10 Best Kayak Paddles (2023 Reviews And Guide)

Finding the best kayak paddle is essential for enjoying your day on the water. The right kayak paddle can make a big difference, whether you are on a short trip around the lake or an overnighter. 

This article will look at different paddles and discuss what to look for when buying a kayak paddle.

The kayak paddle you choose will ultimately come down to three things:

• The type of water you will be paddling
• Your height and arm length
• The type of boat – a wider boat (like an inflatable) usually requires a longer paddle and a more narrow boat, a shorter paddle

A kayak paddle is one of the most critical pieces of kayaking equipment. Unless you have a motor attached to your kayak, your paddle is how you power the boat.

Even on short kayak trips, you will pound out a lot of strokes without realizing it. As a result, you will expend a lot of energy and want to get the most out of all that effort.

That said, if you are in a hurry, here are our top kayak paddle picks:

Kayak Paddle Reviews

There are different kayaks (more information) and types of paddles. You will struggle to navigate your kayak if your paddle is too long, short, or heavy.

Having the best kayak paddle may not seem like a big deal, but if you spend enough time on the water, you will see the difference when you have the right paddle.

AQUA BOUND Manta Ray Hybrid 2-Piece Kayak Paddle

Features

• Fiberglass reinforced blade
• Carbon shaft
• Two ferrule options

Review

This paddle is great for anglers, high-angle, and fitness paddlers due to the full profile of the blade. In addition, Manta Ray is excellent for those looking for more power out of their stroke.

The fiberglass-reinforced blade is lightweight and robust, unlike many plastic blades. In addition, the dihedral shape blade is efficient, so you don’t waste energy when you are paddling.

This paddle is excellent if your kayak is heavy or weighed down with a lot of gear.

The carbon fiber shaft is durable and lightweight, with an oval-shaped grip area. This shaft has a ribbed surface, so it won’t slip in your hands when wet. The paddle has 15-degree adjustable increments to feather to your desire.

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OCEANBROAD Kayak Paddle

Features

• Aluminum alloy shaft
• Fiberglass reinforced blade
• Great for beginners

Review

The OCEANBROAD is a great kayak paddle for beginners. It’s an entry-level model that will suit you well for getting around the lake. This paddle is excellent for anyone who is just getting started kayaking.

The fiberglass-reinforced blade is durable and stiff, great for beginner kayakers. In addition, the blade has a gentle curve, which helps you gain powerful and efficient strokes.

The blade is strong enough to help you push off the beach to get on the water.

The shaft is made from aluminum, is sturdy, and snaps together nicely. The drip edge will help keep water out of your boat, where it belongs. 

There are three different adjustment options on the handle for feathering. This paddle is available at 230 cm, which may not be a good fit for shorter paddlers.

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Pelican Poseidon Paddle

Features

• 226 cm long
• Fiberglass reinforced polypropylene blade
• Aluminum shaft

Review

The Poseidon is an excellent kayak paddle for recreational paddlers, and it is a great entry-level option if you are a beginner or just getting started kayaking.

The Fiberglass reinforced polypropylene blade is durable and gives you a solid push. You want a blade gliding through the water quickly with minimal flutter.

This blade is designed to give you speed and control when you are on the water.

The shaft is a two-piece, sturdy aluminum shaft. The shaft has easy push-button connections for 0 of 65-degree angle adjustments for feathering to your desired angle. The straight shaft is straight and slightly oval-shaped, where your hands should go.

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SeaSense X -TREME 1 Kayak Paddle

Features

• Plastic blades
• Two-piece construction
• Floats

Review

The SeaSense is an excellent paddle for all-around use. The Xtreme 1 paddle is lightweight, sturdy, and feels good in your hands. In addition, you will be happy with the overall performance of this kayak paddle.

The blade is made of black molded plastic to be durable. Its asymmetrical shape helps displace the right amount of water to get you where you want to go. The paddle is available in 84″ or 96″. Most blades are measured in centimeters.

The shaft is aluminum and comes in two pieces for storage. It’s nice to take your paddle apart and toss it in your trunk. One drawback to the black shaft is that it will get hot on sunny days, even with foam grips.

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Overmont Kayak Paddle

Features

• 222 cm
• Three angle adjustment
• Aluminum shaft

Review

The Overmont kayak paddle is an excellent option for weekend warriors and recreational kayakers. This is an excellent entry-level paddle for beginners. You won’t have to break the bank with an excellent kayak paddle.

The curved blade helps to reduce resistance and provides you with more power from each stroke. The double-serrated edge gives you more control in the water. The blades are fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene making them durable.

The shaft is lightweight aluminum, so it’s robust and durable. In addition, the shaft breaks down into two pieces, so it’s easy to store and is portable. 

The drip rings will help minimize the amount of water that makes its way into your kayak. If you drop your paddle in the water, don’t worry, it will float until you retrieve it.

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Bending Branches Whisper 2-Piece Kayak Paddle

Features

• Polypropylene blade
• Aluminum shaft
• 0° and 60° feathering angles

Review

You don’t have to spend much money on the best kayak paddle. The Whisper kayak paddle is one of the top-selling paddles around. It’s an excellent entry-level paddle for folks who want to spend the day on a lake. You get value and durability out of this paddle.

The polypropylene blade is durable and can take a beating. The blades are well constructed, and you won’t get any flutter here. The paddle is available in a 230 cm model.

With the aluminum shaft, you get a three-hole snap-button ferrule. The feathering angles are adjustable at 0° and 60°. 

The shaft breaks down into two pieces for easy transport and storage. You also get an ovalized shaft with coated grips that are easy on your hands.

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Best Marine Kayak Paddle

Features

• Fiberglass blades
• Carbon fiber shaft
• 234 cm

Review

This carbon fiber kayak paddle is excellent for a lightweight paddle that is easy on your shoulders. Also, if you are looking for the best kayak paddle to make your day on the water more enjoyable, this is a great option.

The blade is reinforced fiberglass, making it lightweight, durable, and easy to handle. As a result, you will get more power and efficiency from each stroke, which means less wasted energy every time you swing the paddle.

The carbon fiber shaft adds to the lightweight theme of this paddle. Carbon fiber is a top-of-the-line, durable, lightweight, and strong material.

With the combination of lightweight materials, this paddle weighs 33.5 ounces.

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Pelican SYMBOSIA Angler Kayak Paddle

Features

• Fiberglass-reinforced nylon blade
• Adjustable fiberglass shaft
• 0° to 60° blade angle adjustment

Review

The SYMBOSIA Angler Kayak Paddle is an excellent match for your fishing kayak. Anglers will especially love the hook retrieval system on this paddle. However, if you are not a fisherman, no fear. You can still use this well-rounded paddle.

The large Fiberglass reinforced nylon blade gives you excellent control and efficiency with your stroke. One thing that makes this paddle unique is the built-in retrieval hook. Getting your hook or lure unsnagged is less hassle with this built-in feature.

The shaft is made of fiberglass, helping to make this a lightweight fishing paddle. The shaft is also adjustable to fit a lot of different paddlers and kayaks. 

The paddle weighs 48 ounces, which is not as lightweight as some on this list but is still a solid option.

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Perception Universal Kayak Paddle

Features

• Fiberglass reinforced blades
• Two-piece aluminum shaft
• Straight paddle

Review

The Perception Universal Kayak Paddle is a great option if you are a leisure kayaker but want to experience a tremendous all-around paddle. Additionally, this is great if you want a high-performance paddle on a budget.

The paddle works well with sit-on-top and sit-inside kayaks since it’s universal.

This is an excellent option for beginner to intermediate paddlers.

The blades are fiberglass reinforced, which makes them durable and impact resistant. The asymmetrical, dihedral blade design reduces torque and fluttering, allowing you to paddle smoothly. In addition, the blade is built for an efficient stroke.

The two-piece carbon blend shaft is lightweight, adjustable, and durable. In addition, the paddle has three feather angle options to get the right fit for your paddling style.

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Werner Camano Fiberglass Bent Shaft Kayak Paddle

Features

• Carbon bent shaft
• Fiberglass blades
• Adjustable ferrule

Review

Here we are at the high end for the best kayak paddle. Werner Camano is a popular paddle for those looking for enough power to get around quickly and smoothly. Camano 2 offers the right blend of performance and design.

The mid-sized fiberglass blade is impact-resistant, lightweight, and durable. The dihedral blade shape provides a smooth stroke by directing the water flow evenly on each side. In addition, the blade is designed to be efficient with your stroke.

The key feature of the bent shaft sets this paddle apart from others on this list. The shaft is ergonomic to reduce strain and fatigue on your wrists. 

The Smart-View adjustable ferrule is simple to use. With the push of one button, you can break your paddle down or set your feather angle (15-degree increments).

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How to choose a kayak paddle

Paddle Angle

When looking for the best kayak paddle, you need to think about your paddle angle, low angle, and high angle. The angle refers to the stroke in relation to the water. Imagine your hands gripping your paddle out in front of you, and your hands are level.

With the low-angle stroke, when you tilt your paddle to the right or left, your top hand will be higher than your lower hand.

Low angle is a typical paddling style for many recreational and touring kayakers. For this type of paddling, you need a longer paddle.

Your top hand will be much higher than your lower hand with a high-angle stroke, and paddling is more aggressive. In addition, you will have a steeper angle into the water, which helps generate more power. 

High-angle is what you do when you want to get somewhere fast. Shorter paddles with a robust blades are suitable for this type of stroke.

Kayak Paddle Length

We discussed the paddle angle and how that plays a role in the length of the paddle, which you should consider. Paddle length is measured in centimeters to confuse matters, even though some critical factors determining paddle length are measured in inches.

Paddle length is pretty clear-cut and comes down to how wide your boat is and how tall you are. For a general idea, the wider your boat, the longer your paddle. 

Of course, your height also plays a role. The taller you are, the longer your paddle should be, especially if your boat is narrow. Your paddles should be easy to submerge in the water.

A 230cm paddle is a good guideline if you are of average height and have a relaxed stroke, a good length for a leisurely day on the water with a low-angle stroke.

If you are an aggressive paddler, or speed is your game, a shorter paddle of 210cm to 220cm is a viable option.

Based on my research, the guide below gives you a general idea of what paddle length would work for you. This is just a guide. Other factors come into play, including your stroke and your goal on the water.

If you are in-between sizes, a shorter paddle is recommended.

These are simply guidelines; you will want to check the website for the brand you are interested in. Also, manufacturers have slightly different size guides.

Some guides use torso height, which measures the top of your hips to the bottom of your neck, or shoulder area. Other guides use your height, i.e., how tall you are. There are some nuances when sizing, so it’s best to check with the brand you are considering.

The right paddle length will depend on a few different factors, including:

• User height
• Kayak width
• Stroke angle

Blade Material

When choosing the best kayak paddle, the blade plays an important part. You want a paddle blade to be lightweight, durable, and affordable. The materials vary, but you can typically expect the following categories. Let’s start with entry-level and work our way up.

• Plastic, nylon, and aluminum – are great paddles for beginners but tend to be heavier than other materials. Because these paddles tend to be inexpensive, this is the type of paddle you can expect to be included with specific starter model kayaks. Paddles in this category can take a beating. Then you can upgrade once you have the hang of it.
• Fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene – These are durable, perform well, and are more lightweight than plastic. You can expect a rigid blade with less flex that gives you an efficient stroke.
• Carbon Fiber blades– Sometimes, you will hear the term “composite,” and carbon fiber falls in this category. These paddles are stiff and lightweight, making them very efficient for paddling. However, carbon fiber will cost you, as they are on the high end in price.

Click here to read more information about the parts of a kayak paddle.

Blade Shape

The shape of the blade also makes a difference in a good paddle. A lot of basic paddles are symmetrical. These work well with a high-angle stroke where the blade is even in the water.

Many people prefer an asymmetrical paddle with more surface area. Most recreational paddlers have a low-angle stroke, and a larger blade is ideal.

Shaft Material

Similar to blades, shafts come in many of the same materials. Aluminum shafts are pretty standard and inexpensive. One downside to aluminum shafts is they can get hot and/or cold depending on the weather conditions.

For example, I live in a warm-weather climate, and aluminum shafts get pretty hot in the summer.

You can expect better performance and a higher price as you move up to fiberglass and carbon fiber shafts. Higher performance comes from lightweight materials that are stiff and glide nicely through the water.

Shaft Design

Straight shafts are very common, and you probably see many of these. Bent shafts don’t put as much strain on your wrist because of the angle.

You will also see that some shafts will break down for storage and transportation. For example, they might break down into two pieces or four pieces.

Drip Rings

You might not think about the two rings on either end of a kayak paddle. These drip rings are often overlooked but critical in keeping water out of your kayak. Drip rings keep water from getting in your kayak as you paddle.

Feathering

Most paddles will have three or more holes where the shaft pieces connect, allowing you to have the blades aligned on the same plane or feathered. 

Feathered blades are offset or not on the same plane. Feathering lets you adjust the blades how you like them. Some people want the blades lined up. Some prefer offset.

Wrapping Up

You have many options if you are looking for the best kayak paddle. There are a ton of price points and features available. In addition, different materials used will affect the weight and performance of the paddle. Therefore, it’s essential to know your goals with the paddle.

Some people are looking for a kayak paddle to upgrade from what they currently have or upgrade the paddle that came with their kayak. Other people are searching for a replacement kayak paddle.

If you are an occasional kayaker, you might not want a high-end paddle. On the other hand, if you ARE a leisurely paddler, you might want a high-end paddle to make your experience enjoyable.

I always encourage people to set a budget and see what features are available in that price range. Then, if you decide you want more or fewer features, you can always adjust your budget.

Happy paddling!