Choosing a kayak paddle can be as personal, and time-consuming, as choosing a kayak. And most kayaks do not come with a paddle included – which can make it even trickier for new kayakers. So how do you choose a kayak paddle? Which kayak paddle is the best for you?
There is a lot to consider. You’ll want to first think about the type of kayak you have (or are buying) and what kind of kayaking you’ll be doing. A high-angle whitewater kayak paddle is going to be uncomfortable to use for distance sea kayaking, and a low-angle sea kayak paddle won’t have the power to help you safely navigate through whitewater rivers!
The next thing will be determining if you want a one-piece, two-piece, or four-piece paddle. This comes down to your personal preference and storage/transportation needs.
Last, but definitely not least, you’ll need to determine what length paddle to get. Paddle length is a combination of your height, your kayak’s width, and your paddling style. There’s no perfect solution to determining length other than trial and error, but there are ranges that work well to help you start. If you are particularly short or tall, then adjust your length down or up a category. Likewise if your kayak is especially narrow (under 27”), or especially wide (over 37”) or very tall, then adjust down or up accordingly.
- Whitewater / Surf Play – 185-205cm
- Swiftwater River Paddling – 200-220cm
- Flatwater Paddling – 220-250cm
- Fitness/Touring – 220-250cm
- Very wide kayaks – 240-260cm
For whitewater, river paddling, and more power per stroke you’ll want a blade that is shorter and wider (a high-angle blade) for big, vertical stroke technique. For casual flatwater paddling, fitness and touring, you’ll want a blade that is longer and narrower (a low-angle blade) for lower power horizontal stroke technique.
With all of that in mind, we’ve assembled a list of our favorite kayak paddles and categorized them by their best usage.
Best Kayak Paddles Comparison Chart
| section-hd | Top-Rated Kayak Paddles |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOAT | DIMENSIONS | Material | PRICE | |
| Nixy Pro Carbon Fiber | Nixy Pro Carbon Fiber
| BEST Value Full Carbon Fiber 220-230cm adjustable 28 ounces | 2-piece, Carbon Fiber shaft and blade | Check Best Price |
| Wilderness Systems Origin Angler | Wilderness Systems Origin Angler
| BEST Fishing Paddle 240-260cm adjustable 37 ounces | 2-piece, Fiberglass shaft, Nylon blade | Check Best Price |
| Aqua Bound Tango Fiberglass 2pc | Aqua Bound Tango Fiberglass 2pc
| BEST Touring Paddle 220, 230, 240cm fixed 26 ounces | 2-piece, Carbon Fiber shaft, Fiberglass/Kevlar blade | Check Best Price |
| Oru Fiberglass 4pc | Oru Fiberglass 4pc
| BEST 4-Piece Flatwater 220-230cm adjustable 34 ounces | 4-piece, Fiberglass shaft, Foam-core Fiberglass blade | Check Best Price |
| Werner Surge | Werner Surge
| BEST Whitewater Paddle 194, 200cm fixed 35 ounces | 1-piece, Fiberglass shaft and Blade | Check Best Price |
| Aqua Bound Shred 4pc | Aqua Bound Shred 4pc
| BEST 4-Piece Rivers 191 to 203cm fixed 38.5 ounces | 4-piece, Carbon fiber shaft, Nylon blades | Check Best Price |
| Old Town Carlisle Magic Plus | Old Town Carlisle Magic Plus
| BEST Budget Paddle 220 to 250cm fixed 40 ounces | 2-piece, Fiberglass shaft, Polypropylene blade | Check Best Price |
Nixy Pro Carbon Fiber – BEST Value Carbon Fiber Kayak Paddle
- 2-piece paddle
- 220-230cm (adjustable)
- 28 oz
- Carbon fiber shaft
- Medium-angle carbon fiber blade
- Fully adjustable feather angle
- Best for cruising, touring, fishing
The Nixy Pro Carbon Fiber kayak paddle hits a lot of excellent marks – which is why we’ve listed it at the top of our Best Kayak Paddles List.
First, Nixy’s pedigree of building excellent carbon fiber SUP paddles made the addition of a kayak paddle very easy for this California-based company. The Nixy Pro Carbon Fiber paddle uses lightweight 3k Carbon Fiber for both the shaft and blade materials. This material keeps the paddle incredibly light while making sure the blades are stiff in the water for optimum paddling efficiency.
While it’s technically only the second lightest paddle on our list (by two ounces), The Nixy Pro is a 2-piece paddle with adjustable length and feather angle. It also comes with a padded carrying bag to keep your paddle looking great between uses.
The blade size and shape is a recreational- and touring-friendly medium-angle design with a slightly shorter and wider blade than a dedicated sea kayak paddle, but not as short and wide as a dedicated river paddle. The result is an excellent balance of power per stroke without tiring you out during longer paddling sessions.
Wilderness Systems Origin Angler – BEST Kayak Fishing Paddle
- 2-Piece Paddle
- 240-260cm (adjustable)
- 37 ounces
- Fiberglass shaft
- Medium-angle nylon blade
- Fully-adjustable feather angle
- Best for Fishing, cruising
The Wilderness Systems Origin Angler is specially-designed with the kayak angler in mind. The lightweight fiberglass paddle shaft is paired with durable fiber-reinforced nylon blades to handle the rigors of paddling in shallows and rivers to get you where the fish are.
The central ferrule clamp of this 2-piece paddle lets you adjust the length between 240-260cm – ideal for getting the paddle blade over wider fishing kayaks – and also lets you adjust the feather angle anywhere between 0-90 degrees to find your most comfortable setting.
The medium-angle blade is a great combination of size and shape for power when you need it and comfortable cruising to get to those far-off fishing holes. The left-hand blade also has a built-in line hook cut-out to help you manage your tackle if you are like me and occasionally end up catching the occasional tree-bass or rock crappie.
Aqua Bound Tango Fiberglass – BEST Touring Kayak Paddle
- 2-Piece Paddle
- 220, 230, or 240cm (fixed)
- 26 ounces
- Carbon fiber shaft
- Low-angle fiberglass/kevlar blade
- Fully-adjustable feather angle
- Best for touring, fitness
Touring and fitness kayaking both benefit from high efficiency paddling. The Aqua Bound Tango is designed for just that task. The carbon fiber shaft provides excellent power transfer with a lightweight swing. The fiberglass blades are stiff and light, while the edges are treated with a layer of kevlar to prevent chipping and cracking if you do happen to make contact with a rock or two.
The Tango is not length adjustable, so you’ll need to decide which length you want. Most paddlers will feel comfortable with a 230cm paddle, while shorter or taller paddlers will want to select the 220 or 240cm versions respectively. But all three lengths come with a fully adjustable feather angle at the center ferrule. You can change the blade feather angles anywhere from 0-90 degrees in either a right- or left-handed orientation to fit your needs.
All of this, and the Tango weighs in at just 26 ounces to keep you paddling comfortably all day.
Oru Fiberglass – BEST 4-Piece Flatwater Kayak Paddle
- 2-Piece Paddle
- 220-230cm (adjustable)
- 34 ounces
- Fiberglass shaft
- Low-angle nylon blade
- Fully-adjustable feather angle
- Best for cruising, travel
The Oru Fiberglass paddle balances price and performance in a way that makes it an ideal kayak paddle for casual cruising and travel. The fiberglass shaft is lightweight without the additional cost of carbon fiber, and provides a little bit of flex for more comfortable all-day paddling.
The blades are made with a foam core wrapped in fiberglass for a stiff paddle with a dihedral shape to move through the water without fluttering.
There is a bit of size adjustment built into the 4-piece construction allowing the paddle to break down for easy transportation and stretch from 220-230cm when assembled. It also features a completely adjustable feather angle for right- or left-handed paddlers.
Werner Surge – BEST Whitewater Kayak Paddle
- 1-Piece Paddle
- 194-206cm (fixed)
- 35 ounces
- Fiberglass shaft
- High-angle fiberglass blade
- Fixed feather angle
- Best for Whitewater
Werner is among the best-known and most-recommended makers of kayak paddlers for a variety of disciplines, but they basically dominate the whitewater kayaking scene. From day one of whitewater kayaking I used Werner paddles and have been loving them ever since.
The Werner Surge is specifically designed for aggressive whitewater paddling. The high-angle blade shape features a 112 square-inch paddle blade. Those blades are offset from the center of the paddle to provide even more power during each stroke – when there’s a must-make move ahead, you don’t want to have to take any more strokes than you need to!
The fiberglass shaft and blade construction aren’t as light as Werner’s pricier carbon fiber options, but they are far more durable. I lost a Werner Powerhouse Paddle (the same fiberglass construction with a slightly different shape) during a bad swim and it went for a very long trip. I thought it was gone for good, until a year later when I got a message from someone in the next state over who found it on the river – in nearly the same condition as when I lost it.
Aqua Bound Shred – BEST 4-Piece River Kayak Paddle
- 4-Piece Paddle
- 191-203cm (fixed)
- 38.5 ounces
- Fiberglass shaft
- High-angle nylon blade
- Fixed feather angle
- Best for Rivers, Whitewater
Packrafters and IKers regularly enjoy the benefits of having easier to store and transport kayaks, but that benefit goes out the window if you need to carry a 7’ long paddle everywhere!
The Aqua Bound Shred 4-piece is a budget-friendly and high-performance 4-piece paddle that pairs well with these inflatable river kayaks, or as a spare paddle stowed in your hardshell kayak.
It’s available in a variety of length and feather angle combinations and features a large, 110 square inch, high-angle blade made with fiberglass reinforced nylon.
Old Town Carlisle Magic Plus – BEST Budget Kayak Paddle
- 2-Piece Paddle
- 220-250cm (fixed)
- 40 ounces
- Fiberglass shaft
- medium-angle nylon blade
- Fixed feather angle
- Best for cruising on a budget
Most of the paddles on this list have been in the $200-$350 range (though kayak paddles can get far more expensive than that). However, we understand that this might be a bit spendy if you are just getting into the sport.
We always encourage looking for the best value options, not necessarily the cheapest. There are less-expensive kayak paddles available than the Old Town Carlisle Magic Plus at $125 retail price, but to go cheaper than that will mean taking a big step down in materials and construction.
The Magic Plus features a fiberglass shaft and fiberglass-reinforced nylon blades. It’s got a medium size blade shape for general flatwater paddling, and is available in a wide variety of lengths to match your height and boat size. Old Town and Carlisle are both well-known brands in kayaking and canoeing with histories going back older than me, and with the customer service and design chops to go with it.
Best Kayak Paddles FAQs
What Should Beginners Look for in a Kayak Paddle?
New flatwater paddlers should look for a medium-weight paddle (28-34 ounces) with both an adjustable length and adjustable feather angle. This gives you a paddle that is light enough for comfortable use, but not so light it costs a fortune, and you can dial in exactly what length paddle best suits you and your kayak. The feather angle adjustment takes some additional refinement to suit your paddling style and conditions as well, so being able to change that on the fly really gives you a good, versatile paddle that will do well in all conditions.
New river paddlers should look for a shorter paddle with a shorter/wider paddle blade. As the speed and strength of the current increase you’ll want to be able to take larger and more aggressive paddle strokes to position yourself correctly on the river.
What Should Intermediate and Advanced Paddlers Look for in a Kayak Paddle?
As you progress into more advanced paddling you’ll want to refine your paddle choice to match your boat and paddling style more specifically. This can mean lighter paddles, more aggressive paddles, less aggressive paddles, different feather angles and offsets, and so much more. Generally, though, a lighter and stiffer paddle made with carbon fiber, fiberglass, or a blend of the two provide noticeable improvements in increased power and reduced fatigue.
Should I Get a High-Angle or Low-Angle Kayak Paddle?
High-angle kayak paddles with shorter, wider blades are made specifically for high-angle paddle strokes where the paddle shaft is closer to vertical during the power phase. This type of paddle and paddling is ideal for powerful strokes used to move you quickly at the cost of additional fatigue.
Low-angle kayak paddles with longer, narrower blades are made specifically for low-angle paddle strokes where the paddle shaft is closer to horizontal during the power phase. This type of paddle and paddling is ideal for lower-power, more efficient cruising and distance paddling where you don’t need each paddle stroke to move you large distances in an instant.
What Length Kayak Paddle Should I Get?
This question is quite tricky as it depends on your height, paddling style, and boat width.
For general recreational paddling in a recreational kayak, most paddlers are going to use a medium- or low-angle paddle between 230-250cm in length.
For advanced touring and fitness paddling you may shorten your paddle a bit to match a narrower boat and use one in the 210-230cm range. River and whitewater paddlers will need shorter paddles again in the 190-210cm range, but with shorter, wider blades, to accommodate their aggressive paddling style in shallow water.
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