How to Choose & Buy a Kayak Paddle: Beginning Kayaking Lesson

Video Transcript

"Hi welcome to Expert Village. My name is Lloyd Reeves and right now we are going to do a quick briefing on paddle choice. There are really only two major types of paddles; they are wing paddles and non-wings. The non-wings are the most common. This is a symmetric paddle. It is the same on each side so whether you use it like this or like this, the same thing is going to happen. These are real inexpensive and sort of what most people use. This is a touring style. It is A-symmetric. That means one end is different than the other so if you are paddling this cut-a-way goes along the bottom and so when it enters the water it enters almost perfectly square. If you use it backwards like this, when you go to hit the water this tip will hit first and will want to twist in your hand. So by having A-symmetric paddle it allows you to paddle with a loose grip and these are very popular with the touring crowd for that reason. If you are a white water paddler or a surf paddler, you need to use a flat bladed paddle of some sort. They will have A-symmetric styles and symmetric styles but you need that flat blade. If you don’t have that flat blade and you use a wing paddle, it won’t do specific braces and neat turns that you need to do. Now if you are trying to go as fast as possible in the water or make the most difference distance in a touring kayak the wings just work really nice. It’s a different stroke, the paddle is a little shorter than what you normally use and the stroke is different. The stroke on a wing paddle uses lots of body rotation. Half of your power comes from your torso and with a regular paddle most people never get to that; they will paddle like this but a wing paddle will actually create a low pressure and that diagonal stroke even though it may only be 3 ½ feet from the front to the back because it is diagonal you will actually move the boat further ahead for the distance you just paddled. They are very efficient. If you are touring, get a small blade. If you are doing sprints, you go with a large wing and everything in between like a 10K pretty much your mid of your average size. Again, it depends on how big you are. Most wings are expensive. That is why you won’t see them and plus a lot of instructor’s don’t realize how they work so they will tell you they are bad. If you rotate off to the side and they feel locked in the water, they are more stable than a regular paddle. Down size to that again is that you can’t do some of those fancy braces or turns with them but it goes forward so much better it is hard to use anything else. "