Paddle. Bent or Straight Shaft?

Hi all,

I'm getting a new paddle from Santa. I'm looking at a Bending Branches Slice and Crank Slice (bent shaft).

Pros? Cons? Opinions?

Thanks!

rob
jrsyboy

Rob, there have been several discussions on "bent shaft" paddles in the past. Do a search and you'll get a list of the threads. I'm not familiar enough with them to know how they're supposed to work but only know that I didn't feel comfortable using them because of the offset angles. I was also looking for the lightest paddles; so I ended up with a Werner Kaliste carbon fiber paddle.

Howard

so I ended up with a Werner Kaliste carbon fiber paddle.

Howard

The best paddle on the market if you are using a low angle stroke... IMHO. Paddle longer, faster with less fatigue.

scott

The Slice is the Dodge truck to the Werner Camano's Cadillac. I own both and haven't touched the Slice since I picked up the Werner. I like my truck -- it's perfectly strong and reliable -- but it doesn't compare to the comfort of a Cadillac on a long drive. Then there's the carbon Kaliste that others have mentioned - that's a BMW if anything.

If Santa can afford it, tell Santa you've been really, super, extra good this year and step up to a Werner (sidenote: the Eddyline Swift paddles seem really nice too for about the same cost). If memory serves me, the absolute cheapest I saw the Camano was $189 plus tax and shipping. I spent ~$230 on mine (bent shaft) at an REI sale and have never regret it.

The bent shaft is nice at keeping my hands and wrists in proper paddling position (please note my paddling technique is atrocious). I would pass on the bent shaft though to save some money for carbon/fiberglass. Best of luck to you and your Santa.

I have both the BB and the Warner.
My wife gave me the BB paddle for Christmas a couple years ago and I loved it, Quite a step up from my former aluminum shaft paddle. About a year ago my employer showed me some serious love so I was at MBK and picked up the Warner and almost wet myself, so Tara let me barrow a yak and try it out. Having the funds at the time my wife told me to get it however they also had a new pink Venus 10 on the rack that my wife thought was cute. Needless to say with the purchase of a yak you also get 10% off any access. (that was an expensive trip) Wanting to go for a paddle i could use for a low angle stroke the shaft had to be 240cm which meant she had to order it, when it arrived it had a bent shaft. First thought was to return it, however Tara convinced me to give it a try first. Headed to local res. and paddled solid for 6 hours with very little fatigue. Now i wouldn't buy a paddle without a bent shaft. As for the BB paddle, Great loaner paddle or when i fish rocky areas.
It may take some time to get used to but you'll reap the benefits in the long run.
Eric

Werner paddles rock!
Straight shaft is all good.

Z

I'll give you the standard try before you buy answer.   

I currently paddle a bent shaft and for normal paddling, it's all good.  The one time I wish I had a straight shaft is when I do a sculling draw stroke.  I find the bends make me misalign the paddle sometimes.  And honestly, I could do without the bends ...

-Allen

Hey Rob,
Although I really like the Warner paddle i mentioned the other day,
I just received a Lendal Carbon Kinetic paddle with a bent shaft and tried it out today.
The neat thing about this paddle is the way they set the blade made it align every time.
As Allen said the common problem with a bent shaft is that the blade is usually not in line,
however Lendal seems to have overcome this. Check out their web site at
http://www.lendal.com/ or you are always welcome to try mine If we were to fish the same area.
Eric

Thanks everyone.

I'm more confused than when I started, but that's a good thing.

FYI - http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442597198&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302875136

It looks cheap for a lot of money. Have to enter into negotiations with Santa.

Thanks again for everything!!!!

rob
jrsyboy

It looks cheap for a lot of money.

When it comes to material carbon isn't always the best. I personally like fiberglass better. W/ a glass paddle you get flex and a nice snap at the end of each stroke. And it just happens to be that glass is cheaper too. Carbon may be a touch lighter but it's just a little too stiff for me. It's all a matter of feel so try some out a few if you have the time.

FYI the glass Werner Camano runs about $250
http://www.rei.com/product/764804?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000

Z

It looks cheap for a lot of money.

When it comes to material carbon isn't always the best. I personally like fiberglass better. W/ a glass paddle you get flex and a nice snap at the end of each stroke. And it just happens to be that glass is cheaper too. Carbon may be a touch lighter but it's just a little too stiff for me. It's all a matter of feel so try some out a few if you have the time.

FYI the glass Werner Camano runs about $250
http://www.rei.com/product/764804?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000

Z

Z has a good point. you have to put more power at the start of the stroke and less at the end with a carbon paddle cause it does not exit the water as well, but the entry and first part of the stroke is cleaner with a carbon blade.

If you were ever a swimmer or surfer and your paddle stroke has your hand leaving the water hard, you tend to do the same paddling a kayak so you have to unlearn that if you move to carbon.

that said, I use an onno with tiny blades, all carbon, and every other paddle I pick up feels like a brick to me.

I use straight shaft, no offset.

John

I just received a Lendal Carbon Kinetic paddle with a bent shaft and tried it out today.
The neat thing about this paddle is the way they set the blade made it align every time.
As Allen said the common problem with a bent shaft is that the blade is usually not in line,
however Lendal seems to have overcome this.

Of course I use that Lendal too!!!    And I love it other than the occasional sculling draw stroke mishap.  At least I haven't huli'd yet.

So different strokes for different folks.  Try before you buy.  I can't say that enough.

-Allen

Another thing to think about is durability I had BB Angler Paddle with the slice blade (injection molded) then I upgraded to the Angler with the Day Blade(compression molded) for long days it's less fatiguing but when I'm fishing the river or shallows I always cringe when I hit it on the bottom or a rock with the injection molded blade I never did. Here is a link on paddle shapes for you, you might want to think about surface area also. http://www.bendingbranches.com/choose_blade.html

...another Lendal user here Having paddled both straight and bent shaft, I prefer the straight shaft. IMO, it's really a personal thing.

What I like most about the lendal system is the ability to change blades. I like the fact that after years of use, I can simply buy a pair of replacement blades instead of having to buy an entire new paddle AND if I plan on going on river paddling trips, I can always replace the carbon blades with cheapos so I don't have to worry about banging my blades against the rocks / gravel  GREAT DESIGN - IMO

I only use Werners. For recreational paddling in my SIK, I use the bent shaft. Very comfortable, but takes some getting used to. For fishing on my SOT, I use the straight shaft. Less likely to get tangled up in gear, and always ready to use without lining up my hands. If you can only get one paddle, I would recommend the straight shaft.