Race / Touring CARBON PADDLE TEST 2022 / SUPBOARDER PRO HEAD TO HEAD
Compared by us on Aug 18, 2022
In this SUPboarder PRO head to head test we put 16 carbon fibre race / touring paddles priced between £219 and £499 up against each other. With many of us owning iSUPs and wanting to use stiffer, lighter and more performance paddles this test was interesting to see what a selection of brands have to offer. If you are looking to upgrade your paddle or simply understand what effects a paddles performance, this mega test is one to watch! Carried out by our team of 6 testers, it's packed full of paddle information to help you understand which paddle will be right for YOU!
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dew
2 years ago
You make awesome comparison reviews! Really good to have Donna, it makes the review much better for me that have a small and light weighted wife! Me and Erika loves our Lima prepegs, they paddle really good and are so light!
Thanks Dew, Yeah it’s so much better having more body sizes and ability’s in the test group. A big thanks again to the testers. Glad you are loving your lima’s.
Darren Bodek
2 years ago
Interesting, thanks for this. In the lower price category, do you think paddles like the Starboard UD/tiki-tech and Black Project Lava/Ohana (previously tested) would have topped the sub-£300 category? (Realise that’s not the focus of this top-of-each-range test, but just out of interest)
Hey Darren. This is a very good question. Possibly but its very hard to tell without paddling them. I think a Starboard UD would of done well against the Aqua M. But a lot of those cheaper paddles do have a bit more weight at the blade end. If was funny watching the reactions of our testers after they paddled the Aqua Marina each time realising it was a much better paddle than they ever possibly imagined. I will speak to the team and tell them what you said, because it’s a very justified point, thanks for bringing it up… Read more »
Hi both, I can shed a bit of light on this luckily! Firstly I was MASSIVELY impressed by the Aqua Marina paddle as Reuben said in the review, if you bought one you wouldn’t be disappointed. Recently I’ve purchased myself a 2 piece Starboard Carbon Enduro (non-Prepreg) which is what’s replaced the UD in Starboard’s range for 2022. It’s a lovely paddle all round. It weighs in at 608g so a bit heavier than some in here, BUT it is £169 AND it is a beautiful paddle as you can see from the photo which may or may not have… Read more »
Hi Darren, great question!! Daniel has already added a perfect answer, but just to add. The thing you need to remember is, all of that R&D is still in those lower priced blades, they might not have all the latest tricks, but they still carry all the knowledge and the fit and finish will still be top notch too, which was a big part of this test for me personally. would they top the Sub £300 .. who knows , the Aqua M was Very impressive!! Maybe a Sub £300 test in the future … but i dread how many… Read more »
jeroensurf@gmail.com
2 years ago
Awesome review and fully agree with the BP as a winner. Tried it and it is a wonderful piece of kit but that price….. I went for a cheap 2th hand naish Elite and wave 🙂 Regarding the Naish grip, I have no problems at all with in the waves but also 15-20KM tours. Something that isnt mentioned but very noticeable when you have a couple of difference paddles is shaft diameter and shaft stiffness. The Naish Elite for example has the smallest shaft diameter I ever seen before. Great when touring but still figuring out if I like it… Read more »
Hi Jerome, its a very good point around shaft diameter – what is interesting is that a handful of brands are offering options for shaft diameter and like handle options we think its something that really makes a difference. Let’s hope more brands offer more options to fit a wider variety of paddles going forwards.
Jason Marcinski
2 years ago
Great comparison! Been using a Black Project Hydro Medium for a year now and have found it somewhat fatiguing for my size (I’m similar in weight and build as Will). I thought it was too big/stiff for me, but then tried a Hydro Flow X and an Ohana, both Larger size, and they felt pretty easier! Which confused me! All three have different blade shapes, but I think it’s the shallow blade angle that makes the Hydro feel more aggressive. But all the Black Project paddles are amazing! Anyhow, just an observation I thought I’d throw out there!
A great observation Jason! I know what you mean about these two. I have a S Hydro, but the Hydro Flow X in M does feel more comfortable for me than the M Hydro – lots going on with different shapes in the blade which is likely the cause.
M L8
2 years ago
Great info, was wondering why Quick Blade Paddles were not in this line up?
We were very keen to have them in the test, but unfortunately couldn’t get much engagement from the brand. We did work with a UK supplier who sent some down, but unfortunately they arrived a little too late for the test. A great shame as we and the testers we’re keen to see how the new models compared.
idguinness
2 years ago
I have a Blackproject Flow X (L 88/568), a blackproject Lava (L 90/582) adjustable, a Naish carbon plus (85) adjustable. The Naish and lava are good, but the Flow X is simply better, it is very easy to paddle, almost helps our technique makes you feel like a better paddler than you are.
Thanks for the comments – make sure you add your own review of the paddles via the product links above – great to capture user feedback for the community and the brands. It all gets looked at!
Todd Carlson
2 years ago
Great review. I bought a Hydro Flow X with a blemish for around $450. It had a small section ~0.5 cm2 that was sanded after the finish (took me a week to find it). Every few weeks they have a production run and sell blemished paddles (and fins) under paddle (or fin) specials on their online shop. Surprisingly fast shipping from Maui (5 days to Florida). I’m 6’2” and 110 kg. I bought a large with medium flex at 82”. Black Project recommends smaller blades, shorter shafts, and more shaft flex to minimize injuries. My previous paddle was a carbon… Read more »
Great to hear Todd – there is certainly a lot to think about with paddles to ensure we can paddle further and faster! Its key to find the right paddle(s) that fit your body, paddling style and of course budget
cesar.pinheiro
2 years ago
Oh wow! Did you guys really just compare single piece paddles with adjustable ones? How should that work? That is not really helping your unbiased credibility. The test in combination with this comment section sounds almost like a PR stunt.
Hi Cesar – The aim of the test was test high end paddles for race and touring, however we asked the brands to supply us with adjustable versions so we could fairly test the paddles within our group of testers who all vary in height. Some brands however did not have an adjustable version of the paddles they wanted to submit into the test so they sent us the paddles invidious lengths (black project)…. With the Naish paddles we had to buy these ourselves to ensure they were included in the test, but the Carbon plus only comes in adjustable… Read more »
Hi Cesar. To be honest, Fixed or Two or Three piece paddles didn’t really factor into this test. We all know a Fixed will generally be a lighter paddle with a much more useable and consistent flex, that however is not going to help a paddle if it’s blade shape has not been researched, or if it’s fittings are of a poor quality. My focus on this test was certainly on how the blades catch, if they fluttered and the fit and finish of the paddles, as a paddle of £300 and over is a very big investment, and last… Read more »
Corey Jones
2 years ago
Fantastic work team! Top-notch review, thank-you. I’m wondering if the BP paddles were fitted with the new power grip handles, or the previous iteration?
Yes, all the black project paddles had the new power grip that the testers all felt was an improvement on previous handles. NOTE – the TEMPO doesnt not come with this grip when purchased!!
sc2071
2 years ago
I’ve been waiting for this review for ages! Well done guys, so glad to finally see it! I ended up buying both a 3pc Starboard Lima Carbon UD in Medium and Large. At 81kg, the Medium is easier for me, less strain. However, I don’t know if I should be pushing myself with the Large. I can’t believe myself sometimes, I have both paddles now to compare and I’m still somewhat unsure what I should be using. 😉 Shocked at the difference in blade area from the claimed 567cm2 to 535cm2 with the Large reviewed in the test. By that… Read more »
Thanks for the comment on the test. Also glad you have 2! paddles ;-). Size are still a trickly one. If you are paddling hard for longer distances then the M i think is still the one but if you are after more shorter bursts of power than the large would be best. But to be honest you’ll be the best person to decide having both the paddles to compare, good move you’re very lucky. We need to do more work on blade shape tbh. The Ultimate would be to take a paddle blade of different shapes and put them… Read more »
Dmitrii Kharitonov
2 years ago
Hey! Thanks for your video. I am totally agree with results. But it still has a couple questions. How do you feel, is the new Black Project paddles (hydroflow x, spirit, tempo) better than classic Hydro? How do you think, is it possible to test some sprints with paddles. And can you get such top brands for tests as Braca and Quick Blade?
Hi Dmitrii, thanks for your comment. We are looking at doing a more in-depth video on the Black Project range once we have built up a bit more experience with them. It should be an interesting watch. I think the Hydro Flow X is a big step up from the Hydro personally. But I think featuring this in a deep dive into the brand could be good as well possibly. We would love to get these other big paddle brands engaged in the testing – we have been trying really hard, but there is little or no engagement from them… Read more »
Hi Dmitrii, I was one of the testers. I have a large Hydro, a medium FlowX and a medium SprintX. Have had the Hydro for 18 months or so and the others for a month. The Sprint has a better catch even though it’s a smaller size blade and because it’s a smaller blade I can get my cadence up a bit more to get that bit more top speed. If you technique wasn’t quite right, you could get the Hydro to flutter sometimes, the SprintX doesn’t flutter and just feels a better all round paddle. It’s a little hard… Read more »
Quincy DeWitt
2 years ago
Do you have an explanation for the difference in the claimed and measured weights for the AM Carbon X paddle? The claim is 650g or 700g depending on where you look. You measured well under 600g. Is there that much variation? Did they go through their stock and send you the lightest one in stock? Did they build a special paddle for your test? Usually manufacturers quote unrealistically low weights, so this seems odd.
Good question Quincy. I don’t believe the brands send us special light products. Because so many times we get products for test and the finish isn’t the best and they definitely have not checked the quality before they have sent it to us (our new race board test is a good example of this). Regarding this paddle, we were only sent one paddle and this was the one we obviously weighed. TBH in our past experience the brands always seem to be a little bit off with their weights on their website. And this is always more true with cheaper… Read more »
I ended up buying two of the Carbon X paddles. They were on sale, $300 Canadian. Mine weigh 610g and 620g, so significantly more than yours, but still a good weight. I did my first paddle today and was very impressed. I went considerably faster and had less strain on my body. Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for the feedback Quincy. Interesting about the weights of the paddles too. Having a paddle with more more in it is always a good thing i guess 🙂
Leon Mills
2 years ago
Thank you so much for this, the price variation is so big, it was great to see the differences in value vs performance. Am a new paddler prone to being influenced by brands!
Yeah this is why we find the head to head tests so interesting. Glad it helped. Thanks Reuben
Matt Brookes
2 years ago
Just watching this test again, I’m pretty sure you have the Naish Kevlar Wave with the wood veneer shaft NOT the carbon plus, which comes in at an eye watering £550 or so at the moment, not the £300 or so you quote for the carbon plus :(. I’ve heard the Kevlar Wave shaft is prone to breaking, do you have any experience of that (since you’ve bought it I’m assuming you’ve had a few surf sessions with it?)
We have just check the invoice and it says ‘kevlar wave vario s26’. I do know that Naish have changed the price around quite a bit over the last few months. But I hope not that much!! We are still using both these paddles. And they are fine for us in surf use. TBH I have seen Starboard, Black Project and cheaper brands also all break because of the odd manufacturing issue from time to time. The important thing is how the brand deals with the issue and the customer.
Patrick Bach
1 year ago
I still cannot believe the very poor results for the blackfish paddles – I am really surprised ! Usually very good craftmanship !?
Hey Patrick I do agree with you, the paddle is very nice and really its a good paddle as well.
David Palhazi
8 months ago
Hello pros, experts and paddlers, I have two questions which are bugging me a lot and those are connected closely to this topic. I think it is pretty unfortunate to compare a 1 piece paddle to a 3 piece paddle because even the very best brands are kind of unable to provide the same feeling. Im not surprised Black Projects are on the top of the list, meanwhile I think it is unfair to mention them on the same level with any other three piece paddle. My two piece Starboard prepreg lima is just not the same than my 1… Read more »
Hey David, Thanks for your comments and questions. You are very right about 1pc to 3pc being different in feel. But for the test we had lots of different riders and their heights to consider. And many brands did not have a large range of fix paddle heights to send us. So the adjustable was the next best option. I guess it was use these or only limit the test to riders of the same height. But as far as paddle blade in the water this doesn’t effect the feel of the paddle. Aztron and Black project, Another good question.… Read more »
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Compared by us on Aug 18, 2022
You make awesome comparison reviews! Really good to have Donna, it makes the review much better for me that have a small and light weighted wife! Me and Erika loves our Lima prepegs, they paddle really good and are so light!
Thanks Dew, Yeah it’s so much better having more body sizes and ability’s in the test group. A big thanks again to the testers. Glad you are loving your lima’s.
Interesting, thanks for this. In the lower price category, do you think paddles like the Starboard UD/tiki-tech and Black Project Lava/Ohana (previously tested) would have topped the sub-£300 category? (Realise that’s not the focus of this top-of-each-range test, but just out of interest)
Hey Darren. This is a very good question. Possibly but its very hard to tell without paddling them. I think a Starboard UD would of done well against the Aqua M. But a lot of those cheaper paddles do have a bit more weight at the blade end. If was funny watching the reactions of our testers after they paddled the Aqua Marina each time realising it was a much better paddle than they ever possibly imagined. I will speak to the team and tell them what you said, because it’s a very justified point, thanks for bringing it up… Read more »
Hi both, I can shed a bit of light on this luckily! Firstly I was MASSIVELY impressed by the Aqua Marina paddle as Reuben said in the review, if you bought one you wouldn’t be disappointed. Recently I’ve purchased myself a 2 piece Starboard Carbon Enduro (non-Prepreg) which is what’s replaced the UD in Starboard’s range for 2022. It’s a lovely paddle all round. It weighs in at 608g so a bit heavier than some in here, BUT it is £169 AND it is a beautiful paddle as you can see from the photo which may or may not have… Read more »
Hey Daniel, Great comment and feed back. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
Hi Darren, great question!! Daniel has already added a perfect answer, but just to add. The thing you need to remember is, all of that R&D is still in those lower priced blades, they might not have all the latest tricks, but they still carry all the knowledge and the fit and finish will still be top notch too, which was a big part of this test for me personally. would they top the Sub £300 .. who knows , the Aqua M was Very impressive!! Maybe a Sub £300 test in the future … but i dread how many… Read more »
Awesome review and fully agree with the BP as a winner. Tried it and it is a wonderful piece of kit but that price….. I went for a cheap 2th hand naish Elite and wave 🙂 Regarding the Naish grip, I have no problems at all with in the waves but also 15-20KM tours. Something that isnt mentioned but very noticeable when you have a couple of difference paddles is shaft diameter and shaft stiffness. The Naish Elite for example has the smallest shaft diameter I ever seen before. Great when touring but still figuring out if I like it… Read more »
Hi Jerome, its a very good point around shaft diameter – what is interesting is that a handful of brands are offering options for shaft diameter and like handle options we think its something that really makes a difference. Let’s hope more brands offer more options to fit a wider variety of paddles going forwards.
Great comparison! Been using a Black Project Hydro Medium for a year now and have found it somewhat fatiguing for my size (I’m similar in weight and build as Will). I thought it was too big/stiff for me, but then tried a Hydro Flow X and an Ohana, both Larger size, and they felt pretty easier! Which confused me! All three have different blade shapes, but I think it’s the shallow blade angle that makes the Hydro feel more aggressive. But all the Black Project paddles are amazing! Anyhow, just an observation I thought I’d throw out there!
A great observation Jason! I know what you mean about these two. I have a S Hydro, but the Hydro Flow X in M does feel more comfortable for me than the M Hydro – lots going on with different shapes in the blade which is likely the cause.
Great info, was wondering why Quick Blade Paddles were not in this line up?
We were very keen to have them in the test, but unfortunately couldn’t get much engagement from the brand. We did work with a UK supplier who sent some down, but unfortunately they arrived a little too late for the test. A great shame as we and the testers we’re keen to see how the new models compared.
I have a Blackproject Flow X (L 88/568), a blackproject Lava (L 90/582) adjustable, a Naish carbon plus (85) adjustable. The Naish and lava are good, but the Flow X is simply better, it is very easy to paddle, almost helps our technique makes you feel like a better paddler than you are.
Thanks for the comments – make sure you add your own review of the paddles via the product links above – great to capture user feedback for the community and the brands. It all gets looked at!
Great review. I bought a Hydro Flow X with a blemish for around $450. It had a small section ~0.5 cm2 that was sanded after the finish (took me a week to find it). Every few weeks they have a production run and sell blemished paddles (and fins) under paddle (or fin) specials on their online shop. Surprisingly fast shipping from Maui (5 days to Florida). I’m 6’2” and 110 kg. I bought a large with medium flex at 82”. Black Project recommends smaller blades, shorter shafts, and more shaft flex to minimize injuries. My previous paddle was a carbon… Read more »
Great to hear Todd – there is certainly a lot to think about with paddles to ensure we can paddle further and faster! Its key to find the right paddle(s) that fit your body, paddling style and of course budget
Oh wow! Did you guys really just compare single piece paddles with adjustable ones? How should that work? That is not really helping your unbiased credibility. The test in combination with this comment section sounds almost like a PR stunt.
Hi Cesar – The aim of the test was test high end paddles for race and touring, however we asked the brands to supply us with adjustable versions so we could fairly test the paddles within our group of testers who all vary in height. Some brands however did not have an adjustable version of the paddles they wanted to submit into the test so they sent us the paddles invidious lengths (black project)…. With the Naish paddles we had to buy these ourselves to ensure they were included in the test, but the Carbon plus only comes in adjustable… Read more »
Hi Cesar. To be honest, Fixed or Two or Three piece paddles didn’t really factor into this test. We all know a Fixed will generally be a lighter paddle with a much more useable and consistent flex, that however is not going to help a paddle if it’s blade shape has not been researched, or if it’s fittings are of a poor quality. My focus on this test was certainly on how the blades catch, if they fluttered and the fit and finish of the paddles, as a paddle of £300 and over is a very big investment, and last… Read more »
Fantastic work team! Top-notch review, thank-you. I’m wondering if the BP paddles were fitted with the new power grip handles, or the previous iteration?
Yes, all the black project paddles had the new power grip that the testers all felt was an improvement on previous handles. NOTE – the TEMPO doesnt not come with this grip when purchased!!
I’ve been waiting for this review for ages! Well done guys, so glad to finally see it! I ended up buying both a 3pc Starboard Lima Carbon UD in Medium and Large. At 81kg, the Medium is easier for me, less strain. However, I don’t know if I should be pushing myself with the Large. I can’t believe myself sometimes, I have both paddles now to compare and I’m still somewhat unsure what I should be using. 😉 Shocked at the difference in blade area from the claimed 567cm2 to 535cm2 with the Large reviewed in the test. By that… Read more »
Thanks for the comment on the test. Also glad you have 2! paddles ;-). Size are still a trickly one. If you are paddling hard for longer distances then the M i think is still the one but if you are after more shorter bursts of power than the large would be best. But to be honest you’ll be the best person to decide having both the paddles to compare, good move you’re very lucky. We need to do more work on blade shape tbh. The Ultimate would be to take a paddle blade of different shapes and put them… Read more »
Hey! Thanks for your video. I am totally agree with results. But it still has a couple questions. How do you feel, is the new Black Project paddles (hydroflow x, spirit, tempo) better than classic Hydro? How do you think, is it possible to test some sprints with paddles. And can you get such top brands for tests as Braca and Quick Blade?
Hi Dmitrii, thanks for your comment. We are looking at doing a more in-depth video on the Black Project range once we have built up a bit more experience with them. It should be an interesting watch. I think the Hydro Flow X is a big step up from the Hydro personally. But I think featuring this in a deep dive into the brand could be good as well possibly. We would love to get these other big paddle brands engaged in the testing – we have been trying really hard, but there is little or no engagement from them… Read more »
Hi Dmitrii, I was one of the testers. I have a large Hydro, a medium FlowX and a medium SprintX. Have had the Hydro for 18 months or so and the others for a month. The Sprint has a better catch even though it’s a smaller size blade and because it’s a smaller blade I can get my cadence up a bit more to get that bit more top speed. If you technique wasn’t quite right, you could get the Hydro to flutter sometimes, the SprintX doesn’t flutter and just feels a better all round paddle. It’s a little hard… Read more »
Do you have an explanation for the difference in the claimed and measured weights for the AM Carbon X paddle? The claim is 650g or 700g depending on where you look. You measured well under 600g. Is there that much variation? Did they go through their stock and send you the lightest one in stock? Did they build a special paddle for your test? Usually manufacturers quote unrealistically low weights, so this seems odd.
Good question Quincy. I don’t believe the brands send us special light products. Because so many times we get products for test and the finish isn’t the best and they definitely have not checked the quality before they have sent it to us (our new race board test is a good example of this). Regarding this paddle, we were only sent one paddle and this was the one we obviously weighed. TBH in our past experience the brands always seem to be a little bit off with their weights on their website. And this is always more true with cheaper… Read more »
I ended up buying two of the Carbon X paddles. They were on sale, $300 Canadian. Mine weigh 610g and 620g, so significantly more than yours, but still a good weight. I did my first paddle today and was very impressed. I went considerably faster and had less strain on my body. Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for the feedback Quincy. Interesting about the weights of the paddles too. Having a paddle with more more in it is always a good thing i guess 🙂
Thank you so much for this, the price variation is so big, it was great to see the differences in value vs performance. Am a new paddler prone to being influenced by brands!
Yeah this is why we find the head to head tests so interesting. Glad it helped. Thanks Reuben
Just watching this test again, I’m pretty sure you have the Naish Kevlar Wave with the wood veneer shaft NOT the carbon plus, which comes in at an eye watering £550 or so at the moment, not the £300 or so you quote for the carbon plus :(. I’ve heard the Kevlar Wave shaft is prone to breaking, do you have any experience of that (since you’ve bought it I’m assuming you’ve had a few surf sessions with it?)
Hey Matt
I will looking into this but I do remember it costing us a-lot of money ha ha .
We have just check the invoice and it says ‘kevlar wave vario s26’. I do know that Naish have changed the price around quite a bit over the last few months. But I hope not that much!! We are still using both these paddles. And they are fine for us in surf use. TBH I have seen Starboard, Black Project and cheaper brands also all break because of the odd manufacturing issue from time to time. The important thing is how the brand deals with the issue and the customer.
I still cannot believe the very poor results for the blackfish paddles – I am really surprised ! Usually very good craftmanship !?
Hey Patrick I do agree with you, the paddle is very nice and really its a good paddle as well.
Hello pros, experts and paddlers, I have two questions which are bugging me a lot and those are connected closely to this topic. I think it is pretty unfortunate to compare a 1 piece paddle to a 3 piece paddle because even the very best brands are kind of unable to provide the same feeling. Im not surprised Black Projects are on the top of the list, meanwhile I think it is unfair to mention them on the same level with any other three piece paddle. My two piece Starboard prepreg lima is just not the same than my 1… Read more »
Hey David, Thanks for your comments and questions. You are very right about 1pc to 3pc being different in feel. But for the test we had lots of different riders and their heights to consider. And many brands did not have a large range of fix paddle heights to send us. So the adjustable was the next best option. I guess it was use these or only limit the test to riders of the same height. But as far as paddle blade in the water this doesn’t effect the feel of the paddle. Aztron and Black project, Another good question.… Read more »