High End paddle help.

> 10 years ago
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makntracks
makntracks
QLD
132 posts
QLD, 132 posts
27 Aug 2014 10:38pm
Hi all,

Looking at upgrading my paddle have narrowed the search down to Ke Nalu, Quick Blade and Kiaola.
Could some one recommend some good paddle options and some pros and cons for each brand.
Ive done lots of searching and reading but i still cant pick between these 3.
It will be used for sup racing and surfing. Currently using a 80 blade but looking at upping it to 97 or 100.
Also why such the huge difference in price from buying direct and buying locally i can handle paying a little extra to support local sellers but $100-$150 is just insane...

Any help appreciated.
Cheers
mick
hilly
hilly
WA
8131 posts
WA, 8131 posts
27 Aug 2014 9:00pm
makntracks said..
used for sup racing and surfing


That will not work.

QB Slim Jim surfing and Trifecta or V Drive for racing. Cut the shaft shorter for surfing.

Ke Nalu good as well.

Had a bad run with Kiaola.
tightlines
tightlines
WA
3509 posts
WA, 3509 posts
27 Aug 2014 11:23pm
makntracks said..
It will be used for sup racing and surfing.


As Hilly said a shorter paddle is better for surfing, so 2 paddles is the best option.

However it can be done with one paddle, with the Ke Nalu extended ergo t handle.

For a year or so I was using a xtuff (s) shaft with a Wiki 84" (or Maliko 95") blade and an extended ergo t handle.
It only takes a minute or so to heat it up with a heat gun/hair dryer and extend or retract the handle.

Eventually though I bought another shaft and ergo t handle so I can have one set short for surfing and one set longer for racing.


DavidJohn
DavidJohn
VIC
17570 posts
VIC, 17570 posts
28 Aug 2014 1:26am
I'd recommend Ke Nalu, Quick Blade or Kiaola..

Ke Nalu because everyone around here seems to like them..

Or Quick Blade because the most of the big race winners seem to like them..

Or Kialoa because I like them the most.. and they've been making paddles the longest..

IMO you can get away with one good paddle for both racing and surfing.

It may be a little short for a long distance race.. and maybe a little long for serious surfing.. but it is doable.. and I have friends that do it..

btw.. I'm using a race paddle in the surf.. The Kialoa Hulu Sm..



HumanCartoon
HumanCartoon
VIC
2098 posts
VIC, 2098 posts
28 Aug 2014 6:40am
makntracks said..
Hi all,

Looking at upgrading my paddle have narrowed the search down to Ke Nalu, Quick Blade and Kiaola.
Could some one recommend some good paddle options and some pros and cons for each brand.
Ive done lots of searching and reading but i still cant pick between these 3.
It will be used for sup racing and surfing. Currently using a 80 blade but looking at upping it to 97 or 100.
Also why such the huge difference in price from buying direct and buying locally i can handle paying a little extra to support local sellers but $100-$150 is just insane...

Any help appreciated.
Cheers
mick



There are quality adjustables out there that could do birth jobs for you. Or Ke Nalu can be configured with an extension handle and adjustable collar...slightly different approach than "conventional" adjustables but it feels more robust IMO and the collar is well out of the way of hands.

There was a thread on here a few months ago that discussed why paddles are relatively expensive here...

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/how-much-is-a-good-paddle-worth/?SearchTerms=Why,are,paddle,so,expensive

( yep they're expensive in OZ, but It's worse for our Bros across the ditch)
Area10
Area10
1508 posts
1508 posts
28 Aug 2014 5:20am
You are thinking of going from 80 sq ins to 100? I think that might be too big a jump in one go. By today's standards, 100 is a pretty big paddle. I use a 100 myself sometimes but I don't paddle with anyone else who does. For most people the sweet spot for most activities seems to be in the 85-95 sq inch range. However there are of course always exceptions. It's hard to beat the top end QBs (eg. V-Drive) for racing IMO. And despite being around for a long time the Kialoa Methane is still a great surf paddle - although I now prefer to use the GL surf (albeit that's a rather niche taste and you have to like surfing with very powerful blades) - and something like the Ke Nalu Wiki or Maliko make good all-round paddles if you just want one. I haven't tried the latest Ke Nalu so can't comment on that.

I've got over 20 paddles. If I had to keep only one for all activities (I surf, DW and also do inland flat water) it would be a v-drive cut to 7.5" overhead. But then again...my Maliko is very good at everything and the adjustable feature is totally killer...and is good value...and my GL surf makes a surprisingly fast distance paddle as well as being a monster for DW and surf and is crazy strong...hmm... Tough call.

That's how I ended up with all of these paddles!
ChrisClarke1
ChrisClarke1
VIC
227 posts
VIC, 227 posts
28 Aug 2014 10:31pm
DavidJohn said..
I'd recommend Ke Nalu, Quick Blade or Kiaola..

Ke Nalu because everyone around here seems to like them..

Or Quick Blade because the most of the big race winners seem to like them..

Or Kialoa because I like them the most.. and they've been making paddles the longest..

IMO you can get away with one good paddle for both racing and surfing.

It may be a little short for a long distance race.. and maybe a little long for serious surfing.. but it is doable.. and I have friends that do it..

btw.. I'm using a race paddle in the surf.. The Kialoa Hulu Sm..





What with the crap in the grass DJ? Didn't make it to the toilet??
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