It’s critical to choose the right paddle for your canoeing style. You wouldn’t want to end up with a paddle that isn’t suitable for your requirements. But, once again, what exactly do you require? Here’s how to choose the best vaikobi paddle for your needs on the beach.
1. The requirements
First and foremost, you must determine your paddling requirements. Are you a paddler with your family? Are you the sort who goes on family trips and outings in a canoe? Are you a speed paddler in search of the best racing paddle? Are you a whitewater rapid canoeist, for example?
Before going to the store to find the perfect paddle for you, you must first understand your needs. Paddles are an important component of your canoeing adventure. When it comes to canoeing trips, you don’t want to be left with ineffective and inadequate paddling facilities.
2. Paddle Blade Design
You must choose between strength and rhythm in this situation. Wider blades transfer more power to the water, but they are more difficult to control and require the paddler to paddle farther over the canoe rail. Paddles with far less reach, on the other hand, capture less water and thus have less push.
Your paddle should be a good match for your strength, size, conditioning, and rhythm. Before settling on a paddle width and shape, you may want to try out some of your friends’ paddles. Larger paddles lead in quicker turns and improved braces, in addition to increased acceleration. Large paddles, on the other hand, are not for all. Despite their admiration for the larger paddles, some paddlers prefer the smaller paddles, which are safer for those who have difficulty keeping their rhythm with larger blades.
3. Shape of the blade
Paddling can be made simpler and more effective with the right blade shape. Seek for blades with slanted elbows. During the front stroke, these shoulders allow the paddle to move cleanly under the canoe. With a radius of about 7 inches, the bottom should be slightly rounded.
The blade tips should make it possible to enter the water quietly. This improves the blade’s performance by ensuring that the blade’s energy is not wasted when it enters the water. If your blades don’t have a smooth entrance into the bath, you’ll have to use more energy to achieve the same performance.
4. Paddles, both straight and bent
A straight paddle might be the best option for a solo canoeist since straight paddles transmit more strength. In a canoe, however, the use of bent paddles is often more effective due to solo and tandem cadence. Try both and see which one best fits your canoeing style.
5. Purchase and Test
If at all necessary, try out the paddles before buying them. Vaikobi Paddles come in a variety of shapes and sizes for a reason. They all strike with different outcomes, much like baseball bats. While the differences between these paddles will not seem to be significant to a beginner, as your abilities and experience grow, you may notice the differences.
