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Reviewed by us on Apr 26, 2022Note: Products are rated/compared to other similar (style/construction) products on the market.
Great review, I love my 2021 Lima L (I’m 75kg) although I’ve only just got the ‘super handle’ for it – it was incorrectly supplied with the old style handle and Starboard had run out. Huge credit to Starboard for adjusting their area measurement – perhaps because I’d emailed them about this and shared their reply with you and you subsequently featured the discrepancies in measurements between brands? Who knows?! 🙂 I think I still prefer the look of the 2021 even if it doesn’t paddle quite so well… The ribs just look a bit too plastic-y for me 😀
Thanks for your comment Matt. I do agree with you about the ribs. But they do look better in the flesh!
The blade area measurements did throw us off a bit because they have the same blade length and width on the website as last years paddles, but the area is different in 2022.
One other thing I really like about Starboard carbon paddles is the textured shaft which makes for a really firm grip without the ‘sandpaper’ effect you get from some appliqué grips – and the oval option is great if you have larger hands.
Thanks for the great video and review, Reuben!
The 2022 vs. 2021 paddle sizes also confused me at first. Many thanks for the clarification. Living in Germany, I have to wait 3 more weeks to get my 2022 Lima. Analogues to the 2020 and 2021 models I ordered it in L (80kg) but in the meantime I have the feeling that I should order a XL as well.
Hey Chris, Glad the video has helped. At 80kg you are going to be in between the Size L and Xl. But it’s all about what kind of paddling and distance you are doing. If its more longer distance paddling (a few KM’s a session) I feel the L should still be best. But if you are into shorter more sprint paddling then maybe the XL would be better.
Feedback on the Starboard ‘super handle’ – I mentioned I’ve only just been sent it so have been using my Lima 2021 with the previous handle design and only just started using the new handle… So whilst it feels less immediately comfortable in the hand – it is larger and less ‘sculpted’ – it hasn’t given me any blisters which I have previously always got from the other handle (and my QuickBlade handle). So thumbs up from me!
Hey Matt, thanks for your comment great feedback! Happy SUPing
Hey all, this is a great review thank you. Do you happen to know what size and stiffness is closest to the Back Project Medium (c.82cm2). The BP size is ideal but I’d love to try a Lima for a change. I’m not sure how BP measure blade face so it’s hard to decide without seeing one which is the closest match.
Hey Mark, Good question. Im going to get Jonny and Gavin who have spent a lot of time testing and using this paddles to get back to you on this one. They both helped us with our latest paddle test too, which will be live soon. Both paddles are in that, so well worth a watch for that too.
Hi Mark I have the 21 Lima as well as a BP hydro the M BP is about the same size as a L Lima both very nice paddles in fixed paddles I think the Lima is a little lighter and I think the 40 stiffness is about the same as the standard BP
They may have changed the sizes a little for the 22 Lima as Reuben said in the review comming out soon Will compares all the blade sizes
Hi Mark, i’m 5ft8 and 80kg and paddle isup’s.
i changed from my 2019 Oval shaft medium blade Lima to the Black Project hydro X flow, Standard shaft and medium blade and it was a perfect swap.
I would carry on with the medium blade for your swap and the S40 round shaft, bear in mind that if you go for the Oval shaft it will be stiffer, and i believe contributed to my bad elbow.
hopefully you have a shop near you where you can demo some though.
jonny 🙂
Hi Lima users and lovers 🙂 I want to get a Lima but I hesitate between L and XL I’m 188cm, 88kg, 43 years old, normal body type (no belly, no 6-pack), I have a touring Itiwit Adventure 13″ that I use on a lake for 2-3h sessions. My current paddle is the Aztron Mach (15% carbon) with relatively big blade: 121 inch. According to Starboard I can go for an L (88inch), XL (95inch) or XXL (for surfing and sprint I suppose; this is not my case): https://sup.star-board.com/fr/paddleboarding-gear-selector-tools/paddle-selector-tool/ I tend to believe that I need an XL as I… Read more »
Hi Martin, if you are paddling over extended periods of time and are using the paddle for touring and exploring, then it’s best to go for the L size. This will take the pressure off your shoulders and back to prevent injury whilst giving you a comfortable, quicker cadence to paddle. If your technique is good, you will create power and speed from the paddle stroke anyway so there’s no need to get a bigger blade. For example, I use a M size blade and weigh 85kg and stand 178cm tall. Large feels too big for me, so I would… Read more »
Thank you Beau for your comments, appreciated! You say that you have a M but is it a Lima or another brand? One more reason why I was asking myself is I should get an XL is due to the following fact: after digging the data in your last paddle test 2022 where you compare and mesure the sizes of the blades, that Starboard are on the small side: a Lima L/88inch blade area is 535cm/2 vs Loko’s Race Pro 88inch blade area is 557cm/2: they are supposed to be the same size, 88inch…but in reality the Loco is 22cm/2… Read more »
Hi Martin, I use a Starboard Enduro M which is a different blade shape. The paddle test definitely highlighted some key differences in the way brands size their paddles.
Looking back at the Starboard riders and what they use, a lot do use the XL size paddle even they are lighter in weight and height and I guess that is because it’s sized smaller. Maybe an XL would be the best choice…
Thank you Beau!
There will be a SUP test (Fanatic, Starboard, Indiana and a few other brands) in a few days, “close” to where I live; I hope that there will be paddles as well so I can try the Lima and make my choice (L or XL). If so, I’ll post a short review/a few comments here so that other readers can benefit and have one more opinion. All the best!
Hi Martin, Great! That sounds like a great demo day. Hope you’re able to try out some kit and we look forward to any feedback you have.
Hi Beau, hi everyone, at the end I didn’t manage to try the Lima Prepreg so I decided not to take a risk by spending that much money and I bought the Lima “standard” carbon 2P: the front is exactly the same as the Prepreg but it doesn’t have the “ribs” on the back (it’s a bit heavier as well…but it’s 50% cheaper!) I believe that my comments will be useful for other paddlers so here they are: I’m an intermediate paddler, 188cm, 88kg, I paddle on rivers and lakes (mainly on Leman, big lake where we can have important… Read more »
Hi Martin, super interesting feedback which I’m sure is just as useful for other readers, as it is for us! Thanks for taking the time to write this and we hope you’re getting used to the feeling.
The rest of the team here have read your comment and made notes about the feeling compared to other paddles. Thanks again.
Just read a Black Project article about measuring shaft flex: https://blackprojectsup.com/how-to-measure-sup-paddle-shaft-stiffness/
Isn’t this something you should do every time you test a paddle? It would take the guesswork away from choosing the shaft.
Hey Juha , TBH this is a really good idea. We’ve done it on a few video in the past but it could become a more regular thing for sure. I think with the specialist paddle (not beginner ones) we should do it going forward.
How many mm would a Starboard Lima RDS S40 or S45 flex in the Black Project test?: https://blackprojectsup.com/how-to-measure-sup-paddle-shaft-stiffness/
The test is pretty easy to construct with a couple of chairs, some rope and weights from a home gym;) A hint, if it is difficult to measure down, measure to the roof.