"Good tools - good work", everyone knows that. And the paddle is the stand-up paddler's tool. With a light paddle, you not only paddle better, but also have more fun. From February to April 2019, these 51 paddles passed through many hands. 5 testers contributed their impressions. Stiffness, weight and diameter were measured in the laboratory.
A medium blade size was selected for this test, which should be suitable for 90 per cent of all recreational paddlers. The Fanatic Bamboo 50 and Fanatic Carbon 80 are slightly smaller, as are some models from Red Paddle and the Aqua Marine aluminium paddle. At the top, the 95 mm blades from Naish are slightly out of line - a little more "power" orientated - and the inexpensive plastic blades used in the cheaper models from Fanatic, Indiana and Paddleboard also appear particularly large and powerful.
Rather stiff or cushioned?
This remains - within limits - a matter of taste and a question of the area of use. In the waves and on the river, where you sometimes fall on the paddle, proper flexibility can prevent a paddle (or rib) breakage - according to the Chinese principle "the bamboo straightens up again after the storm, the oak breaks off".
However, the inexpensive I-99 with 899 grams and butter-soft shaft and blade only made all the testers smile. In comparison, a paddle in the 720 gram class swings like a feather and is usually powerful and very stiff through the water. Just under 200 grams and a completely different weight distribution make a world of difference when paddling. An investment that you can feel with every paddle stroke.
The jump from €50 to €120 was rather small on average in our comparisons, but you get a particularly good "deal" when you overcome the hurdle of €150 to €200. The focus here is not on performance, but on the fun of paddling, on short trips, but especially on longer trips of half an hour or more. Even 200 grams of extra weight (40 strokes per minute, times 60 minutes) add up to 480 kilos that have to be moved in one hour.
You can find the complete test of these 51 vario paddles with all technical data and ratings as a PDF in the download area below:
- 39.95 Euro: Aqua Marina Sports III 3-piece.
- 59,90 Euro: Ascan aluminium paddle
- 66.90 Euro: Makaio Alu Pro 3-piece.
- 85.00 Euro: RRD Start
- 99,00 Euro: Fanatic Pure Adjustable
- 109.00 Euro: I-99 X3GP09 3pcs.
- 109.00 Euro: RRD Easy
- 109,00 Euro: Siren B2 Bucaneer
- 118,00 Euro: Paddleboard fibreglass 3-pcs.
- 119.00 Euro: Indiana fibreglass composite
- 119.00 Euro: Mistral Kanoa Uni Blade 8.1"
- 120,00 Euro: Aqua Inc Entry 3 pcs.
- 129,00 Euro: Fanatic Carbon 25 HD 3-piece.
- 130.00 Euro: GTS N 95 3-piece.
- 139,90 Euro: Red Paddle Midi Carbon 50
- 149,00 Euro: Starboard Enduro Tufskin 3-piece.
- 149.90 euros: Red Paddle Carbon 50 3-piece.
- 169.00 Euro: Ascan Carbon 60
- 169.00 Euro: SupR Play
- 179.00 Euro: I-99 X3GG23 3 pcs.
- 188,00 Euro: Paddleboard Carbon-Fibre 3-pcs.
- 199,00 Euro: JP-Australia Glass 90 3-pcs.
- 199,95 Euro: Aqua Marina Carbon Pro 3-piece.
- 209.00 Euro: Sic Tao 90 ATF LL
- 219,00 Euro: JP-Australia Carbon Glass 90
- 219.00 Euro: RRD Flow 3-piece.
- 229.00 Euro: Starboard Enduro Tiki Tech M 3-piece.
- 239,00 Euro: Indiana fibreglass 3-piece set
- 249,00 Euro: Naish Carbon 95 SDS
- 249.00 Euro: RRD Avant C30
- 250.00 Euro: CrosLake Bonneville 7.0"
- 259.00 Euro: Black Project Ohana M 3-piece.
- 259,00 Euro: Fanatic Bamboo Carbon 50
- 259,00 Euro: Starboard Enduro 2.0 Arma M
- 269,00 Euro: Aqua Inc Razor
- 279.90 Euro: Red Paddle Carbon 100 3-piece.
- 289,00 Euro: Mistral Makani Vario
- 299.00 Euro: JP-Ausgralia Carbon 90
- 299.90 Euro: RRD Dynamic 80 Carbon
- 319.00 Euro: Indiana Carbon 95
- 320.00 Euro: GTS Narrow 85 3-piece.
- 349.00 Euro: Black Project Lava M
- 349,00 Euro: Fanatic Carbon 80 7.25"
- 349,00 Euro: Naish Carbon Plus 95 SDS
- 349,00 Euro: Naish Carbon Plus 90 RDS
- 399,00 Euro: Starboard Lima LTD L
- 419.00 Euro: Sic Maliko 80 ATF LL
- 429,00 Euro: JP-Australia Carbon Pro 83
- 429.00 Euro: SupR Pacer Pro Carbon 86
- 439,00 Euro: Red Paddle Ultimate Carbon
- 479.00 Euro: Black Project Hydro TC L
