I’m no expert, just someone who loves the sport and has been regularly paddleboarding recreationally for about 4 years and thought it was finally time to upgrade from lower and mid-tier paddles to a higher end one. It was a tough decision, and I wish I could have tried my top 3 choices before buying, but now that I have this paddle I could not imagine being happier than I am now with the Hydro Tempo X 2 piece.

This thing is just a delight to the senses all around and is built with fantastic craftsmanship. It’s light, yet feels so solid in my hands. The handle is a perfect fit for an easy, firm grip. The texture on the shaft is super helpful. Not only is it a pleasant texture – it has a practical function. So many paddle shafts are finished smooth, which can make it so your hands want to slip around when wet. The texture on this shaft mitigates that problem and also makes it easier to securely grip with less exertion in general, as it provides a natural friction to keep your hand in place. The attention to detail on the paddle blade itself is also cool and fascinating. Everything from the complex geometry to the differing texture of the painted bits. I honestly don’t fully understand how all of the geometry works, but given how well this paddle functions, the creators obviously do, and every little detail has a purpose. You can just tell a lot of care was put into it, and they’re really trying to make something that’s high quality. Holding this paddle alongside a cheaper one is like the difference between holding a kitchen knife hand-forged by a blacksmith and a kitchen knife mass produced and put on a department store shelf. Sure, the cheaper one will get the job done, but the differences are night and day.

In terms of the actual performance on the water, I’d say it has taken the spot as my #1 favorite paddle overall that I’ve ever used. “Best” can be subjective and dependent on the situation so I’ll say this: the intention behind this paddle’s design is for the user to paddle at a high cadence for extended periods, and I’d say it’s able to be used in that way exceptionally well. It’s super light weight and feels like it cuts through the water easily. No fluttering! As I mentioned before, the shaft and handle feel great in my hands; better than any other paddle I’ve ever tried.
The blade size and surface area are actually smaller than the rest of my paddles and the other paddles floating around in my paddling friend group, which made me a little skeptical, but I decided to trust their sizing chart and go with the size recommended for my weight. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out how much power I could get out of it. Not as much as much larger ones specifically meant for power, but somehow it’s comparable to some others that are a bit bigger (and a bit heavier/more fatiguing ). What really shines is the way that I can get a decent amount of power with each stroke, yet it’s so light and effortless to do so. When I get into a good groove I can just keep going and going, and really pick up some speed.

Sizing information and recommendations:
I am a 5’11 male at 155 pounds, and decided to trust their sizing chart which set me at a medium blade size. I think it’s just about right for my needs. When I go out I am usually out on the water for no less than 4 hours, if not closer to 8-10. I can definitely handle a larger paddle, but it does start to get a bit fatiguing after a while and it can sometimes aggravate an old minor rotator cuff injury. With this paddle I can go out pretty much all day without wearing myself out too much or hurting myself. As I mentioned before, don’t assume that the relatively small blade size means it’s weak – it’s not crazy strong, but it does get more power per stroke than you might expect, and the intention is to be paddling at a high cadence. As far as the shaft width is concerned, I have slightly above average hand size and quite strong hands/forearms, so I went with the quest 75 with standard shaft width. It’s perfect for me and I love how thick and solid it feels in my hands, and the flex is just where I like it. However, if you have smaller hands and/or some kind of injury you may want to consider the slim shaft option, as I can totally see how the standard size could get fatiguing on your grip after a while. As for the 2 piece option, it’s a perfect balance for me, as I sometimes adjust the height a little bit depending on what I’m doing, and me and my paddling buddies like to try each others gear so it’s fun being able to give them a chance to try it at their preferred height. The 1 piece is probably a bit more solid, but the 2 piece feels just fine to me, and the adjustment mechanism is super secure. Tightening/loosening the mechanism requires a tiny hex key sort of thing, which came in the bag. I haven’t had to mess with it yet but it seems simple enough. Also… the included paddle bag is excellent quality. I’m honestly astonished that they are just including them complimentary with each paddle.

Overall… it’s great. A joy to use. I could not recommend it more if you’re looking for something to take out on your all day excursions that can keep you out there going faster for longer. It is meant for intermediate to advanced paddlers. However, I would not necessarily say that this is a super beginner unfriendly paddle and that someone newer to the sport would have a bad time with it. It doesn’t seem to crazily punish sloppy technique as far as I can tell, but to really get the most out of it you do need to be able to consistently get a clean catch at a fast, steady pace, and hold the paddle vertically and really drive it in the water. It’ll definitely help you refine your technique if that’s a goal of yours.

Happy paddling!