Werner Rio

[paddler007]

Hi, I am after a new paddle. Is the Rio any good or am I better at looking for an alternative? I'd like to stick to around £100.

Cheers.

[Cha0sSt0rm]

I'm in the same boat as you (pun-intentional, honest). But I dislike the Rio's since they don't have the nice shaped bit for the hand. I've got quite accustomed to having that grip and now, plain shafts just feel 'wrong'.

If it is possible to attach or make or buy one of these grips to fit a Rio shaft, I may well go with a pair of Rio's.

[Ian Dallaway]

We have several pairs of Rio's as club paddles. They are ok as a basic paddle but the blade is very flexible and causes flutter and a loss of power.

The Werner Desperado is a stiffer blade and is much better to use.

[clarky999]

They suck.

[andypagett]

As a relative newb, I ended up settling on a Werner Rio and I like it.

I'd tried a few different paddles out at the club, and quite like the Werner Desperado, but didn't really have the extra cash. Brookbank recommended the Rio as a cheaper alternative and it works fine for me.

I'm in the same boat as you (pun-intentional, honest). But I dislike the Rio's since they don't have the nice shaped bit for the hand. I've got quite accustomed to having that grip and now, plain shafts just feel 'wrong'.

My Rio has is ovalled at the point on the shaft where my hands go, which I find quite comfortable.

[Cha0sSt0rm]

I'm in the same boat as you (pun-intentional, honest). But I dislike the Rio's since they don't have the nice shaped bit for the hand. I've got quite accustomed to having that grip and now, plain shafts just feel 'wrong'.

My Rio has is ovalled at the point on the shaft where my hands go, which I find quite comfortable.

Hmm... Now thats interesting. Our Uni club Rios dont have the oval nor do the ones I held in Brookbank earlier today.

I have used the Streamlyte Trickstix on WW and can't say I noticed any flutter... Prehaps thats an alternative paddle in the £100 range. http://www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk/produc ... Streamlyte

[nutterboy]

I've heard good things about the new palm paddles, the G1 and G3

http://www.roho.co.uk/watersports/Palm_Paddles.html

David

[Matt E]

I bought one about 6 weeks ago, so far so good. Very slightly ovalled shaft on the hand grip, they are slightly fluttery but I like them.

[andypagett]

Hmm... Now thats interesting. Our Uni club Rios dont have the oval nor do the ones I held in Brookbank earlier today.

Maybe they changed the design slightly then as it definitely does on mine - from Brookbank Stockport.

I have used the Streamlyte Trickstix on WW and can't say I noticed any flutter... Prehaps thats an alternative paddle in the £100 range. http://www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk/produc ... Streamlyte

I was actually after this one, but they had none in stock. Carlise WW Comp was the other choice, but Brookbank don't carry it.

[Andrew Battye]

They're not bad for a first paddle, but you'll probably want to upgrade them after a year or so. Buying a more expensive paddle now could stop you from having to buy twice and will save you money in the long run.

[Mad_Erik]

With the Rio you could get a much better paddle for a similar price. Have a look at the Palm ones.

[Pete K]

I have a Rio and a split set as spares.
Ovaled shaft, light and coz its cheaper I don't panic about seeing it float off so much as a person with a £200+ set.
I don't get any flutter or flex. I don't race or run g5/6 etc. I use them on everything from flat touring to G3 and they are fine.
Tough too as they are plastic blades and you won't get glass fibres stuck in your hand.

Great deal for me at the time as I got them for about £90.

Felt like someone needed to give a positive report on them. Not seen the Palm ones though.

[clarky999]

Seriously, they really suck. Glass Werners flex loads, the plastic Rios are on a whole other level of uselessness.

[Andy H]

As Matt said they all need burning, totally useless. They flex waaaaaaaay to much which results in no power. I once tryed a pair and had to put in 3 strokes to my 1 on my stiffer glass blades. They make you paddle inefficiently.

Dont do it

Andy

[Kayak-Bloke]

Went on an Alps trip where one of the group bought a pair of Rios. They flexed so much he ended up borrowing a decent set of paddles for last half of trip and sold them as soon as he got back! I had a go with them and instantly disliked them. I use glass Werners day to day so have nothing at all against the brand. Rios are not good. Try Lendal xti. Glass shaft, Nylon blades. Excellent alternative.

[slaughter950]

get a used pair of werner glass paddles?

[paddler007]

get a used pair of werner glass paddles?

I'm starting to come round to the idea. What would be a good start? Werner Powerhouse? I'd like to use it for playing as well as river running.

Thank you.

[nickbennett]

The player is probably not a bad place to start, lots of them around too. I like the sherpa as well, but they are all good if your just starting out its probably best talking to who ever you think you are going to be paddling with and trying to work out what type of paddling you are going to be doing. If its creaking all the way (which it doesn't sound like it is) then a power house is not a bad call. But I have done a fair bit of creaking with the players, and I now use a stikine (which is just a fancy pants version of the sherpa) and I really like them.

I also owned a pair of rios when I started out, I really liked them at the time but I only got six months of use out of them before I upgraded, so if you think you are going to paddle a lot its worth the extra to find a glass werner. The rio is not terrible, just a low price point paddle thats all. Plastic blades flex but it does make them easier on the body. Doesn't necessarily make them cheap..... cough H2O cough..... although quality might be questionable.

Nick

[Andrew Battye]

get a used pair of werner glass paddles?

I'm starting to come round to the idea. What would be a good start? Werner Powerhouse? I'd like to use it for playing as well as river running.

Thank you.

Any Glass Whitewater Werner paddle will be fine. The Powerhouse and Sidekick have bigger blades and the Sherpa and Player have mid sized blades. The Powerhouse and Sherpa are river running orientated and the Player and Sherpa are more play orientated but they're all fine to use for both, especially if you're just starting out.