10 Best Kayak Paddles of 2021: Recreational, Touring & More
Photo: Airhead
Kayaking is a fun sport but most kayaks don’t come with paddles. These are basically long poles with a blade attached on each end to help you push water backward for thrust.
Most can be split into two pieces for easy portability and are made using lightweight materials to minimize fatigue as you paddle.
The units are available in different lengths and materials, which makes them suitable for dissimilar users or purposes. To help you pick the right one, we have compiled a list of the best kayak paddles in the market. Take a look!
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10 Best Kayak Paddles – Review
- 1. Best Overall Kayak Paddle: Best Marine and Outdoors Paddle
- 2. Best Budget Kayak Paddle: SeaSense X-Treme 2
- 3. Best Lightweight Kayak Paddle: Aqua Bound Manta Ray
- 4. Best Adjustable Kayak Paddle: Pelican Poseidon
- 5. Best Aluminum Kayak Paddle: Overmont Kayak Paddle
- 6. Corrosion-Resistant Kayak Paddle: Shoreline Marine
- 7. Efficient Kayak Paddle: Naviskin Aluminum Paddle
- 8. Kayak Paddle with an Enforced Push Button: Leader Accessories 20403004
- 9. Kayak Paddle with a Curved Blade: Airhead AHTK-P2
- 10. Kayak Paddle with Ergonomic Grips: SeaSense X-Treme 1
- How to Buy the Best Kayak Paddles
- FAQs
- Conclusion
10 Best Kayak Paddles – Review
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1. Best Marine and Outdoors Paddle (Best Overall) |
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2. SeaSense X-Treme 2 (Best Budget) |
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3. Aqua Bound Manta Ray (Best Lightweight) |
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4. Pelican Poseidon (Best Adjustable) |
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5. Overmont Kayak Paddle (Best Aluminum) |
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6. Shoreline Marine (Corrosion-Resistant) |
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7. Naviskin Aluminum Paddle (Efficient) |
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8. Leader Accessories 20403004 (With an Enforced Push Button) |
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9. Airhead AHTK-P2 (With a Curved Blade) |
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10. SeaSense X-Treme 1 (With Ergonomic Grips) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Best Marine and Outdoors Paddle (Best Overall) |
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2. SeaSense X-Treme 2 (Best Budget) |
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3. Aqua Bound Manta Ray (Best Lightweight) |
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4. Pelican Poseidon (Best Adjustable) |
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5. Overmont Kayak Paddle (Best Aluminum) |
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6. Shoreline Marine (Corrosion-Resistant) |
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7. Naviskin Aluminum Paddle (Efficient) |
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8. Leader Accessories 20403004 (With an Enforced Push Button) |
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9. Airhead AHTK-P2 (With a Curved Blade) |
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10. SeaSense X-Treme 1 (With Ergonomic Grips) |
1. Best Overall Kayak Paddle: Best Marine and Outdoors Paddle
Photo: Best Marine and Outdoors
- Shaft Material: Carbon Fiber
- Blade Material: Fiberglass
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Length: 92 in.
Why is this the best of the best? Best Marine and Outdoors’ paddle stands out because it is lightweight, sturdy, durable, and relatively affordable. The unit has a carbon-fiber shaft that enhances your kayaking experience.
The material is very lightweight and results in a long 92-in paddle that weighs only 2 lbs. This gives your shoulders an easy time as you push through while the relatively long length is the ideal size for most kayakers.
Carbon fiber is also corrosion resistant and this makes the oar very strong & durable. Additionally, it has sturdy reinforced fiberglass blades. As compared to other units made of this material, the unit is quite affordable.
Aside from that, the product can be split into two pieces for easy storage & transportation. Each piece has a drip ring close to the blade that prevents water from running down to your hands as you lift it out of the water.
The joint between the two pieces has a snap-button ferrule with 3 holes that allow you to adjust the blade angles for feathering. This makes it easier to paddle because as one blade is pushing water backward, the other slices through the air to reduce drag.
A 5-ft leash is included to secure the oar to your kayak but the main disadvantage is that you don’t get foam grips for comfortable holding.
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2. Best Budget Kayak Paddle: SeaSense X-Treme 2
Photo: SeaSense
- Shaft Material: Aluminum
- Blade Material: Nylon, Fiberglass
- Weight: 2.3 lbs.
- Length: 84, 96 in.
SeaSense’s X-Treme 2 is a very economical kayak paddle because it has a sturdy aluminum shaft with a support ridge for additional strength. The unit comes in two sizes. There is a shorter 84-in option that is ideal for short people while the longer 96-in size is perfect for tall people.
Both options have a 2-piece construction, in which you can undo them to shorter pieces for easy storage and transportation.
The two sections have adjustable drip guards close to the paddle, which prevent water from getting to your hands as you paddle. Also, they have ergonomic foam rubber grips for comfortable non-slip use.
Three locking positions at the middle enable you to feather the fiberglass-filled nylon blades by positioning them at different angles. There are also multiple color options to choose from to match your kayak’s finish.
However, the shaft is not ovalized, which would serve as a reference to where you should place your hand. Also, no leash is included for tying it to your vessel.
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3. Best Lightweight Kayak Paddle: Aqua Bound Manta Ray
Photo: Aqua Bound
- Shaft Material: Carbon Fiber
- Blade Material: Carbon abX resin
- Weight: 1.84 lbs.
- Length: 82.7 – 98.4 in.
Weighing in at only 1.84 lbs., Aqua Bound’s Manta Ray is the most lightweight kayak paddle in this review. This can be attributed to its carbon fiber shaft and carbon-reinforced abX resin blades; the materials are strong but lightweight.
The product is also the longest because it is available in 5 sizes that go up to 250 cm (98.4 inches). These multiple sizes give you enough options to suit short and tall people of all ages. Additionally, they are ideal for different purposes such as fishing, touring, and fitness kayaking.
An ovalized grip area on the shaft gives you an ergonomic spot to place your hand while a ribbed surface gives you a firm grip when paddling.
A two-piece design makes the paddle easy to store and transport while a posi-lok ferrule with 15º incremental adjustments enables you to customize the feathering to your preference. The ferrule is solidly-built because it is rust-resistant, easy to clean, and does not wobble.
That said, the unit is hand-built by paddling enthusiasts and this makes it one of the best carbon fiber kayak paddles due to its quality. The only issue is that it is very costly and it does not have foam grips for soft holding.
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4. Best Adjustable Kayak Paddle: Pelican Poseidon
Photo: Pelican
- Shaft Material: Aluminum
- Blade Material: Fiberglass, Polypropylene
- Length: 89 in.
Pelican’s Poseidon is characterized by an enforced push-button ferrule system that lets you adjust the blade angle on a wide 0-65º range (left or right). This allows you to customize feathering to your preference.
The ferrule also enables you to split the 89-in shaft into two for compact storage and transportation.
Aside from that, the unit features adjustable drip rings that you can place at the best spot to prevent water from trickling down to your hands.
As for construction, you get a durable aluminum shaft with ovalized grip areas for indexing. This acts as a reference point to show you where to place your right hand. The two blades are made using impact-resistant fiberglass reinforced polypropylene and are feathered to enhance durability.
The paddle is designed for recreational purposes and is available in multiple colors. However, it lacks foam grips for comfortable holding and a leash is not included to tie it to your vessel.
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5. Best Aluminum Kayak Paddle: Overmont Kayak Paddle
Photo: Overmont
- Shaft Material: Aluminum
- Blade Material: Fiberglass, Polypropylene
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Length: 90.5 in.
Weight plays a crucial role when picking a paddle and being an aluminum piece, Overmont’s kayak paddle weighs only 2 lbs. This is made possible by its hollow shaft, which results in easy handling. Additionally, the piece can float on water, and therefore, you should not be worried if it drops into the lake.
The blades are made using flexible fiberglass reinforced polypropylene, which allows them to bend 90º without breaking. They have double-serrated teeth to reduce dripping and are feather-shaped for better aerodynamics. The shaft’s ferrule system has 3 locking positions for improving the feathering angle.
You get three color options to choose from ( black , orange & red ) and A leash is included to help you attach the oar to your kayak. However, the shaft is not ovalized for indexing and there are no foam grips for comfortable holding.
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6. Corrosion-Resistant Kayak Paddle: Shoreline Marine
Photo: Shoreline
- Shaft Material: Aluminum
- Blade Material: Plastic
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Length: 96 in.
Shoreline’s Marine features a corrosion-resistant aluminum shaft that is ideal for fresh or saltwater use. This shaft is 96 inches long and can be split into two using a ferrule pin system, which has three adjustable positions to adjust the blade angles for feathering.
The blades are made using plastic and are contour molded for efficient propulsion. Drip guards are fitted under them on the shaft to prevent water from trickling down to your hands.
That said, foam grips are fitted on the shaft to ensure you get a soft, non-slip hold even if some water reaches your hands.
On the downside, the grips are not ovalized for indexing, which would otherwise make it easier to know where to hold. Also, you don’t get a leash for tying the paddle to your boat.
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Photo: Naviskin
- Shaft Material: Aluminum
- Blade Material: Polypropylene
- Weight: 2.91 lbs.
- Length: 87, 96 in.
Naviskin’s aluminum paddle is equipped with polypropylene duck palm arm blades that are designed to minimize the resistance of getting into the water. This improves paddling efficiency so that you can pull water with more strength. On top of this, the blades are quite large (18.75 x 7.5 inches) and have a durable feathered design.
As for the shaft, it is built using aluminum and can be split into two using a ferrule system. The paddle is actually available in two sizes (87 & 96 inches) and both options have this ferrule system with three locking positions to adjust the blade angle for feathering.
You also get multiple color options and a gasket on one side for firm gripping. The only problem is the paddle’s weight. Coming in at 2.91 lbs., it is quite heavy.
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8. Kayak Paddle with an Enforced Push Button: Leader Accessories 20403004
Photo: Leader Accessories
- Shaft Material: Aluminum
- Blade Material: Polypropylene
- Weight: 2.64 lbs.
- Length: 84.7, 87, 96 in.
The joint between the two pieces of this paddle consists of an enforced push-button connection. This has 3 locking positions that allow you to adjust the blade angles for feathering (aerodynamics).
Its pieces are made of aluminum and have water-resistant drip guards on both ends to prevent water from flowing down the shaft to your hands and into the kayak. On the other hand, the blades are made using polypropylene and are feathered to enhance durability.
There are 3 size options to choose from for short, medium, and tall people, which are 84.7, 87, and 96 inches respectively.
You also get multiple color options but all of them only have a grippy gasket on one side. Also, no leash is included and you must get this because the paddle does not float on water.
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9. Kayak Paddle with a Curved Blade: Airhead AHTK-P2
Photo: Airhead
- Shaft Material: Aluminum
- Blade Material: ABS
- Weight: 3 lbs.
- Length: 84 in.
Airhead’s AHTK-P2 is fitted with two curved blades that are designed to improve its paddling efficiency. On top of this, the shaft has three locking positions that allow you to adjust the blade angle for feathering, which further improves efficiency.
Two foam hand grips are fitted on the shaft to give you a soft and comfortable hold. These also help keep the oar afloat if you drop it on the water while drip rings on the ends prevent water from flowing to your hand or into the kayak.
The unit has a sturdy aluminum shaft but this makes it quite heavy. Measuring only 84 inches long, it weighs 3 pounds.
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10. Kayak Paddle with Ergonomic Grips: SeaSense X-Treme 1
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- Shaft Material: Aluminum
- Blade Material: Plastic
- Weight: 3 lbs.
- Length: 84 in.
The SeaSense X-Treme 1 features two ergonomic foam hand grips that enable you to hold it firmly and comfortably when in use. These grips are placed on an 84-inch-long shaft, which can be split into two for compact storage and transportation.
Joining the two is a locking pin ferrule and this forms an asymmetrical paddle design because it has 3 locking positions for adjusting the blade angles.
A set of adjustable drip rings are placed close to the blades to prevent water from flowing to your hands as you paddle.
You also get a sturdy aluminum construction but this makes the oar quite heavy (3 lbs.). However, the foam grips ensure it floats on water.
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How to Buy the Best Kayak Paddles
Photo: Pelican
1. Type
Recreational Kayak Paddles
Recreation is all about having fun and the paddles built for this purpose are not as advanced when it comes to features. Most are heavy, durable, and inexpensive.
They are ideal for short times on the water because they cause fatigue. That said, the SeaSense X-Treme 1 is ideal for recreation because it checks all the boxes.
Touring Kayak Paddles
Touring paddles are lightweight because they are meant to be used for long periods to kayak over long distances. They are also ergonomic and durable enough to handle fresh & saltwater. We recommend Best Marine and Outdoors’ paddle as the best one in this category.
Performance Kayak Paddles
These are built for high performance and to achieve this, they must be ultra-light, very durable, and ergonomic. They are like enhanced touring kayaks and the perfect example is Aqua Bound’s Manta Ray .
Whitewater Kayak Paddles
Whitewater equals strong currents, rocks, roots, etc. and therefore, paddles meant for this purpose must be very sturdy. Ideally, units with metal shafts and extremely flexible blades are recommended. For this, you can check out Overmont’s kayak paddle .
2. Length
Two main factors determine the best paddle length to go for: your height and your kayak’s width. If you are over 5’6”, you should get a paddle that is over 90 inches long regardless of your kayak’s width, and the longer, the better.
However, if you are shorter than 5’6”, you need to consider your boat’s width. If it is less than 28 inches wide, we recommend a paddle that is under 90 inches in length. If the kayak is more than 28 inches wide, go for the over 90-inch-long oars.
Note : This is a rough guide. If possible, try out a few to determine which size works for you.
3. Shaft
Aluminum is commonly used to build the shaft in kayak paddles because it is sturdy, affordable, and very durable. It has one major drawback though; weight.
This is where carbon fiber shafts excel. Though expensive, these shafts minimize fatigue so that you can focus on paddling as opposed to lifting the oar. As such, carbon fiber units are the best kayak paddles for the money and the ideal one is Aqua Bound’s Manta Ray .
There are two more things to check about the shaft. For easy storage and transportation, it should have a pin ferrule joint at the middle for splitting it into two pieces.
The other thing to look for is the number of locking positions on this joint. This makes it possible to adjust the blade angle for feathering. We recommend at least 3 locking positions.
4. Blade
Kayak paddle blades are categorized by the material used to build them. Plastic, ABS, and polypropylene blades are the cheapest but are not very durable.
Fiberglass ranks a bit higher when it comes to durability, but blends like fiberglass reinforced polypropylene are better because they are flexible and very durable.
However, carbon fiber or carbon-reinforced blades are the best because they are very sturdy and lightweight. Though expensive, we highly recommend these blades, and they can be found in Aqua Bound’s Manta Ray .
FAQs
1. How Do I Hold a Kayak Paddle?
First, ensure the concave sides of the blades face you and then hold the shaft using both hands. Hold with a light grip (don’t squeeze).
On a non-feathered unit, your right- and left-hand knuckles should line up with the blade on each side respectively. However, on a feathered piece, the left hand should not change but line up the knuckles of your right hand with the top edge of the blade.
2. How Do I Steer A Kayak by Paddles?
If you want to turn left, paddle continuously on the right side only. The vice versa is true.
Conclusion
As you can see, Best Marine and Outdoors’ paddle is the best of the best because it has a strong and lightweight carbon fiber shaft, durable reinforced fiberglass blades, and is the ideal size for most kayakers.
However, if you want the most lightweight paddle, check out the Aqua Bound Manta Ray . It weighs only 1.84 lbs. and adds on an ergonomic ovalized grip for hassle-free use.
If you like feathering to extreme angles though, we recommend Pelican’s Poseidon as the best kayak paddle. This is because the blade angle can be adjusted from 0-65º on both sides.