Paddles & Oars

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.

Werner is best for light premium touring paddles, Aqua Bound is the best-value upgrade for most beginners, and Bending Branches suits paddlers who want wood feel and quiet entry.

You’ve rented a kayak for the first time, shuffled yourself into the seat, and someone’s handed you a paddle. You grip it like a broomstick, dig one end into the water, and promptly spin in a circle. Twenty minutes later your wrists ache, your shoulders are burning, and you’ve covered about…

You’ve booked a family kayaking session, your eight-year-old is buzzing, and then someone hands them an adult paddle that’s taller than they are. They spend the next hour fighting the…

You’ve just bought your first kayak — or maybe a SUP board — and now you’re standing in Decathlon staring at a wall of paddles that all look roughly the…