🛶 Canoe Paddle Length Calculator
Find your perfect paddle length using torso method & height method
| Paddler Height | Sitting (in) | Kneeling (in) | Bent-Shaft (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4'10" (147 cm) | 52–54 | 49–51 | 50–52 |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 54–56 | 50–52 | 52–54 |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 55–57 | 51–53 | 53–55 |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 56–58 | 52–54 | 54–56 |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 57–59 | 53–55 | 55–57 |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 58–60 | 54–56 | 56–58 |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 59–61 | 55–57 | 57–59 |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 60–62 | 56–58 | 58–60 |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 61–63 | 57–59 | 59–61 |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 63–65 | 58–61 | 61–63 |
| Material | Weight | Durability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Heavy (28–36 oz) | Moderate | Traditional, flatwater |
| Aluminum | Medium (26–32 oz) | High | Beginners, rental fleets |
| Fiberglass | Light (18–26 oz) | High | Touring, recreational |
| Carbon Fiber | Ultralight (10–18 oz) | Very High | Racing, long-distance |
Canoe Paddle can seem simple, even so you should think about everything carefully while you choose the right model. A more lightweight paddle helps to escape too much effort during a journey on the river. Even so do not consider only the weight.
A good paddle must balance weight strength and flexibility. During canoeing on calm waters, flexible paddles well absorb the shock of every stroke.
How to Choose a Canoe Paddle
Cherry woods are lightweight, solid and flexible. Such flexibility works as a cushion for the hands, what makes it ideal for paddles from wood. Some builders do every paddle from one alone piece.
All this requires more time and expert craft, but nothing gives such feeling in the hands or on the waves. Commonly those paddles have oval grips, that adapt more well to your hand, and the blades stay uncoated.
Layered paddles and their blades tend to be more rigid due to the layering process, and they do not last as long. Some canoeists like the a bit of bend in wooden grip compared to stiff carbon fiber. Wooden grips have natural give, that many rate.
On the other hand, super light carbon paddles and copies from plastic also exist for journeys with high output.
Also the form of the blade plays a role. A blade with a spoon shape answers for deep waters and long distance. A shape of a square more well adapts to currents.
A big flat blade is the usual for white water. In a two-person canoe on a calm lake, a square blade delivers force, while a spoon blade ensures better reach. It does depend on the kind of water, wear you most commonly paddle.
Paddles with curved grip offer an option to those with straight ones. Some canoeists choose lightweight, slightly short curved grip with broad blade for a single canoe. Here also exist cheap versions.
One simple paddle with aluminum grip and blade from plastic lasted five years. Specific paddles for white water are built to be strong and cheap, while they maximize the force at every stroke, with a blade in T-form for good grip.
Cedar forms another great wood for paddles. Many of those nice wooden paddles secretly have a cover from fiberglass and epoxy below for strength and water resistance. One famous builder produces wooden Canoe Paddle since 1967, with designs inspired by contests, that are strong and long lasting.
One even can use a kayak paddle in a canoe, but much more fit are broader paddles because of the extra Length andhigher sides of a canoe.
