Paddles

1. Do you answer the call of summer by flocking to the water in kayaks, canoes, or on stand up paddle boards? If so, then you'll want to be sure that you choose the right paddle and accessories to make the most of your aquatic excursions.

2.When shopping for a paddle, think of these two principles: efficiency and movement. Blades, material, length, shaft, feathering, and weight all contribute to these primary paddle features, so it's good to know a little bit before you start shopping.

3. The length of your canoe paddle will dictate the efficiency of your experience. Sit in a chair at home and measure the distance between the chair surface and your eye level. This should give you a good idea about how long the shaft of a bent shaft paddle should be.

4. Kayak paddles and canoe paddles all have a blade size. Smaller blade sizes mean more strokes per minute and faster, more efficient movement. Larger blades mean you'll need fewer strokes per minute and get more control, but you'll go much slower.

5. For shallow water traveling, consider a shorter, flat-bottomed paddle with a resin tip. This gives you the advantage of toughness. For deeper water, try a longer, more traditional paddle to increase your control and precision through the water.

6. The less your paddle weighs, the better and more expensive it will be. Lightweight paddles allow you to enter and exit the paddle into and from the water more easily, meaning your energy is spent on moving you and your canoe or kayak rather than on lifting the paddle.

7. Canoe paddles have a variety of grip options. Grip will determine the level of direction control you have over your canoe. Choose from a top grip, which gives you more control - great for whitewater adventures - or a more standard grip, which is more comfortable and better for longer trips.

8. Kayak paddles are either feathered or non-feathered. On a feathered paddle, the right and left blades feature an angle (usually about 60 degrees), while the blades are parallel on a non-feathered paddle. The feathered paddle will have a right- or left-handed preference.