Kayak Paddles

There is a wide variety of kayak paddles on the market and we understand that it can be difficult to choose the right one. There are several things to consider when buying a paddle and the more you kayak, the more opinions you will have about what paddle you want. We have chosen to keep our paddle selection small and as usual, we handpick what we believe is best for you!

The paddles we currently offer are from Aqua Bound. Aqua Bound has over 30 years on the market and is today one of the leading paddle manufacturers in the world. We have chosen two models that are suitable for day trips and longer expeditions. They are lightweight, affordable and above all, they have unbeatable quality!

We have the Eagle ray, which is a bit cheaper for those who want a lightweight and good paddle at a reasonable price. Then we have the Tango Carbon, which is one of the lightest paddles you can get and according to us, perhaps the best paddle you can buy right now.

For those who want to know more about what to consider when looking at paddles, here is a list of 5 things to consider when buying a kayak paddle.

5 things to consider when buying a kayak paddle.

1. Paddle length: It is important to choose a paddle with the right length to fit your body length and paddling technique. Exactly how long your paddle should be, no one can say, but according to Emil, no one should have a paddle longer than 220. If we talk to Ålands Leif, it should not be longer than 210. Usually, most people are in the range between 210 and 220. If you have difficulty knowing which, you can think that if you're a bit shorter, 210 works perfect, if you're taller, take a 220.

2. Weight and stiffness: A lightweight paddle is gentle on your shoulders. If you paddle for 1 hour and take an average of 50-60 paddle strokes per minute, that's quite a few lifts of the paddle. Those extra grams quickly become kilograms, which is why paddles are becoming lighter and lighter. What we want to avoid, however, is that the paddle becomes too soft and flexible. This is most common in paddles with nylon/plastic blades. If the blade flex when you take your paddle stroke, you lose energy. Therefore, it is smart to at least choose a glass-fiber reinforced nylon blade if you want to buy a slightly cheaper paddle. Carbon fiber is stiffest and lightest but unfortunately also most expensive. You get what you pay for, simply put.

3. Type of paddle: There are different types of paddles that offer different advantages depending on how you paddle. Touring paddles (euro paddles), Greenland paddles, and wing paddles are the most common choices. Within sea kayaking, we usually use touring paddles and it is also what you find on kayak rentals normally. Greenland paddles are narrow and often made of wood. You choose a Greenland paddle if you want to spare your shoulders a little extra or want to explore how people paddled in the past when kayaks were invented. Wing paddles come from racing and recreational paddling. A wing paddle has blades that stick better in the water and allows you to get a better power transfer. If you have good technique, a wing paddle will make you faster. However, wing paddles are designed to drive you forward and are therefore very difficult to use for different technical paddle strokes and you should always paddle with a rudder if you use a wing paddle.

4. Material: Kayak paddles can be made from a number of different materials, including wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose a material that fits your needs.

5. Shaft: It's important to make sure you have a paddle that sits comfortably in your hand and doesn't hurt after longer paddling trips. There are paddles with slightly oval shafts that make it easier for you to control how you hold the paddle. There are paddles that have a thicker part on one side. There are a wide variety of shaft types so find one that feels comfortable and go with it.

At Melker, we have a lot of experience with paddling and actively work to select the best products on the market to make it easy for you to choose the right one. If you buy a paddle from us, we promise that we have tested it hard and vouch that it's not a paddle you'll be unhappy with!