Don't get shafted: Bent or straight what is best for you?

As I sit in my cozy cabin, with little opportunity for some whitewater paddling, my mind starts to wander into the countless arguments we spend time debating over a cracked case of brew and a warming fire. The one point of contention that can be heard in any gathering of paddlers is none other than whether it is better to paddle a bent or straight shaft.
I will point out right away that I am indeed a hard-core straight shaft paddler. Since my first string of Aquabound paddles I used while paddling on the Ottawa to the trusty Werner straight shaft I paddle today I have always been on the straight team. I have tried the bent shaft many times and even for the "break in" period suggested to get used to the new shaft configuration. I have tried the AT bent shaft, Werner's bent, and even the unfortunate Waterstick bent that is probably the most uncomfortable paddle I have ever used (sorry dd). I have sold the upgrade of a bent shaft to many a customer complaining about wrist fatigue, I have even sold someone from a bent back to a straight to help alleviate some out-of-the-box paddle positioning. There are three basic reasons as to why you would paddle one shaft over the other, effectiveness, comfort, and price. When deciding on your next paddle purchase weigh in the pros and cons of the two options and consider what your needs are instead of what Tao Berman paddles or even the shaft type of your trusty kayak dealer.



Whether or not you are a flat-water or whitewater paddler the time will come when you have to upgrade your worn or broken paddle. The first step in a case such as this is usually research; you post a message at your favorite paddling forum and wait for a bunch of replies to roll in. Most of the time, your straight shaft-paddling friends will write in selling you on the straight, and the bent shafters will post their best argument. One of the main factors people tend to argue about is the power and efficiency of either shaft. If you look into the world of racing flat-water or slalom; about a third of slalom paddlers use bent while no flat-water Olympic paddlers have used a bent shaft paddles since 1991 (Canoe and Kayak vol.37;1 “Shaft Style” Greg Barton p. 27). This would suggest that for racing and thus power strokes the straight is the way to go. Other theories suggest that although a straight shaft paddle favors more power for you top arm the bent shaft allows a more effective angle for your engaged paddle in the water and allows for proper back position and thus more overall power. In the case of weight the straight is almost always the winner here and a main reason I am still on team straight myself. It is also easier to make a straight shaft stronger since there is less ovalization and the more uniform the shaft is the stronger it will be. I would also argue that the bent shaft is weaker because it is most often joined in the middle and to the blades where as a straight shaft is only joined at the blade.




I have yet to find a conclusive theory to fully prove that the bent has a power advantage over straight. This argument may never leave the campfire anytime soon if a team of scientists ever tackles this one I will be there with open ears but until then who really knows.
Comfort is one of the arguments that is best left up to the individual paddler, who am I to say what style is best for you unless I am in touch with your wrist pain or lack there of. I can tell you from experience that if a customer walks into the store complaining of wrist fatigue I will indeed suggest a bent shaft. What I have learned to be true is that wrist pain is most often caused by how you hold the paddle and not the actual shaft. If you spend a great deal of time in death grip mode you will surely have wrist fatigue. So, it may be said that if you spend a good deal of time scared and clutching your paddle your chances of having to move to a bent shaft are good. If you can’t afford the move simply loosen your grip on the paddle and let the paddle pivot in between your thumb and finger. Whatever the case chill out, I know the sport can be scary but if you are sacred most of the time it cant me very enjoyable and you will take longer to exercise proper technique and overcome fear. Some of our worst decisions as a race are made while scared, the river is not a place to make bad decisions. If you are a straight shaft paddler and not having wrist problems why change? If you are experiencing wrist problems try relaxing a little, if that doesn’t work and you are content to paddle scared go bent. If you do make the move to bent shaft, buying a bent shaft paddle with too much of an offset can increase wrist fatigue as it is more stressful for your non power hand when setting up for engagement.

Price the be-all-end-all for some of us “dirtbags” and “thrifty” paddlers. If you price compare with Werner, a paddle company who offers both straight and bent, the price difference is around $100 USD for the change. If you are looking at Aquabound the only option is straight and they are happy about it. The mould and manufacturing process is more complex for the bent shaft and the price demonstrates this. I have also heard the rumor that once you go from straight to bent you can’t go back. You might want to ask Carl Jacks about this one he went from a bent shaft Werner to a straight shaft and will probably stay on team straight.

To conclude, the best paddle for you is the one that feels right. If you are a high roller and love techy gear don’t get sold on a bent shaft just because of the price tag and the pitch of ergonomics, it is all BS if it does nothing for you. If you are a dirtbag like myself think with your wrist and then wallet, no wrist pain? Why fix what isn’t broken.

See you on the water,

Chris Ryman