Just a quick one looking for advice for a decent paddle and blade size for the bigger paddler looking for down wind and open water point to point paddling? I am no wilting violet and have a tendency to break poorly made/quality equipment, consequently looking for a quality product. Any advice appreciated. Checked the kialoa recently and the blade seemed small.........thanks for advice

Speak to Hilly for Experience on this topic.


I have an indestructable homemade carbon paddle you can buy cheap, bit heavy , very stiff, very powerful., needs someone with a lot of grunt to operate. (wont be as good as a brand but will outlast one)

hey 4XL

I've got a few paddles, 3 xylo wooden paddles in diff sizes and lengths, a C4 waterman carbon and a Kialoa methane.

my thoughts are
C4 - mass production, hard edge which can chip boards, shaft too fat. (~$400)
xylo - awesome workmanship, bit heavy, little flex, great design, get it if you like wood (~$350)
Kialoa methane - best paddle yet even though I snapped it, they replaced it no questions no pain. shape is oval fits nicely into your palm. (~$550).

From my experience paddling is about stroke length (distance covered per stroke) which = stroke rate x paddle size. If your paddle is too big (fat) you will blow up, fatigue quicker and start to get the wobbles.

hope this helps
cam

DavidJohn said...

I have all three Kialoa's.. btw there is a fourth called the Kole that's even bigger but it looks like they have now dropped it from their range.

I think the Shaka Pu'u is the best.. and the Nalu is not much good for paddling into the wind or trying to paddle fast with.. It's good for cruising with slow strokes.

Blades are getting smaller.. They're easier on the paddle.. and easier on the paddler.. and they also allow you to maintain correct paddling technique.

Chuck Patterson is a huge guy and he used to use the Nalu all the time but now uses the Shaka Pu'u... Mel Pu'u is also a huge guy and he also uses the one with his name on it.

DJ

the shaka pu'u is a great paddle, but it's so light, sometimes when i'm giving it some i think its going to go BANG. hasn't yet though,
have found with this paddle it's more about short quick jabs rather than monster power paddle strokes.

thanks to those that have contributed to this inquiry. Paddler fatique is not an issue for me, more paddle strength (those who know me understand). I now have some great reviews and a pretty good idea on what i want. Thanks for your contributions.......