Choosing Your Paddle
A good SUP paddle will be the most important piece of equipment next to your paddleboard and safety gear. We carry a variety of quality paddles to suit every situation and paddler from beginners to elite racers. All of our paddles are built strong, light weight and designed for optimal paddling performance. Conserving energy while increasing your endurance and stamina are the first notables you’ll discover when using a quality paddle. We offer fixed-length and adjustable-length paddles in several grades of carbon construction, shaft flex, blade size and shape. When choosing your paddle there are two primary considerations, blade size and paddle length.
Blade Size
When talking about blade size, we’re referring to the width (blades widest point), blade length and the actual total number of square inches the blade contains. The main consideration when choosing the appropriate blade size is generally based on your body weight/size, however personal preference based on strength, endurance and stamina will likely also play a significant role in your decision. If we are considering a formula based on body weight/size alone, this would be a good starting point:
- 100 lbs or less = 65 to 75 square inches of blade area
- 100–150 lbs = 70 to 85 square inches of blade area
- 150–200 lbs = 80 to 95 square inches of blade area
- 200–250 lbs = 90 to 100 square inches of blade area
- 250 lbs plus = 95 to 105 square inches of blade area
Paddle Length
When considering paddle length (top of the t-grip handle to the bottom edge of the blade), the main factor that would determine an ideal length is your body height. Most SUP paddle manufacturers will advise you that an overall paddle length should ideally be somewhere between 8 and 11 inches taller than the rider using it. While this is generally true, it is also important to consider what you are using your paddle for—be it cruising, touring, racing, surfing or just recreational paddling. You may want a little extra or a little less length to get the most out of your paddle in a given situation. The following table provides an example of what your paddle length might be based on different paddling usages.
| Your Height (feet) | (inches) | B(cm) | Paddle Length (Casual/Touring) | (Racing) | (Surfing) | |
| 5′ | 60″ | 152cm | 68″ | 67″ | 66″ | |
| 5′ 1″ | 61″ | 155cm | 70″ | 68″ | 67″ | |
| 5′ 2″ | 62″ | 157cm | 71″ | 69″ | 68″ | |
| 5′ 3″ | 63″ | 160cm | 72″ | 71″ | 69″ | |
| 5′ 4″ | 64″ | 163cm | 73″ | 72″ | 70″ | |
| 5′ 5″ | 65″ | 165cm | 74″ | 73″ | 72″ | |
| 5′ 6″ | 66″ | 168cm | 75-76″ | 74″ | 73″ | |
| 5′ 7″ | 67″ | 170cm | 76-77″ | 75″ | 74″ | |
| 5′ 8″ | 68″ | 173cm | 77-78″ | 76″ | 75″ | |
| 5′ 9″ | 69″ | 175cm | 78-79″ | 77″ | 76″ | |
| 5′ 10″ | 70″ | 178cm | 79-80″ | 78″ | 77″ | |
| 5′ 11″ | 71″ | 180cm | 80-81″ | 79″ | 78″ | |
| 6′ | 72″ | 183cm | 81-82″ | 80″ | 79″ | |
| 6′ 1″ | 73″ | 185cm | 82-83″ | 81-82″ | 80″ | |
| 6′ 2″ | 74″ | 188cm | 84-85″ | 82-83″ | 81-82″ | |
| 6′ 3″ | 75″ | 191cm | 85-86″ | 83-84″ | 82-83″ | |
| 6′ 4″ | 76″ | 193cm | 86-87″ | 84-85″ | 83-84″ |
Adjustable or Fixed Length paddle?
Deciding to go with an adjustable or a fixed length paddle will depend on how you or potentially others may use it. For those just starting out or simply interested in recreational paddling (the majority of paddlers) an adjustable paddle would be a good option as it will allow you to find the height/length that best suits your paddling needs and also provide the ability to set up the paddle for others to use. However, because adjustable paddles have more than one flex point due to their two-piece nature, the fixed length paddle (one-piece) are a better choice for distance paddling, touring and/or especially racing. The shaft of an adjustable paddle flexes differently and with a bit of disruption, generally requiring more energy to get the same amount of power as the non-disputed flex of a fixed shaft paddle. This shaft-flex disruption is even more noticeable in the case of a 3 piece travel paddle due to its multiple connection points.
The fixed length paddle, due to its consistent and smooth shaft flex, requires less energy for more power and ultimately provides better paddling efficiency. For riders taking SUP a little more serious and interested in touring and/or racing with greater performance, a fixed length paddle is the best way to go. These paddles can be cut and set to your exact height preference (we can do that for you) and you have far more options like: construction technology, shaft diameter and shape (oval/tapered), flex amount, blade shape, size and angle, paddle weight and cost. Of course, a fixed paddle will be custom suited to you and not so much for friends or family… it’ll be your paddle and for the most part only your paddle. Ultimately it comes down to how serious you are about the paddle component of your SUP equipment set-up.
What do we recommend?
Using the chart above as a good starting point—set your paddle height with an adjustable paddle if available. Get out on the water and start paddling while occasionally experimenting (adjusting) with the paddle height until you’re satisfied that you’ve determined the ideal length and feel. This may involve getting out on the water several times and in many different water conditions. After doing this, you’ll be comfortable making an informed decision on your paddle choice—be it setting a permanent fixed length paddle or sticking with an adjustable to enable changing up your paddle length occasionally. See our paddles.
HAPPY PADDLING! 🙂