recommendations on kit for smaller paddlers

[miss muddypenny]

I'm in the market for a nice little creek boat and paddle. Can anybody recommend anything suitable for smaller paddlers?

[misspaddler]

I have paddled with both Werner players and twists. Werner do the option of a small shaft which is perfect for the more dainty of us kayaking, and do a variety of lengths suitable from midgets to giants.

I owned twists first, and they were fab, but then after losing them went for players as they were easier to get hold of and I didn't really see there would be much difference. All the girls in my club use players and they're brilliant, but twists do have a smaller blade size which is better for the smaller/weaker paddler (to my understanding anyway)

x

[Mad_Erik]

What height/weight is this for? Are you very little?

[miss muddypenny]

5'4", 9 stone - not very little, just lady sized!

[Pickle Lily]

I'm a similar-ish size to you, paddle a small Mamba (old style) and use Mitchell Spinx paddles (191cm), which is classed as a mid sized blade.

Paddle length 191cm might work for you, but paddle size and shape would depend on your paddling style, strength and preferences. Carbon paddles would obviously be lighter, if weight is likely to be an issue.

Try and demo as many as possible.

[jules22]

Hi,

I am 5 foot 1 and paddle with a 191 Werner Sherpa. I love them but it has been suggested that when I am using a bigger boat and on bigger water, that I might be better with a longer paddle to aoid hitting the side of the boat and to get more power. I think if I was to be replacing my blades I might consider a 194.

I also have the normal width shaft as I have big hands, but my flatmate (who previosuly owned a set of twists, with a small shaft,) has much smaller hands than me. She has just replaced her blades to ones with a standard width as she found them just as comfy.

I'm not sure if this helps much but I guess the best advice would be to try some different lengths and see what feels right.


Jules

[Mark Mulrain]

I'm 5'8 and about 70 kg. I started creeking in a small burn and I'm now in a big nomad so there's no set rule on what boat to paddle (although it does take a bit more oomph to boof the big boat and move it around).
Make sure you put a bit of love into the outfitting. There is no way I'd be able to paddle the nomad 8.5 if I didn't have it padded out to a ridiculous level! Raising the seat will make such a huge difference.

Here's what I did to my boats - http://www.immersionresearch.eu/2011/12/outfitting-tips-for-your-kayak/

[janet brown]

I'm 5'0" and weigh slightly more than you.
I used to paddle a L'il Joe, but found it quite bulky around the cockpit, so difficult to roll, and wanted to step up to a full creeker.
Demoed the Fluid Solo S but found it very spinny (possibly due to displacement hull and amount of rocker), but roll went well. Have tried the older small Mamba last Sept but it felt huge.
Haven't tried a small Burn, as my understanding was that it would still be quite big for my height. New small Mamba wasn't out yet when I was wanting to upgrade (think it is now?).
I ended up with the Zet Veloc (smaller version of the Raptor) which just left me with a huge smile on my face.

I still use my original Schlegel Workblade 194cm paddles: rather old skool, but there's nothing really wrong with them, and I'll have 2 spares as husband has upgraded twice, leaving son with his old Mitchell 194's!

Janet

[nomorfkindhalbhat]

Can anybody recommend anything suitable for smaller paddlers?

Always check the weather forecast as your the last ones to know when it starts raining. !

[miss muddypenny]

Can anybody recommend anything suitable for smaller paddlers?

Always check the weather forecast as your the last ones to know when it starts raining. !

b' dum, ch

[miss muddypenny]

Thanks everyone, that's a good list of stuff to try x

[LucyLou19]

Similar Height/ Slightly heavier than you and I'm in a Jackson Punk Rocker - light enough to carry to the river being the big selling point to me.

[hayleyclarke27]

Werner Amigo is a good paddle for a smaller paddler

[DaveBland]

Boatwise, 8.1 Nomad is a stonking boat if you are under 70kg.

...or a Small Burn, [old] Small Mamba or Small Diesel. Depends on what you wanna paddle and what boat fits well.

[Performance Kayaks]

New Small Mamba will be hitting the shops very soon. It got rave reviews on it when I had it at a demo recently.