That being said, I would never insinuate that you need to have a high-performance paddle. I've always said that any kayak or paddle is better than no kayak or paddle. You should get what you can afford. This article will help you pick a new paddle if you spend a lot of time paddling and have the money to spend money on a new paddle. Upgrading your paddle is one of the best things that you can do to elevate the whole paddling experience. 

These Best-In-Class Awards are being given to the best high-performance paddles of 2021. I chose these from the paddles that I had the opportunity to test in 2021. There are likely other paddles on the market that deserve to be part of this conversation. That being said, there is no denying that these award-winners deserve special recognition.

Lendal Storm paddle review

The bent shaft Lendal Storm is a full carbon paddle that retails for $625 USD. The paddle weighs a mere 22 oz or 650 g. The blades have a surface are of 609 square centimeters. They have a foam core that gives them a light and lively feel. The Lendal Storm carbon paddle is available in lengths of 205 to 220 centimeters. It is primarily designed for touring or sea kayaking in any conditions. 

Why does the Storm get my nod as one of the best high-performance paddles of 2021? 

Despite its light weight, the Lendal Storm is a paddle that feels like it can handle almost any condition. The fact that the Storm is only available from 205 to 220 centimeters reinforces the fact that it isn’t designed for big and wide recreational kayaks.  

Ferrule System on the Storm paddle

What makes the Storm unique is the ferrule system (where the two-piece paddle connects in the center). The Storm’s lever lock provides a very secure connection, which allows you to choose any feather/twist that you want, and to add five centimeters of length to the paddle if so desired. Although five centimeters isn’t enough to make this a one-size-fits-all paddle, it is a nice little feature. 

Werner Ovation paddle review

The Werner Ovation is a full carbon paddle that’s available with a straight shaft or bent shaft. The bent shaft version retails for $590 USD and weighs a mind blowing 20.5 ounces, or 577 grams, making it one of the lightest paddles on the market, if not the absolute lightest. The blades have a surface area of 643 square centimeters and a foam core that makes them feel as though they want to pop out of the water with every stroke you take. The Ovation comes in lengths of 210 to 240 and is primarily designed for leisure paddling in calm water. 

Why does the Werner Ovation get my nod as one of the best high-performance paddles of 2021? 

Not only is the Ovation one of the lightest paddles on the market, but it has a uniquely beautiful feel in the hands, as the blades seemingly leap out of the water following each stroke.

Who is the Werner Ovation paddle for?

The Ovation is not for everyone. The price put it out of range for many people, and the paddle is not designed to handle rough or challenging paddling conditions. This is a paddle for people who like to cruise around in calm water. It’s a paddle for people who are willing to trade power and durability for a uniquely magical paddling experience.

Aqua Bound Whiskey Fiberglass paddle review

The Aqua Bound Whiskey Fiberglass paddle retails for $315 USD. The paddle has a carbon fiber shaft and fiberglass blades that have a surface area of 613 square centimeters. Available in length of 200 to 240 centimeters, the paddle weighs in at 26 ounces or 737 grams.

A kayak paddle that delivers remarkable value

Designed to handle a wide range of paddling conditions, the Aqua Bound Whiskey is the only paddle without carbon blades to crack this ‘Best-In-Class’ list. While the Whiskey isn’t the lightest paddle, or the top performing paddle, on this list, it is the least expensive paddle and it delivers remarkable value. Furthermore, the Whiskey’s ‘Posi-Lok’ ferrule system is second to none. It offers infinite feathering, and once locked in place, there’s no discernible play.

So who is the Whiskey Fiberglass paddle for?

It’s for any paddler who wants a significant paddle upgrade without absorbing the cost of a full carbon paddle. The Whiskey is for beginner to expert recreational and touring paddlers who want a paddle that they can take into all but the roughest of conditions.

Gearlab Outdoors Kalleq paddle review

The Gearlab Outdoors Kalleq is a full carbon Greenland paddle that retails for $438 USD. The Kalleq comes in lengths of 200, 220, and 230 centimeters and weighs 25.5 ounces or 720 grams. It's primarily designed for expeditions, recreational touring, and rolling.

Greenland paddles

If you’ve never seen a Greenland paddle before, here’s what you need to know. Greenland paddles don’t only look different from other paddles, but they require a different paddling technique which takes practice to learn. The benefit of using a Greenland paddle is that it reduces shoulder and body strain, especially during long days of paddling. 

Kalleq paddles deliver a smooth and lively stroke

Why did I choose the Kalleq as one of the top high-performance paddles of 2021?  The Kalleq delivers a smooth and lively stroke and feels great in the hands. The ferrule system is very straightforward and offers zero play, and the paddle has replaceable nylon tips, which dramatically improves its durability.  At $438 USD, the Kalleq is also very well priced for a full carbon paddle.

Who is the Gearlab Outdoors Kalleq paddle for?

This paddle is for anybody who has the budget to go full carbon and wants a Greenland style paddle. It’s for people who enjoy long days of touring, and who want a paddle that reduces the strain on the upper body and shoulders.

Wilderness Systems Apex Carbon paddle review

The Wilderness Systems Apex Carbon paddle is a full carbon paddle that retails for $440 USD and weighs 27 ounces (765 g). The foam core blades have a surface area of 610 square centimeters and the paddle comes in two telescoping lengths of 205 to 225 centimeters and 220 to 240 centimeters. The Apex is primarily designed for recreational paddling and touring in varied conditions.

There are a few reasons the Apex is an award winner.

For one, at $440 USD for a full carbon paddle, the Apex delivers great value. Futhermore, the 20cm telescoping capability of the paddle makes it the only true, one-size-fits-all carbon paddle on the market. For example, I will often use a 220 cm paddle for narrow touring or sea kayaks, and a 240cm paddle for wider sit-on-top recreational kayaks or fishing kayaks. One Apex paddle accommodates either of these situations.

Who is the Apex Carbon Paddle for? 

The Apex carbon paddle is for beginner through expert paddlers who want a high-performing paddle that can deal with anything but extremely rough conditions. It’s for paddlers who might paddle a variety of kayaks, so that the telescoping ability of the paddle is worth its extra weight.

Those are the Best-In-Class paddles of 2021! 

While all these paddles do a great job of elevating the kayaking experience, I can’t stress enough that they are far from essential upgrades.  Any paddle that gets you on the water and moving is a wonderful thing.  The important thing is to get out there, be active, and enjoy the incredible natural playgrounds that surround us. Happy paddling!

The post Best Kayak Paddles 2021 & Best In Class Award Winners appeared first on Hazeadventure.

More specifically than that, let’s talk about why paddles come in such a wide range of prices. Your paddle is your connection to the water, so it's important to have a good paddle – but is it worth the difference between spending $100 and $500? Let’s dive in.

The Comparison

For this blog, I’m using the Aqua-Bound Whiskey and Sting Ray Paddles. I know there are a lot of other options out there on the market, but it’s what I have on-hand and use all the time. Plus, these paddles have comparable counterparts with other brands.

The $100 Paddle

Aqua-Bound Sting Ray Series

Retail Price: $149 USD

For this comparison, I’m using the Aqua-Bound Sting Ray Hybrid paddle. It features a carbon shaft and fiberglass reinforced nylon blades. It comes in a variety of options such as a 2-piece snap button model or the new Posi-Lok system, but this model starts around $150 USD and goes up from there.

The $500 Paddle

Aqua-Bound Whiskey Series

Retail Price: Starting at $399 USD

The second paddle is the Aqua-Bound Whiskey Bent Shaft Fiberglass paddle. This paddle features full carbon shaft bent shaft and compression-molded fiberglass blades. Again, there’s a number of features that you can upgrade on this paddle, like full carbon blades instead of fiberglass, or a straight shaft vs bent shaft, but you’re looking at anywhere from $399-500 USD on this bad boy.

So, What’s the Difference?

Materials Matter

Sting Ray Fiberglass 2-Piece Paddle

In both paddles above, the shaft is made from carbon, which is stiffer and lighter than fiberglass options out there.

A carbon shaft is nice to hold, especially for a long day of paddling because that stiffness transfers into power. So every stroke you take, you get more pop from it because the shaft isn't bending as much.
If you’re looking to save a bit of money, the fiberglass shaft options are still great and they’re worth checking out.

Straight vs. Bent Shaft Paddles

You may be wondering “what the heck is the point of a bent shaft?” The purpose of the bent shaft is to put your arms in a more ergonomically correct position while you're paddling. So as you're pulling on a stroke, you're actually pulling so that the shaft angle is at a similar direction to the direction of pull. It feels good after a long day of paddling and some people really like the bent shaft, other people don't really notice that much, that's a matter of personal preference.

What I can tell you is that for me, having a bent shaft is a nice feature. I don't find it to be an enormous upgrade, but I like it. Is it worth the dollars that are required to upgrade to it? Well, because it comes with a carbon shaft, for me, it is. It's worth the extra money because you're getting a much better feeling paddle that transfers more power with each stroke and it feels better after a long day of paddling.

What About the Blades?

In the examples above, the blades are very different on each paddle. One being a compression molded fiberglass blade versus a reinforced nylon blade.

With the compression molded fibreglass, not only is your paddle going to be lighter, but it will be a lot stiffer, which in turn gives you a lot more pulling power. With the nylon reinforced blade (which is for all intents and purposes, plastic) you’re going to notice a bit more of a ‘flutter’ in the water, as it’s not as stiff.

Ultimately, that's the difference between an expensive paddle and a cheaper paddle. You're getting a paddle that's lighter, which makes it easier to paddle for a longer period of time, you're getting a paddle that actually is more efficient and you're getting a paddle that feels better in the water.

Is it Worth It?

So, is it worth the jump from $100 to $500? It really depends on how much you paddle.

For me, I paddle a lot for work and for leisure and so having a paddle that’s lighter, feels better in my hands and reduces paddling fatigue, it’s worth it to me. If you're only getting out for the occasional paddling trip, then you can definitely get by with the cheaper options out there.

The nice thing about paddles (and all paddling gear for the most part) is that a great secondhand market exists. This means you can start out with a cheaper model, and if you decide it’s not for you, you can recoup some of that initial cost and put it towards an upgrade down the line. It's usually not very hard to find someone to buy that paddle and some shops will do gear swaps, as well as sell their demo models. It’s always worth checking with your local shop to see what your options are.

Check Out Paddle Tales

Paddle Tales follows World Champion kayaker, Ken Whiting, around North America as he explores the continent by sea kayak, whitewater kayak, canoe, and stand up paddleboard, while telling the stories of the unique people and places that he encounters.

Please note: in the video linked above, I do mention the wrong paddle at 0:36 when discussing the different features, and there is also some confusion around upgrading paddle options for the Whiskey/Tango series, so I’ve tried to address them here in this blog post.

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