: Admittedly. I'm a relative newcomer to kayaking - but my present paddle, a
: Grey Owl Tempest, is wood with a moderate blade width (5.25")and ash
: laminations at the outer edges of the shaft with what appears to be a
: spruce core to keep the weight down (32-34 oz.) It has a nice flex to the
: shaft and the slightly thicker (than fiberglass) shaped blades give it a
: smooth, predictable feel.

: Jim

Your paddle sounds like one of the better ones.

But once again it is all relative to your experience, how much you paddle and are you having fun.

The only way to understand is to relate the choices to something you are familiar with. Something you do every day and something you have used for years.

What makes a good car? Are we talking SUV, sports car, pickup truck? Reliable transportation or racing? Over the years you have driven cars your made choices on what you could afford and what you liked from your experience with other cars. You liked the feel of one.

WE have the capacity to become so sensitive to the tools and tasks we do. There is an article in the latest WoodenBoat magazine by a woman on sharpening and using planes. It looks like she has been using planes ever day for a long time and her free hand sharping technique in pretty inpressive.

It's the same with paddles. I've handled paddles for over thirty years. What I like in a paddle may not be what you like.

BUT in general if I lost my paddle and went into an outfitters looking for a new one I would go for light-weight wood, ( preferably a laminated softwood core with hardwood outer for strength) solid wood shaft for flex, I like a slender shaft or loom, comfortable feel in my hands, slender blades on a native paddle for flex and on a sport paddle. Quality workmanship. Abrasion resistant tips.
Under a $1000.

All the best,
Rob