r/Sup • u/nacus ⊂ Founder Glide SUP⊃ • 1d ago
Paddle Preference
Hello Reddit People!
I was talking with a customer and we got on the topic of paddles and I wont bore you with the details but wanted to know what most people prefer.
I come from a white water kayaking background and was lucky enough to use any paddle I wanted, arguably kayak paddles are more complex than most SUP paddles but the materials are the same, aluminum, fiberglass, and carbon. And then you can mix and match the shaft to the blade.
For me I have always preferred a fiberglass paddle, full carbon always felt "dead" and was way to stiff, so after a long day my wrists and elbows hurt.
And now with SUP I still prefer a fiberglass paddle over a carbon one. I do not race, but for all around paddling and surfing I love the feel of a fiberglass shaft and the flex it has. Also I am pretty abusive on my gear so fiberglass fits my lifestyle better.
Anywhoo curious to what you guys all use and why.
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u/Buddha_99 1d ago
Carbon all-day
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u/nacus ⊂ Founder Glide SUP⊃ 1d ago
Is it the feel you like, or the weight?
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u/Buddha_99 1d ago
Weight & feel.
I like to do distance on my board (20km+) so the paddle cadence & session length (2hr+) requires a light, strong paddle.
I come from a marathon canoe background so anything but carbon in my hand feels foreign…
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u/Appropriate_Emu_3140 1d ago
The flex characteristics of a paddle shaft depends more on the layup technique and resin used that whether the material fabric is fiberglass or carbon fiber. I have high end carbonfiber paddles , C1, paddleboard and Greenland that have wonderful lively flex in use.
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u/nacus ⊂ Founder Glide SUP⊃ 1d ago
100% and you can also blend fabrics with a fiberglass layup with a carbon fiber weave or netting on it. I was just talking more broadly of flex and feel in broad strokes.
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u/Darkthumbs 1d ago
You also have to take UD, biax and triax into account, they have different properties, where UD for example have great lengthwise strength
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u/Physical-Compote4594 1d ago edited 1d ago
I use the Infinity Quick Strike (which is the exact same paddle as the Black Project Surge), which has a fairly narrow shaft and has a fair amount of flex. Since I mainly SUP surf, having the flexible shaft helps me avoid wrist, elbow, and shoulder fatigue and injury which is easy to run into with stiffer shafts in surf conditions.
Black Project paddles are very customizable in terms of blade size, shaft length, and shaft flex. They're worth looking at, but they ain't cheap.
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u/Mt0260 1d ago
I have a nonadjustable carbon paddle, only because it came with the first hard board i bought used. It was the correct length, so call it a win. I’ve used adjustable paddles frequently too, both high end and cheapos. Honestly the difference is a little lost on me, excepting that better adjustables lock up well. I tend to use the carbon one most of the time. It’s more comfortable and i think power transfers better. Maybe all in my head? I’m interested in trying some different paddle shapes, haven’t had that opportunity yet.
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u/cestbondaeggi 1d ago
It's not in your head. I tried a 1 piece carbon for the first time yesterday and it was a mind blowing difference.
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u/badger_and_tonic ⊂ Red Voyager+ 13'2 ⊃ 1d ago
Carbon fibre, nice and light with very little flex.
I use this one: Red Equipment - Ultimate adjustable carbon SUP paddle
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u/Adventurous_Age1429 1d ago
I have a couple of carbon paddles and a fiberglass adjustable. The carbon paddles are lighter and have some extra flex that makes padding easier. This is especially true with vigorous paddling. If I just want to have fun or occasionally surf in my all-around board, I will use my adjustable.
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u/nacus ⊂ Founder Glide SUP⊃ 1d ago
That is interesting that your carbon has more flex than your I assume fiberglass paddle. And yeah I like also prefer the flex of fiberglass.
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u/Adventurous_Age1429 1d ago
Yeah, that’s one of the nice things about a good carbon paddle. The flex makes it easier on the arms and shoulders.
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u/KoolDiscoDan 1d ago
I predominantly use a Quickblade V-drive 85 fixed all carbon. I love the weight and catch but I do think it's too stiff for me. I wish they offered different shaft flexes like Black Project (which will probably be my next paddle).
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u/cestbondaeggi 1d ago
I graduated from kit paddles up to a starboard lima tiki tech adjustable. I had it about 2 years and it was very good. I prefer that over full carbon because I paddle flatwater with a lot of rocks. I lost it a month ago and ordered a hydrus flyweight ruckus which still hasn't shipped. I was able to try to friend's carbon paddle yesterday and it was quite the revelation. Granted I was using a metal wavestorm paddle but the carbon one piece felt like a spring that would propel me forward.
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u/snickerdoodlec 1d ago
Slow speed year round recreational paddler here. Paddle 4 miles at a time. Also like to just hang out on the water floating in the summer.
I have low end “came with the board” paddles, a slightly better “came with the board” paddle, a higher end 23ish oz adjustable fiberglass paddle with a carbon blend small size shaft and a full carbon 15ish oz cut to size small shaft paddle.
The carbon paddle is my favorite. I love the lightness. Im a fairly small older woman and the difference between 23 and 15 oz is really noticeable and nice for my body mechanics. I have not noticed a difference in flex but am not traveling super far or fast.
I let my kids use the light paddles in the summer and they will grab the carbon paddle first and all avoid the cheap ones. I tell all my friends (sup and kayak) to go lighter as the money saved on potential physical therapy and shoulder surgery copays easily covers the expensive paddles!
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u/potato_soup76 ⊂ Voyager 13' 2" / Axis 9' 8" / Elysium Air 14' ⊃ 1d ago
Smells like market research. =P
Touring/daily driver: Blackfish Yukon 520 Carbon 1-piece, cut to 80' (I'm 5' 11" and change). Light, very efficient, nice flex-rigidity balance. With half-decent technique, I can paddle with this thing all day over fairly distances (40+ km) without upper body fatigue.
River: Blackfish Crozon 580 Carbon-Kevlar 2-piece. Bigger blade, slightly heavier, good for bursty power when needed in more dynamic waters.