I want a new fixed length paddle and am unsure what to look for. Mainly only take my SUP in surf.
Cheers in advance.
IMO you should look for a blade size between 7-8" wide.. and a shaft that's not too thick in diameter..
It's better to buy a major brand name paddle if you can afford it.. I think major brands can be trusted more than some of the unknown cheaper brands and having trust that a paddle won't break is very important..
You also need to concider the handle.. I like T grip handles.. and others like palm grip handles.. Try and demo first so you can test both handle and shaft stiffness.. You don't want too stiff and you don't want too soft.. The stiffness in the same paddle can vary from one person to another depending on their size and strength.
Thanks david. I am keen to demo some and am on the am on the mornington peninsula. Any suggestions where to go.
I'm not sure what shops are down there but up here we have SHQ.. Kite Republic.. and the Zu..
Any chance you are coming to the Port Phillip Cup event at St Kilda on Tuesday (Australia Day) 
If you are on the Mornington Peninsula SHQ have a store in Rosebud. They stock quote a few different paddles. I bought a methane 2 a few months ago there. They even cut it down for me.
Hello Seabreezers, a river kayaker who his a shorboarder as well saw me paddling on my little SUP, tell me to use wood shaft to paddle on my waveSUP to take more easy around my shoulders cuff and tendons pain.
Anyone does have infos about wooden shaft advantages
Select to expand quoteKami said...
Hello Seabreezers, a river kayaker who his a shorboarder as well saw me paddling on my little SUP, tell me to use wood shaft to paddle on my waveSUP to take more easy around my shoulders cuff and tendons pain.
Anyone does have infos about wooden shaft advantages
I would recomend not using wood paddles unless they're for OC use.. They are much shorter.. I'm sure that if brands like KIALOA could make a wood sup paddle they would.. (wood shaft)..
Most wood paddles that I've used and seen are too weak/flexy if they have a small diameter shaft and if the stiffness is ok they are too thick in the shaft.. and pretty heavy.. Wood is very unpredictable and inconsistent.. They can break sometimes with the first hard stroke.. One of the guys here had a thick shaft wood paddle with a long flexy blade to help with a shoulder problem.. I didn't like it.. You are much better to go with a shaft that is fiberglass or carbon/fiberglass mix if you want a more flexy paddle.. Even some of the big brand carbon paddles have a small diameter shaft and flex more than enough..
Catch up with Jack at Peninsula sup/Jacks boards in Rye,he has a good range of paddles and boards
You will find him on the web at Peninsula sup and Jacks Boards
. 
Good to know.. I've heard that Malama wood paddles are very good but I've never seen one.. They are pretty rare.. I have heard of many people who've broken wood shaft paddles and I've broken two myself.. It's not a nice feeling having a paddle give way at the max power part of the stroke.. Have to admit most broken wood paddles that I've heard about are those that people have made themselves.. Wood paddle making is an art that's learnt from making and breaking heaps before getting it right.. All the quality wood paddles that I've tried felt like paddling with a piece of 2x4..
Select to expand quoteKami said..
Hello Seabreezers, a river kayaker who his a shorboarder as well saw me paddling on my little SUP, tell me to use wood shaft to paddle on my waveSUP to take more easy around my shoulders cuff and tendons pain.
Anyone does have infos about wooden shaft advantages
The looks, that's all.
Wooden shafts will break in the length used for SUP, just for taking off.
You need a carbon paddle for lightness (a heavy paddle will ruin your shoulders), but with some flex in the shaft, and a small and efficient blade. In France the best one by far is the Gong Carbon Pro, with a 7" blade for your weight.
Normally I never push Gong products on this forum, but it is difficult to do otherwise for the Carbon Pro. Everybody who tried them find them unbelievable, both from the pre-preg thin shaft with the proper amount of flex, and the extremely refined blade shape. And a less than 400g paddle is another realm. But I reckon I have not tried the Ke Nalu (hard to find in France)
You should try one. Too bad their price have increased 25% (now 250€) since the euro value decrease.
Reading this thread reminded me of something.
Way back when, and it seems in another life now (before wife, kids, a receding hairline, and even before a full-time job) I had a paddle with a wooden shaft. Of course, not SUP. Hadn't even heard of SUP back then!
That's a home made paddle (carbon blade, wooden shaft) and 2 person outrigger canoe that my father built.
They are custom made and mr Malama (very nice guy btw!) rather don,t like to send paddles by airfreight...but picking up the paddle was well worth the 1 month Maui trip :D
I am also looking for a new paddle. I've got it narrowed down to 2, a Werner Trance 85 2-piece and a Trance 3-piece. Does a weight difference of 2.25 ounces really matter that much?
