[Closed] Whats the Jones bar of kayak paddles?

Crank shaft or cranked paddle.

I would say a nice set of paddles are lovely to use, going back to cheap ones is horrible.

Do you have a rough budget?

Do you have a rough budget?

As little as possible - i'm definitely a casual paddler! Generally 2 hours or so / 4-6 miles.

Crank paddles generally only come in a full carbon shaft with good quality fibreglass or carbon blades so are not cheap

Werner Cranks are the best in the business but most retail outlets are struggling to fulfil orders on these due to lack of stock - consequently prices have never been higher. For instance the Werner Shuna with glass blades and a neutral bent shaft is currently  £339.

Although I prefer cranked paddles too and the reduced weight of carbon I'm not convinced either of those is the primary cause of wrist pain in paddling. By far the most common reason for wrist pain is gripping the paddle shaft too tightly. I still get wrist pain with my pricey, cranked carbon paddle and it is usually when I first return to paddling after a break when my fitness and technique is rusty. Have you practised using the lightest grip possible?

Try vertical element.
Incredible paddles and you can specify what you want.
https://vepaddles.com/

Yes brilliant reputation for ve paddles. But not the budget option...

If you are trying to keep the costs down you could keep an eye out for second hand options, there are a pair of AT4 Plays on gumtree for £125 currently, but you would need to check the length. Cranked Werners on facebook about £170-£200.

You might also need to let your body build up and adjust to regular paddling.

Over gripping is common, you dont need to hold the shaft that tight in for normal paddling, can grip lightly with first 2 fingers and relax your pinky.

I got the carbon paddle from decathlon, 85 quid, wrapped some bar tape round it and love it. The cheap ones are awful and ripped up my hands. I am just an enthusiastic amateur on a sit on top, still can t keep up with the others on sit in ones but not far off.

Cranked paddles are variable between brands so might be worth asking the guide if you can otherwise its a case of experimenting.
Personally I am another fan of VE paddles (had one for several years and now they have started up again eyeing up a new one) over Werner but both are very much non budget models.

Great timing! I was going to ask this very question. I'm new to kayaking too. My £30 decathlon paddle feels unweildy somehow. Probably mu novice technique but just wondered if something better can be had for under £100

Cheap paddles with ali shafts and plastic blades are horrible and are for digging sand on the beach only. Descent carbon paddles are never cheap (over £300), but look for something maybe with a glass shaft and blade rather than carbon. Cranked blades may help, but many think they just transfer problems elsewhere. As mentioned above a light grip with your little finger out (like when you drink tea with the queen from your best china). I would also suggest small blades as they put far less strain on your body. Also learn to paddle properly if you want to avoid injury and go further faster.

 Probably mu novice technique but just wondered if something better can be had for under £100

Yes. Yes it can.

But sir knows this years BNG's add 3%, our new carbon layup reduces ankle fatigue and blade rounding for '22 is worth at least £30 more. To you, £300....

On a related note, an ex employee of mine is now making some rather nice paddles...

Might be worth trying some with less feather as well, as they need less flex / bend on the control wrist. Cheaper blades used to have almost a 90 degree offset from left to right, but less is much more comfortable if you've got wrist problems

As said above, different brands use a slightly different shape of crank so worth trying if you can. For example I never got on with Werners (I've probably still got a set in the shed) but my old Rough Stuff cranks were super comfortable

I would also suggest small blades as they put far less strain on your body. Also learn to paddle properly if you want to avoid injury and go further faster.

Agreed, when I started racing I had a big-bladed paddle like everyone else - I changed to a smaller bladed paddle, my paddling rate increased and I went faster - a bit like pedalling quicker in a lower gear.

Greenland paddle. Make your own.
Easy on the shoulder and wrists, lovely things to use. At one time very niche but now becoming more popular

I've got no direct experience of the greenland paddle, but they certainly do look promising, and if you are handy you can indeed make one out of 4x2. I'm going to have a go when I find a bit with no knots.

Thinking I might go all Heath Robinson on this with a pipe bender and stanley knife, put some kinks in and trim the blades. Its only a £40 paddle so not too much to loose!

Overpriced, heavy and ugly? I'm sure there are. 😁

Agreed, when I started racing I had a big-bladed paddle like everyone else – I changed to a smaller bladed paddle, my paddling rate increased and I went faster – a bit like pedalling quicker in a lower gear.

When I was racing I had two sized blades.  What might be called "regular" sized for K1 and K2 but some big bladed for k4..... this was in the days of wooden veneer paddles.

One thing I would advise and that is to try and have a trial go with any paddles the OP is thinking of buying and see how they feel, if your comfortable etc.

Slightly random suggestion but tied to the not over gripping is to apply surf wax where you hold…

but reducing the feather as well if they’re cheap 90degrees blades will make a difference.

Crank paddles might help as could a set of straight shafted paddles with blades at a different degree of feather.

As has been send most croaked paddles have a carbon shaft but there are a few aluminium ones out there. But they are not really any cheaper.

For all things kayak based checkout my site. This link goes to the paddle archive with paddle news and reviews.

https://www.unsponsored.co.uk/press/category/paddles/

For all things kayak based checkout my site.

Shamelessly hijacking the thread since I do like your reviews. Have you tried the VE paddles since they got taken over by palm and if so are they as nice as before? Really tempted to get some aircores after several years good service from the glass versions which are a bit worn down now.

A mate has a new set of split ve paddles (since they restarted) and they feel exactly the same as my non split ones. Doesn't appear to be any difference apart from the obvious join in the middle. I am seriously tempted by a set of splits now

Doesn’t appear to be any difference apart from the obvious join in the middle. I am seriously tempted by a set of splits now

Good to know especially about the splits. Been a couple of times I have been travelling and couldnt manage the zen or even paddles so splits are rather tempting if they hold up well.

Lendal/Celtic Paddles are the solid, dependable and not stupid expensive of the paddle world. I used Lendal river blades for years, and still use their sea cranks.
https://www.celticpaddles.com/

The hard thing with cranks is getting the right width between the crank part - it's not like a straight shaft where you've got lots of scope to move your hands about. River cranks of the right length always feel too wide to me, like I'm imitating a Baboon, but the Lendal sea cranks feel right.

I haven't tried the new VE paddles. However I know that Stu had been working hard with Palm to ensure the transition of both the company and production quality of the paddles with the Palm team remained high.

I have had an early set of cranked VE's, a set of splits and the new creek blade prior to production being paused. Quality, feel and performance always top notch. As a right handed person who paddles left handed been able to get a set of custom blades made up to spec quickly was also a bonus.