10 Best SUP Paddles – Our Favourite Models Compared

One important part of stand up paddle boarding equipment is, of course, the paddle. But not just any paddle will do the job. Paddles come in varying different properties, lengths, and sizes. Some paddles are even used exclusively for casual boarding, surfing, racing and more. Avid riders will tend to have different paddles for different occasions.

A good paddle must tick many boxes in order to serve the rider well. A paddle must be easy to hold and grip, in addition to being moved in strong, swift motions. If you lose the paddle, it should also be able to float, so that you can retrieve it easily.

The paddle must be very effective in pushing off against the water so that the rider can travel a sizeable distance with every row. The paddle must also make the board easy to control and steer, so that the board does not crash into an obstacle head on every time.

Here are the ten of the best SUP paddles in 2020 that we will look at in detail. After every review, we will decide which is the one that we recommend the most. 

10 Best SUP Paddles Comparisons

Super Paddles in known for crafting some high quality paddles. This paddle in particular ranges in between 72 to 86 inches. While it comes in three parts, it can take you up to 20 seconds to assemble.

The blade on this paddle is made of carbon and also has a double concave shape, suitable for highly aggressive paddling. These properties ensure that you get the most out of easy stroke. Despite its capabilities for racing, Super Paddles claims that it is an all-purpose paddle.

As you use other three-piece paddles, their joints will tend to twist back and forth as you paddle out in the water. This could other be bothersome to you, or you might worry that the paddle can fall apart.

However, this paddle comes with an “anti-twist channel system”. The handle and shaft will lock in place so that neither part twists, jiggles or shakes as you paddle. You will never have to worry about your paddle shaking loose.

Included with this paddle is a three-compartment paddle bag. As you take the paddle apart, you can stow it in this bag conveniently, making it easy to travel with and will take us less space in storage.

There is a widely known problem with this paddle, and that is regarding a metal button that clips the blade to the shaft. It can get stuck, rust over, or break entirely. When this happens, the paddle becomes completely useless. Make sure that this does not happen.

The Werner Trance 95 is a simple, effective paddle for stand up paddle boarding. This paddle ranges in between 72 to 82 inches. Made up of one piece, the Werner Trance 95 has a carbon blade to help riders paddle effectively through the water. This paddle is not adjustable, so you will have to buy a new paddle for another one that is longer or shorter.

Unlike the previous paddle, this paddle is made in one piece. With that said, this paddle is less likely to break or come apart while paddling, which can always be a concern for two or three pieced paddles.

This paddle is long and slender, which ensure that the paddle will always row fluidly in the water with each stroke. The paddle has a black color all throughout, and it is rather going to a simple, basic look, rather than being a paddle that stands out.

This paddle weighs 15.75 ounces, which is less than one pound. Most people will be able to row with this paddle fairly easily. You wouldn’t believe paying hundreds of dollars for an object that weighs this little.

The achilles heel of this paddle is that it might just be too simple. It has the basic essentials for being a decent, serviceable paddle, but it may not be anything more than that. While you it does its job in helping the rider navigate, it will not make you look like an expert paddler by any means. It does look sleek and attractive, however.

This paddle is also very expensive. That is to be expected for a paddle that is built in one piece, but we were rather expecting a greater experience for the price tag.

The iGK Pure Carbon Fiber paddle is a pretty neat product. This paddle ranges in between 72 to 86 inches. It can take a person up to 10 seconds to assemble this paddle. This is a pretty impressive time for three pieces.

This paddle is adjustable, so you can make it longer or shorter if you need to. Two or more people can share this paddle and can adjust the height to best suit their own height while on their paddleboard.

Weighing about one and a half pounds, this paddleboard is light to easy and carry, yet feels very sturdy in your hands. Riders enjoy how it feels to stroke with this paddle through calm and active water alike. The grip is also very comfortable, which is always essential in a paddle. 

This paddle comes with its own nylon carrying bag with a sturdy handle for safe and easy carrying. Storage is fairly easy and versatile when all parts are inside this convenient bag.

For a three-piece paddle, however, there is nothing to ensure that the pieces will stay secure time after time. With that said, there is a cause for concern regarding the long term use of this paddle.

Also Read: Best Kayak Paddle For The Money – Reviews

BPS’s paddle is suitable for people from 5-foot-3 to 6-foot-3, which is an acceptable range. Like other paddles, this paddle comes with a carbon fiber blade for effective strokes. Rather than total inches, this paddle’s adjusting area displays your ideal body height. This makes it easier to understand.

This blade has a sleek, black look, and it does not look cheap at first glance. The Slider paddle weight in at 1.7 pounds and feel just right in your hands; not too heavy and not too flimsy.

The Slider paddle is assembled into three different parts, but these parts do not come off. They act like one large piece. The paddle as a whole looks well done together, and all the parts feel strongly secured.

A bag is included with this paddle and is also sold separately. This bag comes with two handles, one that you hold in your hand, and other that goes around your shoulder. This is a fairly neat and reliable bag.

The problem that many users have experienced is the adjusting mechanism. When it breaks, the paddle is not longer serviceable. The handle will either be stuck to one height or the paddle will fall apart entirely.

But all in all, this is a decent paddle considering the price. It has a great look, great feel, and great performance. While it is not the most affordable, you will be more than satisfied for what you pay for.

The company that is famous for their ballpoint pens have also thrown their hat into the outdoor sporting ring. Their paddles are unique, to say the least, and are offered in four different combinations of colors: White/blue, white/orange, black/blue, and black/orange.

These paddles come in kids as well as adult sizes. They are adjustable, and the adult size ranges from 67 to 83 inches. It is more on the smaller side, but a decent range, nonetheless. This is a two-piece paddle that can be taken apart and put back together in between sessions on the water.

The adult paddle weight 2.4 pounds, which is heavy, but it feels rather good in your hands. Speaking of which, the rubber T-grip is comfortable to hold, but not so much when holding it for long periods of time.

The blade of this paddle is made of polycarbonate, which is stronger than nylon. It also comes with an aluminum shaft for extended durability. This paddle also comes in fiberglass, but you will sacrifice durability for a lighter weight, and this trade-off is not really worth it.

It is a good paddle for recreational use, but not so much for adventure, racing and aggressive surfing.

The second of three paddles from Super Paddles is the Alloy Series Elite. This is known to be a versatile paddle for racing, surfing, and touring. The blade is made of nylon, and it has an interesting webbed-foot shape.

The alloy is known as an entry-level paddle for paddle boarding beginners and enthusiasts, so while it is used for many different activities, taking risks with the paddle is not recommended.

This paddle comes in three pieces. The paddle is also adjustable, ranging from 72 to 86 inches, with is an exceptional range. It takes around 20 seconds to assemble and take apart.

The Alloy paddle weighs a beefy 3.7 pounds, which is extremely heavy for a paddle. It feels heavy, but it may not be for everybody who wants maximum control in the water. It is also very difficult for this paddle to float in water.

Needless to say, the paddle is durable and can last a lengthy period of time before you will need to replace it.

The carrying bag that comes with this paddle is very neat. You can store the paddle in three different compartments, and this prevents the paddle’s parts from rubbing together as you travel with them.

The last paddle from Super Paddles is similar to the previous paddle; all black in color with a nylon blade. The face of the blade has a white dot gradient design. This paddle ranges from 72 to 86 inches in size.

Weighing at 2.4 pounds, this is not a light paddle by any means, but it is a very sturdy paddle with an aluminum shaft and tough, nylon blade. The handle is also very comfortable to hold, and will not cramp up your hand after being on the water for an hour or more.

This paddle comes with an anti-twist channeling system, making the paddle feel safe and secure in your hands from day one to day five-hundred.

This paddle does not come with its own bag, which is very disappointing when it comes in three pieces. The anti-twist channeling system is nice for when you want to keep it in one piece, but it would still be nice to have a bag for when you want to take it apart and travel with it.

Nonetheless, this is a paddle that is guaranteed to float in fresh and saltwater. You can use this paddle for surfing, touring, racing, and casual exploration. At a very low price, this is a paddle that is worth checking out.

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This is the second paddle from BPS, which looks very identical to the first. This paddle is less expensive, and comes with a nylon blade instead of a carbon fiber blade. Carbon is better for paddle blades than nylon, but nylon is still a decent material.

The paddle is adjustable from 71 inches to 83 inches. This is more ideal for tall people, as it will be too big to use for shorter people in stature.

The numbers on the adjustment handle are very confusing, it does not display the standard paddle lengths or the ideal body heights. Instead, it displays numbers from one to 32. This can be very confusing, and you would have to read the manual carefully to understand what these numbers mean.

Like the first BPS paddle, this paddle looks very nice and sleek in all black. Surprisingly, this paddle is slightly heavier, weighing two pounds. While it does feel heavier, it feels rather on the flimsy side. The paddle shaft is made of aluminum, and while aluminum is strong, it does not have a great sense of quality to it.

This two-piece paddle from Own The Wave is also worth paying attention to. This paddle’s blade is made of nylon composite, and the handle adjusts from 71 to 83 inches.

While it looks to be on the heavy side, it weights at 2.2 pounds. It feels very sturdy, yet it is said to be so light that it will float in water. The shaft and handle are made of alloy, so it will be very hard to break.

The handle is very comfortable to hold. The round handle is very smooth on the palm of your hand, and will not give you any pain in tense situations.

This is a very cheap and affordable paddle, and with that being said, it will not last a long time, but still longer than you would expect. If you only paddleboard every once in a while, I would say that buying this is well worth the investment.

The final paddle we will be reviewing is brought to you by SUP Supply. This paddle is pink in color. While it does stand out from other paddles, there are no other color options available. If pink is a color you do not mind, then this will not be a problem for you.

This paddle is very, very cheap. If you are looking for a great value on any sort of paddle, you can consider this paddle and save a lot of money.

This is not a paddle for aggressive paddleboarders. Instead, it is ideal for beginners and casual riders. If you just want to explore leisurely, you will enjoy using this paddle.

The adjustable range suggests that this may be a paddle for small women in mind. It can be adjusted from 67 to 85 inches, which is an incredible range. It can still accommodate larger people easily, as well.

At two pounds and two ounces, this is considered to be heavy for a paddle. It does feel on the cheap and flimsy side, however, and will still navigate paddle boards effectively in any body of water.

An issue that some paddle owners has is that they break during use; they do not fall apart and can be put back together again. Some owners suggest that the welding done for this paddle has been poorly executed. For a relatively heavy paddle, stability is usually expected, but that is not the case with this paddle from SUP Supply.

Another problem that this paddle has is that it does not come with a case or bag. For paddles that can be taken apart, having a bag included would have been widely appreciated, but instead, you are better off keeping the paddle in one piece in order to carry it around better.

Conclusion:

We deem the BPS Adjustable CARBON FIBER 'Slider' SUP Paddle to be our most recommended paddle to buy. Here, we will explain why.

This is an ideal paddle for men, women, and children alike. If you have a family of paddle boarders, you do not need to break the bank much to get them all the same amazing product for paddling out in the water.

The materials are strong and light, and the performance while stroking is very effective. People of all ages and sizes will enjoy this paddle and will look very skillful while using it. The weight and feel are just right, but it may not be ideal for extremely tall people.

Furthermore, the body height rather than a standard paddle height display is just easier to understand for most people. If you know how tall you are, you practically know what height you have to adjust the paddle. It is very straightforward in this regard.

The close second that we recommend is the BIC Sport paddle. It is a very good paddle considering the price, but not sustainable for every occasion; It is rather ideal for casual paddle boarding.

Many other paddles cost more money, but for much less money, you do not sacrifice a lot of quality by any means, which is why this paddle from BPS is our best paddle in this series of reviews. If you want to end up being very pleased with your paddle purchase, the Slider is what you should get.

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