Best Kayak Paddles For 2025

Only once in nearly 30 years of paddling have I found myself facing a familiar adage in real life. I couldn’t help but chuckle when I realized my mistake while unloading my kayak at the put-in: I’d forgotten my paddle at home.

No one wants to be caught up a creek without a paddle. But nearly worse—in my opinion—is to make-do with inferior blades. A high-quality, lightweight paddle that fits my body, style and kayaking mission is at the top of my gear list—just as important as a sleek and seaworthy sea kayak, a burly whitewater kayak or go-anywhere fishing kayak. That’s why even when I’ve traveled and plan to take a rental kayak, I’ve always paid extra to check my beloved carbon touring blades when I’ve flown for sea kayak trips everywhere from California to Newfoundland.

When it comes to buying a paddle, my top piece of advice is to make sure it’s the best kayak paddle you can afford.

No matter how great of a kayak you own, the paddle ultimately defines who we are as paddlers. Simple math reveals modest paddling pace equates to around 1,800 strokes per hour, and this article breaks down my favorite picks in all kayaking disciplines and styles to make each of those strokes a pleasure, especially in the challenging conditions like headwinds, expeditions and big water when quality, fit and design pays off the most.

Best kayak paddles for 2025: Our top picks

• Best budget recreational kayak paddle: Aqua Bound Sting Ray
• Best all-around whitewater paddle: Werner Sherpa
• Best high-angle touring paddle: Werner Ikelos
• Lowest cost beginner whitewater paddle: NRS PTK
• Best Kids Paddle: Accent Wahoo

Best budget-friendly recreational kayak paddle

Aqua Bound Sting Ray

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AQUA BOUND REI AMAZON

Why I love it

The Aqua Bound Sting Ray is the workhorse of kayak outfitters and rental fleets. Sting Rays were standard issue for the clients I guided on multi-day tours on Lake Superior. They’re tough and well-designed, with dihedral blades that feel smooth in the water and work best with a low-angle stroke. This is a great, reasonably-priced option for beginners, recreational kayakers and touring kayakers looking for a serviceable spare paddle.

Bottom Line

A decent paddle for a good price.

Best High-Angle Touring Paddle

Werner Ikelos

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WERNER BACKCOUNTRY

Why I love it

The Werner Ikelos has been my go-to paddle for sea kayak touring since it was released in 2005. It matches my fast and narrow expedition sea kayak and penchant for long-distance days perfectly. The high-angle blade feels buttery smooth, disguising its powerful bite. Foam core carbon construction makes its blades feel light as air, offering superior performance for bracing and rolling in rough water. Werner’s attention to detail yields fit and finish that’s second to none and built to last.

Bottom Line

A smooth and light, premium paddle for big water touring.

Best low-angle sea kayak paddle

Sawyer Sea Feather

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SAWYER

Why I love it

There’s something special about wooden paddles. The Sawyer Sea Feather captures the craft in a beautiful and functional work of art, blending the warm look and western red cedar blades with a high-tech carbon shaft. The long, narrow, gently spooned blades allow for effortless long-distance touring, while the ferrule supports unlimited feather angles and modest adjustments of overall paddle length.

Bottom Line

A functional piece of paddle art.

Best all-around whitewater kayak paddle

Werner Sherpa

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WERNER BACKCOUNTRY AMAZON

Why I love it

You can’t go wrong with the Werner Sherpa as an all-around whitewater kayak paddle that checks a lot of boxes. For starters, it’s impressively light with all the durability you’d expect in a mid-range paddle. The Sherpa blade shape works for just about everything: river running, creeking, a little bit of freestyle…even ocean play in rock gardens and surf. It’s the type of paddle you will never grow out of. I recommend upgrading to the bent-shaft version for ultimate ergonomics.

Bottom Line

The Werner Sherpa is a one-and-done paddle choice for all-around whitewater boaters.

Best high-end whitewater kayak paddle

Galasport Manic MCQ

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GALASPORT

Why I love it

Czech-based Galasport has a well-earned reputation for making some of the best whitewater paddles. The Manic features lessons learned from the brand’s decades of putting world-class whitewater athletes on Olympic podiums, with premium carbon blades and shaft in a stiff and durable, monocoque (seamless) construction. The Manic is ideal for serious whitewater boaters who know exactly what they want in a paddle: length, blade reinforcements, offset and shaft configuration (straight or bent) are available made to spec.

Bottom Line

European precision in a whitewater paddle.

Best budget whitewater paddle

NRS PTK

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NRS

Why I love it

The NRS PTK is a beginner-friendly paddle from a reputable manufacturer, at an unbeatable price. It forms the basis of outfitter rental fleets in paddling destinations across North America. A range of lengths and a versatile blade shape make the PTK suitable for easy whitewater boating as well as recreational touring.

Bottom Line

Durability and versatility at a great price, perfect for recreational use on rivers and sheltered water.

Best Kayak Fishing Paddle

Wilderness Systems Alpha Angler

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WILDERNESS SYSTEMS AMAZON

Why I love it

The Wilderness Systems Alpha Angler leans heavily on high-end touring paddle design, with powerful high-angle blades that work well in wider fishing kayaks. I always recommend fiberglass blades as a high-performance yet reasonable cost option. You can’t beat the Alpha’s angler-specific features, including line hooks on the blades and a built-in measuring tape.

Bottom Line

A top-tier, touring-inspired paddle for kayak anglers.

Best Greenland-style paddle

Gearlab Outdoors Akiak

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GEARLAB

Why I love it

Though I prefer the torque of a high-angle paddle these days, I was once smitten by the elegance and simplicity of Greenland-style paddling. The Gearlab Outdoors Akiak lures me back with a traditional profile and modern touch. The hybrid carbon composite construction is stiff and light, and the replaceable tips mean the Akiak will last a lifetime.

Bottom Line

Arctic tradition means modern construction at a great price.

Best Kids Kayak Paddle

Accent Wahoo

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ACCENT AMAZON

Why I love it

Introducing your kids to paddling with good equipment is a good way to foster a lifelong passion. The Accent Wahoo is a quality kids kayaking paddle that won’t break the bank. It features smaller kid-sized blades that move through the water smoothly, and its carbon shaft offers adjustable length in a range that will work for most youngsters through their early teens. This is a great kids paddle for moving water or touring.

Bottom Line

A perfect junior kayak paddle to develop lifelong paddlers.

Best multi-piece travel kayak paddle

TRAK Quadra by Nimbus

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TRAK
Why I love it

The 4-piece Quadra is a fantastic travel-ready collaboration between TRAK Kayaks and Nimbus Paddles, two great West Coast paddlesports manufacturers. Nimbus has been building paddles in British Columbia since 1973, and their long history of expertise shines through with the Quadra. The mid-sized blades are great for all-around use and allow you to mix it up between high and low angle strokes. Full fiberglass construction is durable and reasonably light, and tried and true push-button ferrules allow the paddle to pack down small in four pieces—ideal for pairing a TRAK folding kayak and touring the world.

Bottom Line

An outstanding price for a travel-ready paddle from a legendary West Coast manufacturer.

Kayak paddle buying advice

A paddle is a big investment, both in terms of cost, performance and the overall enjoyment you get out of time on the water. Try before you buy is familiar boat-buying advice, and it’s just as relevant when it comes to choosing a kayak paddle. Visit your local paddling shop, talk to outfitters and guides, and get out on the water with friends to test paddle as many styles as possible before you make a purchase.

Type of paddling

Whether you’re buying a sea kayak, PFD or a paddle, it’s a good idea to ask yourself some key questions first: What kind of paddling will you do? How serious are you about the sport? How much do you have to spend? From there, make a point of trying out all the different options; you may be surprised to discover you like a low-angle touring paddle best, or perhaps you find a mid-range whitewater paddle is light enough.

Length

Also, beware of old-school methods of sizing a kayak paddle. You should select a paddle length based on your preferred style of paddling and boat. For example, freestyle whitewater kayakers often choose a shorter paddle; similarly, high-angle touring paddles are usually shorter than low-angle blades. There’s no need to use a longer, heavier paddle with a narrow sea kayak. I’m nearly 6-foot-4, my preferred touring boat measures 21 inches wide, and I use a 215-cm high-angle paddle.

Extra features

Adjustable length paddles are handy if you own several different kayaks or wish to mix up your stroke style. Try a bent shaft paddle if you have a history of carpal tunnel, wrist or elbow issues—or if you simply want to maximize the efficiency of your stroke. There’s a lot more to know about choosing the best paddle size, shape and material for your paddling goals.

Best Kayak Paddle Brands

• Werner
• Aqua Bound
• Bending Branches
• Sawyer
• Nimbus
• Gearlab Outdoors
• Galasport
• Epic
• Accent
• Wilderness Systems
• NRS
• Lettman
• Lendal

How we tested

This article was assembled through a mix of informal field testing and expert knowledge, shared from Paddling Magazine’s diverse team of editors. We drew on our personal experience testing and using a variety of whitewater, touring and kayak angling paddles, as well as our connections with guides, outfitters and paddlesports professionals. Several paddles on the list reflect our personal choices of go-to blades, selected and still cherished after years of experience.

Why trust us

I came to kayaking in the paddling industry’s halcyon days of the late 90s and early 2000s, when thousands of people were just discovering sea kayaking, dozens of new whitewater boats with much fanfare were released every year, and professional paddlers were setting new standards on big water around the world. Boats, paddles and gear have come a long way since then, and I feel fortunate to have seen (and tested) it all in my 25 years of guiding sea kayak tours on the Great Lakes and beyond, whitewater boating, and working in paddlesports media.