Did you know there are different size and length SUP paddles depending on your environment and activity? Having a great paddle is arguably the most important first investment when it comes to stand up paddle boarding.
My name’s Eddie, and I’m a seasoned paddle board instructor from Southern California. Keep reading to find the best paddle board paddle to save energy, go longer, go faster, and improve your overall paddle boarding experience.
We’ll be going over……
- Statistics
- Types of Paddles
- Materials & Weight
- Head Size & Shape
- Length/Height
- Recommendations Based on Need
- Conclusion
STATISTICS
Casual Paddler Performance
•20 – 30 strokes/min
•1,200 – 1,800 strokes/hr
Competitive SUP Racer
•50-60 strokes/min
•3,000 – 3,600 strokes/hr
90% of paddlers have no idea what kind they are using.
70% of those paddlers have the wrong paddle for them.
As you can see, you do a lot of strokes even if it’s just for casual fun. Even saving 10% energy per stroke adds up very quickly over time.
Let’s learn the truth behind what makes an effective paddle great and how it can make your job a LOT easier.
TYPES OF PADDLES
There are two common types of paddles in the market, adjustable and pro(non-adjustable). Let’s look at the pros and cons of each of these.
Adjustable Paddles
Pros
- Less Expensive
- Adjustable for different uses and users
- Sharable
- More compact
- Ready to go right out the box
Cons
- Heavier than Pro Paddles
- Parts wear out faster
- Water can enter through seal
- Needs tightening over time
Ideal For
- Beginning Paddle Boarders
- Surfing
- Casual Paddles
Pro Paddles
Pros
- Lighter than adjustables
- Always ready to go
- No parts to maintain
- Longer lasting
Cons
- More Expensive
- Not adjustable
- Needs to be cut and sized
Ideal For
- Intermediate-Advance Paddle Boarders
- Cardio Training
- Racing
PADDLE MATERIALS & WEIGHT
The weight of the paddle plays a very large role in your paddling experience. The heavier the paddle the more energy it takes. The goal is to always try to get the lightest paddle possible.
3 Main Materials Used
- Plastic
- Fiber Glass
- Carbon Fiber
Plastic Paddles
Plastic paddles are generally the cheapest ones you’ll find in the market. Plastic paddles are cheap, however, they are heavier, easier to break, and tend to have a more flexible head (not good for paddling.)
Fiber Glass Paddles
These are generally are pricer than plastic. They are sturdy and won’t flex when you paddle. Fiber glass are generally in the medium weight range.
Carbon Fiber Paddles
These are the ideal paddles to have if you are willing to pay a little extra. Carbon fiber paddles are the lightest paddles while being very strong and long lasting. In my experience, they are by far worth the extra because of how much of an impact they play in your paddling performance.
Why Weight Matters
Weight is the most important aspect of a good paddle.
In order to cut cost on the paddle many manufacturers use plastic in the handle, shaft, and blade. This allows them to bring down the cost and gives you a cheaper paddle.
This is at the cost of weight, which to me isn’t a good trade off since you spend so much of your time paddling. (Unless you are on a super tight budget)
Your goal is to get a Carbon Fiber paddle as soon as possible. A Carbon Fiber paddle will reduce up to 20%-30% energy per stroke. This doesn’t seem much until you add the 1000’s of strokes you are going to make.
PADDLE HEAD SIZE & SHAPE
Paddle heads come in different sizes but today we are going to focus on the 2 most important ones. -Size and Shape-
The size of the paddle plays a big role on what you are planning to do. Many paddle board paddles will have a measurement size on the paddle itself (at least the good ones anyways). Before you get on make sure the fin under the board is behind you. Never in the front.
Paddle head sizes can range from under 70 to over 100 in square inches.
Here’s a general rule of thumb for head size. If it’s under 90 it’s generally for long distance cruises. If it’s over 90 it’s designed for grabbing the most water for sprints and races.
Any paddle size under 80 is generally for children or very petite individuals roughly under or around 100lbs.
If you are 200lbs or over you will need a paddle with a bigger head to grab more water to propel you forward. I recommend a minimum of 100 inches or more.
If you want a mathematical way to determine your paddle head size, follow the formula from Quickblade which is (your weight in lbs) x .25 +45. This will give you a general sizing based on your weight.
The shape of the paddle head is determined on the activity. A wider, fatter head is for increasing speed. In contrast, a longer, narrow paddle is for digging deep and going further, great for long distances.
PADDLE LENGTH/HEIGHT
When you do not have the proper length it can become a mess for your paddle session.
Too long and you can be flopping around in the water doing extra work lifting it higher to just get the paddle out of the water.
Too short and you’ll be hurting your back trying to bend up to properly bury the head in the water.
So what then is the best length?
A fast, standard way is raising your hand up in the air with about a 30 degree bend at the elbow. After that simply limp your wrist over the handle. This is a fast method that is use by most paddle board rental shops.
If you want something more precise. Your paddle should only be taller than 10% of your original height.
So if you are 6ft tall then just convert that into inches which is 72″. Now do 72″ + 72″ x 10% = 79.2″ or 6′ and 7.2″
There you have it. There isn’t necessarily a perfect height, but as I said before too short can hurt and strain your back while too long is harder to use.
RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON NEED
Here are a couple of tips and tricks to help you improve faster and build your confidence on the water.
Casual Paddler
If you are a paddler who just does it on occasionally for fun, then honestly, any paddle will do for you.
Just make sure you have the right height and form so that you don’t build bad habits and injure your back.
If you are here but plan on paddling more than I recommend you invest in a good, light paddle.
Avid or Long Distance Paddler
For my avid paddlers, I highly recommend you stay away from plastic paddles. Get a carbon fiber or at least a fiber glass paddle.
Make sure the paddle is about 10% taller than your height.
Get an adjustable or pro. It depends on you what you MAINLY do with your paddle board.
The paddle surface area shouldn’t be around 90-95″ unless you are 200lbs or heavier or like going faster and don’t mind putting in extra work.
As for the head shape, I believe a longer, narrow head shape would be ideal for longer distances.
Surfing
For you surfers out there. You probably should get an adjustable so you can do different test to fit your style.
Avoid plastic paddles as you have a greater chance of breaking it. Plus the heads are too flexible. Use fiber glass or carbon fiber.
Make sure the height is at about the middle of your forearm.
You should get a wider paddle to grab more surface area for better turn precision.
Racing
To all my racers out there. Let’s get down to the brass taxes.
Here’s what you want.
- Pro paddle
- Full Carbon Fiber
- Fat Paddle Head for Sprints
- Narrow Paddle Head for Long Distance
- Length should be about 10-12″ taller than your height for a deeper dig.
CONCLUSION
Thanks for reading this guide! Here’s the recap of all that we have learned.
✓ An average paddler does 1000’s of strokes in just 1 hour.
✓ Adjustables are quick and easy while Pro Paddles are efficient and high performance.
✓ The heavier the paddle, the cheaper it is. However, the lighter the paddle the greater the performance and experience.
✓ Narrow paddle heads are designed for long-distance, while wider heads are designed for speed.
✓ The typical length of a paddle should be 10% taller than your height.
✓ Recommendations are always based on how often, what activity, and ability.
Are you interested in learning about inflatable paddle boards? My detailed blog covers 6 crucial things you need to know when looking for the perfect iSUP.