BLADE DESIGNS
Blade Dihedral
In 1976 Werner Sr. created an new blade design with the objective to of eliminating fatigue caused by blades fluttering when stroked. This latest paddle design had complex 3 dimensional shape on the power face known as dihedral. This dihedral shape was created to direct water to flow evenly off each side of the blade creating a smooth and stable stroke with limited flutter. Without a dihedral, water builds up on the power face. This water gets “confused” and in order to expel this build up, the blade will flutter back and forth. This reduces the gripping effort needed to overcome the flutter and allows you to use a loose grip style of paddling, reducing fatigue, and increasing your enjoyment on the water.
Dynel Edge
To protect the specialized designs of Ultimate blades, Dynel brings an extremely abrasion and impact resistant edge. Proven on the water since 2002, this material gives confidence to paddlers buying paddles with ultimate performance. Available on our Ultimate paddles, this composite rope material disperses impact to protect the blade during a hard impact. It also greatly slows the wear process with its abrasion resistant properties. Key to protecting your investment if you come in contact with rocks or reef often in your paddling.
Asymmetrical Blade Shape
Asymmetrical kayak blades are designed to balance the amount of pressure loaded onto the blade face as the paddle enters and exits the water, reducing torque on the blade. When the blade loads evenly, forces are equalized, torque is minimized and your paddle will pull smoothly through the water. This reduces the need to over-grip your paddle which will allow you to have less stress on your body and enjoy paddling longer. This design feature was innovated by Werner Sr. and is a key element in our core design philosophy of a smooth and stable stroke.
Ultimate - Carbon Fiber Dynel Reinforced
The full carbon materials of our Ultimate performance line makes these paddles your lightest option. Carbon encasing our proprietary foam core gives the blade volume and internal strength, allow for spineless back face. To assure confidence in the sometimes rigorous environment paddlers face, we mold in a Dynel edge guard. A roping material, dynel is impact and abrasion resistant.
Ultimate - Carbon Fiber
The carbon materials along with our proprietary foam core, make this this our lightest option in our Ultimate performance line. The proprietary foam core gives the blade volume, Buoyance, and internal strength while allowing for a smooth back face.
Premium - Carbon Fiber
When every ounce counts, look to our Premium Carbon blades. As a stiffer material, you can use less carbon to achieve the same strength as fiberglass, allowing for a lighter weight.. All carbon materials with a foam reinforcement stick to provide rigidity.
Premium - Fiberglass
Originally developed in the 70's and perfected for decades. Our Premium fiberglass blades in HD Graphics or Translucent colors look unlike any other. A true work of art, the perfection in hand craftsmanship can be seen by holding the blades up to the light. These full fiberglass blades provide light swing weight and stiffness for our mid-price point. A foam reinforcement stick provides rigidity.
Standard - Carbon Reinforced - Injection Molded Nylon
Our injection molded carbon reinforced nylon blades are impact and wear resistant, lighter weight and stiffer than their fiberglass counterpart, and utilizes recycled Carbon. This material allows us to mold the design elements direct from our Premium line but a lower price point.
Standard - Fiberglass Reinforced - Injection Molded Nylon
Injection molded fiberglass reinforced nylon blades are impact and wear resistant. This combination of materials allows us to mold the design elements direct from our Premium line but a lower price point. The fiberglass material allows a level of stiffness and light swing weight that is tops in its price category.
BLADE SHAPE
High Angle
Holding the shaft in a more vertical position keeps the blade closer to the boat and in turn allows for better tracking. This is more efficient as the boat travels along the same straight line that the blade follows through the water. Due to the higher hand position, this style does wear on the smaller support muscles when proper technique is not used. Our high angle blades are designed shorter and wider, to match this steeper entry angle to the water with the perfect use of the blades surface area. High Angle designs work best when used with shorter paddle lengths of 205cm - 215cm. The combination of shorter paddle length and a shorter wide blade allows the right amount of balanced blade area to enter the water sooner, supporting a faster cadence, without having to over extend the upper arm. Our high angle designs HAVE a slight dihedral for smooth vertical maneuvering strokes. Note we also flatten the back face spine to aid in these strokes.
Low Angle
Our Low Angle designs have longer and narrower blades designed match this lower entry angle to the water with the perfect use of the blades surface area. The true benefit to low-angle is for those less likely to work on perfecting their forward stroke skills, and want to take the sport at a more casual level. The lower hand position and horizontal shaft angle of this style puts significantly less wear on the smaller support muscles like shoulders, traps, biceps and triceps. Good technique can be developed and used with a low angle style and is the choice for many who prefer a more relaxed paddling stroke. Our low angle designs have substantially more dihedral, to keep the blade stable as it travels further from the side of the boat.
SHAFT FEATURES
Adjustable Touring Shafts
Our adjustable Touring paddles offer a solid feel that provides easy on-the-go length adjustments. This paddle is great choice for sharing between people or when switching between boats that require different lengths for an ultimate fit. Our adjustable paddles are available in three length ranges; 200-220cm (high angle blades only), 220-240cm, and 240-260cm. These shafts are also available in both standard and small fit shafts.
Carbon Fiber - Straight
At our highest level of straight shaft, we use 100% carbon materials. Our design team has ensured that this super light weight material is constructed to be strong, and with comfortable flex. Our craftsman hand assemble each to the level of excellence our customers have come to expect.
Premium Carbon Fiber - Straight
Designed and handcrafted with a significantly higher percentage of carbon materials than fiberglass keeps the paddle light weight and strong. The fiberglass mixture makes for a unique textured grip, higher impact resistance, and an optimal amount of flex.
Wrapped Fiberglass - Straight
Carefully sourcing the right materials and components is a key element of bringing UPP to our Standard performance paddles. Our comfortable wrapped fiberglass shaft keeps overall paddle weight down. "Wrapped" refers to the process in how these shafts are made, different from our upper end shafts but still meeting our expectations for strength and appropriate flex. We are able to bring these paddle options to you at a more modest price.
Touring Shafts
With utmost attention to detail, design and craftsmanship, our shafts are all handmade at our production facility in Monroe, WA, USA. For each model, we are able to optimize the shaft construction by placing our choice of fiberglass and carbon materials exactly where they are needed. This assures the perfect combination of light weight, flex and the strength that Werner Paddles has earned its reputation of reliability for. Whether our straight shaft, or neutral bent, our shafts have a unique feel. Notice the texture, the indexing. Designed to give you more comfort and control and to be able to feel the precision of every one of your strokes.
Smart-View™ Adjustable Ferrule System
Our patented (US patent #6881111) Smart-View™ Adjustable Ferrule System is the most advanced ferrule system in touring paddles. Without the need for tools, the simple system gives a solid one piece feel in your hands from the first day and throughout the life of the paddle. With no external levers to break, collars to contend with or external parts that could break after repeated use or snag on gear. By pushing one simple button, adjust to your desired feather angle in 15 degree increments or break the paddle down for easy travel. Smart View is standard on all our Touring models (except for our value oriented Baja and Sprite).
4-Piece Breakdown Touring
Our Touring kayak paddles are available in the 4pc option (excluding the Ovation, Baja and Sprite). Breakdowns will easily stow in travel bags for inflatable kayaks, back packs for pack rafters or your gear bag for airline travel. Never let space limitations force you to leave Ultimate Paddle Performance behind again. These are only available in our standard diameter shafts.
Straight Shaft
If one can commit to a good loose grip style of paddling, our straight shaft option is solid choice. For the entry level paddler, it allows the ability to save and invest in lighter swing weight because straight shaft is less expensive. For others they simply like the traditional, simple feel of a straight shaft. Our attention to detail in texture, indexing and flex allows for confident control and comfort all day long.
Neutral Bent Shaft
Proper ergonomic hand, wrist, and forearm position alleviates stress and strain and the potential for injury. A loose grip also promotes better overall technique and can keep you on the water for much longer. Using an ergonomic, loose grip is especially important for those with pre-existing injuries. Taking design a step further, we innovated "Neutral Bent." We achieve this by lining up all parts of the paddle in one straight line while allowing your wrists to not be cocked at uncomfortable angles. This makes finesse strokes and rolling much easier and allowing for a seamless transition for those switching from straight to bent. Further attention to detail went into our indexing which is molded into the shaft. We tested to best fit hands with a closed grip and have found that a teardrop shape fits much better than the traditional oval. Bent shafts are slightly higher in weight and cost, but the trade off is the confidence in knowing you are protecting your body for the longevity of your paddling.
Standard and Small Diameter Shaft
Choosing the proper shaft size (diameter of the shaft) for your hands assures a more comfortable experience on the water. You'll maintain a lighter grip for better technique, allowing better control and reduced fatigue. Measure your hand size by placing a ruler at the base of your hand (at the joint of your wrist) and measuring to the tip of your middle finger. If you measure smaller than 6.5" we suggest small shaft. Longer, go to our standard shaft. If you are on the line, we suggest you try both at an authorized Werner dealer and see for yourself. Paddlers with shorter, thicker fingers also gravitate to small shaft.
