Ok Guys, fairly new to SUP, but love the sport. Live in an area that has some nice flat water spots and small ground/wind swell, can on occasion get decent surf, but not often, need to travel for that.

I am 5'9 and 87kg riding a Fanatic Fly HRS 10'0
I am thinking about getting a new paddle, but are unsure what I really should be going for.

I try to spend 90% of the time in the surf and the remainder cruising in the flat water,
I currently have an adjustable Naish paddle which I don't mind, but think it would be more prudent to have a better paddle. Think that the paddle is 8" wide.

I wouldn't mind the Ke Nalu Malico, if a little pricey, the only problem is my location from any SUP/surf centre, so not really able to demo lots of paddles.

So, this is probably gonna get personal and interesting , so let me have it

Cheers

Some recent thoughts on this here:

www.seabreeze.com.au/

Yep a good paddle is worthwhile quickblade or Ke nalu are top of the heap.

Can't go wrong with the Ke Nalu. It's worth the extra 💰

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SydneySurf said...

Can't go wrong with the Ke Nalu. It's worth the extra ��

Always happy to know the price of one when sent to nz :)

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GizzieNZ said...

SydneySurf said...

Can't go wrong with the Ke Nalu. It's worth the extra ��

Always happy to know the price of one when sent to nz :)

I noticed when I came home to Wellz that the price of paddles seemed markedly higher there, not even when converted did it make sense :)

After 4 years of testing the two leading paddle companies this is both our experience and feedback from customers.

Surf blade: Kialoa Methane
Race Blade: Quickblade Elite
Durability: Quickblade Kanaha with FG blade
Best Adjustable: Both Kialoa and Quickblade
Best all round: Quickblade 8" Slim
Kialoa Methane
Quickblade Kanaha 90

Gaining ground: Quickblade feather weight
Kialoa Pipes

Dont know much about Ke Nalu but we do hear good reports.

Both Quickblade and Kialoa have dropped their prices to around $399 for the Methane, Kanaha and 8" Slim. Good times

Hope this helps.

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AA said...

After 4 years of testing the two leading paddle companies this is both our experience and feedback from customers.

Surf blade: Kialoa Methane
Race Blade: Quickblade Elite
Durability: Quickblade Kanaha with FG blade
Best Adjustable: Both Kialoa and Quickblade
Best all round: Quickblade 8" Slim
Kialoa Methane
Quickblade Kanaha 90

Gaining ground: Quickblade feather weight
Kialoa Pipes

Dont know much about Ke Nalu but we do hear good reports.

Both Quickblade and Kialoa have dropped their prices to around $399 for the Methane, Kanaha and 8" Slim. Good times

Hope this helps.

Cheers Andrew, certainly lots to think about and the two main ones standing out for me!

Got the QB in the end, grip glued in place this arv, can't wait to get out amongst it and see the difference.

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FlyingKiwi said...

Got the QB in the end, grip glued in place this arv, can't wait to get out amongst it and see the difference.

Unfortately the new paddle might only translate to 2% faster in the flat water.

But it will feel 100% better in the water, through the water, in the hands, etc... Ideally your paddle should be under about 480 grams, and even better if it is 390-420 grams.

The light-weight Fanatic paddles seem good too. I don't have one, but a few friends do.

I still subscribe to this rough rule on paddling speeds;
80% Engine (the "athlete")
15% Board
4% Paddle
1% Fin
(but 1% can be the difference between winning and 2nd !! )