which Paddle?

[mattdavidson]

I am looking to get a new paddle (mostly to use for creeking and some freestyle! What are people opinions on the Select pulse and VE carbon paddles?

[clarky999]

I used to have VE's, replaced them with the Pulse after I lost them in Austria. They're both great blades and you can't really go too far wrong, but I definitely prefer the Pulse. The VE is maybe just slightly more powerful, and slices around nicely (maybe a bit too nicely...) but the Pulse is much more stable throughout the stroke and 'grips' the water better - it feels much more planted and more secure when committing to an important key stroke (like a big angled flare). Actually, the Pulse is better than ANY other blade I've used (IMO anyway) - I prefer it to things like my mate's carbon Powerhouses (admittedly they are way too short for me and cranked though), and another mate's carbon Double Dutches (which are still pretty damn awesome).

[Fire It Up]

Matt,

Firstly, Fire It Up import Select Paddles into the UK, so we may be biased so have no connection with VE, unfortunately.

Both Select and VE produce Pre-peg paddles. No question about it, a more consistent construction method with several other benefits, such as robustness and tolerance to general river tear - though a more expensive material. Pre-peg allows in the manufacturing process for that air lock within the blade, meaning no foam, which reduces the weight.

We love the VE paddles, and generally a few ounces lighter than Selects due to their blade shapes that have been created I'd suspect. As all companies, research and design into the products is vast which is a credit to them both. Speaking on a personal level, the shaft is quite a deciding factor over what blades I have used in the past. The old fashioned 'simply round' is highly inefficient and not ergonomically satisfying, which at the bottom end of the paddle market is understandable, but not so much on a high end blade like you're after, which unlike Select, VE and many others - some still do...

Custom order is the unique thing which tends to draw people into us, with a seven to ten day waiting list on our behalf, and I hear VE run a tight ship too! I can't speak for VE, but Selects options are virtually endless - length, feather, adjustable, blade shape, blade size, ergo crank/triple torque/straight shaft, shaft flex, construction type (carbon, kevlar or fibreglass) graphic option etc.

Often facts speak for themselves and we're proud of them, so we'll share them. Lets face it, the majority of us river bashers are bothered about our blades breaking and wearing down. We've imported over a hundred blades into the UK now (95% river blades) and have had two failures in that time. one being a broken shaft which we suspect has been damaged in shipment and one where the back of the blade has 'creased'. In both cases, a full warranty has been executed to the customers satisfaction. We have huge trust in the Select brand and we support many events, taking demo sets with us. 2011, saw us demo at Wet West Paddle Fest on the Moriston, grade 4/5...

At the end of the day, every piece of kit has a breaking point, whatever brand there all well engineered, some better than others. What is still a huge differential, is the ergonomics. So try if you can to get a set in your hands, get a feel for them and try some out.

Email us for a demo if you wish to see if you like them or not. Whether it's positive or negative, we like to hear constructive criticism on how the Select brand compares, to feed back to the designers. After all, whilst Select, producing river, marathon, touring, fishing, SUP and canoe is the largest paddle brand in certain European countries, it is still very much a baby here in the UK...

We've built the Select brand up directly with the customers so far, and we're virtually ready to take the brand bigger... ;)

Rick Atkinson

*As I have no connection with VE, would just like to hold my hand up in advance for any errors I've made in there products!

[Brave_Lee_Flea]

Rick, I have been looking at your website and am very interested in the select paddles. Whereabouts are you based so that I can get a demo? I think maybe we spoke before Xmas and you were going to do some demo's down south?

[Fire It Up]

Rick, I have been looking at your website and am very interested in the select paddles. Whereabouts are you based so that I can get a demo? I think maybe we spoke before Xmas and you were going to do some demo's down south?

We're based close to warrington - though looking to move soon! We have several ways of getting demos with you, meeting up on the river somewhere or sending them in the post. We don't have any plans just yet to visit clubs in the South just yet, circumstances have changed, though we would love to look into visiting as many clubs as possible should the interest be there...

If you'd like to send us an email here, we'll get back in touch ASAP regarding getting some blades with you - or anyone else for that matter :)

[Brave_Lee_Flea]

If you'd like to send us an email here ....

tis done.

[Yew]

One of the guys in my club has recently bought a pair of VE's. I have to say I wish I had a pair instead of my cranked fiberglass werner sidekicks for almost the same price.

[mantamx]

bought VEs recently and absolutely love them. find them better then werner, feel more natural and more powerful (but not too powerful). great for the roll too albeit not too sure why - they dont feel floaty - guess it is the shape/power again..

[Philip Mitchell]

Can fully recommend FIU with the Select paddles! Possibly the best money can buy.

Phil