Whether you’re already an experienced paddler or you’re brand new to watersports, ensuring you have the right canoe paddle is crucial to your efficiency, progress and overall enjoyment when you’re out on the water.  In need of a replacement canoe paddle or looking for your very first? Here at NorthShore Watersports, we’ve created a simple guide to choosing your canoe paddles, including how to find the right canoe paddle length, materials and shape for all canoeing ventures.

Canoe Paddle Sizing

When it comes to canoe paddle sizing, the length of your canoe oars is one of the most important elements to get right. Generally speaking, most paddlers hold their oar with their top hand about nose height and the other so the throat (the point where the shaft meets the blade) is on the waterline. With this in mind, there are a couple of ways you can work out the right canoe paddle length for you:

With a canoe paddle

If you can get down to a watersports store to try canoe paddles out in person, you can easily gauge the length you’ll need. Start by either sitting in a boat or crouching approximately six inches off the floor. Then, take your paddle and hold it upside down so the grip touches the floor. If the throat of the canoe paddle meets the same approximate height as your nose, you’ll know it’s a good fit for your height. We welcome everyone down to our Tees Barrage store for in-store advice and help with choosing!

Without a canoe paddle

If you can’t make it down to store and want to work out your measurements at home, there’s another method you can try. Again, crouch approximately 6 inches from the ground in order to factor in the height of the boat. Then, take a tape measure and measure the length from your nose to the ground. This will give you the length of the shaft you’ll require, which you’ll then need to add to the length of the canoe blade. Most standard blades are 20 inches, however, it’s important to check with each model you consider. Remember, as bent shaft canoe paddles are generally four inches shorter than standard paddles, you’ll need to deduct this from your measurements if you opt for one. 

Canoe Paddle Dimensions

There are generally two types of shaft you can choose from when it comes to canoe oars; bent shafts and standard straight shafts. Each has its own benefits to consider:

Straight Shafts 

The most traditional and commonly-used of canoe paddles, straight shafts are favoured by many paddlers due to their versatility, easy control and ability to comply with a variety of manoeuvres and strokes. Because of this, straight shafts are considered the best canoe paddles for whitewater canoeing, for touring lakes and river runs. 

Bent Shafts

If it’s speed and efficiency you’re looking for, bent shaft canoe paddles could be the right choice for you. Due to their design, bent shaft canoe paddles provide powerful strokes and enable the blade to move in and out of the water easily. While they don’t offer as much steering control and precision as straight shafts, it’s for these reasons that bent shaft canoe paddles are popular with racers and are often considered the best canoe paddles for long-distance paddlers.

Ovalised vs Round Shafts

Another thing to consider when thinking about canoe paddle dimensions is whether you want to opt for a round or oval-shaped shaft. In general, ovalised shafts are considered more comfortable and easier to hold than traditional round shafts, resulting in less arm fatigue. 

Canoe Paddle Grip

There are two main grip types to choose between: the palm grip and T-grip. Both have different benefits that suit personal preference and canoeing activity.

Palm Grip

Shafts with a palm grip (the most common grip) are generally favoured by flatwater paddlers, as the shape fits smoothly into the hand and enables heightened control and comfort on long distances.

T-Grip

Shafts with a T-grip enable a more secure grip and excellent control, as they allow paddlers to wrap their fingers firmly around the handle. For this reason, the T-grip is, therefore, more favoured by whitewater paddlers.

Canoe Blade Shape

Alongside canoe paddle sizing and shaft type, another important canoe paddle dimension to consider is the blade shape you’ll need to best suit your canoeing activity. Standard canoe oars are 8 x 20 inches and this will do you just fine in many circumstances. However, if you want to get precise, stick to this general guide:

Cruising lakes and calm waters: Opt for long, thin blades.

White water, rivers and shallow depths: Opt for short, wider blades.

Canoe Paddle Material

One last crucial thing to consider when choosing canoe oars is the material of your both the blade and shaft. We’ve listed the most common types and their pros and cons:

Wooden Paddles

Wooden paddles are durable, warm to the touch and have a natural flex to them, as well as being aesthetically pleasing. While they’re strong and sturdy, wooden paddles can also be made to be lightweight, depending on the wood and grain structure. Nowadays, wooden paddles are often made of laminate, which provides the benefit of mixing hard and soft woods and many have a layer of fibreglass and tip guard for added strength and durability. 

Fibreglass and Carbon Canoe Paddles

Incredibly lightweight yet durable and maintenance-free, canoe oars made from fibreglass or carbon are excellent for reducing arm fatigue and prolonging your time spent in the water. For these reasons, carbon and fibreglass canoe paddles tend to be more expensive than other materials.

Aluminium and Plastic Canoe Paddles

While durable and sturdy, aluminium or plastic canoe oars don’t offer as much flex or responsiveness as their counterparts and so aren’t as comfortable to use for long periods of time in the water. For this reason, they’re more affordable and are best used for beginners and for keeping as a spare. 

Ready to buy your canoe paddle? Discover our full range of open canoe paddles and open canoes here at NorthShore Watersport from a wide range of the industry’s leading brands.