1. First you need to determine the type of paddling you be doing.
Will it be touring or whitewater kayaking?
2. Second determine your height and body strength. If you’re
under five-and-a-half feet tall, you may require a shorter than
average paddle. If you’re over six feet tall, you may require
a longer paddle.
3. Lastly, consider the width and height of your kayak. A wide or
tall kayak will need a longer paddle to reach the water.
Paddle characteristics:
Paddles have several different characteristics to consider. Below
are the characteristics you should consider when choosing your paddle:
Blade length and shape
Paddle blades can be long, short, symmetrical, asymmetrical, narrow,
wide, feathered, unfeathered, spooned or dihedral. Each shape has
its benefits. A wide blade with a larger surface face can provide
greater acceleration, but will also create more resistance in the
water. It takes more effort to use a large-bladed paddle than a
smaller one. This can be an important factor for the infrequent
paddler, as touring is more about endurance than it is about speed.
A long, narrow blade will take more strokes to move through the
same amount of water, but the paddler will be less tired while doing
it.
Paddle blades that are unfeathered have the blades
parallel to one another. Feathered paddles have
the blades turned at an angle to one another. This feathering allows
for a more efficient stroke as the blade that is not in the water
is leading into the wind with its narrow edge instead of the flat
side, making for much less wind resistance. Some paddlers, find
that the additional wrist-turning necessary to use a feathered paddle
is uncomfortable and unnatural. A good compromise for the beginner
paddler is a collapsible paddle that can be adjusted for either
feathered or unfeathered use.
Blades can be either symmetrical of asymmetrical.
Usually, touring paddles are long, narrow and symmetrical. Some
paddlers find that an asymmetrical paddle reduces the twisting on
the paddle shaft while stroking, it evens the amount of water on
each side of the submerged paddle.
A spooned paddle has a curled or cupped face that
increases the power of a stroke, while a dihedral
paddle has a type of tapered nose in the middle of the face that
helps direct water around the paddle.
Shaft Length and Shape
As we touched on earlier, a longer paddle is needed by taller paddlers
and paddlers of tall or wide boats. Often, a sit-on-top
kayak will need a longer paddle. A long paddle may provide more
power, but will also create more resistance. Whitewater kayakers
will prefer shorter paddles for their increased maneuverability,
quickness and strength.
While most paddle shafts are straight, there are several bent-shaft
models that may increase the paddler’s comfort as well
as provide for a stronger, more effective stroke.
Construction Materials
The materials used to construct the paddle will determine its weight,
durability and flexibility. Paddles may be made of fiberglass, plastic,
aluminum, graphite, Kevlar, carbon, or good-old-fashioned wood.
Each type has its own feel as to weight and flex. Each paddler will
have to consider the combination of weight, durability, flexibility
and cost.
