I'm super new to SUP but after reading lots of posts in these forums it seems I should get a lighter paddle than the aluminium one I currently have.
I'm using my board in lakes and rivers mostly but did take it to the beach Easter weekend and had a ball on little waves.
What would you guys recommend for a beginner that isn't too pricey? I've been looking on the buy and sell for used ones but it seems people hold on to paddles.

You can get a good 40% carbon vario (adjustable) paddle for around $240 brand new. Which will have the clamp system and not the pin and hole system that your alloy would have.

Drop into your local store and see what they can do for you.

Thank you all.

Is the clamp system better than the pin and hole?

Are Trident paddles any good?

I don't have a local store so think I will have to do a road trip on the weekend or see what I can find online.

Thanks again.

Btw I am Mrs Newbie E T. :)

Thanks PTWoody but I need adjustable as my husband wants to have a paddle on my board too and he is taller than me. I could just make him use the aluminium one but not sure how that'd go down. ;)
I'm trying to get him onside to buy his own SUP so we can go on adventures together but he isn't convinced yet.

Where does everyone around melbourne shop for their SUP gear? Zak's? Zu?

Thinking my choice is
Naish hele
Starboard enduro tiki tech
Or
Fanatic carbon 40

Any known pros or cons?
All have adjustable options.

What D J said. You can't go wrong with those brands.

Good one Ms Newbie.

ET.

supnewbie said..

Thinking my choice is
Naish hele
Starboard enduro tiki tech
Or
Fanatic carbon 40

Any known pros or cons?
All have adjustable options.

Welcome Supnewbie. I can vouch for the Fanatic carbon 40. I found it a fantastic paddle to start out in paddling - great value for money. I also needed a variable paddle so my daughter could paddle as well. Really well constructed and quality finish. Not too much flex (although I'm no muscle man so I don't put I a lot of stress on it). Single blade size (8") didn't worry me - seemed to suit me starting out. It's not too heavy and the vario clamp doesn't budge. I bought mine online from Briskites - super easy to deal with and it arrived on time with stacks of padding.

After the blade snapped on my naish maliko, I bought the adjustable hele for my wife and friends to use. It's not a bad paddle, though I notice a lot of flex throughout when I use it. I am a pretty heavy individual though. The hele is also a heavier paddle, especially when compared to my ke nalu. I do like the groove that the adjustment portion has which prevents the handle becoming twisted around from the blade.

You already mentioned the need for an adjustable so that your husband can use it. Just to throw this out there for thought, some of the higher-end fixed paddles such as the Ke Nalu (I'm not sure which other brands) have the option to replace either the handle, shaft or blade separately. When my first naish adjustable blade snapped, the whole paddle was rendered useless. You can end up spending a lot more money over time if you are replacing whole paddles.