How to Choose and Customize Your SUP Paddle

HOW TO CHOOSE THE
RIGHT SUP PADDLE

5-STEP GUIDE TO CHOOSING & CUSTOMIZING YOUR NEW SUP PADDLE

Even the best standup paddle on earth isn’t ideal for all SUP disciplines, and even the best standup paddlers need to factor in size and skill-level to determine which paddle works best for them. Because different paddle types perform better in certain conditions, often paddlers need a few different paddles—various blade types, grips and lengths—to perform at their peak in various conditions and disciplines. All considered it’s a lot to process when purchasing a new paddle. Our five-step guide will help you pick the right paddle and customize it to suit your needs.

STEP #1
WHAT TYPE OF PADDLE DO I NEED?

A guide to picking the right paddle for you based on paddling experience, budget and a wide range of variables.
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STEP #2
WHAT BLADE SIZE DO I NEED?

How to choose a blade-size based on paddler weight, style of paddling and a range of other considerations.
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STEP #3
WHICH SHAFT IS BEST FOR ME?

A breakdown of the many options involved in selecting a paddle shaft—fixed-length, adjustable, three-piece, carbon content, flex and diameter—and which will perform best for you.
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STEP #4
WHICH HANDLE DO I NEED?

Here we analyze different grip options to optimize your main point of connection to your paddle—the handle.
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STEP #5
HOW LONG SHOULD MY PADDLE BE?

Defining the best length for your paddle based on body type, board, discipline and aspirations.
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GET HELP CHOOSING A SUP PADDLE

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Arthur Arutkin and Seychelle Webster standup paddling with Black Project Hydro FlowX SUP paddles

Hydro FlowX Named “Best Paddle Money Can Buy” in SUPboarder’s Paddle Test

October 11, 2022

The accolades keep rolling in for our flagship Hydro FlowX SUP Paddle. It was recently named the winner of SUPboarder’s 2022 Race/Touring SUP Paddle Test. Expert paddlers from SUPboarder recently tested 16 different paddles from a range of SUP brands, but it was the Hydro FlowX that ultimately claimed the coveted title of, “Best Paddle Money Can Buy” with a test score of 33.3/40. WATCH FULL REVIEW ON SUPBOARDER PRO “THE BEST PADDLE MONEY CAN BUY” Featuring a revolutionary blade design that includes our proprietary Advanced Flow Technology and Deep Power Scoop, this test-winning and World Record-breaking paddle redefines what a paddle stroke feels like. The Hydro FlowX offers paddlers a fluid stroke movement which reduces energy usage while increasing forward thrust—ideal for training, racing or cruising. The premium finish and peak performance of the Hydro FlowX was evident to the team at SUPboarder. Their team of six experienced testers all loved

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Meet the Lava: The Ultimate All-Around Carbon SUP Paddle

June 19, 2022

Standup paddling isn’t just a single sport, but rather many different watersports wrapped up into one incredible community. Paddlers may come from different backgrounds, but ultimately discover that SUP’s appeal comes from its diversity of opportunities. Just consider that an avid standup paddler could embark on a surf trip to Costa Rica; an epic freshwater expedition in the Great Lakes; a ripping downwinder off the coast of Maui; a high-adrenaline whitewater river run in Oregon; a thrilling race at the legendary Carolina Cup—the aquatic possibilities are near limitless, just add water. While its always best to have multiple SUP paddles in your quiver (a Hydro FlowX for racing, a Surge for surfing, etc.) we understand that many folks are looking for an all-around carbon paddle that works well in any SUP discipline.  Versatile, strong and lightweight, the Lava is your best bet if you want one paddle to do it all. 

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Meet the Ohana: A Family-Friendly SUP Paddle

June 7, 2022

Making lifelong memories with loved ones is a gift—epic experiences that are talked about for years, if not decades.  Standup paddling together as a family is that type of experience. To ensure you maximize your family’s time and fun-factor on the water, you want a paddle that is adjustable, lightweight, and very forgiving.  Designed to maximize family fun while minimizing cost, the Ohana is the ultimate family-friendly SUP paddle. Lightweight and durable, it represents a big performance upgrade over other entry-level paddles on the market. This 60% carbon paddle shares much of the same DNA as our premier race and surf paddles, but features a more forgiving blade design and paddle construction that is better suited for recreational paddlers. 5-Step Guide to Choosing a SUP PaddleLearn More About SUP PaddlesShop Paddles  BUY NOW LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OHANA Most people’s first SUP experience comes on an inflatable paddleboard with a heavy

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Quick Guide: Hydro FlowX vs. Hydro TempoX vs. Hydro SprintX

April 29, 2022

One of the most important decisions you’ll make as a standup paddler is deciding which paddle is right for you. While you don’t need to limit yourself to one paddle, you’ll still want to choose the best paddle to help you achieve a particular goal or experience. Our trio of high-performance SUP racing, touring and training paddles features the most innovative blade designs and top performance in the sport. While the Hydro FlowX was our original game-changing SUP race paddle, we’ve expanded the collection to include our lightning-fast Hydro SprintX for sprinting and our hyper-smooth Hydro TempoX for recreational flat-water paddlers. The question is: Which Hydro is best for you? To make the best decision, you’ll need to consider a few factors including skill level, paddling goals, injury history, budget, and paddling discipline—racing, sprinting, touring, etc. This quick guide to race and touring paddles is intended to help you make the

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“Changed the Game” | What Customers Say About Our Surge SUP Surf Paddle

April 21, 2022

If you want to surf longer, catch more waves, and experience less fatigue with fewer injuries—a high-performance SUP surfing paddle is the best investment you can make. In fact, we’d argue that using a premium surf paddle is even more important than the SUP surfboard beneath your feet. That may sound like hyperbole, but it’s actually based on real-world feedback we’ve received from current Surge owners—many of whom have used our paddle to transform their SUP surfing experience. Lightweight and durable, the Surge combines exceptional power, blade stability and dynamic flex. The deep scooped dihedral blade shaping holds water securely through the power phase, while the TEXCARBON shaft provides unrivaled durability and flex for maximum performance. The smaller blade and increased flex is also easier on the body, allowing paddlers to surf longer, harder, and pain-free. To help you better understand how these innovative features translate into performance in the

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