Gear Guide
Picking a paddle size
A starting-point guide to blade area by discipline and paddler. Best recommendations are always made in person, 1 on 1 – and Ben can help any Strong Paddler member dial in their size.
Read this first
No, I don’t recommend 800cm2 for marathon – been there, done that. The table below is a list of recommendations to help you choose which size is best for you.
The best recommendations are made in person, 1 on 1. I can help any member who signs onto the Strong Paddler membership.
Paddle size
Recommended usage
800cm2+
Team boats, heavy strong men.
800cm2
Sprint K1, and team boats shorter events, men.
780cm2
Sprint K1 1000, stronger men.
760cm2
Sprint K1 smaller men, women sprint 200 and 500, marathon K1 men large.
740cm2
Large ocean ski men, sprint women 1000-200 depending on size, marathon K1 women large.
735cm2
Similar to above but slightly smaller. I have been using this size in ocean ski racing and would also use it in marathon K1, just a longer paddle.
720cm2
Ocean ski men, multisport endurance 2hrs ish. Smaller sprint blade for women and marathon. SLS men ski.
705cm2
Ocean ski men, SLS iron men, SLS ski women. Larger endurance paddle men / multisport.Ben: I’ve been finding this size good in ocean ski racing.
700cm2
Ocean ski men, SLS iron men, SLS ski women, ocean ski women large. Larger endurance paddle men / multisport.Ben: I used a Flow MS2 in the C2C down river racing.
680cm2
Ocean ski women (some guys paddle this size at the elite level too), SLS iron women, multisport men / 3hr-plus events.
670cm2
Similar to above.
660cm
Smaller people, or super multiday events.
< 660
u15 child sizes / smaller people.
Note: all manufacturers may have different ways of measuring CM2, so comparing between makes may be slightly off. Want a recommendation dialled in to you? Join the Strong Paddler membership →