5 Best Kayak Paddle For The Money [Reviews And Comparison]

Picking a right-sized kayak paddle is very important, otherwise you will find it very uncomfortable to steer and hold. If you cannot determine the right type of paddle, you probably will not get the desired speed as it would be difficult to move the kayak. Also, the paddle might feel too heavy. 

Therefore, choosing the best kayak paddle for the money is a must and you need to make sure that the paddle meets most of your kayaking needs.

We have come up with this article to help you pick the most suited paddle. For those who wants to jump straight to our final verdict, here are our top picks.

If you are looking for better power while paddling on moving waters, the Aqua-Bound Manta Ray Carbon is the best choice.

The Magic Plus is the best touring kayak paddle that you will ever come across. It is the perfect paddle for both beginners and intermediate paddlers. It offers performance characteristics at a budget price. If you are looking for the best budget paddle, then this model here will be the right one for you.

The blades of the Carlisle Magic Plus are made from fiberglass-filled polypropylene. It is very durable and also has a lightweight construction.

The shaft is made using flexible fiberglass to offer easy and smooth strokes. The blades have a spooned shape to offer powerful strokes in the water.

It is an ideal paddle you can use to spend a long day on the water. It is not so stiff and offers the necessary strength and stability to reduce the strain on your shoulders and joints.

If you are looking for a quality, portable, and lightweight kayak paddle that is suited for use on touring kayaks, then you should opt for the Advanced Elements Compact Touring Kayak Paddle.

The best part about this paddle is that it is designed to offer easy and quick paddling for all the adventurists.

It can be separated into four parts and this makes the paddle very easy to store and transport. There are snap buttons that connect to the parts of the paddle and lock them in place to offer solid push in the waters.

The blades are asymmetrical and are dihedral that offers great paddling efficiency. It is the lightest paddle that offers you comfortable paddling for a long time without stressing the shoulder and joints.

If you are looking for the best paddles for kayaking that are longer in size while suitable for marine kayaking, then the Shoreline Marine Kayak Paddle is an ideal option. These paddles are suited for sea kayaking beginners.

This is a long paddle about 96 inches and hence it offers the best low angle strokes when you use it in water. The shaft of the paddle is made using lightweight aluminum that is corrosion resistant. The blade of the paddle is a hard plastic one.

This sea kayak paddle is designed to offer you tireless and pain-free arms and shoulders for the long trips. The blades are contoured at the base to offer greater paddling efficiency.

The SeaSense X-Treme II Kayak Paddle is another popular paddle that is offered with a length of 96 inches. This makes it a perfect paddle that suits wider kayaks.

This paddle is also for those who love to paddle for long hours tirelessly. As it is made of lightweight aluminum shaft, it does not cause any serious shoulder pain and joint pain when paddling for hours.

The foam grip on the shaft offers very easy and comfortable grip of the paddle. The drip guards are adjustable and this ensures that not much water is pushed onto your head when stroking.

The blade is made of plastic. It can be adjusted in three positions so that you can use feathered or straight blades.

Professional kayaking is only possible when you have good quality kayaks and kayak paddles. You need the best paddles that go with your specific kayak to give the best kayaking experience.

If you combine the wrong paddles with the kayak, maneuvering the kayak will be difficult and it may result in accidents. The relaxation and comfort received from any kayaking trip depend on the quality of the paddle you use.

Kayaks are used for different purposes and based on that the paddles used may vary. To select your best suited paddle, you need to consider the purpose of the paddle.

Depending on your idea of kayaking you need to select the paddles that offer required strength, performance and cost effectiveness.

All Purpose Paddles

Whether you are looking for a paddle for fishing or for whitewater or for sporting need, the all-purpose paddles with carbon fiber shafts are the best options. 

The best kayak paddle for fishing are made with carbon shaft and nylon blades with reinforced carbon. This offer higher quality and durability. They are also very light in weight and the kayaker will have greater control of the paddles. It is easy to achieve the required speed with these lightweight paddles.

These all-purpose paddles are available from different online stores. Some of these brands have paddles with adjustable shafts so that they can adjust the length of the shaft according to their physique and type of kayak.

Best Fiberglass Paddles for Adventure

Any adventurous kayaker or sporting kayaker looking for best white water paddle can opt paddles with fiberglass shaft and blade. You need to opt for models with larger blades and lightweight shafts.

This fiberglass paddle glides through the water easily providing great speed and smooth maneuverability. This is a good option for people having toured kayaks as they offer better tracking capacity.

One can select the convenient blade size according to their age and physique. Models which have feathering or unfeathering button are extremely useful. Selecting the paddles with drip rings help to keep the kayaker dry.

Best Sea Paddle

Best ocean kayak paddles are the ones which are able to withstand the force of turbulent and treacherous waves. Paddles with aluminum alloy shaft and asymmetrical dihedral blades are the right choice for this purpose. These paddles can also be used for whitewater kayaking.

The dihedral blades help to keep the kayak stable and easy steering.   You can opt for blades, fixed at 60 degrees. Do not go for the feathering option as it will not be highly efficient in turbulent waters.

Look for models which come with four parts and offer portability and durability. To further improve the stability of your kayak, we recommend you to get the best outrigger.

Best Tour Paddles

The best tour paddles should have a comfortable shaft length. What happens when you use too long of a paddle for kayaking is that it becomes cumbersome and tiring for the kayaker.

For beginning kayakers and for long kayak tours, paddle length of 72 inches will be ideal. Go for paddles with an aluminum shaft and asymmetrical aluminum blades for comfortable kayaking.

There are different paddle brands which offer the right value for your money. Select paddles which offer the best combination of features required.

You can find fishing or adventure paddle types from reputed brands. To know which the best one for your need is a trial is the best method. 

Once you get a clear picture of your kayaking needs you will be able to decide on the required shaft length, the shape of the blade and the material of the shaft and paddle. Go for the paddles which fit your paddling style, lightweight, and durable.