When it comes to choosing a kayak paddle, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is whether to go for a straight shaft or a bent shaft design.
While both types of paddles can get the job done, they each have their own unique advantages and disadvantages that can make a big difference in your kayaking experience.
Understanding the difference between straight shaft and bent shaft kayak paddles can help you make an informed decision that suits your paddling style and preferences.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the characteristics of both types of paddles and explore the pros and cons of each.
So, if you’re in the market for a new kayak paddle, keep reading to find out which option might be right for you.
Anatomy of a Kayak Paddle
A kayak paddle is essentially nothing more than a stick with two slightly flexible blades at either side.
When it comes to using kayaks, the paddles that come with them require more attention, since understanding the different features can help you pick the one which will satisfy your exact needs.
Select a paddle that is the correct length.
The size of your kayaking paddle depends on the size of your kayak, how tall you are, the amount you are sitting in the boat, and the type of kayaking you plan to do.
Kayak width. You need a longer paddle the larger your kayak is. Kayaks with a wide, steady design are commonly used by pleasure seekers who want to enjoy a nice time out on the water. They need to extend their arm a bit more in order to entirely submerge the paddle blade in the water.
How to fit your paddle. When paddling, you should make sure to keep the blade of your paddle submerged in the water. If your paddle is not deep enough in the water, then the size of it is not large enough. Go longer.
If your paddle extends deep into the water, with much of the shaft also immersed, then it is too long. Go shorter.
A paddle that is too short will not provide an effective exchange of energy. This implies that you’ll put in the effort of rowing a boat, yet you won’t progress nearly as much as you would with an appropriate size paddle.
A paddle that is too long brings extra weight, which will make your muscles tired after an extended period of time.
If you have a short body frame with a longer torso, you may need a paddle that is smaller than the standard measurements outlined by the sizing guide.
Paddle angle. This is about the position of the kayak paddle when making a movement.
A low-angle stroke is considered more relaxing. The paddle is held mostly level, with only a slight tilt needed to put a blade in the water. Kayakers who use the activity for leisure often rely on this stroke to prioritize enjoyment over swiftness. Touring paddlers often employ a low-angle technique in order to travel a great deal without using up too much energy.
A high-angle stroke is more aggressive. The kayak paddle is practically upright as the stroke is completed close to the kayak. Paddlers who need to move quickly and powerfully employ strokes executed from a high angle.
The inclination of the kayak paddle blade is a crucial element when pinpointing the ideal size of a kayak paddle.
Each manufacturer has a slightly different paddle-sizing table.
You can use the information in this table of baseline paddle sizes to adjust the length of the paddle to your own needs and situation.
For anyone planning to do whitewater activities, it is advisable to get a paddle that is shorter than the usual size listed in the guide. Most whitewater paddles are between 192-198 cm.
If you use a fishing kayak with a raised seat, you should increase the estimated size of the kayak so that you can comfortably reach the water from your higher seating position.
Quick-and-dirty paddle measurement. Support a paddle using your arms, bending the elbows so that they make a 90 degree angle. Place your hands on the pole about the width of one hand apart from the spot where each blade starts. Given this, your paddle fits quite nicely.
Choose a kayak paddle with a blade shape that matches your needs
The dimensions and form of your kayak paddle can have an effect on how you paddle.
Kayak blades are usually crafted in an asymmetrical design. This implies that they are slender and shorter on one side. Having this slant on the blade ensures that the area on the blade that is encountering the water is even as it propels through it.
We discussed paddle blade angle earlier. In conclusion, a paddle with a small degree of incline creates a more calming, leisurely trip when going slower. A paddle with a steeper angle is meant to create more power to drive forward.
Blade width is directly connected to its angle. Paddles that have a more slender shape are usually connected to strokes that require less of an angle. This facilitates long stretches of comfortable kayaking.
Wider blades are usually associated with high angle designs. These blades are ideal for when you need strong movements to swiftly gain speed, particularly in an area with strong waves like a surf zone.
It is similar to using a higher gear on a bicycle when using a wider kayak paddle. You can get there quicker by using it, but it takes more effort to do so.
Dihedral blade. This could be the most amazing term in kayaking. A dihedral is a line on the centre of a blade that facilitates the even distribution of water across both sides of the blade.
This rib diminishes blade flutter, enabling your blade to move more productively through the liquid.
Specialized blade features accomplish particular tasks. Some paddle blades are constructed with unique features.
For those who demand rapid strength and fast speed, a spoon blade paddle is sculpted with a curved outline to furnish instant capacity (if you are tough enough to use it).
Some kayak paddle blades are designed specifically for anglers. They have put a J-shaped cut-out in the blade of the knife for the purpose of retrieving fishing lines and hooks that are stuck on something underwater.
What is a Bent Shaft Kayak Paddle?
A paddle with a curved neck, sometimes also referred to as a crank shaft or ergo shaft paddle, has a bend near the junction of the blade and shaft. This bend permits an extended reach while kayaking, permitting you to make the most of your stroke.
Paddles with curved handles usually have the bend situated near the top at a 7-15 degree angle. It is essential to pay attention to the degree of curvature of the primary bend, as if the bend of the paddle comes beyond the specified area, it will not offer any considerable benefits over a regular paddle.
Not getting a bent shaft kayak paddle would be to the detriment of acquiring the primary advantages such as increased power, faster speed, and greater control.
Aside from the curvature at the top of the paddle blade, certain curved-shaft patterns may also have added bends along the entire length of the pole to give more relief to kayakers who have shoulder issues.
Kayakers who like to just use one side of their craft can appreciate the convenience offered by double bent shafts.
Nevertheless, if you are not part of these groups and you desire more speed and the capacity to effortlessly switch directions when riding or contending in your kayak, you should always prefer utilizing an everyday paddles with a single-curvature shaft.
what is a Straight Shaft Kayak Paddle?
The term “straight shaft” is used to describe this specific kind of kayak paddle, referring to one that does not have a curved or bent shaft. Kayak paddles with an unaltered shaft are the usual or normative form that most kayak paddles are fashioned in.
The entire paddles are typically in one straight line from the tip of one blade to the other. For the majority of kayakers, due to the fact that they have once utilised a straight shaft paddle while they were starting out with kayaking, they usually feel at ease with it.
Straight shaft paddles tend to be more lightweight and less costly than bent shaft paddles.
bent Shaft vs Straight Shaft Kayak Paddle – Use Cases
Before buying a kayak paddle, you must decide what you will use it for, as both bent and straight shaft paddles have different advantages that make them best suited for separate uses.
We should figure out the times and locations where it is a good idea to use a paddle that has either a straight or bent shaft for a kayak.
bent Shaft Kayak Paddle
If you are knowledgeable in paddling or you are sailing from one spot to another on quieter rivers or calm water, nothing can outshine the efficacy of a bent shaft paddle.
Bent shaft paddles are great for multi-day journeys or occasions that involve long-distance paddling over many hours. Due to the curve of the paddle shaft, the stroke is more efficient, which helps conserve energy.
If you’re a performance kayaker that wants to do a lot of paddling, cruising, and racing, it is suggested that you go for a bent shaft kayak paddle.
Individuals who habitually feel distress in their shoulders, elbows, or wrists will be more comfortable if they go for a paddle with a curved shaft instead of one with a straight shaft.
Paddles with bent shafts are created in a way that enables your hands and wrists to remain in a steady, more comfortable state, lowering the strain and damage to your tendons and ligaments, as well as any associated discomfort.
If you have a tendency to grip your paddle too hard, or if you like to paddle for extended durations, or if you are looking for a more comfortable paddling experience, then the bent shaft paddle is the right choice for you.
straight Shaft Kayak Paddle
If you intend to kayak on whitewater or venture in waters with many hurdles to circumvent, straight shaft paddles will give you the agility required.
Straight shaft oars permit you to rapidly rotate your vessel in swift rivers, making them perfect for mastering dangerous white-water.
A straight shaft paddle is more efficient than a bent shaft paddle when it comes to drawing, bracing, and prying quickly and successfully. In circumstances where fast reactions and activities are essential in order to keep both you and your vehicle safe, the
Those who take pleasure in water sport paddling, are just beginning their venture into kayaking, or are going to paddle in a tandem kayak with novices or little ones, will find a straight shaft oar simpler to work with.
Straight shaft paddles can be used with either side of the blade, but bent shaft paddles can only be used with one face of the blade.
You don’t need to fret over which direction the blade should go in since there’s no suitable or unacceptable decision.
straight Shaft vs Bent Shaft Kayak Paddle – Technical Control
Which type of paddle provides better maneuverability and responsiveness, the one with the curved shaft or the one with the straight shaft?
straight Shaft Kayak Paddle
When you use a straight shaft paddle, the initial motion of the paddling stroke will cause the water to be forced downwards towards the base of the river, which then drives the kayak upwards.
The center section of the paddle thrusts the liquid in back of the kayak, and the final part of the stroke makes the water go above the visible horizon.
The action of paddling with a straight-shafted blade causes the kayak to be lowered instead of pushed ahead, granting more steadiness and the capability to maneuver.
This makes it ideal for navigating around obstacles, swiftly making sharp turns and maneuvering around rough and fast-moving waters.
bent Shaft Kayak Paddle
A bent shaft paddle is started off at the same angle as a regular shaft, but it then begins to drive the water backward rather than up or down.
At the middle point of the movement, the curved pole’s blade is situated upright and it continues exerting a force to move the water in reverse. At the end of the stroke, the water is still efficiently directed towards the back of the kayak, not like with a straight shaft paddle.
By putting more effort into propelling water away from the back of the boat, the bent shaft paddle offers more forward momentum, letting you go faster without stressing out your arms and wrists.
It is preferable for long kayaking expeditions or paddling competitions where you need to maintain your forward motion more than being able to adjust direction.
Final Verdict
In the final analysis, the ideal paddle for your needs is predicated on what fits your taste and what kind of kayaking you are aiming to do.
If you are a novice paddler who is searching for an oar that won’t make paddling too complicated or you tend to paddle in choppy water, it is best to use a kayak paddle with a straight shaft.
For people who are looking to enhance their comfort and plan to take a long voyage on the water, or want to dodge distress in the wrists and upper body, the bent shaft kayak paddle is the ideal solution.
Try testing out a bent shaft and straight shaft paddle on the water to determine which design you are most comfortable with.
