What SUP Paddle Blade Size and Type Do I Need

STEP #2:
THE CORRECT BLADE SIZE

WHAT BLADE SIZE SO I NEED FOR MY SUP PADDLE?

Finding the proper blade size is vitally important when choosing your paddle configuration. Go too small and you will lack the speed and power you need; go too big and you will damage your shoulders. Find the right balance and you will feel balanced and able to paddle for long sessions with ease day after day. Use the table below to distinguish which size you need based on your weight.

Paddler Weight (lbs)Racing (Hydro)Recreational (Lava/Ohana)Surfing – Bigger Boards (Surge)Surfing – Smaller Boards (Surge)Foiling (Surge)
99XSSmallXSXSXS
100XSSmallXSXSXS
101XSSmallXSXSXS
102XSSmallXSXSXS
103XSSmallXSXSXS
104XSSmallXSXSXS
105XSSmallXS (or S)XSXS (or S)
106XSSmallXS (or S)XSXS (or S)
107XSSmallXS (or S)XSXS (or S)
108XSSmallXS (or S)XSXS (or S)
109XSSmallXS (or S)XSXS (or S)
110XSSmallXS (or S)XS (or S)XS (or S)
111XSSmallXS (or S)XS (or S)XS (or S)
112XSSmallXS (or S)XS (or S)XS (or S)
113XSSmallXS (or S)XS (or S)XS (or S)
114XSSmallXS (or S)XS (or S)XS (or S)
115XSSmallSmall (or XS)XS (or S)Small (or XS)
116XSSmallSmall (or XS)XS (or S)Small (or XS)
117XSSmallSmall (or XS)XS (or S)Small (or XS)
118XSSmallSmall (or XS)XS (or S)Small (or XS)
119XSSmallSmall (or XS)XS (or S)Small (or XS)
120Small (or XS)SmallSmall (or XS)XS (or S)Small (or XS)
121Small (or XS)SmallSmall (or XS)Small (or XS)Small (or XS)
122Small (or XS)SmallSmall (or XS)Small (or XS)Small (or XS)
123Small (or XS)SmallSmall (or XS)Small (or XS)Small (or XS)
124Small (or XS)SmallSmall (or XS)Small (or XS)Small (or XS)
125Small (or XS)SmallSmallSmall (or XS)Small
126Small (or XS)SmallSmallSmall (or XS)Small
127Small (or XS)SmallSmallSmall (or XS)Small
128Small (or XS)SmallSmallSmall (or XS)Small
129Small (or XS)SmallSmallSmall (or XS)Small
130Small (or XS)SmallSmallSmallSmall
131Small (or XS)Small (or M)SmallSmallSmall
132Small (or XS)Small (or M)SmallSmallSmall
133SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
134SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
135SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
136SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
137SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
138SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
139SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
140SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
141SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
142SmallSmall (or M)SmallSmallSmall
143SmallSmall (or M)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
144SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
145SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
146SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
147SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
148SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
149SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
150SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
151SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
152SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
153SmallMedium (or Small)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)Medium (or S)
154Small (or M)Medium (or Small)MediumMediumMedium
155Small (or M)MediumMediumMediumMedium
156Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
157Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
158Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
159Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
160Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
161Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
162Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
163Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
164Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
165Medium (or S)MediumMediumMediumMedium
166MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
167MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
168MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
169MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
170MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
171MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
172MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
173MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
174MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
175MediumMediumMediumMediumMedium
176Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
177Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
178Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
179Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
180Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
181Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
182Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
183Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
184Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
185Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
186Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Medium (or L)
187Medium (or L)Medium (or L)Large (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
188Large (or M)Medium (or L)Large (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
189Large (or M)Medium (or L)Large (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
190Large (or M)Medium (or L)Large (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
191Large (or M)LargeLarge (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
192Large (or M)LargeLarge (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
193Large (or M)LargeLarge (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
194Large (or M)LargeLarge (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
195Large (or M)LargeLarge (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
196Large (or M)LargeLarge (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
197Large (or M)LargeLarge (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
198Large (or M)LargeLarge (or M)Large (or M)Large (or M)
199LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
200LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
201LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
202LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
203LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
204LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
205LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
206LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
207LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
208LargeLargeLargeLargeLarge
209Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
210Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
211Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
212Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
213Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
214Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
215Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
216Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
217Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
218Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
219Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
220Large (or XL)LargeLarge (or XL)Large (or XL)Large (or XL)
221XLLargeXLXLXL
222XLLargeXLXLXL
223XLLargeXLXLXL
224XLLargeXLXLXL
225XLLargeXLXLXL
226XLLargeXLXLXL
227XLLargeXLXLXL
228XLLargeXLXLXL
229XLLargeXLXLXL
230XLLargeXLXLXL
231XLLargeXLXLXL
232XLLargeXLXLXL
233XLLargeXLXLXL

PADDLER WEIGHT

It stands to reason that heavier and taller paddlers are more capable of coping with bigger blades, while smaller paddlers will conversely need smaller blades. As shown in the table, there are a number of areas of crossover, some degree of personal preference and other factors discussed below that can help you decide between two options. Many experienced paddlers have multiple blade sizes in their quiver, which they use for various situations.

BOARD SIZE & WEIGHT

The bigger and heavier your board, the larger the blade you will need to power it through the water. When paddling on a smaller SUP surfboard with too big a blade, you will notice that the board wants to pivot with every stroke. A smaller blade enables you to track better and paddle more efficiently.

TYPE OF RACING & PADDLING DISCIPLINE

For shorter distances and sprint racing, athletes tend to use a bigger blade because fatigue is less of an issue and they want to gain the most power they can while maintaining a high cadence. Over longer distances, athletes generally use a smaller blade to conserve energy while focusing on maintaining an efficient stroke technique.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR PADDLE BLADE IS TOO BIG?

If you paddle blade is too big, you may notice some or all of these symptoms:
  • Sore shoulders
  • Back pain
  • Rapid fatigue
  • Difficulty maintaining a high cadence
  • Pain/soreness after paddling and/or next day
  • Hard to paddle in straight line

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR PADDLE BLADE IS TOO SMALL?

If you paddle blade is too small, you may notice some or all of these symptoms:
  • Decreased top-speed
  • Lack of acceleration
  • Heart rate too high
  • Lack of overall stroke power

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

Step #1 – What type of paddle do I need?

Step #2 – What blade size do I need?

Step #3 – Which shaft is best for me?

Step #4 – Which handle do I need?

Step #5 – How long should my paddle be?