We tested these ten high-end paddles:
- Blackfish Andaman 3-piece.
- Black Project Hydro TempoX 3-piece.
- Fanatic Carbon 80 3-piece
- GTS Narrow Black Edition 85 Pro 3-piece.
- JP-Australia Carbon Pro 3-piece.
- Lite Venture Powertrack 3-piece.
- Makaio Carbon Pro 3-piece.
- Naish Carbon PLUS SDS 3-piece
- Red Paddle Ultimate Carbon 3-piece.
- Starboard Lima Prepreg Carbon 3-piece.
(Click to go to the individual rating)
You can find the contents in the article High-end paddles:
The test report
Double the price = double the service. This is true at the bakery when you buy bread rolls for five or ten euros. In the case of paddles, the jump from €120 to €240 even subjectively gives you more than double the performance, but after that every additional gram saved becomes more and more expensive. We have already seen this in the last issue I have at least seen some really top paddles in the 250 euro range.
The test paddles weigh between around 600 and almost 800 grams, which can make a big difference to the feel of the paddle - but is not necessarily reflected in the price.
Nevertheless, several candidates in this group manage to outdo it - but not all of them. If you are mainly looking at weight, you will find the "mid-range" test in SUP 1-2022 also very light paddles. However, there are at least six or seven models in this group that raise the level even further. With a really noticeable difference, even if the jumps are no longer quite as big. A Starboard Lima Carbon, for example, already shone in the last edition with 676 grams, for another 120 grams less the Lima Prepreg is almost twice the price. Weights with a six at the front for three-piece paddles (some are even lower) are really, really light. And all the paddles tested are stiff "enough" - even for sporty 85-kilo paddlers - and some are even mega-stiff. There are still detail improvements that make a big difference.
The new handle from Black Projekt now raises the paddle to an overall A with an asterisk. The handle no longer curves backwards and is a little similar to Starboard's much praised handle - but with a little more volume. The width is similar and helps to achieve the best control over the blade, but while Starboard almost feels like a T-handle, Black Project still gives the feeling of a "palm grip".
Red Paddle has very elegantly integrated the adjustment lever for the patented adjustment system into the handle of the top paddle, which is practically imperceptible. Unfortunately, the system does not have a guide (like the Lite Venture), which takes a few seconds to adjust on the water.
In the end, there are no "test winners" in this group, but consistently high-quality top paddles, each of which is likely to find its own target group. Among them, however, are some that - because they are particularly balanced - are likely to suit every type of rider: GTS, Makaio, Starboard and Black Project. The full-length paddles from Red, JP, Black Project, Makaio and GTS are particularly stiff. The "twins" in the group are also interesting. The Fanatic Carbon 80 has a very similar sibling, the Fanatic Carbon 35, but at a significantly lower price. The paddles from GTS and Makaio also look like at least one of the same parents in this test group. Only the slightly different carbon look makes a noticeable difference. At GTS, the very similar "Narrow 85 UD" from the last issue is slightly heavier but significantly cheaper.
We have tested blade sizes around 85 square inches, which has proven to be very versatile and very good for paddlers between 60 and 85 kilos on iSUPs of various sizes. This size already propels well when touring at a leisurely pace and can also be paddled at a very high frequency. Subjectively, the Starboard seems slightly smaller. The wafer-thin blades are very easy to guide when piercing and lifting and come out of the water as light as a feather. The Black Project offers the most even pressure build-up over the entire phase, while the Starboard needs to be guided a little more precisely when piercing. The Blackfish and the Fanatic require slightly more guidance when pulling through - but even these small perceptions are all in the absolutely good range in this field. That's the best news: you can't really "go wrong" with this group of paddles.
Trendy 3D shape or classic samurai blade
More and more frequently, elaborate, three-dimensionally designed paddle blades can be seen, as with Starboard (in the photo on the left). With such strongly curved, profiled blades, the catch is often particularly powerful and the pull phase is usually evenly powerful. However, if you turn the paddle strongly sideways when lifting out after the pull phase, you will feel a slightly higher resistance. The blades can also be built very easily thanks to their high dimensional stability. The thin blades (as on Blackfish, right) pierce like a needle and come out of the water with almost no resistance, especially when "exiting", even when turning quickly to the side. Both work perfectly.
The upper Vario clamps
With the exception of Lite Venture and Red Paddle, all vario closures have an integrated degree guide. Lite Venture shines with particularly good leverage/closing force. With Red, the clamping mechanism is integrated into the tube.
The lower plug connections
A tight-fitting hexagon with a knob is the most elegant connection. Blackfish, JP and Red Paddle use the same rather delicate clamp. Fanatic relies on a large fastener with two screws.
The handles at a glance
There are no "bad" handles in this price range. Black Project, Fanatic, Lite Venture, Red Paddle and Starboard offer particularly good control with a slightly wider grip and ergonomic shape.
More paddle tests can be found here:
The test results of the ten high-end paddles:
Blackfish Andaman 3-piece.
The paddle from the "new" Blackfish brand has an elegant look with its matt handle in visible carbon, the slightly structured, non-slip shaft and the super thin paddle blade in a high-gloss finish. It is already one of the lightest models in terms of overall weight, and the thin, light blade further enhances the nimble handling and super light feel when paddling. The "Blade" plunges razor-sharp into the water and remains very stable during the pull phase. In comparison, the pressure build-up is in the mid-range, somewhat more powerful and only slightly heavier than the Starboard. The swing weight is top class and the way the blade comes out of the water without braking and almost without resistance reinforces the agile, very light-handed feeling that the paddle conveys. The grip is very well adapted to the shape of the hand, the upper clamp is large, but without "rough edges".
PLUS: Very light, very nimble, nice grip
MINUS: none
Conclusion: particularly nimble paddle
Technical data Blackfish Andaman 3-piece.
- Price: 449,00 Euro
- Length*: 169 - 221 cm
- Tube diameter*: 28.2 mm
- Available Sizes**:520 (tested size)/580 cm²
- Weight*: 616 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- to the Blackfish website
Black Project Hydro TempoX 3-piece.
Compared to the Black Project HydroX, the Tempo has a slightly less pronounced 3D profile, making it the perfect choice for high frequencies. The blade cuts in super cleanly - both at high stroke rates and when paddling at a leisurely lazy pace, pulls particularly stably through the water and impresses with even power development from "catch" to retrieve. The lower split is elegant and barely recognisable with its hexagonal shape and the shaft is really stiff but not stubborn. The wider, new grip, which enables the control of a T-grip and is now even more comfortable on the inside of the hand, was particularly pleasing - even for smaller hands. The vario adjustment with a flattened extension tube on one side guides well. The Tempo is a special paddle with good propulsion.
PLUS: Stable pull, very light, const. pressure build-up
MINUS: none
Conclusion: Very stable and easy to paddle in every phase with a particularly even pressure build-up.
Technical data Black Project Hydro TempoX 3-piece.
- Price: 459,00 Euro
- Length*: 184 - 216 cm
- Tube diameter*: 28.8 mm
- Available Sizes**: 72.9/78.4/87.3 (tested size)/94.9 inch²
- Weight*: 623 grams
- Handle size*: M-L
- to the Black Project website
Fanatic Carbon 80 3-piece
The Fanatic paddle with 80% carbon is the highest quality 3-piece paddle in the Fanatic range, the Carbon 100 (only available as a 2-piece) is the actual top model. The Carbon 80 is a clean paddle with good propulsion and yet not too much back pressure. The Vario system works perfectly, the clamps look a little more angular than you might imagine. The lower connection is held securely with a push button and clamp. In the Fanatic range, the Carbon 35 is almost identical in terms of function and features. If you can do without the stylish carbon fibre shaft and handle, you can save 130 euros. With an additional weight of around 150 grams, the "80" is a class below the top paddles in this group in terms of swing weight. The handle is curved backwards at the rear and therefore appears more voluminous in the hand.
PLUS:Padded bag included
MINUS: none
Conclusion: A well-engineered, three-piece touring paddle in the upper middle class
Technical data Fanatic Carbon 80 3-piece.
- Price: 359,00 Euro
- Length*: 171 - 220 cm
- Tube diameter*: 29.2 mm
- Available Size**: 90 inch²
- Weight*: 790 grammes
- Handle size*: M-L
- to the Fanatic website
GTS Narrow Black Edition 85 Pro 3-piece.
In terms of features and blade shape, the GTS is an old acquaintance from the mid-range paddle test (Narrow 85 UD), here 26 grams lighter again. Otherwise, it continues to impress with its very delicate feel, the very clean penetration with the thin, slightly curved blade and the medium pressure build-up, which suits almost all paddle frequencies well. The medium-sized handle sits comfortably in the hand, the paddle looks almost dainty overall, yet stiff and solid. The very light blade ensures the most delicate swing, the blade edge is additionally reinforced with an all-round ABS edge. The paddle is supplied in a very luxurious, padded bag, the mini slotted screwdriver inside is a nice gimmick. The lower division with hexagon is hardly noticeable visually.
PLUS: Super light and stiff
MINUS: none
Conclusion: Extremely light and effortless to paddle
Technical data GTS Narrow Black Edition 85 Pro 3-piece.
- Price: 389,00 Euro
- Length*: 176 - 221 cm
- Tube diameter*: 28.9 mm
- Available Size**: 84 inch²
- Weight*: 602 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- to the Grand Tour Sports website
JP-Australia Carbon Pro 3-piece.
The JP Carbon Pro has a slightly spoon-shaped blade with a slight groove, but is predominantly very thin, which is very favourable when piercing and lifting. With this shape, it establishes itself very nicely between the wafer-thin blades and the particularly pronounced 3D shapes. The paddle swings very quickly and is very close to the very lightest in this group, even if it weighs perhaps 50 grams more on the scales. The weight distribution also seems to be well balanced. The carbon handle lies very well in the palm of the hand with only minimal curvature towards the back, which leads to good pressure distribution. It is one of the stiffest paddles and is overall a solid-looking paddle with a very light swing weight that almost equals the three lightest paddles in this group.
PLUS: Very stiff, easy to paddle, light
MINUS: none
Conclusion: Light, stiff and solid looking
Technical data JP-Australia Carbon Pro 3-piece.
- Price: 449,00 Euro
- Length*: 171 - 218 cm
- Tube diameter*: 29.2 mm
- Available Sizes**: 77/83 (tested size)/90 inch²
- Weight*: 695 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- to the JP-Australia website
Lite Venture Powertrack 3-piece.
The Powertrack in the Black Edition comes as a super elegantly finished carbon paddle with a high-gloss look. The curved paddle blade penetrates cleanly, builds up medium pressure, as expected in this blade size, and comes out of the water with almost no resistance. Thanks to the low blade weight, the paddle swings more easily than you might expect. The T-grip, also made of carbon, is very comfortable to hold, gives a lot of control and makes steering with the paddle easier. The Vario clamp is a completely unusual design with a low closing force and yet holds very securely. When dry, the paddle sits very well in the hand; when wet, the shiny shaft is slightly less grippy than the matt or textured shafts.
PLUS: Lightweight blade, good grip and clamp
MINUS: Slightly smoother when wet
Conclusion: Very elegant, slightly swinging touring paddle with a particularly comfortable T-handle
Technical data Lite Venture Powertrack 3-piece.
- Price: 329,00 Euro
- Length*: 174 - 227 cm
- Tube diameter*: 29 mm
- Available Size**: 560 cm²
- Weight*: 740 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- to the Lite Venture website
Makaio Carbon Pro 3-piece.
With the Pro model with 83 mm blade size, Makaio delivers an extremely light, agile and effortless paddling tool for the committed touring paddler. The lower plug-in connection with hexagon fits very tightly and is therefore absolutely wobble-free. The Vario tube is guided with a flattened side, also with very little noticeable lateral play. The somewhat knobbly-looking carbon handle still sits well in the hand, the paddle is one of the three lightest models when pre-swinging and is particularly convincing for paddlers who want to paddle at a slightly higher frequency. The thrust is slightly less than that of Starboard and Fanatic, for example, but this blade size is particularly suitable for a slightly faster pace and also for slightly lighter people. The shaft and blade are particularly stiff.
PLUS: Light as a feather, energy-saving, favourable
MINUS: none
Conclusion: Extremely light and very stiff paddle
Technical data Makaio Carbon Pro 3-piece.
- Price: 259,00 Euro
- Length*: 176 - 221 cm
- Tube diameter*: 28.8 mm
- Available Size**: 83 inch²
- Weight*: 580 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- to the Makaio website
Naish Carbon PLUS SDS 3-piece
Naish has by far the most grippy paddle in the test. The shaft and grip are noticeably rough-textured, which ensures the best grip both wet and dry. Perfect for sweaty conditions or in the waves, when the paddle rarely stays dry. The lower connection is very solid, the overall weight is not record-breaking - but the light, thin blade makes the paddle feel a little lighter than expected when swinging on the water. The difference in weight compared to the lightest paddles is only noticeable when the paddle is lifted up sharply. Apart from that, the blade shows its strengths when piercing but also when lifting out at the back - where it comes out of the water without resistance compared to the thicker profiled spoon paddles. Thanks to its special crescent shape, the rather small handle fits well in larger hands and, although it looks a little dainty, it is easy to control.
PLUS: Non-slip, easy and light to paddle
MINUS: none
Conclusion: Particularly grippy paddle with a light blade
Technical data Naish Carbon PLUS SDS 3-pcs.
- Price: 419,00 Euro
- Length*: 172 - 220 cm
- Tube diameter*: 29.2 mm
- Available Size**: 85 inch²
- Weight*: 743 grammes
- Handle size*: S-M
- to the Naish Surfing website
Red Paddle Ultimate Carbon 3-tlg.
The "Ultimate" really is the ultimate tool, especially for larger paddlers. The long basic length and the noticeably stiff shaft together with the non-slip "T-handle" ensure a solid professional feel. The internally clamping Vario system without an external clamp is particularly advantageous for long pull-outs. The rather thin blade cuts in very nicely and builds up a lot of pressure, which suits the overall impression. It pulls stably through the water with even force development and - due to the thin blade - comes out of the water almost without resistance after the pull phase. The paddle doesn't care about the frequency, it works equally well at all speeds. The slightly higher swing weight is of course noticeable when pre-swinging and those who attach great importance to this will find lighter paddles. However, you will find a particularly solid feeling for powerful style here.
PLUS: Very stiff, good for tall paddlers
MINUS: No vario guide
Conclusion: Powerful, particularly stiff paddle
Technical data Red Paddle Ultimate Carbon 3-piece.
- Price: 449,00 Euro
- Length*: 180 - 222 cm
- Tube diameter*: 29 mm
- Available Size**: 525 cm²
- Weight*: 750 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- to the website of Red Equipment
Starboard Lima Prepreg Carbon 3-piece.
Weighing in at 557 grams, the Lima is also one of the most agile paddles on the water. The wide but ergonomically sophisticated handle is immediately pleasing and fits perfectly in almost all hands. The grippy feel is complemented by the structured shaft, which provides the best grip in comparison, even when wet. The strongly profiled blade cuts in well with clean guidance and then generates good propulsion, but requires a little more sensitivity when lifting out due to its 3D structure. It is also one of the three lightest paddles in the pre-swing phase. Despite being specified as a size L, its surface area and propulsion are slightly below average for the group. The lower split with angled cut sits without play and the Vario clamp is ergonomically the most elegant you can currently find.
PLUSSuper light, stiff and grippy. Great grip
MINUS: Size "L" is not quite right
Conclusion: Very agile and light paddle, top features
Technical data Starboard Lima Prepreg Carbon 3-piece.
- Price: 479,00 Euro
- Length*: 162 - 218 cm
- Tube diameter*: 28.9 mm
- Available Sizes**: XS/S/M/L (tested size)/XL/XXL
- Weight*: 557 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- to the Starboard website
* = SUP magazine measurement ** = Manufacturer's specification
