SeaSense Xtreme 1 Kayak Paddle, Black - Molded Plastic Blades, 2-Piece Aluminum Construction - Great for Recreational, Sport, Sea, Whitewater & Fishing Kayaking

I ordered 3 sets of these kayak paddles, and we just went kayaking for the first time over the Labor Day weekend, and they worked great for my 6'3 husband, my 5'5 self and our 5'7 teen daughter. Easy to assemble and adjust if you want the paddles turned a certain way. I didn't adjust anything, and it worked great for me. They are lightweight for how long they are, too! The only thing we couldn't figure out was how to adjust it from the shortest to the longest length, since the product details said it went in a range from 80" to 96". Didn't affect the usability though, and they were comfortable paddling for an hour or so. I do think I would prefer more cushion on the handles if I were going to be using for a longer period of time, but none of us got any blisters or anything. Great price and great product.

Ordered two of these for use with a Hobie Mirage Kayak (two seater). Very happy with the quality, ease of use, performance, size, and weight. Our environment contains a lot of salt water, they have withstood the salt (I do rinse them after using) so that they can be easily disassembled for storage in the dock box, then reassembled. We pedal and paddle these kayaks, so this is a review for moderate use. I'd say light, but we use them several times per week. Paddle blade shape scoops a lot of water, giving good propulsion and steering control. Pads on the pole are nice. They are probably the weakest link, meaning I would anticipate the paddles to last many, many years, but the foam will need to be replaced in a few (just a guess.) Nice, light paddles. My wife is very comfortable handling them.

I bought this 96 inch paddle last year after discovering that the paddle that came along with my 10 foot LL Bean Manatee (made by Perception and nearly identical to the Perception Prodigy) was too short. The boat is wide (29 1/2 inches) and I kept hitting the sides with the paddle. This paddle is perfect...the extra length resolved the violent tendencies of my 84 inch paddle; it's light; the price is so right; it's very sturdy; I get much more power outta this paddle. I am 115 pounds and 5 feet tall so this is not a paddle just for tall folks. It is a paddle for tall folks and for anyone of any height with a wide recreational kayak. Additionally, the grips are a huge plus for me since I have some serious hand and thumb arthritis. Highly recommended for the average kayak enthusiast. Don't waste your hard-earned cash on a pricey paddle unless you are evolving into an addict.

While there are certainly better paddles out there, this one is excellent for the money. It's relatively light (probably the lightest decent quality paddle you could get for the price), has very nice grips and includes drip guards that are as functional as any (read: not incredibly, but reasonably). This is a short paddle for those who prefer power strokes at steep angles of entry into the water. For those looking for touring paddles that you put into the water at a less steep angle (for an easier stroke that doesn't generate quite as much speed), you might consider going longer (90"+ range; kayak paddles shouldn't be based on your height so much as your paddling style). Overall, I recommend this paddle as a decent, cheap beginner's paddle; it would work well as a spare if you ever decide to upgrade.

Very good paddle for the money. I have an Intex K1 kayak that came with a crappy paddle so I decided to give this paddle a try after reading the great reviews. Without exageration I can say that I was able to go a lot faster and row a minimum of 2x as far. This is a great paddle if you plan to be out on the water for an hour or less. If you plan to be out a lot longer then that you're going to need kayaking gloves unless you dont mind getting blisters, which I found out the hard way. The only other option is to pay 2x the amount for a paddle that's gentler to the hands over an extended period of time. (My Carlisle Magic Plus paddle doesn't make me go much faster but I've been able to be out on the water for up to 3 hours at a time without getting any blisters.) For this price point though, I dont think there's a better option.

This is the BEST paddle for the price PERIOD. I bought this paddle at Dicks when I bought my first kayak years ago. I still use the same one every time and three kayaks later (extra kayaks and more expensive of course) I am buying this paddle again and recommended it to my father. He has tried other ones that were higher priced and he has come to love the SeaSense also. Some two-piece paddles have a loose fit in the center or develop a loose fit over time. The Seasense 8690 has a snug fit, and I am talking about the first one I bought, it still is snug. The handle area is padded which is great for long trips upstream. The padded area increases grip. I am 5'9" and enjoy the length because it gives me so much more stroke (this paddle also comes in an 80-some-odd-inch length: model 8680?). The length also empowers me to make more aggressive turns. This paddle is light and strong, its not carbon-fiber but its strong. The ends are plastic, the right combination of flexiblity and rigidity. The feel in the water is obviously to my liking. [....]

Nice paddle, recommended.

Very light and absolutely strong enough for me! I am about 6’3” and the 96” model fits very well. I have both a white-water kayak and a fishing kayak and this paddle was excellent for both. Nice padded grip and effective anti-drip devices. Blade shape seems very efficient and is very effective. I went from a one-piece paddle that was about $300 to this...and I can’t believe I didn’t switch sooner! Now I just keep that expensive paddle around for front-seat guests on the open kayak.