Werner Nantahala - Customer Review

I have used Werner paddles for over 10 years now and they have never let me down. My Favourite canoe paddle is the Nantahala, I use it for white water and open water canoe paddling. It is really light but incredibly strong, I have bashed off many rocks and pushed myself along punting off the river bed with no problems at all.

The white blade is easy to see if you drop it in the water, as well as giving signals from a long way away. The blade is symmetrical so it pulls and cuts though the water really easy with no change in direction.

The glass shaft is very strong; I use my gunwale to guide the paddle and to pry off, the paddle handles this with no problem.

The shaft is slightly oval so it makes it easier to get a good grip when transferring the power. The shape of the blade gives instant power but with a slight flex in the shaft it’s very controllable with no flutter. I use the Nantahala for white water and open water, I find touring with it no problem due to the lightness of the paddle, and it’s also really useful if it is bit windy just to get that extra power. The T grip gives control and comfort; I glue and rivet mine into place once I have set it to the right size.

There are many different guides to sizing your paddle, but I think it is a lot to the type of paddling you do and your body size, I like a shorter paddle length which allows me to recover it quickly, but I gain power though my body and tactical paddling, if you go for a longer paddle then you gain on leverage but movement is a bit slower to recover. I am quite a stocky paddler, my height is 175cm tall and my paddle is 143cm long which is about 7cm below my chin, I generally paddle with short stokes and keep my hand about 4cm above the gunwale as a norm. The best thing to do is try different shaft lengths and see what suits, before you cut your paddle!

My best stroke for the Werner is Forwards power with a Stern Pry to get maximum power and control which in turn gets the canoe moving and gives you steerage. This is a paddle which I would highly recommend and will last a lifetime. 

£206.99
£229.99
The Nantahala offers an excellent balance of power for a smooth stroke in a light weight and durable canoe paddle. Symmetrical blade shape designed for predictable forward paddling and maneuvering strokes. Supplied Un-Cut allowing for a total maximum length of 64"
  • Premium Performance uses material choice and manufacturing skill to allow for a perfect combination of light swing weight and stiffness.
  • Fiberglass blade construction gives you a compromise between swing weight and value.
  • Optimized flex and strength with Werners bomber fiberglass shaft.
  • Oval index for added control.
  • Bright Pearl fiberglass blade.
  • Enhanced ABS T-grip is designed for maximum control and greater durability.
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