If you ask most sea paddlers their two most important pieces of equipment are you will usually get the answer "my boat and my paddle". If you asked 'what kind', you would then get a hundred different answers.


The reason being it is a very personal thing and it is important to get the right boat or paddle for you. I have already offered advice on choosing the right boat, so here are some top tips and information to help you get the right paddle.


Length:
Long is not always good. There has been a general move to gradually get shorter sea paddles. If you opt for a larger size blade, which utilizes a high paddling action then 208cm - 216cm would be average lengths, 216cm the most popular. If you have a smaller size blade which utilizes a low paddling action then a slightly longer paddle is best 212cm - 222cm.


Blades:
I think that this is the most crucial decision. Get the wrong blade and at best you will tire your muscles quickly and at worst you will injure yourselves. The most popular style of blade is of an asymmetric shape that facilitates a higher paddling action. Lendal's Nordkapp, Kinetic and Archaepelago would be examples of these.


Do not go for too large a blade size though as this may be too powerful for you. Generally the smaller the person the smaller the blade size. However if I am doing a long paddle I will use a smaller blade to reduce the strain on my shoulders.


You can get paddles based on the original Inuit paddles which facilitate a low paddling style which put minimum strain on the body, but have less power if needed. The seamaster blades would be an example of this. These are less popular and need to be tried to see if you like the less positive paddle feel through the water.


Modified Crank:
This is where the shaft has a bend in it where your hands are placed. This reduces the angle and strain on your wrists, improves the reach of the paddle and gives more feel in the water. Although it may take some initial getting used to when using the paddle for the first time the crank system is preferred by many sea paddlers so is definitely worth considering. It does ad some extra weight to the paddle, but not much.


Blade Feather:


This is always a compromise as too greater feather and there is a lot of work for your wrists to do when paddling from left blade to right blade, but too little feather and this can prove awkward in windy conditions. For the best compromise I would recommend a 70-degree feather on most paddles.


Splits:


To have your paddles made as splits, two or four piece has many advantages. Firstly transporting them is far easier, and protects your expensive paddles. You can also get a variable centre joint which allows you to split them but also change the feather and length of the paddle, this gives a lot of flexibility, but does add a little weight. The Lendal paddlok system is very good for splits and has no movement in the paddle when made up. Other drilled splits often have some movement, which is not ideal.


Weight:


As always lighter is generally better, both with regards to feel in the water and to reduce fatigue. The lighter the paddle though the more expensive it will be and often the slightly less robust it will be. These days even the lightest of paddles are still very strong as long as they are used reasonably so I don't think strength is too much of a consideration. The main consideration will come down to what you want to pay!


As with all gear purchases the more you pay the better you get. The most important thing however is to invest in something that is best suited for your individual needs, whatever you decide your investment is going to be. If you can try out some paddles before buying then again that is the best way to get the ideal paddle.