Kayak Paddle Sizing Tips

These kayak paddle sizing tips are not often given by a sales person. A person buying a kayak will spend hours researching the right kayak and helmet but will not have any idea about a paddle. Often a kayak paddle is purchased because it was what came with the kayak or was the cheapest paddle available.

Some kayak paddle sizing tips are:

1. Get the correct kayak paddle length. This is determined by a person’s height and the type of kayak they have. The type of kayaking a person will be doing will also determine the length they need

2. The type and size of the shaft which is the part a person’s hands are on. Straight shafts are lighter, they most common type and are cheaper. Bent shafts put less stress on a person’s joints, help with stroke alignment and are more comfortable. Shafts are also determined by the size of a person’s hand.

3. The shape of the blade, which is the part that goes into the water and propels the kayak. Symmetrical blades can be paddled with either hand as the blades are the same on both sides. Assymetrical blades make for a smother entry in to the water.

4. The material the blade and shaft are made of is important. Some of the many materials that kayak paddles are constructed from include aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, nylon or carbon. The durability, performance, weight price are all determined by the material of the kayak paddle.

The best way to get the correct kayak paddle size is to spend almost as much time looking for a paddle as you did for a kayak.