I have two Lendal paddles, one straight and one crank shaft. Both are 220 shaft, all carbon, the blades are Kinetic S and Archipelago, both medium size.
For a mid size the Kinetic has a good catch. I don’t think you would want anything less than that, so look at a medium with a good catch, or a larger, the shaft length from 215-200.
That’s my recommendation: bent shaft, 215 or 220, medium size blade with a strong catch, or larger, but not too large.
Get carbon. You won’t regret it.
Edit: I can only recommend the Lendal bent shaft. You won't have any problem with hand placement anywhere on the shaft. the four piece locking system works great. no extra weight, rock solid. sorry i don't have more experiecne with the larger blades, but at least you have the option on interchanging the blades.
Lendal it may be … I tried a bunch of paddles lately, and I think I prefer the bent shaft design overall. I have narrowed it down to the Lendal & AT paddles but have no chance to try an AT … I may just bite the bullet and get the Lendal carbon bent shaft + Kinetic Touring blades and stay with them for a while. I was hoping to get a Varilock shaft of 215 to 225 or whatever it comes in, but I can’t find them anywhere… I might just settle on a 220cm without the Varilock as this length seems to work well for me.
Thanks for the suggestions and if anyone know a good place to buy from, let me know. Lendals seem hard to come find …
I Highly reccommend the Lendal bent shaft. I have mine for a couple years now and love it.
I am 5' 10" and paddle a 22.5" wide Impex Assateaque. I have the 215mm crank shaft and the Kinetic Touring Blades, all in carbon. I really like it.
My only regret is that I should have bought the slightly smaller Kinetic Touring-S blades. These blades really grab the water, and since I hurt my shoulder I don't have the strength I used to have in it. I guess I just need to paddle more and build it up. The slightly smaller "S" blade might be beter for me now.
Wanna sell the blades? If you decide these are too big for you - consider selling them to me and then you can buy your “S” size, perhaps?
I will probably get new Kinetic Touring (not “S”) if I can’t get a used set. But saving a buck or two and making a favor to a fellow paddler is always a good thing -
I’d like to try the kanetic If you want to trade your Kinetic for the Kinetic S, I’d like to try the slightly larger blade. The Archepelagos I have are almost identical to the Kinetic S, so I’d like to trade out one of the sets.
Otherwise I’m fine with what I got, and will just add something else in a year or two.
