Best Kids SUP Paddle

KIDS SUP PADDLES COMPARISON

BEST KIDS SUP PADDLES REVIEWS

Honu Element Jr Adjustable

Best Top-Tier Lightweight Kids SUP Paddle

PROS: – Durable nylon blade – Easy to store and travel with – Easy to assemble or broke down – Shaft flex create smooth strokes – Reasonably priced – Lightweight

CONS: – None

Werner Kids Flash 85 Adjustable

Best Easy Adjustment Kids SUP Paddle

PROS: – Easy to use adjustment locking system – Blade shape offer gentle strokes – Blade dihedral makes it less likely to bang against the side of your paddleboard – Grow with your child – Made in the USA

CONS: – Price

Red Paddle Co Kiddy Alloy Adjustable 3-Piece

Best Reputable-Brand Kids SUP Paddle

PROS: – Shaft EVA foam cover make it grippable and comfortable to use – Durable shaft and blade – Shaft flex reduce your kid fatigue – Fits in Red Paddle Co board bag

CONS: – Can be pricey for some

Level Six Kid’s Adjustable Paddle

Best Durable Blade and Shaft

PROS: – Super light – Easier to use than an adult paddle – Durable shaft and blade

CONS: – The aluminum shaft is more likely to sink – One user mentioned that the T-handle rotates

YVLEEN Kids 3-Piece Adjustable Paddle

Best Cheap Kids Adjustable SUP Paddle

PROS: – Sturdy and well constructed – Packs down small – Fit the SUP board bags – Floats – Lightweight – Easy to assemble and disassemble – Very affordable

CONS: – Sink for a user. Attaching a swim noodle to the shaft help resolve that

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR KIDS SUP PADDLE

SUP PADDLE ANATOMY

FLOATABILITY

Because kids are more likely to accidentally drop their SUP paddle in the water, the paddle’s ability to float becomes very important in order to lower the chances of losing your kid’s paddle.

Because some kid’s paddles still sink even if the manufacturer claim being floatable, you can attach a swim noodle to the shaft to help it stays afloat for a little bit more time.

PADDLE BOARD PADDLE CORRECT LENGTH

	SUP Surfing	Flat Water	SUP Racing
Your Correct Paddle Length =	Your height + 6 to 8”	Your height + 8 to 10”	Your height + 10 to 12”

You are free to play within each added inches range till you get your paddle’s correct length.

MATERIAL

The paddle material is the first thing to consider when you are buying the best SUP paddle for your kids because it impacts hugely the paddle price, weight, and durability.

• NYLON PLASTIC:

Nylon plastic, which is used in kids’ SUP paddles blades is a durable and affordable material.

The downsides of nylon plastic are its flex and heavyweight.

Usually, Nylon plastic is paired with aluminum or alloy shafts.

• ALUMINUM:

Aluminum that has a poor flex is also heavier and not as stiff as carbon fiber.

Aluminum is a material that is used in kids’ SUP paddle shafts.

If your kid drops his aluminum SUP paddle in the water, he will lose it because it does not float.

• CARBON FIBER:

Carbon fiber SUP paddles allow your kid to spend more time on the water because it’s the lightest material.

Even though it’s a super lightweight option, it remains incredibly strong.

The only downside to this material is that it comes with a high price tag.

Some brands couples carbon fiber with fiberglass in order to make their product less pricey.

• FIBERGLASS:

Fiberglass is slightly heavier than carbon fiber but more affordable.

The fiberglass shafts flex that makes it comfortable to use is also gentle on your kid’s muscles and joints.

• WOOD:

To this day, I still did not encounter a manufacturer kids SUP paddle made of wood.

What makes some like wood SUP paddles is their stylish and beautiful look.

The downside of wood is its heavyweight, this is why some use just a thin wood slice on the outside of the paddle.

SHAFT FLEX

Having a little flex on your kid’s SUP paddle shaft is a great thing because it makes the stroke gentle for your kid’s muscles and joints.

Your kid can have minimal to no flex only if he is fit and wants a powerful stroke.

ADJUSTABLE OR FIXED LENGTH

ADJUSTABLE PADDLES	FIXED PADDLES
– Packable. – Can be shared between a group of shorter and taller kids. – Adapt to different bodies of water. – Easy to store	– Few components that can fail. – Few components make them lighter. – Offer maximum performance. – Tend to cost a little less.
– Slightly heavier with the added mechanisms. – Flex more. – Often less durable.	– Getting your exact length can be stressful.

BLADE SIZE

The blade size or the blade area is a preference that gets developed with time, but as a general guideline, the more fit you are the larger your blade can be.

RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE PADDLER WEIGHT:

	80–90 sq. in.	90–100 sq. in	100–120 sq. in.
Ideal for:	– Beginners – Unfit paddlers – Small and medium paddlers	– Medium and large paddlers – Speed – SUP racing	– Large and extra-large paddler – Strong paddlers – Large waves

LARGE PADDLE BLADES VS SMALL BLADES:

LARGE BLADES	SMALL BLADES
– Get up to speed quickly – Provide powerful strokes – Offer better control – Exhausts your body quickly – Travel slowly underwater	– Easy to pull from the water – Requires less effort to paddle – Accelerate better – Put less stress on your body – Efficient energy transfer – Require a higher cadence

BLADE SHAPE

The blade shape affects slightly its performance.

• RECTANGULAR KIDS BLADES: Ideal for kids SUP racing

The fewer surface area in rectangular blades makes the stroke gentle and easy on your kid’s muscles and joints.

• TEAR-DROP KIDS BLADES: Ideal for kids covering long distance

The large blade area results in powerful strokes.

BLADE ANGLE

Some kids’ SUP paddles come with a degree that the blade angles forward from the shaft.

The blade angle is usually between 6% and 12%.

BLADE ANGLE RECOMMENDATIONS:

	7° Blade Angle	10° Blade Angle	12° Blade Angle
Best for :	SUP surfing	All-around SUP paddling	SUP racing

ANGLED BLADES ADVANTAGES:

• Drains water from the blade when out of water for maximum efficieny.
• Getting a little bit further when puting the blade in water gives you more stroke power.
• Does not dip your SUP board nose into water when you want it to only glide.

DIHEDRAL VS FLAT

Dihedral means a spine on some paddle blades that makes water flow to both sides of the blade.

Paddles with dihedral blades are more likely to come back straight during each power stroke and less likely to hit accidentally the side of your board.

The downside of blades with dihedral is that it makes them lose some of their power and control.

GRIP DESIGN

The best kids SUP paddle grip is one that feels secure and comfortable at the same time.

The two types of paddle grips are:

• T-GRIP: This grip design is what I recommend for kids SUPers because it let them fully wrap their hands around the handle, giving them a total control with the best precision.
• PALM GRIP: This grip design is way more confortable and provide plenty of power.

Updated on December 6, 2021 by Ben