Black Project - SUP Paddles Which Maximize Performance and Protect Your Body
The combination of Advanced Flow Technology (AFT) and Power Scoop Technology (PST) results in significantly less paddler fatigue – enabling you to paddle longer, faster and more often than ever before.
BLACK PROJECT PADDLES
LIGHTER
FASTER
STRONGER
Hydro SynergyX

PADDLES WHICH MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE AND PROTECT YOUR BODY

PADDLES WHICH MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE AND PROTECT YOUR BODY

Too many people are still using outdated SUP paddles that aren’t suited to their unique needs on the water. Since 2011, we’ve made it our mission to ensure standup paddlers of all abilities and budgets have access to premium paddles that both perform and protect.

Black Project paddles are lighter, stronger and more efficient. Carefully designed to deliver a smoother and more powerful stroke, paddlers will benefit from significantly improved performance, reduced fatigue, and better protection against injuries. This rare combination is the result of our cutting-edge R&D process that includes computational modeling, prototyping, and hours of testing and debriefing with our roster of professional paddlers.

We offer six unique models, each with multiple sizes and options. No matter if you’re a racer, a surfer, foiler, or a first-time paddler—we’ve developed a SUP paddle to enhance your on-water experience.

Let’s get started.

Chris Freeman Founder of Black Project SUP, non-official web signature

Chris Freeman | Founder, Black Project

Why Black project?

Too many people are still using outdated SUP paddles that aren’t suited to their unique needs on the water. Since 2011, we’ve made it our mission to ensure standup paddlers of all abilities and budgets have access to premium paddles that both perform and protect.

Black Project paddles are lighter, stronger and more efficient. Carefully designed to deliver a smoother and more powerful stroke, paddlers will benefit from significantly improved performance, reduced fatigue, and better protection against injuries. This rare combination is the result of our cutting-edge R&D process that includes computational modeling, prototyping, and hours of testing and debriefing with our roster of professional paddlers.

We offer six unique models, each with multiple sizes and options. No matter if you’re a racer, a surfer, foiler, or a first-time paddler—we’ve developed a SUP paddle to enhance your on-water experience.

Let’s get started.

Chris Freeman Founder of Black Project SUP, non-official web signature

Chris Freeman | Founder, Black Project

Hydro SynergyX

Our most advanced SUP racing paddle for middle and long-distance racing.

Hydro SprintX

Our fastest SUP racing paddle for short distance, technical, and sprint 200m racing.

Hydro TempoX

The best SUP touring and fitness paddle for medium and long-distance.

Surge

The lightweight, strong, and agile paddle built specifically for SUP surfing.

FoilX

The SUP paddle for maximum power, speed, and strength for SUP foiling downwind and surfing.

Lava

The most versatile SUP paddle for recreational paddling, surfing, and fitness.

5-STEP GUIDE TO CHOOSING YOUR NEW SUP PADDLE.

Even the best SUP paddle isn’t ideal for all occasions. Paddlers need to consider a range of factors to determine the best paddle for them. This five-step guide explains the science of how paddles work so you can confidently choose the right paddle for your needs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We have collated some of the most frequently asked questions about paddles. If your question is not covered, on this page, in the 5-step guide or in these FAQs, you are encouraged to reach out to us for a personal consultation or support.

Thanks to our innovative designs, quality manufacturing and attention to detail, our paddles have a very low failure rate. For your peace of mine, we have a standard 1-year warranty to cover faulty manufacturing. Thanks to hot glue assembly it is possible to replace any damaged parts. If you feel that you have an issue which you feel should be covered, please contact us for support.
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your new paddle. If something goes wrong, we are here to help resolve any issues in a fast and effective manner. Please contact us for support.

We ship from our Maui workshop via FedEx 2-Day shipping to all 50 states, we do not charge for this service. We also offer low shipping rates worldwide via FedEx International Economy.

For maximum paddling enjoyment and performance, it is extremely important to choose the right paddle for your needs. At Black Project we pride ourselves in providing first class support and offer you a 1:1 paddle consultation via email, text, phone, or in person at our Maui workshop.

Yes, if your local SUP store is an official Black Project retail partner they will be able to arrange your new paddle. If they are not currently one of our retailers you can either buy online or ask them to get in contact with us. Refer to our Dealer Locator Map to find your closest store.

Paddle length paddle depends on your height, the type of standup paddling you are doing and the board you use. The correct length will protect your body against injury and maximize your performance. For recreational paddling and inflatables your paddle will be longer while for SUP surfing paddlers use shorter paddles. Use our paddle length guide to determine the correct length. Refer to the paddle specific guides on each product page.

Yes, our 1-piece paddles are assembled with hot glue. You can heat up the shaft just below the handle to remove it, and then shorten the shaft. We have a number of guides on our YouTube channel which explain the process. Be sure to use quality extra-strength, high temp, hot glue and not hobby grade glue. This is particularly useful if you move to different board or change focus.

We offer paddles for all types of standup paddling, racing, touring, foiling, surfing, and all-round recreation. Finding the right paddle which best fits your needs in terms of performance, price and preference is extremely important. Check out our guide to determine which paddle is best for you.
Blade size depends on paddler weight, height, the type of standup paddling you are doing and any prior medical issues. Bigger blades offer more power and are suited to heavier paddlers while smaller paddler will want to select a much smaller blade size. Many paddlers are using the wrong size blade and that is reducing their enjoyment of the sport. Use our blade size guide to determine the correct size for you.
All Black Project paddles have carbon reinforced edges and can withstand a good amount of abuse. The use of protective tape is not needed for general consumer use.

When ordering via our website all paddles except the Lava Adjustable, are supplied complete with our Paddle Bag, bags can also be purchased separately. It is not a free bag and many US and international retailers do sell our paddles without a bag at an adjusted price. We strongly recommend that you protect your investment with a quality padded bag, ideally a Black Project one.

Paddles are very expensive to design, produce and ship, hence the price which you pay for your Black Project paddle is extremely reasonable. We have cut out a number of business layers and work directly with customers and smaller independent retailers to ensure that markups are reasonable. If we operated a more traditional business structure paddles would be 50-100% more expensive. Standup paddling is a small sport so it is hard to produce enough units to benefit from mass production and gain significant economies of scale.
Yes, our componentized paddle system enables you to swap or replace parts. If you decide that you want to change blade, shaft, or handle, due to preferences or damage, thanks to our hot glue assembly, this is possible and saves you needing to buy a completely new paddle. This is especially important for SUP foiling.

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