Gang,
Looking to get a new paddle and not sure of which way to go.... I mainly surf and cruise so any advice would be great.

That question is like asking what's best out of Starboard and Naish... Ford or Holden.. etc.

Try and demo before you buy and you will see for yourself what is the better paddle for you.

DJ

The Fanatic Carbon 80 is amazing.

I use mine for surfing.
It has heaps of power, blade shape and size is good and it looks sick as its half wood/carbon.

Cheap as too compared to your above mentioned options.

try some if you can.

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camharvey said...

Gang,
Looking to get a new paddle and not sure of which way to go.... I mainly surf and cruise so any advice would be great.

I've got one of each - both ideal for their purposes. I use one for surf, the other for flatwater cruising. The tricky thing is - both brands have paddles that are suited for both purposes too!! Confused yet?

I use a Quickblade (Elite 100 and Kanaha 90) for racing/downwinders because of their power and comfort over long distances.

I use a Kialoa (Methane and Pipes) for surfing because of their lightness, agility and responsiveness while catching and riding waves.

thanks, i think...
now I have another excuse to go paddling...

both are really good top of the line paddles im sure you would be super happy with either

Kia Kaha............ the only way to go!

Yes, all paddles listed above are great.
I'm sure even GSI make a decent paddle these days too.... But once upon a time, the old GSI paddles were as heavy as a brick!

If it weighs under 550 grams and has reasonably good stiffness in the shaft, it should be OK. Under 500 is even better. And 390-420 grams is actually achievable. Get the kitchen scales out!

My Dean Snow LSD Airwave Elite Paddle is 408 on Dean's scales I believe. (I made that paddle name up - but the Superlight Dean Snow Paddles do exist, and are the real deal too! Full carbon fibre, very light, and very strong...)

I think the new Fanatic Elite carbon is due in shops very soon. It felt really good and is super light weight (might even be lighter than the QB Elite - but I haven't weighed them both). I've heard the retail price will be very competitive for a top-end paddle too.

Here's my take on it , I really like the thinness of the Quickblade slices through the water really cleanly on cut backs. Good flex in the shaft and I really like the dihedral on the face of the blade (slight V) stops the blade chattering. The Kiaola has a beatuiful oval hybrid shaft but a touch stiffer , it has a flat face on the blade face which lets the paddle chatter (side to side) on the first few power strokes but you do get used to it.

Both are top end paddles are you won't go wrong with either of them and they will last years without misuse.

Yeah I'm with Casso, QB race elite for racing/ flat water and Kialoa Methane or Pipes for surfing without question. There are heaps of other good paddles out there but my experience is with the ones just mentioned.

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Piros said...

Here's my take on it , I really like the thinness of the Quickblade slices through the water really cleanly on cut backs. Good flex in the shaft and I really like the diaherel on the face of the blade (slight V) stops the blade chattering.

+1

i've had both. i think the qb give more control, but the kialoa sharka puu was my favorite surf paddle. but naish, fanatic, starboard etc all produce top paddles so i feel it's not just a two horse race any more

currently paddling the sb enduro vision tech. a sort of rebounding type shaft system.

Same question i was thinking of posting!!

I was looking at going for the QB slim jim, but have heard some reports that it cavitates. This may or may not be true, i have been unable to demo one .

I hav'nt heard a bad word spoken about the methane yet, it seems to be the pick of surf paddles.

i think i'll go for the methane unless i can get a go on the slim jim.

Good luck with your choice.

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orynoco said...

I was looking at going for the QB slim jim, but have heard some reports that it cavitates.

I have one have not noticed cavitation issues, use it in the surf. Very nice paddle.

IMO the paddle is only as good as the motor pulling it through the water once again try before u buy you will find you will keep changing board but will always stay with your paddle longer

Alot of the Northern Beaches downwind crew are using SB paddles. Most have gravitated to the smallest blade size (not sure what you call it). Excellent paddles at a reasonable price.

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orynoco said...

Same question i was thinking of posting!!

I was looking at going for the QB slim jim, but have heard some reports that it cavitates. This may or may not be true, i have been unable to demo one .

I hav'nt heard a bad word spoken about the methane yet, it seems to be the pick of surf paddles.

i think i'll go for the methane unless i can get a go on the slim jim.

Good luck with your choice.

I have owned the Slim Jim and found the same problem, also found that it catches on the wave face and did not release cleanly when changing hands through turns i think it might have something to do with the high hip on the blade face, just my opinion. I think the QB Kanaha has a better blade profile. Also the shaft on the Slim Jim is heaps stiffer than the Kialoa, like a race paddle stiffness, some people might like that though?

I also have a Dean Snow paddle which I use in the surf. It's lighter than my Kialoa methane that I use for racing and downwinders and with a fraction more flex in the shaft, which I like in the surf. It's been a good paddle. I don't think it is quite as light as Simondo's, but it would be close.

I have used and owned Kialoa, Werner, GSI and Quickblade and always gravitate back to Kialoa because i love the oval shaft. Preference for the Methane for racing and the Pipes in the surf as the small blade puts way less pressure on the back.

Ah and the Pink ones work way better, go figure

Phill.

Just to throw another one into the pot .Checked out one of these at Surf FX on the Goldie , it's the new Cabrina Carbon. Sexy small very light weight paddle with a really high tech shaft and dihedral faced V tip blade. The shaft technology is from their bomb proof mask construction and a really nice grip.

Beautifully built uni wrap shaft a touch stiff for me but definetly something worth looking at

^^^ I look at that logo on the Cabrina blade & I see 'HOLDEN'...and they say branding doesn't work.