We all want to navigate on the river, the lake… or all kinds of freshwater that soothe the mind and allow us to discover a fabulous landscape. Kayaking is an excellent means of transportation that allows you to fulfill this vision. No engine noise disturbs you during your expedition. You don’t have to be a group of ten with the same means of transport. Everything is simply “okay.” However, to navigate with your kayak, you will need a very important tool. This tool is called the paddle. It allows you to go slowly or quickly, in one direction or another. But how do you choose the right one?
Choosing Your Paddle Based on Your Kayak
One of the first things to check when you are about to choose your kayak paddle is the width of your craft. The reason is that the wider your kayak is, the longer the paddle will need to be, so that it can properly enter the water, and do so optimally. Thus, in terms of width, kayaks generally come in two different types as you will notice on kayak-gonflable.net. There are those with a width of less than 60 cm, for which medium paddles will be excellent, and kayaks that are more than 60 cm wide for which you might opt for a slightly larger paddle.
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Moreover, the right choice of paddle will also depend on the type of kayak used. If you have a rigid or inflatable kayak, you will need to choose a good double paddle. This will allow you to have an excellent frequency when it comes to rowing. On the other hand, you should choose a single paddle if you have a canoe.
Choosing the Paddle Based on Your Height
If there is one essential factor to consider when choosing a paddle for kayaking, it is indeed your height. Indeed, the taller you are, the more you may need a paddle that is long enough to handle this tool comfortably. Furthermore, you should also know that there are two variants of paddles. There are fixed paddles, which do not vary in length, and then there are adjustable or telescopic paddles, often referred to as “vario paddles.” Adjustable paddles are designed with a system that allows you to vary their lengths by several tens of centimeters.
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In general, if you are 1.50 to 1.60 meters tall, you should use a fixed-length paddle of 205 cm, or a “vario paddle” offering a length of 200 to 210 cm. Then, if you are 1.81 to 1.90 meters tall, a fixed paddle of 220 cm, or an adjustable paddle of 215 to 225 cm will be quite suitable for you. So keep this in mind to make the right choice that suits you.
Additionally, it should be noted that adjustable paddles also allow you to adjust the angle where the blades cross. This angle is generally set at 60 for fixed paddles. In contrast, the Vario paddle allows for an infinite crossing choice.