind. I have also used it through very mild rapids on the Salt River, and to push off rocks in shallow spots with no problem at all.

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Reviewed by Wade In The Water

Amazing build quality at any price and cheap to boot...

  The Z&J Sport Small Mid-Wing Paddle—a work of art. I recently purchased a Stellar S18S from a Florida shop and the owner wouldn't take no for an answer on a wing paddle, since I didn't already have one. I told him I have a very nice Werner Cyprus paddle that I'm quite fond of, and I'd maybe check out and purchase a wing paddle at a later date, but he'd have nothing to do with it. He sent the paddle along with the boat (I live in California) at no additional charge and told me if I didn't absolutely love it he'd take it back no questions asked; and if I did love it I could just send him a check whenever.

Read more: ZJ Sport Epic Medium Wing Paddle review (1)