Paddle Sizing

The correct size for spoon blade paddles is getting easier  I’ve seen many explanations and none make a lot of sense with what we ship.  An estimated 90% of the 240 cm paddles go to the Northwest, the exceptions being for the larger folding boats.  By far the most popular size for both men and women in 220cm.  Ken Fink from Maine can give a dissertation  demonstrating that 220cm is the optimum length for anyone.  Ken promotes using a close to vertical touring stroke that is very efficient and lets one cover distance quickly.  In this case the shorter paddle is much better.

Our general conclusion for average size people and up a 220 seems to be the best length, If you paddle a large western double than a 240 might be appropriate.  For the smaller folks a 220cm to225cm is quite adequate, we make them about any length.  We have ranged from 214cm to 260m.  We have observed over the past 4 years that paddles are getting shorter, our percentage of 240cm paddles has dropped from about 40% to 10%, the 230cm has gone from 50% to 80% while the numbers in the 220cm range has not significantly changed.

Oh, and for you canoers using double blades, if you have a skinny boat I would go for a 240cm and for a more traditional 34” to 36” beam boat  a longer paddle of 245cm to 250cm. 

Our longest one piece paddle is 240cm due to space limitations in the shop..