Werner Paddles: Choose a Paddle

Werner Paddles Touring Guide to a Good Fit
Important Things to Consider to Find the Right Fitting Paddle

What Paddling Style Do You Have?
	High Angle Style High Angle paddling is typically a more aggressive style of paddling using a faster cadence and wider variety of strokes. It is very dynamic and commonly used for fitness paddling, playing in current, or in rugged conditions where power is needed.	Low Angle Style Low Angle is the most common paddling style. It is a relaxed touring style with a more relaxed cadence. Low Angle paddling is less fatiguing on paddle days when long distances or multi day trips are planned.

What Blade Size Fits You Best?
Full Size Blades are appropriate for larger well conditioned paddlers. Full size models include the Ikelos and Corryvrecken.	Mid Size Blades are most popular for the widest range of kayakers. Mid size models include the Kalliste, Camano, Shuna, Rec Sport, Cascadia and Skagit.	Smaller blades reduce strain on joints and are appropriate for smaller paddlers.The smaller blade model is the Little Dipper.

Shaft Size Does Matter!

Small or Standard Diameter?
The proper fit is key to allowing a paddler to use a light grip to increase comfort and reduce fatigue.

A good fit will increase your comfort, enhance your performance, and add to your paddling enjoyment - no matter what your skill level! What size is right? Small Diameter fits glove sizes XS - M. Standard Diameter fits glove sizes M - XL or look for our Hand Sizing Chart at your local dealer.

Shaft Type?
Straight or Neutral Bent Shaft? There are benefits to both so your preference may depend on which benefits are most important to you.

Straight Shaft
Paddlers are more familiar with straight shafts and like the light weight and ability to move their hands along a predictable, straight, and continuous grip area. Straight shafts are typically less expensive.

Our Neutral Bent Shaft naturally aligns your wrist to reduce stress on joints. The neutral alignment, unique to Werner Paddles, creates a stable leverage point for bracing and all types of paddle strokes. Special indexing allows more hand contact with the shaft, reducing fatigue and increasing comfort.

Material Choices

Werner Paddles uses high quality materials and superior construction methods to create the best light weight to strength ratio in each of our product lines. We carefully distribute weight to produce well balanced paddles with a light swing weight.

Swing weight is the weight you feel each time you lift your blade during a stroke. It is not the published weight, so pick up several paddles from different manufacturers, imitate a few paddle strokes, and compare the swing weights. The lighter swing weight will always be greatly appreciated for reducing fatigue.

Undesirable swing weight

Performance Touring
Carbon Weave material offers the lightest weight to strength ratio.

Premium Touring
Fiberglass Weave material offers the best combination of light weight, durability and beauty.

Recreational Touring
Continuous Strand Fiberglass or Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon creates an excellent combination of performance and great value.

Find the Best fit by locating your height and boat width on the charts below.

If you didn’t find yourself on the chart simply locate the closest combination of paddler height and boat width listed. Use this recommended paddle length as a starting point to make adjustments from.

Narrower boat or shorter paddlers should subtract 5 cm for High Angle and 10cm for Low Angle or add length for wider boats like tandems. Congratulations on choosing a great fitting paddle! Get out and enjoy it.

Questions? Please ask a sales associate, request a catalog,
call us on our toll free line 800- 275-3311