For kayakers, a good kayak paddle that fits your preferences is precious as gold. Whether you're a low-angle paddler or high-angle paddler, you can find a decent kayak paddle fitting your style under $100.
Here are the best kayak paddles under $100 (May 2024 Update):
- Best Overall: Best Marine Kayak Paddle
- Best for Wide Kayaks: Poseidon Angler Fishing Lightweight Kayak Paddle
- Variety of Choices: Leader Accessories Kayak Paddle
- Great Budget Choice: SeaSense X-TREME 1 KAYAK PADDLE BLACK
- Best for Touring: Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle
- Best for Casual Kayaking: BENDING BRANCHES Whisper Kayak Paddle
| 6 Best Kayak Paddles Under $100 | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Best Marine Kayak Paddle | |
Best for Wide Kayaks | Poseidon Angler Fishing Lightweight Kayak Paddle | |
Variety of Choices | Leader Accessories Kayak Paddle | |
Great Budget Choice | SeaSense X-TREME 1 KAYAK PADDLE BLACK | |
Best for Touring | Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle | |
Best for Casual Kayaking | BENDING BRANCHES Whisper Kayak Paddle | |
Best Overall: Best Marine Kayak Paddle
Carbon fiber shaft: lightweight, strong, durable
Ideal length for most kayakers
Can be separated into two pieces
Two drip rings & a 5 foot leash
Affordable
Nothing to complain
Best Marine Kayak Paddle is really the best kayak paddle (to me). It is 92-in long, which is an ideal length for almost all kayakers - you can easily share the paddle with your friends. The shaft is made of carbon fiber, which is a strong, durable, yet lightweight material. Its lightness is a big advantage when you are on the ocean. The blades are made of reinforced fiberglass for extra sturdy and durable.
I have to say that Best Marine Kayak Paddle has a very smart design. On each head, below the blade, there is a drip ring that prevents water from running down to the shaft and to the kayak’s deck. It also comes with a 5ft leash that lets you easily attach the paddle to the kayak. It can be separated into two pieces for easy storage and travel.
Moreover, Best Marine Kayak Paddle is pretty affordable. Nothing to complain about this paddle.
| Best Marine Kayak Paddle Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 92 inches |
Weight | 33.5 oz /2.1 lbs |
Material | Carbon Fiber (shaft) & reinforced fiberglass (blades) |
Highlight Features | Two pieces; Two drip rings; 5 foot leash |
Best Marine Kayak Paddle has a smart design, perfect for most kayakers.
Best for Wide Kayaks: Poseidon Angler Fishing Lightweight Kayak Paddle
Hook retrieval system & Tape measure
Up to 65-degree angle adjustment
Ovalized shaft for better hand position
Two drip rings
Sturdy & Durable
Not so lightweight, for wider kayakers
Poseidon Angler Kayak Paddle is specialized for fishing purposes. It has a unique design of the blades, which has a hook to retrieve the fishing line faster and more easily. The tape measure along the shaft lets you easily measure the length of your catch.
Poseidon Angler Kayak Paddle’s two pieces can be adjusted in angle, up to 60 degrees. This is a useful feature for feathering, which is a method of positioning the blades at different angles to reduce the wind resistance while paddling. The shaft is ovalized, which goes from a rounded shape to an oval shape - the changing point is where to put your hand on. It also has two rings to prevent your hand from getting wet.
The shaft is made of aluminum and the blades are made of Fiberglass Reinforced Polypropylene, so the paddle is pretty sturdy and durable. However, aluminum shaft makes the paddle heavier; plus, it is 98in long, so it is suitable for wider kayakers.
| Poseidon Angler Fishing Lightweight Kayak Paddle Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 98 inches |
Weight | 2.6 lbs /42 oz |
Material | Fiberglass Reinforced Polypropylene (Blade) & Aluminum (Shaft) |
Highlight Features | Two drip rings; 65-degree angle adjustment; Ovalized shaft; Hook retrieval & Tape measure |
Poseidon Angler Kayak Paddle is a well-designed and well-made paddle for wide kayaks.
Variety of Choices: Leader Accessories Kayak Paddle
Variety of choices
Push-button connection & 3 locking positions
Feathered blade design
Two drip rings
Does not have a sturdy feel
Leader Accessories Kayak Paddle provides you with a variety of choices - 5 options of length, 3 options of material, and 7 options of colors. This lets you choose the best paddle that meets your preference. You can choose shaft made from aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon. Aluminum is both affordable and sturdy, but quite heavy. Fiberglass is affordable and lightweight, yet not as sturdy. Carbon is lightweight and sturdy, however, more expensive.
You can easily join two pieces of the paddle by a push-button connection. There are three locking positions for you to adjust the angle between two blades, taking advantage of feathered blades. Two rings on two heads keep your hand and the kayak’s deck from getting wet. The only drawback is that the fiberglass option looks not so sturdy.
| Leader Accessories Kayak Paddle Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 84.7 inches /87 inches /89.7 inches /96 inches /84.6-88.6 inches |
Weight | |
Material | Aluminum Shaft & PP Blade /Fiberglass Shaft & PP Blade /Carbon Shaft & PC Blade |
Highlight Features | 7 colors; Push-button connection & 3 locking positions |
Leader Accessories Kayak Paddle gives you a variety of choices, for all types of preferences.
Great Budget Choice: SeaSense X-TREME 1 KAYAK PADDLE BLACK
Lightweight yet Sturdy
Rubber Grips & Two drip rings
Floats on water
Very affordable
Basic design
SeaSense X-TREME 1 is pretty affordable but does not seem to be a cheap paddle at all. Although the shaft is made of aluminum and the blades are made of molded plastic, the paddle is pretty lightweight, about 2.4 lbs. Yet it is quite sturdy and durable.
On the shaft, there are two rubber grips for more comfortable paddling. Plus, two drip rings prevent water from running down to the shaft and making your hand wet. Moreover, SeaSense X-TREME 1 floats on water so you don’t have to worry about dropping the paddle - just simply pick it up and continue to paddle.
Overall, SeaSense X-TREME 1 is pretty basic. However, at the given price, the paddle is pretty a great choice.
| SeaSense X-TREME 1 KAYAK PADDLE BLACK Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 96 inches |
Weight | 2.4 lbs |
Material | Aluminum |
Highlight Features | Rubber Grips; Two drip rings; Floats on water |
SeaSense X-TREME 1 kayak paddle is lightweight yet sturdy, a great choice for your budget.
Best for Touring: Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle
Well-balanced asymmetrical blades
Balance between stiffness and flex
Three length options
Durable
Quite heavy
Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle is made to give you the most comfortable feeling while paddling. The shaft is made of fiberglass and the blades are made of polypro. Overall, the paddle is not so lightweight; however, the way it is designed minimized the effort required for touring paddling.
The blades are well-balanced asymmetrical, which are in a slightly spooned shape, reducing torque and flutter so you’ll feel less wrist fatigue. The blades are designed to move effectively through the water. Plus, the shaft is designed to be both stiffness and flex, giving you a smooth yet powerful paddling feel.
Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle comes in 3 options of length for you to choose. It can break down into two-piece for easier storage and transport. Two drip rings water from getting down to the shaft and make the kayak’s deck get wet.
| Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 87 inches, 91 inches, 95 inches |
Weight | 2.5 lbs (87 inches) |
Material | Polypro (Blades) & Fiberglass (Shaft) |
Highlight Features | Asymmetrical blades; Balance between stiffness and flex |
Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle is designed for maximum comfort during touring.
Best for Casual Kayaking: BENDING BRANCHES Whisper Kayak Paddle
60 degree left or right feathering
2-piece shaft with a snap button
Blades with curve and asymmetrical shape
Oval grip area for confident control
Small blades
BENDING BRANCHES Whisper Kayak Paddle is a wonderful choice for casual kayaking. It has all good features for recreational paddling. The shaft is made of aluminum for stiffness and durability. It can be easily detached into two pieces, and easily attached with a snap button. You can attach them in a 0-degree or 60-degree angle left or right, giving you the advantages of feathering.
The blades with curve and asymmetrical design are great for eliminating wind resistance. Moreover, the blades are smaller, which don’t help you to paddle faster, however, reducing fatigue. Plus, the paddle features two oval grip areas for more comfortable and confident control. BENDING BRANCHES Whisper Kayak Paddle is designed for recreational purposes, not for racing or touring purposes.
| BENDING BRANCHES Whisper Kayak Paddle Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 83 inches, 87 inches, 91 inches, 94 inches |
Weight | 2.3 lbs (87 inches) |
Material | Aluminum (Shaft) & Polypropylene (Blades) |
Highlight Features | Oval grip area; Curve and asymmetrical blades; 60 degree left or right feathering |
BENDING BRANCHES Whisper Kayak Paddle is designed for effortless recreational paddling.
How To Choose The Best Kayak Paddle Under $100?
The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a kayak paddle is its length. The length of the paddle depends on your height, waist width, and several more factors. However, in general, if you are a tall person, you may want a paddle that is longer than 8 feet. If you are a short person, you may want a paddle that is shorter than 92 inches.
Weight is another important spec since you’ll want a lightweight enough paddle in order not to feel fatigued while paddling, you’ll also want a heavy enough paddle so you can feel secure while paddling. From 2.1 lbs to 2.5 lbs would be ideal.
There are several materials that are used for the shaft, including aluminum, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is the best choice since it is lightweight, sturdy, and very durable; however, a carbon fiber paddle is likely to be more expensive. Aluminum is an alternative since it is sturdy and durable, also affordable; however, it is heavier. Fiberglass is the most affordable choice, it is also lightweight, however, not as sturdy and durable as carbon fiber and aluminum.
In terms of blades, depending on your paddling style, you can choose a shorter, wider blade for high-angle paddling, or a longer, narrower for low-angle paddling. In addition, you may want to know if the blades can be positioned at different angles to reduce the wind resistance while paddling (feathering).
Which Brands Make The Best Kayak Paddle Under $100?
Best Marine and Outdoors
Best Marine and Outdoors is a brand specialized in kayak's accessories and tools. They make from anchors, bilge pumps, waterproof dry bags, water rescue throw bags, to racks, storages, and kayak covers. Kayak paddles are their main products. Their "Best Marine Kayak Paddle" is among the best kayak paddle you can find with a budget under 100. They are well-designed and well-made for great paddling experience and longevity.
Poseidon Paddle and Surf
As you can see from the name, the founders of Poseidon Paddle and Surf are fascinated by the ocean. The brand offers all kinds of surfboards and surfboard accessories, as well as paddles for kayakers. Poseidon is pretty a young brand with passion and innovative minds. One of their biggest advantages is their smart and customer-centered design. One quick example, they integrate hook retrieval system on the blade's surface and tape measure along the shaft of the paddle to provide fishers with the most convenience. When it comes to Poseidon, you can always raise your expectation.
Sea-sense
SeaSense has a long history of developing quality marine and trailer products. It was founded in 1984; with 40 years of dedication to making the highest quality products, it has become a worldwide well-known brand on kayaks and paddles. Besides, they also make products from fishers, such as rod racks and live bait aerators. SeaSense is the brand you can trust.
FAQs
What happens when you use too long of a paddle for kayak fishing?
When using a too-long paddle for kayak fishing, you have to use an extra effort, so it is likely that you’ll sooner experience wrist fatigue.
How much does a kayak paddle cost?
You could find a decent kayak paddle under $100. You don’t have to spend much on the paddle unless you’re a professional kayaker.
How do you know what size kayak to buy?
It depends on your height, your waist width, and several more factors. However, in general, if you are a tall person, you may want a paddle that is longer than 8 feet. If you are a short person, you may want a paddle that is shorter than 92 inches.
How long do kayak paddles last?
Kayak paddles are designed for lifelong use, especially those made of aluminum or carbon fiber. Usually, when a kayaker buys a new paddle, it is because he wants to replace the old one with a better paddle or because he wants to change his paddling style. Or, he made some mistakes that make the old paddle broken or lost.
Do kayaks tip easily?
It is very hard to tip a kayak over. You don’t have to worry about this unless you make a terrible mistake, such as turning your whole body to look behind you, trying to reach out and grab something on the water, and paddling into big waves.
Conclusion
You don’t have to spend much on the paddle unless you’re a professional kayaker. You could find a decent kayak paddle under $100. I hope that this review can help you choose a paddle that fits your preferences.
