The Explorer Series paddle creates balance among comfort, performance, weight, and durability for the best all around paddle. Your paddle is your engine while on paddleboarding. We hav packed the Explorer series with necessary features to make sure you are focused on your goals. Let's Go....Paddle!
Specs:
Weight: 21 oz. Have you ever lifted a 10 pound dumbell 400 times? We haven't either, that's why the Explorer Series comes in under two pounds as we can't imagine how excruciating a lengthy tour would be with a heavy paddle.
Adj Height: 68" - 86" tall
Paddler Height: 4'5" - 6'5" This is a range assuming about a fist width over your head. If you are 6'9" and like your paddle at head high, then this paddle still works for you. It's not an exact science. It's about you being comfortable. But unless you are a 7' center this will likely work for you just fine.
Blade Width: 8" at 85 square inch of blade. Why does this matter? The more blade you have in the water the more power it will take to get moving and stay moving. Too little blade in the water and there isn't enough power. After years of testing we ave found the optimal blade size is 85 Square inches. This allows for enough surface area to pull against the water without needing to be the Incredible Hulk to go anywhere or to paddle endlessly without even moving. It's our happy place.
Blade Angle: 10 degrees. This is the optimal angle for recreational paddling where the blade entering and exiting the water provides the least amount of drag. You probably won't notice it, but get on the wrong paddle and you will immediately feel like a fish out of water.
Shaft Composition: Carbon and Fiberglass blend. A full carbon paddle may be the way to go when racing, but for recreation paddling it's important to have the right flex in the shaft. If a paddle is too rigid all of the energy from the blade pulling against the water is transferred to your shoulders. Over a long period of time this will wear on your joint and cause fatigue and pain. For 99% of paddlers out there, we would rather not have tennis elbow setting in on a recreational paddle. Enjoy the flex.
Blade Composition: While the shaft needs to have some flex to save your joints, there is nothing worse than having a blade that allows water to slip off bending edges. We use carbon blades to make sure water dos not slip and therefore capturing all of the power in your stroke under the surface of the water.
Features
Never Slip Flip Lock: The flip lock is the most easy form of adjusting your paddle height. Simply flip the lock out to disengage the lock. Adjust your paddle to the appropriate height, and flip it closed. We always recommend tightening the screws with the clasp closed to avoid from over tightening your paddle.
Never Twist V-Groove:This was developed by lovers of fixed paddles who couldn't stand taking diggers on adjustable paddles when the inexplicably rotated 90 degrees under your power. It sounds so simple but if you haven't paddled with a Never Slip V Groove then you don't know what you are missing. It never twists...ever.
Never Dings: That really cool VAMO Green highlight on the edge of your paddle may look like a design feature but the function is much more important. It is an ABS Soft plastic edge designed to take all of the hard smacks where your paddle meets the board and transfer the impact through the softer edge and not cut into your board.
Never Slip: The shaft has a spiraled texture designed for grip tight when hands are dry or wet. It's built in so it never goes away. Next time you get a black eye from a slip fumble slick shaft you will know where to come.
Always Covered: We have a lifetime guarantee on all of our product. The term of life does not apply to the owners lifetime however. We are talking about the life of the product. Every product has a lifecycle. If you paddle every day for three years straight eventually your paddle shaft will not have the same rigidity it once had. This means it will be time to replace your paddle with a new model. If however there is a defect in the product we will replace your product free of charge.
