Hello! I apologise for the 109343984th paddle recommendation question, but I feel like in 2025 with the disappearance/hiatus of many trustworthy brands/paddle models, the question of finding the right paddle has become even more difficult to answer, especially when I’m of a stature and size that’s outside the usual market consumer (I’m short (152cm, or 5’) with literal children hands). I’m a high angler paddler and enjoy a ‘reactive’ paddle that responds to my or the water’s playfulness, while also letting me maintain a constant cadence during long stretches.
I have the following requirements:
- Small diameter oval and/or indexed shaft. Most kayak shafts I’ve tried are too big for my hands resulting in bad form or early fatigue.
- Adjustable feathering and length, at least 5cm adjustable. I don’t have my own kayaks and owning one is out of the question due to living in a small dense country where almost everyone lives in shoebox apartments. I therefore have to rent kayaks and don’t have a say in the model and therefore the width of the kayak I’m using, and will have to adjust the length of the shaft accordingly.
- Durability is important to me. While I do try to take care of my gear, I cannot baby it as I want to be able to take it to as many conditions as possible, and I would eventually be coaching and/or guiding with it.
- Weight–looking for something below 700g if possible, or just hovering above 700g.
I have been looking for Lendal’s Cadence and/or Storm paddle as it seems to hit all of my requirements, and I hear that it’s incredibly comfortable for people with smaller hands. However, it seems from online research and my own experience that Lendal has not been answering their emails or calls for at least a year now, and most of their dealers are running out of stocks, and finding second-hand Lendal paddles in my size is like finding needle in haystack (not to mention most Lendal owners are located halfway if not outright across the world from me).
Werner’s smaller diameter Shuna or Cyprus seems to be the next best option, but the carbon Shuna and Cyprus are not adjustable, have questionable durability from what I read online. Adjustable glass Shuna might be my best bet right now, but it’s heavy (above 800g), and durability is still not reassuring.
I would be grateful if anyone has experience with other paddles that may fit my requirements! I’m otherwise leaning towards a slalom Braca paddle because even though it might not be made for touring and doesn’t have an oval/indexed shaft, it’s light enough and there is no question about its durability, but I would love to discover more paddles that might be better suited for my needs. Thank you so much in advance!