Im looking for a new paddle just for surfing. Im 115 kg's and just bought a Niash Hokua x32. Yesterday I snapped my second Kialoa paddle in the surf just as I started to paddle for a wave. This model was the methane. A year and a half ago I snapped the Shaka Puu, therefore I will not be buying this make again.
Can any big boys recommend a good hard wearing carbon paddle?
Steve

Ke Nalu

VP paddle

Kenalu

the Xtuff is the nicest for surfing IMO little bit of extra spring, I didn't think it would make that much diff but if feels really nice.

Have seen one break but it took a board right across the shaft and stopped the owners face taking the blow so he was ok with it.

This guy is pretty sold on the Kenalu as well



Dislcaimer: I sell kenalu, naish, SB, etc

IMO if you are a paddle-snapper, you are a paddle-snapper. You will break them all, regardless of brand. You might want to take a close look at how you are treating your paddles, and what you might be doing that other people who aren't snapping paddles don't do. Best of luck!

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Area10 said..
IMO if you are a paddle-snapper, you are a paddle-snapper. You will break them all, regardless of brand. You might want to take a close look at how you are treating your paddles, and what you might be doing that other people who aren't snapping paddles don't do. Best of luck!

I agree.. I found the same thing when I raced mountain bikes.. Some friends broke spokes and wheels.. all the time.. and yet others including myself rode just as hard on the same tracks.. Just as often.. Same bike.. Same wheels.. and just as heavy and yet never a problem.. I would not blame the bike or wheels.. I'm not blaming you.. But.. I was once told that Mel Pu'u still has.. and uses his original Shaka Puu that was one of the first ever made.. He's a big guy.. and uses that paddle often.. I've got Methane's that I've had for years and still like new.. I'm not saying they can never break.. because all paddles can.. It's a shame that it's Kialoa that's been the brand you've been breaking.. Maybe it's an oval shaft thing.. Maybe you should consider getting a round shaft next time and see how that goes for you.. Maybe even a shaft with more flex.

Thanks all, I do look after my equipment , bags and very careful about how I transport and store my paddles. I just feel that when you're paying top dollar for any equipment it should last a good amount of time.
I am leaning towards the Kenalu Xtuff although my local dealer has a sale on the Coreban Full Kevlar Paddle, hhmmmm

KeNalu - at least if you do break you can replace the part and just glue it all together. And they have discount price for replacement. I broke a blade once and replaced no hassles

I have been happy with my Nalu XTuff. Like fishing rods, a fibreglass blend adds strength to the more vulnerable carbon. If you are breaking so many, I would be avoid pure carbon shafts. Sure mine will eventually break, but here is a shot of the sort of pressure it constantly cops,

Oh, life could be worse; I snapped my Kiaola with my head!

hi mate
i'm about the same weight as you if not a tad more

i have only ever snapped one paddle and i'd had it for 3.5-4 years and it was a generic brand

i now currently have a naish makani, one of the old white ones which i have had for about a 1.5-2 years, it goes very well and was a very good price, would be great if it was a bit more stiff

again any paddle can snap regardless of price and construction, there was a good video demonstrating how easy paddles can snap a while ago

Jarryd

I've snapped 2 paddle shafts over the past few years - first one was bought s/h, so couldn't judge it on how it had been treated, so I purchased a replacement shaft from the same brand, only to snap it about 12mths later (same location - lower hand grip) - this time I was certain that I hadn't damaged it in any way. Both were full carbon (stiff) shafts and a very reputable brand if that makes any difference.

Both times, I was paddling on to small (fat/choppy) waves in a strong cross-off wind, and at 6'2" 110kegs with all my weight on it, I don't blame the shaft at all. I'm not saying I'm strong - moreso that I was trying too hard to catch a wave using poor technique & weight distribution for a fat, sloppy beach break that really should have been left to pass.

Anyway - I epoxied/sandwiched a sleeve onto both sides of the second snapped shaft with a couple of pieces of the first broken shaft & tapered off the ends as it snapped at the lower hand grip - which gives me a good gauge of where my hand should be at. Not ideal (and many purists won't like it), but very effective and hasn't failed me since I did it, nor has the epoxy shown any signs of fracture across the join or sleeves (I'm still giving it my all!). I had intended on only keeping it as a spare, but at this stage it's doing nicely. I'll probably go with a KeNalu Xtuff for my next paddle.

i'll jump in and agree... Ke Nalu.

They are a very good paddle.... and as said before....you can easily replace broken parts for reasonably short money

On my 4th Starboard paddle, 1st one Enduro carbon blade glass shaft plastic handle not a bad paddle still have it, got a new paddle smaller blade for surf carbon blade, glass shaft, carbon handle got barreled, got drilled landed on it 100kg snapped shaft all good expected.New 2014 Enduro all carbon kept filling up with water, used original heat glue, epoxy solar resin etc. Kept getting bits of carbon filaments in my hands, laying over in bottom hand turn ended up with handle in one hand paddle in the other( nice face plant). Handle was just a hollow piece of plastic with a carbon looking weave over the top, crew over here sent it back to Starboard took 3 weeks for a new shaft. Starboard actually requested video footage of carbon coming off the shaft?? Got new shaft and handle, heat glue handle leaks again, heard cracking sound in the surf today,here we go again. Have had 5 Starbys now , 2 carbon love the boards but paddles and service from Starboard are another issue.

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supthecreek said..
i'll jump in and agree... Ke Nalu.

They are a very good paddle.... and as said before....you can easily replace broken parts for reasonably short money

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surfershaneA said..
I have been happy with my Nalu XTuff. Like fishing rods, a fibreglass blend adds strength to the more vulnerable carbon. If you are breaking so many, I would be avoid pure carbon shafts. Sure mine will eventually break, but here is a shot of the sort of pressure it constantly cops, Oh, life could be worse; I snapped my Kiaola with my head!

Me too been using the Ke Nalu with the X extra tuff shaft.......me too have snapped many paddles
This seems to be a tough resilient paddle that is yet still flexible and responsive to energetic paddle strokes

Thanks all , Ive just ordered my Ke Nalu with the X extra tuff shaft

I hope in the interests of fairness to the brands, when you break your Ke Nalu you also tell us about it like you did Kialoa. Ke Nalu are a fairly new brand, so many of their paddles won't have been used for as long as Kialoa, who were one of the first SUP paddle makers. So perhaps most Ke Nalus will have received less wear and tear than most Kialoas, which is why we may hear about Kialoa breaks more often than Ke Nalu ones (and some other leading brands) at this point. Thanks.

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Area10 said...
IMO if you are a paddle-snapper, you are a paddle-snapper. You will break them all, regardless of brand. You might want to take a close look at how you are treating your paddles, and what you might be doing that other people who aren't snapping paddles don't do. Best of luck!

Geeeeesss hope that doesnt apply to boards, first was kite board few years ago and now this few weeks ago.

New carbon demo on the way :)

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Craig66 said..

Area10 said...
IMO if you are a paddle-snapper, you are a paddle-snapper. You will break them all, regardless of brand. You might want to take a close look at how you are treating your paddles, and what you might be doing that other people who aren't snapping paddles don't do. Best of luck!

Geeeeesss hope that doesnt apply to boards, first was kite board few years ago and now this few weeks ago.

New carbon demo on the way :)

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Area10 said..
I hope in the interests of fairness to the brands, when you break your Ke Nalu you also tell us about it like you did Kialoa. Ke Nalu are a fairly new brand, so many of their paddles won't have been used for as long as Kialoa, who were one of the first SUP paddle makers. So perhaps most Ke Nalus will have received less wear and tear than most Kialoas, which is why we may hear about Kialoa breaks more often than Ke Nalu ones (and some other leading brands) at this point. Thanks.

That is a valid point area 10, time will tell and I will report on the wear and tear. I still have my first paddle which is a xpaddle, a little scuffed from learning but still in good shape.
A friend who is 125 KGs, 6ft 6 and far more clumsy than me (!!!!) has just bought a Kialoa so they must be pretty bloody strong

The Kialoa GL Surf is an absolute brute of a paddle. I'd be amazed if someone broke a clean one of those under normal paddling conditions (i.e. not striking some object). The blade is reinforced like no other I've seen currently on the market.

I think Jim Terrell from Quickblade categorically proved that every paddle will break and mostly due to structural integrity damage caused by mishandling prior to the actual event when it snapped. It is pretty much impossible to snap a relatively new paddle in perfectly good condition regardless of how much you weigh or how strong you are. It's not a matter of who makes the only unbreakable paddle - if they make a paddle it can break but only if it's damaged by mishandling at some point. I've had Kialoa paddles in the past, had one break thanks to a 12 year old girl misusing it at a clinic, and the blade was very kindly replaced by the distributor. I now use Starboard paddles and I have had a part replaced upon request. If you don't ask, you don't get, and sometimes I suspect people are taking the word of retailers who would rather sell them another paddle. Get a hold of the distributor and find out if they are able to supply a replacement blade, shaft or handle.

Wow that is a very good video , after watching that I'm now thinking that I'm going to have to up my paddle care out of the water. It did fall from balancing on the wing mirror which (after the video) could have led to a weakened area on the shaft. I need to up my paddle care!!!

I'm only 75kg and snapped my Kialoa Methane 3 year ago. The paddle snapped in small 2ft surf and broke in half with what I thought was very little pressure. I would like to think that the reason it broke was due some prior knock that may have damage that had gone unnoticed.
I went out and bought two Gong carbon paddles for less than I paid for the Methane. Both paddles have oval shafts and have the stiffest shafts of any paddle I have used. Are they as nice as the Methane? No, but at two for the price of one, they are what I think the best value paddles for sale in Europe.
Having said that, I did get to have a go of a Ke Nalu X Tuff Super Wiki last week and will probably treat myself to one.

P.s Steve, A snapped paddle and ripping two side fins of your brand new Naish a couple of weeks earlier, not having much luck are you.

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Dogman62 said..
I'm only 75kg and snapped my Kialoa Methane 3 year ago. The paddle snapped in small 2ft surf and broke in half with what I thought was very little pressure. I would like to think that the reason it broke was due some prior knock that may have damage that had gone unnoticed.
I went out and bought two Gong carbon paddles for less than I paid for the Methane. Both paddles have oval shafts and have the stiffest shafts of any paddle I have used. Are they as nice as the Methane? No, but at two for the price of one, they are what I think the best value paddles for sale in Europe.
Having said that, I did get to have a go of a Ke Nalu X Tuff Super Wiki last week and will probably treat myself to one.

P.s Steve, A snapped paddle and ripping two side fins of your brand new Naish a couple of weeks earlier, not having much luck are you.

Hopefully Ian I've had my bad luck now (comes in 3 as I also ripped a new suit with the half snapped paddle). I bought a Ke Nalu x tuff last week ( advice from forums) so will be giving feedback very soon When are you going to share the secret spot

There are 5-6 different spots in the area. Deepending how adventurous you are, some are a fair way out to sea. It's early days checking the place out.
We had a great session with a Chinook military helicopter in the background swooping back and fore whilst firing of a machine gun.
Had a go of Garry's X Tuff paddle and found it interesting. The shaft seems quite grippy. It also seemed to feel cooler than the handle as if there was some kind of metalic content mixed in the carbon.