Review: Best Kayak Paddles
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Kayaking has evolved from being just a means of transport into a leisure activity loved by many and even more by thrill-seeking watersports enthusiasts. Making the most out of your kayaking experience demands that you are equipped with the right gear – get a great kayak and you are halfway there, but equally important (if not more important) is using the right kayak paddles. Kayak paddles come in all shapes and sizes, and the options can be overwhelming. We have compiled a list of the very best kayak paddles in 2024 for every kayaker, great or small, that stand out from the bunch and are recommended by some of the best kayakers in the world.
Kayak paddles generate the propulsion you’ll need in your kayak and can be the difference between a ‘good’ and a ‘thrilling’ kayaking experience. A kayak paddle has to be very lightweight, efficient, should be built to last, and should be pocket-friendly. And some kayaking paddles are better suited to newbie kayakers and others more suited to more experienced people.
Our list includes the seven best kayak paddles that check all these boxes and more. And at the bottom, you will find a buying guide that takes it a step further and outlines everything you need to know before you buy a kayak paddle.
- Best Kayak Paddles Buying Guide
- 1 What Factors Should I Consider Before Buying a Kayak Paddle?
- 2 How Long Should a Kayak Paddle Be?
- 3 What are the Different Designs of Kayak Paddle Blades?
- 4 Symmetrical Kayak Paddles
- 5 Asymmetrical Kayak Paddles
- 6 What Materials are Kayak Paddles Made From?
- 7 Shaft
- 8 Blades
- 9 Grips
- 10 Drip Guards
- 11 Multi-piece vs. Telescopic Paddles
- People Also Asked
Best Kayak Paddle
Best for Fishing
This kayak paddle is great for kayakers who want to go fishing or just paddle leisurely on the water. It comes with lightweight multi-piece construction, efficient blades, and overall ergonomic design. It also comes in different sizes to suit different kayakers.
Pros
- It comes with a low-profile design
- It is efficient and beginner-friendly
- It is easy to store away
Cons
- It offers fixed feathering angles
Key Features
The BENDING BRANCHES Whisper kayak paddle comes with a 2-piece aluminum shaft, asymmetrical polypropylene nylon blades, and ergonomic non-slip grips. Each side locks into the other easily with its three-hole snap-button ferrule and the overall paddle is super lightweight at 37 oz. It is an excellent paddle for kayak newbies, is available in four lengths from 220-240cm in 10cm steps, and sits between $65-120.
Best White Paddle
This kayak paddle is exceptionally versatile to both newbie and experienced kayakers. It also comes in a range of colors and is very durable.
Pros
- Comes with a high-visibility design
- It is great for both newbie and experienced kayakers
- It is efficient and lightweight
Cons
- It may not be the best choice for high-power kayaking
Key Features
The MSC kayak paddle comes with a 2-piece anodized aluminum shaft, a three-hole snap-button ferrule for feathering, and ergonomic foam grips for comfort. It features high-tension asymmetrical curved blades, is 86’’ long, and also features drip guards to prevent water from trickling down your arms. It comes in seven color options and sits between $59-70.
Most Stylish
This kayak paddle comes with a stylish ocean-blue design and is versatile to different paddling styles. It combines highly durable and lightweight materials and a multi-piece construction to yield a high-efficiency paddle that is convenient to carry around.
Pros
- It comes with stylish blades
- It is very versatile
- It is highly ergonomic
Cons
- It comes with fixed feathering angles
Key Features
The Pelican Poseidon kayak paddle comes with a two-piece coated aluminum shaft and fiberglass-plastic composite asymmetrical blades designed for both low and high paddling angles. For ergonomics, it features an indexed shaft, adjustable drip guards, and a two-angle push-button ferrule for feathering. The kayaking paddle is 89’’ long, comes in different high visibility colors, and will have other kayakers envying you.
Best Budget
For the kayaker on a tight budget, this kayak paddle is just the thing. It comes with a stylish design, a lightweight construction, and ensures efficient strokes.
Pros
- It is pocket-friendly.
- It offers generous feathering angles.
- It is lightweight and low-profile.
Cons
- It comes with only one soft grip.
Key Features
This Leader Accessories kayak paddle features a 2-piece composite aluminum-carbon-fiberglass shaft and asymmetrical polycarbonate blades with a dihedral cross-section. It comes with a single soft grip, drip guards, and is available in five lengths and seven colors. Its snap-button connection avails three feathering angles while the paddle sits between $37-40.
Best Symmetrical
This kayak paddle is the only one with an asymmetric blade profile and is ideal for high-angle competitive use. It comes with a sleek low-profile design, is highly ergonomic, and won’t get lost even if it drops into the water.
Pros
- It comes with an ergonomic low-profile design
- It delivers high propulsion
- It won’t sink if dropped
Cons
- It may not be as efficient as asymmetrical paddles
Key Features
The SeaSense X-TREME kayak paddle comes with a two-piece coated metal construction, two ergonomic foam grips, and two symmetrical plastic blades. Its all-black design is low-profile, its blades with a dihedral cross-section, while the shaft locks at three feathering angles. The kayak paddle is very lightweight and floats in water if dropped, and comes with two drip rings.
Best Dry Paddles
This kayak paddle is exceptionally lightweight and is great for long-duration kayaking. It paddles very dry and is very efficient.
Pros
- It paddles very drily
- It is very efficient
- It is lightweight and floats
Cons
- It can get quite pricey depending on the vendor
Key Features
The Attwood kayak paddle comes with an aluminum 2-piece shaft, plastic asymmetrical blades, double soft grips for comfort. Its drip rings are very effective for dry paddling, its spooned dihedral blades very efficient, and floats if dropped. It also comes in multi-piece configurations, is 7’ long, and sits between $44-390.
Most Compact
For the kayaker who wants the most carrying convenience, this kayak paddle is just the thing. It comes with a stylish design, is highly efficient, and is very versatile.
Pros
- It is lightweight and very portable
- It is very efficient
- It is very budget-friendly
Cons
- It may not be the best choice for high-angle paddling
Key Features
It comes with a stylish black and polished metal aluminum shaft, is 86’’ long, and is lightweight, It comes with a portable 5-piece construction, drip guards, and yields three feathering angles. It also comes with spoon-shaped asymmetrical blades, soft grips, and a zebra black-and-white pattern that looks great.
Best Kayak Paddles Buying Guide
Using the right kayak paddles is just as important as using the right kayak. Your kayak may be world-class but its performance will only be as great as the kayaking paddles you use.
Kayak paddles convert your arm effort into propulsion needed to propel and maneuver your kayak. We have given you an outline of the best kayak paddles on the market, but you may still be unsure of which to go for. We’re still here to help.
In the rest of this buying guide, we take it a step further and outline important factors you should consider and qualities to look out for in a kayak paddle before you make a purchase.
What Factors Should I Consider Before Buying a Kayak Paddle?
How Long Should a Kayak Paddle Be?
Kayak paddles come in different lengths and dimensions and this is one of the first factors you want to consider. The appropriate kayak paddle will depend on your height and the width of the widest point on your kayak.
Many kayak paddle manufacturers usually provide buying charts of kayaker height and kayak widths against the respective appropriate kayak paddle lengths.
For kayakers under 5’5’’ and with kayaks between 23-33’’ wide, kayak paddles around 86’’ in length are recommended. For kayaks wider than 34’’, kayak paddles around 96’’ in length are recommended.
For kayakers between 5’5’’-5’11,’’ tall and with kayaks between 23-28’’ wide 86’’-96’’ paddles are recommended.
The same applies for kayakers 6’ and taller – kayaks that are under 23’’ wide should be used with 86’’ kayak paddles. And kayaks that are wider should be used with 96’’ long kayak paddles.
What are the Different Designs of Kayak Paddle Blades?
Kayak paddles are also separated based on their blade profiles. They are:
Symmetrical Kayak Paddles
Symmetrical kayak paddles come with blades that have the same shape and surface area on either side of an invisible line drawn through the center and along the shaft. They provide the most surface area for propulsion and are especially great for high-angle intense kayaking like in white water.
Asymmetrical Kayak Paddles
Asymmetrical kayak paddles come with blades that have different surface areas on either side of the shaft line. They are considered more efficient than symmetrical kayak paddles and are great for leisure kayaking.
What Materials are Kayak Paddles Made From?
Kayak paddles must be built to last – they should be able to withstand the paddling strains for long periods of time. Kayak paddles should also be tough to eliminate the chances of paddling flaws like fluttering.
Different materials are used to construct kayak paddles.
Shaft
The shaft on a kayak paddle withstands the most stress and will usually be made with a very rigid material like metal. Aluminum is the most common shaft material in kayak paddles as it is lightweight and stiff. Some kayak paddles come with composite shafts that are lighter and more durable.
Blades
The blades on a kayak paddle should be rigid to propel the kayak forward but should also be very lightweight. Kayak paddles will usually come with hardened plastics or composites.
Grips
Ergonomics on a kayak paddle is very important. Paddling in a kayak demands effort and hence, the kayak paddle should come with soft grips for comfort. You want to see foam, EVA, cork, or rubber grips that are non-slip and comfortable to hold.
Drip Guards
Any kayak paddle you are going for should come with drip guards or drip rings. They are basically cups that catch water dripping from the blades when they leave the water and along the shaft. It is important that your hands stay dry when paddling for maximum grip and drip guards ensure this.
Multi-piece vs. Telescopic Paddles
The ideal kayak paddle should be compact and portable. To ensure compatibility, kayak paddles will usually come as multi-piece or telescopic units.
Multi-piece kayak paddles are the most popular options and come with multiple pieces that will be assembled and are usually held together by push-button ferules.
Telescopic kayak paddles come with shafts that are divided into several tubes in increasing diameters that sit and slide relative to each other.
In general, telescopic kayak paddles are better as they are easy to adjust and provide infinite feathering angles (the angle between one blade and the other as an offset).
People Also Asked
What is the difference between kayak paddles and kayak oars?
Kayak paddles typically come with one or two blades and are held fully in the kayaker’s hands. Kayak oars on the other hand come as a pair and with single blades that are mounted at pivot points with oarlocks. Oars are used for rowing.
How much kayak paddles cost?
Like with all gadgets, kayak paddles sit in a wide price range. On the lower end, you can find kayak paddles between $30-50. And on the higher end, competitive or high-intensity kayak paddles can go for as high as $200-500. The price points will depend on the brand, intended use, materials, and design.
What are the different shapes of kayak paddles?
Apart from symmetrical and asymmetrical kayak paddles, kayak paddles can also be differentiated based on the shape of their blades’ cross-section. Kayak paddles will usually come with flat, dihedral, spoon-shaped, and wing blades, each with its pros and cons.