WernerCamano Carbon Straight Shaft Kayak Paddle

I bought my first Camano kayak paddle in the late 1980s, and it has held up really well over years of heavy use. I bought two of these carbon Camano paddles in 2014, and they are both in excellent condition after dozens of trips. This is a super lightweight paddle, with good stiffness, and great bite in the water. The blade enters and exits the water cleanly, and there is no blade flutter on the pull stroke. The shaft is round and smooth (unlike some brands), and there is no play in the shaft joint. The blade size is ideal for cruising long distances, while still having plenty of power for quick acceleration in surf. The blade angle can be set in 15 degree increments, although personally I prefer zero angle, unless you are fighting a really strong headwind, where blade angle reduces the wind load on the raised blade. Mud tends to fall off the blade after a few strokes, and the paddles are super easy to clean. The blades are very scratch resistant. The Camano's blade size is perfect for most men, strong female paddlers, and medium to strong paddlers in general. The Camano is optimal for low-angle paddling, which is a really efficient paddling style, where most of your power comes from twisting your torso, instead of bending your elbows. (Higher use of core muscles instead of arm muscles, and you can paddle for hours without getting tired or sore.) Werner also makes the Little Dipper, which has a smaller blade with the same shape. (I also own two Little Dipper paddles.) The Little Dipper is better for anyone that prefers a smaller blade size, and is better for smaller or weaker paddlers. A good, lightweight kayak paddle is well worth the investment.

I own a couple of werner paddles, but this one is so lite, it's like a feather. It's really amazing how lite it is. When I got the package, it felt like it was empty. 😆🤣😂

I just received this paddle a day after it shipped. Construction looks awesome and this thing is feather light. Now I'll just have to wait another month for my Wilderness Systems Tsunami 140 to arrive. In the meantime I'll admire my new paddle.