Hey everyone,
I'm a User Experience designer and I've recently been spending some time researching SUP paddles. It seems like there are a lot of really pivotal features in these paddles - blade size, angle, shaft size, material, slickness, grip, etc, etc.
I was wondering if any of you would mind telling me what is the most important feature to you. What made you choose your current paddle?
Thanks!
Jesse
I recently bought a paddle - these issues were on my mind.
#1 I wanted to make sure it had a reputation for surviving surf - so strength/reliability was big. Carbon fiber was a no-brainer, but the manufacturer's reputation was more important.
#2 was its reputation for performance - how efficiently it transferred your effort into forward motion. I am a hack SUPer, and thus I am not looking for the last fraction of performance, but it was still important to me. But my old cheap paddle gurgled a lot (turbulence) and that can't be good.
#3 I was looking for a good brand I could trust in case something went wrong.
#4 I was personally looking for a paddle that could be broken down into three bits so I could easily take it on a surf trip. But I didn't want an adjustable paddle with its chunky clamps.
#5 I would have liked an oval shaped shaft, but it turned out that conflicted with #4
#6 I like the handles that are grippy. Mind is not plastic/carbon - it has some EVA material on it.
Price was important, but I don't think that relates to your question.
Shaft size depends on the application and height of the user. I personally leave the angles and other design issues to the manufacturer. If it was widely reported that it was well suited to my application (surfing) then that was good enough for me.
Hope that helps.
When I started, weight and manufacturer reputation were the most important.
Nowadays, after some years of practice, and only surfing use, my requirements are:
- lightness. The lighter the better (looking for less than 400g for a 1m70 paddle),
- but it should not break easily: good quality carbon pre-preg is a must.
- blade shape: it must enter the water smoothly (no bubbles) and glide when leaning on it in turns
- power: I like powerful blades
- flex: just a bit of flex to avoid pains, no more.
- handle ergonomics: I like "T" shaped handles, asymmetrical front/back
- brand reputation
- I used to favor oval shafts, but round now is OK with me too.
- If I was looking for a paddle for cruising or racing, no flutter would be important.
- a nice to have are plastic (ABS) edges.
There are too many factors that influence my purchasing decisions to list. But one that is rarely mentioned is the handle. The handle of the Quickblade oval tapered shaft (much in evidence at the recent ISA world comp) is wonderful in reducing blisters and being kind to the hands. Some others are pretty dreadful, and feel like very little thought went into them. I've picked up a few paddle from leading brands that otherwise I'd have bought, but the handle just feels wrong and I've decided not to buy.
I like t-handles for surf and critical conditions where there won't be thousands of stroke repetitions, and the Quickblade handles for any other work. Some of the ego-T handles are OK but each tends to suit hands of different sizes so you tend to find a brand that works for you.
I'm surprised that brands haven't yet considered selling handles of different sizes like they do blades and shafts.
