A New Era in Paddle Design and Construction
Years of material research and construction innovation have culminated in a paddle that redefines what’s possible.
- 50% lighter than foam.
- Increased responsiveness.
- Increased strength.
- Increased impact resistance.
- Used in aerospace, motorsport, and medical industries.
- T1000 Japanese made Toray carbon.
- 30% stronger than typical high-end carbon.
- 20% lighter than typical high-end carbon.
- 5x more expensive than typical high-end carbon.
Ultimate Paddle Bag
- 300 gr lighter than our regular bag.
- Reduced water absorption.
- Increased durability.
- Elevated artwork and finishing.
Ultimate Powergrip
- New construction.
- Lighter.
CNC Cut Laminates
- Precision CNC cut laminates.
- Optimized and tighter patterns for less material usage.
- Results in a stronger, lighter, and more consistent paddle.
Hand Sanded Custom Finishing
- All sanding completed by hand.
- Small batch production.
- Custom and crafted.
Race Ready Raw Finishing
- Natural carbon sanded finish.
- Less paint, pure performance.
- Raw and race ready.
CNC precision machined core
- Precision milled.
- Improves lamination.
- Increases longevity.
- Reduces weight.
The Lightest Paddle Ever Made
- New materials.
- New processes.
- All unnecessary weight removed.
- 100% focussed on performance.
- T1000+ pre-preg carbon construction: Lighter & stronger.
- Alien51 Core: 50% lighter than foam.
- Ultimate PowerGrip: 10% lighter.
- CNC precision machined core.
- CNC precision cut laminates with tighter optimized patterns.
- Hand sanded custom quality and finishing.
- New race ready raw finishing.
- Ultimate bag: 30% lighter and more water resistant.
- The lightest paddle ever made.
Why We Built the Ultimate Series
The Ultimate Series has been a long-term vision—one that could only be realized once the right materials became available. Our drive to innovate pushed us beyond what the industry considered practical, in search of lighter constructions, higher strength, and a more refined paddling experience.
With Ultimate, we’ve taken advantage of new materials and deeper construction knowledge to reset expectations of what a paddle can be. This is not incremental improvement. It’s a step forward in weight reduction, structural efficiency, and on-water feel—designed to elevate performance and amplify the connection between paddler and paddle.
As the leading innovator in paddle design and construction, we used this moment to challenge convention and move the industry forward. The Ultimate project opens the door to what we believe is possible next.
Why choose an Ultimate Series paddle?
With a typical weight saving of 50 grams (approx. 12%), Ultimate is built for paddlers who chase marginal gains and demand the most advanced design and construction available. It’s for those who want to experience what paddling feels like when weight, response, and efficiency are pushed beyond convention.
The difference is immediate: the paddle all but disappears in your hands—neutral in feel, crisp in response, moving as a natural extension of your body through the stroke. Faster blade reaction and a meaningful reduction in swing weight allow paddlers to transfer power more efficiently, sustain a higher stroke rate, and reduce fatigue as effort accumulates.
Ultimate is not about necessity—it’s about intent. A deliberate choice to pursue excellence, value precision, and extract the maximum from every stroke.
Athlete Technical Insight
A small group of athletes have been racing with Ultimate Series paddles in disguise for over a year. The reduction in weight speeds up paddle recovery, allowing the next stroke to begin milliseconds sooner. Over the course of a long race, those small gains compound—delivering more strokes and a clear performance advantage.
Athletes describe the feel as neutral and instinctive, with reduced strain and a balance that makes the paddle feel like a natural extension of the body—something they immediately notice and are reluctant to give up.
Backed by deep engineering and elevated through new artwork, finishes, and production processes, Ultimate delivers pure race-car performance beneath the surface, with a level of refinement that makes its intent unmistakable.
Alien 51 Core
At the heart of the Ultimate Series is our most advanced core material to date. Lighter, stronger, with improved impact resistance and greater durability under repeated stress, it allows us to push weight reduction and structural efficiency further than ever before.
Inspired by materials used in aerospace, motorsport, and medical applications, this core is stiffer than both our X-Flex core and traditional PVC and PU foams. That stiffness allows our CNC-cut laminates to be optimized—resulting in a more responsive, lighter paddle.
This level of performance comes at a cost—but the gains are real, measurable, and felt in every stroke.
A Note from Chris Freeman
“For the past several seasons we have been pushing the boundaries of what a paddle can be. The Ultimate Series is the result of that pursuit—combining new materials, refined construction, and countless hours of testing on the water.
Developing these paddles was not easy. It required challenging established methods, solving new engineering problems, and committing fully to the pursuit of marginal gains. But that is how progress happens.
Ultimate represents the pinnacle of what we believe is possible today, and without hesitation I can say these are the best paddles we have ever made.
When you use an Ultimate Series paddle, you’ll feel the precision, dedication, and relentless pursuit of performance that went into its creation.”
Who Is the Ultimate Series Designed For?
The Ultimate Series is designed for paddlers who seek the very best. Built in limited numbers and crafted with uncompromising attention to detail, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the cutting edge of paddle design and construction.
Created for elite racers and highly committed paddlers, it rewards those who pursue marginal gains and appreciate precision engineering, refined feel, and instant response. The result is a paddle that moves naturally with the body, unlocking a new level of connection, efficiency, and control on the water.
The Ultimate Series represents the pinnacle of what paddle design can offer today—built for those who expect exceptional performance and want to experience what comes next. For us, it opens the door to the future, unlocking new possibilities in paddle design and construction.
Follow, Share And #tag
Be sure to follow and connect using the new hashtags: #HydroSynergyX and #NexusPaddle.
Best for
Professional paddlers, Advanced paddlers, Intermediate paddlers, Middle- and long-distance paddling, Ultras & endurance events, 10–15km Euro Tour, APP & ICF racing, Touring, Fitness.
Availability
Both the Hydro SynergyX and Nexus paddles are available in the Ultimate Series construction.
Available for pre-order in our store.
Wider availability will roll out progressively online and through selected Black Project specialist retailers. Pre-orders of all sizes and options is now open.
Full availability from May but expect shortages as Ultimate Series paddles will be extremely limited in supply.
