We have tested these ladies' paddles (click on the model to go directly to the product test):
Of course, not all women have small hands and not every man has a glove size like Oli Kahn. Nevertheless, such assumptions are at least partially applied to women's paddles - and this is often true. We would also recommend taking a look at this special paddle selection for lighter paddlers with smaller hands, less brute pull on the paddle and ideally less than 170 centimetres tall - regardless of whether they are men, women or children.
This particularly includes the models from Black Project, Naish and Indiana. Here you get noticeably thinner shafts, smaller handles and also rather small blade sizes: Perfect for a light-handed, fast paddling style. When fully extended, these paddles lose a little more stiffness than standard paddles, but in the middle range, the Indiana and Black Project in particular are still easily on the "stiff" side. JP-Australia supplies a light, stiff standard paddle for the test, only with an adapted, smaller blade - which can also be interesting. And Fanatic and Red Paddle add two paddles that are probably intended to appeal more to women, especially in terms of colour, with the Red Paddle also being equipped with a smaller blade.
If you are over 1.70 tall and/or have an athletically trained arm stroke, you probably don't need the thinner diameters, but can also use the standard paddles. In fact, this is often a matter of taste. Due to the disproportionate increase in circumference, the difference between 26 millimetres and 29 millimetres is extremely noticeable.
Thick or thin shaft? According to extensive feedback from our testers, there is a correlation to hand size, but it remains a matter of personal preference. If you have the chance to get your hands on a paddle with a thin shaft in a SUP shop, it's definitely worth taking a look for yourself before you buy. In addition to thinner shafts, Black Project, Indiana and Naish also use handles with reduced dimensions. At Naish, however, this comparatively smaller handle can also be found on paddles with a normal shaft. It is generally advisable not to use the maximum extension completely, ideally leaving at least five to ten centimetres of "air" to the maximum length. The Starboard paddles offer 60 centimetres of extension, but we would avoid more than 40 if possible with thin diameters.
Conclusion on the test paddle 2022 for women:
From universal, slightly modified standard paddles (Fanatic, JP-Australia) to real special paddles for smaller, lighter people (Black Project, Indiana, Naish, Starboard), you will find top paddles for every purpose here. If you are primarily looking for a particularly handy paddle, you can't go past the specialists. Starboard offers a particularly good weight/price ratio.
Test paddle 2022 - Grips for women - small and fine
Naish relies on a slightly more delicate grip for all paddles, which always fits smaller hands well. The grips from Black Project and Indiana are smaller than usual for this group of brands. JP-Australia, Fanatic, Starboard and Red Paddle use their standard handles in a medium size
Test paddle 2022 - The variable fasteners
All ladies paddles on the boards can be quickly and safely adjusted to different paddling speeds or changing paddling styles at any time.
In this upper paddle class, all vario closures have guide systems so that the handle remains aligned when adjusting the length. This allows the paddle to be adjusted quickly on the water without the handle twisting. Most of these guide very precisely, only Indiana has a little more lateral play despite the guide groove, as does Black Project. On the Black Project Lava, the Vario tube is not guided via a groove but via the partially flattened tube. The clamp on the Red Paddle is optimally rounded, most of the closures have been properly neutralised, only the Fanatic clamp is a little more angular.
Test Paddle 2022 - Three-piece with button placket
From almost invisible to solid, the three-piece paddles are connected at the bottom. If you don't need the short pack size, you can get almost all paddles cheaper and lighter as two-piece paddles.
The lower plug connection on all paddles was free of rattling and play. A push button ensures that the paddle cannot be lost even if the clamp is accidentally opened. In the Indiana and Black Project, twisting is prevented by the hexagonal cross-section, while in the Indiana it is prevented by a guide groove and the diagonal cut - there is no clamp, which saves weight and ensures a particularly attractive appearance and an almost seamless transition. A tight, precise fit of the two tube sections is required for a play-free connection. On the other paddles, a clamp additionally tightens the connection, which effectively prevents possible wobbling. The 8) Starboard Lima TT is only available in 2 parts and therefore has no lower clamp.
The test results for the 2022 paddle test: 8 women's paddles compared
Black Project Lava RDS 3-piece.
The Lava in the "RDS" version with a particularly reduced shaft diameter is the most delicate, lightest model and requires the least force to paddle. At just 542 grams, it is an absolute top value for a three-piece paddle. The lower hexagonal plug-in connection is barely visible and can only be felt minimally when gripping the push button. The adjustment range makes it more suitable for people between 1.55 and 1.70 metres tall. The paddle, which is made entirely of visible carbon fibre, has a high-quality look and feels stiff in short settings and slightly damped when extended. A lightning-fast and super easy paddle!
PLUS: Super light and nimble /MINUS: nothing
Conclusion: Elegant and super light
Technical data Black Project Lava RDS 3-piece.
- Price**: 379,00 Euro
- Length*: 165 - 198.5 cm
- Tube diameter* 26 mm
- Available sizes:76/82/90 inch²
- Weight* 524 grammes
- Handle size*: S
- Info about Black Project
* = SUP measurement **= incl. paddle bag
Fanatic Diamond Carbon 35 3-piece
Apart from the smaller blade size and colour scheme, the Fanatic paddle is almost identical to the "normal" Diamond 35, so although it does not stand out as a special paddle for lightweights, it offers an attractive blade design and a good balance of stiffness and light damping. The anti-twist mechanism is very precise and the two clamps appear somewhat more angular than usual. The paddle already has a good weight, but cannot keep up with the - significantly more expensive - paddles, although it swings noticeably lighter than the Red Paddle. The blade needs to be guided easily and is also recommended for pleasure paddlers with a slightly longer, more powerful stroke due to its surface area.
PLUS: Stiff /MINUS: Handle and shaft not reduced
Conclusion: Very stylish, quite stiff paddle.
Technical data Fanatic Diamond Carbon 35 3-piece
- Price: 229,00 Euro >> available here
- Length*: 171 - 221.5 cm
- Tube diameter*: 29 mm
- Available in Size: 86 inch²
- Weight*: 757 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- Info at Fanatic
* = SUP measurement **= incl. paddle bag
Indiana Carbon 100 3-piece
If you want, you can let the Indiana Carbon flutter as nimbly as a hummingbird. The shaft and blade are very light and the shaft diameter and handle size are optimised for light people up to around 1.70 metres tall. This has an effect on the handling - how easily and quickly the paddle can be moved and on the swing weight. And here the Indiana - together with the Black Project - plays in the absolute top league. At well under 600 grams, three-piece paddles seem light as a feather, and even in the pull phase, the 81-inch blade conveys a fast but light feeling and enables very sporty paddling.
PLUSWeight, handling /MINUS: Paintwork susceptible to dirt
Conclusion: Nimble, very stiff paddle.
Technical data Indiana Carbon 100 3-piece.
- Price: 349,00 Euro**
- Length*: 155 - 201.5 cm
- Tube diameter*: 28 mm
- Available Sizes: 81 inch²
- Weight*: 576 grammes
- Handle size*: S
- Info at Paddlesurf
* = SUP measurement **= incl. paddle bag
JP-Australia Carbon 3-piece.
With the "Carbon", JP-Australia is launching its sporty and stiff full carbon paddle for touring and racing in the smallest blade size. The matt shaft is easy to grip, the groove in the vario system guides precisely and the clamps are neatly rounded. Weighing less than 700 grams, the paddle with the thin and light, but also stiff blade swings very quickly and stabs cleanly and powerlessly, the blade size seems appropriate. The medium-sized handle sits comfortably in the hand but, like the shaft, is not particularly small. The paddle is very handy, but less delicate than the Indiana or Black Project, but always stiff and very solid.
PLUS: Stiff, solid /MINUS: Handle and shaft not reduced
Conclusion: Very stiff, high-quality paddle.
Technical data JP-Australia Carbon 3-pcs.
- Price: 329,00 Euro >> available here
- Length*: 170 - 216.5 cm
- Tube diameter*: 29 mm
- Available sizes: 77/83/90 inch²
- Weight*: 695 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- Info about JP-Australia
* = SUP measurement **= incl. paddle bag
Naish Alana RDS 3-piece
The Alana is Naish's top paddle in a thin diameter - for light paddlers, young people and women. The shaft has a rough structure throughout and is therefore very grippy even when wet. With its extra thin diameter, it is particularly easy to hold. It's fun on the tour as well as in the waves, because the lightweight carbon blade swings like a feather and sticks in stably and cleanly. The handle (also roughened) looks delicate, but also offers a good grip in larger hands and its half-moon shape enables very precise paddle control, similar to classic "T-handles". The blade size fits the concept well.
PLUSWeight, grip feel, handling /MINUS: Crisp price
Conclusion: Nimble, handy paddle.
Technical data Naish Alana RDS 3-piece
- Price: 419,00 Euro**
- Length*: 165.3 - 213.5 cm
- Tube diameter*: 26.5 mm
- Available Sizes: 80 inch²
- Weight*: 668 grams
- Handle size*: S
- Info about Naish Surfing
* = SUP measurement **= incl. paddle bag
Red Paddle Hybrid Tough 3-piece.
Perhaps the colour scheme in particular is intended to establish the paddle in the ladies' world. Apart from that, it looks stable and solid, but also noticeably heavier. The adjustment system and lower division (with push button and tension lever) hold securely and without play, the matt-finished carbon shaft in a normal diameter has a good grip and is relatively stiff. The size of the paddle blade seems appropriate for lighter paddlers, it builds up rather light pressure and pulls stably through the water. The robust plastic material looks very solid, but not as light as the carbon competition, so it remains cheaper than all the others, but also noticeably heavier.
PLUS: Very robust, favourable price /MINUS: Not as light as the expensive ones
Conclusion: Robust, inexpensive travel paddle.
Technical data Red Paddle Hybrid Tough 3-piece.
- Price: 149,95 Euro
- Length*: 170.5 - 221.3 cm
- Tube diameter*: 29 mm
- Available Sizes: 465 cm²
- Weight*: 886 grammes
- Handle size*: M
- Info about Red Equipment
* = SUP measurement **= incl. paddle bag
Starboard Enduro TT Sun 3-piece.
As with all Starboard paddles, our testers praised the pleasantly shaped, easy-to-steer handle, as well as the elegantly rounded, slim vario clamp and the thin shaft with a particularly good grip. The lower plug-in connection of the 3-piece model is well secured with two press studs, but gave a slightly noticeable "play" when paddling. The colourful design on the very light paddle blade is a real eye-catcher. This allows very fast paddling, but also pushes forward very well and with good tracking even at a more leisurely pace. Very few paddlers will need a larger blade.
PLUS: Price-weight ratio /MINUS: Some noticeable play at the bottom
Conclusion: Very light, playful and nimble touring paddle.
Technical data Starboard Enduro TT Sun 3-piece.
- Price: 269,00 Euro
- Length*: 147 - 208 cm
- Tube diameter*: 27 mm
- Available in Sizes: S/M
- Weight*: 643 grammes
- Handle size*: X
- Info about Starboard
* = SUP measurement **= incl. paddle bag
Starboard Lima TT Wave 2-piece.
The Lima is only available as a 2-piece and therefore starts the race with a minimal weight advantage. But it does this really well. The grip (for women's paddles around M-L) is very flattering even in smaller hands and the shaft, which is noticeably reduced in diameter, always offers good grip both dry and wet and conveys a handy, agile feeling. The blade with the sporty, slim outline wants to be paddled quickly, then pulls very stably, it only needs some guidance when cruising along at a leisurely pace. Starboard uses the most elegant and best rounded Vario clamps.
PLUS: Price/weight ratio / MINUS: None
Conclusion: Sporty touring and training paddle with top components.
Technical data Starboard Lima TT Wave 2-piece
- Price: 259,00 Euro
- Length*: 161 - 222 cm
- Tube diameter*: 27 mm
- Available in Sizes: S/M/L
- Weight*: 620 grammes
- Handle size*: M-L
- Info about Starboard
* = SUP measurement **= incl. paddle bag
