Paddles & Oars

Paddling cadence for kayaking is the rhythm of your strokes, and it matters most when your shoulders start doing work your torso should be doing. If you finish a gentle…

The feathered vs unfeathered paddle choice is mostly about wrist position, wind, and how quickly you want the stroke to feel natural. If you are new to kayaking on UK…

On a grey spring morning at Richmond Lock, or halfway along the Kennet & Avon near Bath, paddle drips feel far more annoying than they look from the bank. A…

Most kayak paddles sold in the UK look the same: a shaft with two spoon-shaped blades at either end. They work, they’re efficient, and they’re what every retailer stocks. But…

You’re browsing kayak paddles online and the descriptions keep mentioning “high-angle” and “low-angle” blades like it’s obvious what that means. One paddle has a short, wide blade. Another has a…

You spent weeks choosing the perfect kayak, drove an hour to collect it, and paddled it for the first time using the cheap aluminium paddle that came bundled with the…

You’ve just spent twenty minutes trying to fit a one-piece SUP paddle into the boot of your car alongside the board bag, wetsuit, and the week’s shopping. Something has to…

You’re loading the car after a cracking day on the water and you spot it — a chip in the blade edge, a hairline crack running along the shaft, or…

You’ve just spent £150 on a carbon fibre SUP paddle and you’re about to throw it loose in the boot of your car next to the wellies, the dog blanket,…

Paddle materials explained for UK paddlers, including aluminium, fibreglass, carbon and hybrid shafts, with practical buying advice by budget and use.