Feather
Onno makes a paddle he calls Feather. I got one for kids to use and small women (my wife). I wish I had got a 2 piece adjustable. The next one will be, need to get the granddaughters outfitted.
It’s very light.
Scroll down to it…
http://www.onnopaddles.com/paddles.html
… such as ONNO : )
Until recently we were married to a 5’ er and have done extensive ’ testing ’ of and on this subject in all conditions.
The paddle length should be matched to the person and boat. The blades should not only be matched as above but personal preferences, even expectations : ) should be considered as well as factoring in conditions and distances.
Just 'cause the brochure or website says so does not make it the end all.
Like everything else, you will get the best thing for you after researching, talking to real world, experienced people ( not just those who have the website / brochure memorized and quote it back to you ) and trying things out.
Euro
Yes we are looking to start with Euro style paddles. The GP’s do look like fun project to build though. We were just hoping another petite lady would pipe up and say “This blah blah blah model fit me like a glove”. I found that exact quote on here from a woman her size on the Tsunami SP.
The reason I we asked is that she is drastically stronger than the kids and was paddling the Poseidon well canoe style off the side of our inflatable. But I’m sure it’s a lot different sitting in the kayak right on the water and turns with stroke input. I guess I can just cut up one of the Poseidons to the 550 sq cm’s of the Little dipper as a test piece.
3 years testing so far for da’ keiki
Paddles for kids all based off the Feather but WAY shorter.
Onnopaddle
Which of your models would you suggest for a petite 4’ 11" sub 100lb’er. We are beginners, she is athletic, the boat is a WS Tsunmai SP at 21 inches wide. I should not have said high angle paddle at the top because I’m sure we will be going at a relaxed pace.
Go Onno …
Give Pat a call and he will set you up with a paddle you will love.
Big and Small … emailed some info.
Like Celia said…
– Last Updated: Aug-29-11 6:44 PM EST –
Don't go above the "medium" blades offered. I am just under 5'3" and use Werner Shuna and Cyprus, which they call "medium." I really, really like these blades with my sea kayaks but feel that the corresponding WW "medium" blade (the Sherpa, I think it's called) is a tad too big for me in my kid-sized WW boat. I am using it but suspect it would work better if it were just a little smaller blade.
If she has small hands or short fingers, a smaller-diameter shaft might be in order. I found I preferred the standard diameter but I have long fingers.
If you can rent, see if she can also try the long, narrow low-angle blades such as Nimbus's Vesper/Zephyr. Those were what I used for the first few years of paddling and they worked well and were easy on the body.
BTW, my Shuna and Cyprus are 205cm long. This is the shortest stock size but you can custom-order shorter shafts, at least from Werner.
WindSwift
by Eddyline, Small blades, easy on shoulders,Kids use it, Myfavorite paddle
What weather…
I cut down one of the Poseidons down to 210cm for her to try for a start. We took the SOT’s down to the lake, it was sunny and 17C when we left. At 6 feet the SOT’s are not good to judge with. Unless she used a very high angle stroke the boat just turned one way or the other with minimum forward movement. I think we will have to wait as suggested until the boat gets here to get a better idea. When we left it was pouring rain, waves rolling in, lightning and 10C, now it’s hailing.
Thank you for the suggestions and thank you to Onnopaddle, it’s not often you see customer service these days.
Consider a GP
Greenland paddles are now my exclusive choice - light, very effective, easy on the body, and best of all, they are absolutely bug-simple to make. $15 for a nice straight-grained red cedar 2x6 at Home Depot, a few hours of very pleasant, simple work with hand tools, and voila - your custom-made GP, exactly the length, blade shape, weight and feel you (or your wife) wants. If the first one isn’t perfect, repeat the process 'til it is…
There’s a tonne and a half of info on the net about GP designs and paddle-making techniques. This link’ll get you started…
http://www.qajaqusa.org/Equipment/equipment.htm
If I was going to get a Euro, OnnoPaddles have an excellent rep for design, construction, features, service and cost-effectiveness. Real nice to see a very small outfit with a great attitude and solid products…
Small Shaft Werner
I am 5’ 3" with a boat about 22 inches wide. I like my Werner Shuna with the small shaft. It works well for high-angle power paddling as well as a “relaxed pace.” If you have an opportunity to test paddle a paddle, it might give you a better feel. The differences between paddles aren’t always easy to tell until you’ve been on the water an hour or so.
Epic Relaxed Tour full carbon with
burgundy shaft and adjustable length.
Relatively small blade, light and some flex result in easy on the joints.
The Swift Windswift suggested by Tsunamichuck and the Werner Athena are also good options.
sizes
My 5’ wife has a small-shaft Little Dipper and likes it a lot. It’s a fine choice for a low-angle stroke. If you like a high angle the shortest stock length–210–may be too long.
At 5’9", I’ve paddled my 22" sea kayak with my 196 whitewater paddle. I like the short length for play but not so much for distance. The negatives for whitewater paddles are that they’re usually a bit heavier than touring paddles, and one-piece paddles are difficult to store on a boat. Also note that a “small” whitewater blade may be as big as a mid-sized touring blade.
Lots of good advice here
Even some of the strongest pro expedition paddlers choose small surface area blades for efficiency and endurance over the miles.
Weight and strength are the balance act. An ultra light paddle may not be a great expedition choice but would be perfect for most paddlers. Modern manufacturing techniques can reduce weight and increase strength to a point.
Again
thank you all for the suggestions. I made one more adjustment down to Celia’s size of 205cm for a starting point. But at 4" shorter we’ll see come spring.
Well…
I just checked and the 205 cm was pikabike’s, that said we have the same length paddle (and the same taste in paddles). When we started paddling the usual measurements had me at 210 cm for touring paddles (WW always were shorter). Then we got shown how to paddle properly, with folks like Ben Lawry and the other racers dominant, and both me and my husband ended up chopping 5 or so cm’s off our paddle length. That’s why we know that manufacturers will do that to a certain length - had to have the Epics and a Swift paddle shortened.
I am 5’3.5", I think. I haven’t really wanted to get measured lately since they decided I am no longer 5’4" and I am doing all I can for that anyway. My touring boats are 21.5 to 22 inch wide sea kayaks.
The diff I found between a 205 cm length and the 210 is that I really do have to rotate, with the 210 I can be lazier about that. But when I do rotate correctly, the 205 cm paddle gives me a more effective and less strenuous bite.
Yes
my mistake, it was the name quote in the title.
Going to be a long winter waiting for the ice to melt looking at the new boats.
Solid advice
– Last Updated: Sep-01-11 12:34 PM EST –
Pretty much everything Pat (onno) stated is great advice.
Similar to Pat,I am married to a 5'...well, 5'2"...paddler and have done "extensive" testing.
I also coach sea paddlers, and also have coached junior flatwater racers. Needs vary, and in "variance" to what some say, manufacturers, while honestly caring, are often stuck in tradition vs real science.
I would put more credence in Pat's real world advice than what some paddle manufacturers say, only from their sales figures.
For example, do any paddle manufacturers test paddle length/blade size with real paddlers, but using objective tests such as GPS, heart rate, and distance? The results are amazing, and is the sort of thing real world athletes will do.
The test protocol of using HR/GPS is fairly easy, but an overlooked component is that of personal need. For instance, using the info to reach personal top speed will result in a different paddle than sustained speed over a specific distance.
From a coaches standpoint (and to add to Pat's statement "paddle length should be matched to the person and boat. The blades should not only be matched as above but personal preferences,,, even expectations : ) should be considered as well as factoring in conditions and distances") a critical decision is often based around thing such as "high angle" or "low angle" stroke style. The reality is, for short torso paddlers, too long of a paddle will force a style. In simpler terms, a long paddle is inefficient for a high angle style as the paddle might be ok, but use of such places the paddler in biomechanically poor position. A paddle of proper length for a "high angle" style can also be used low angle, but not the other way around.
Two rather short (a bit over 5'each) paddlers I have coached in forward stroke just completed an expedition- their paddle choice was done by testing such I described. Take a look at one page-
http://voyageofthepilgrims.blogspot.com/2011/06/packing-and-preparing.html
They all use a paddle of medium to medium-large size blades,with paddle lengths varying from 195cm-200cm.
My wife has tried nearly everything, and prefers a small wing for most sea kayaking, except big following seas, when she uses a Werner Cyprus. She had to beg Werner to cut it down to her preferred length of 195cm. Epic had no problem making her a 192-202cm wing.
winter
You might be able to find winter pool classes or rolling sessions in your area. They can be a good way to practice and lot of fun.