Gear Review: New for 2019 - Wilderness Systems Apex Fiberglass Kayak Paddle
Value Rating: 9
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: Lake Merwin
Duration of Test: 2 days
Product Name: Apex Fiberglass Paddle
Product Brand: Wilderness Systems
Best Use: Touring and recreational and kayaking
Pre-release review of the all-new Wilderness Systems Apex Kayak Paddle!
The Full Review:
Wilderness System’s new Apex Fiberglass paddle is an excellent choice for anyone interested in touring or recreational kayaking. The paddle is durable, comfortable to use, and extremely buoyant. I have reviewed other fiberglass paddles before, and I am always impressed by their durability. The Apex Fiberglass paddle is no exception. If you want to be able to chuck your paddle down on the gravel, use it to scrape yourself offshore when you launch, or let your friends or your kids use it all the time, then this is the paddle for you. Unlike the Origin, (the plastic version of this paddle) you are going to get maximum performance out of this blade.
The second feature that sets this paddle apart is the foam core that is laminated inside the fiberglass blade. The foam core first makes the paddle lighter, but secondly, it makes it buoyant. This means that when you are using the paddle in the water, it is actually lighter because the foam core is pushing it back out of the water as you take your strokes. If you’ve never paddled with a foam core, I highly recommend it. It feels amazingly smooth and I feel like I could last all day out there. Lastly, like all of Wilderness Systems new paddles, they have fully adjustable length and feather angle. This is very helpful because you will begin to notice you can change the length of your paddle depending on what boat or what style of paddling you will be doing that day.
The Good:
-Durable
-foam core! (extra buoyancy improves paddle strokes)
-smooth blade shape
-light
-easy to use
-adjustable
-great value
-High performance
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that the Apex fiberglass paddle is one of the most durable high-performance touring paddles on the market. The paddle is super smooth in the water, offers buoyancy in the blade, and an easy “on the go” adjustability. All in all, this makes for a bombproof paddle that will keep you out there for long days on the water.
Pre-release review of the all-new Wilderness Systems Apex Kayak Paddle!
The Full Review:
Wilderness System’s new Apex Fiberglass paddle is an excellent choice for anyone interested in touring or recreational kayaking. The paddle is durable, comfortable to use, and extremely buoyant. I have reviewed other fiberglass paddles before, and I am always impressed by their durability. The Apex Fiberglass paddle is no exception. If you want to be able to chuck your paddle down on the gravel, use it to scrape yourself offshore when you launch, or let your friends or your kids use it all the time, then this is the paddle for you. Unlike the Origin, (the plastic version of this paddle) you are going to get maximum performance out of this blade.
The second feature that sets this paddle apart is the foam core that is laminated inside the fiberglass blade. The foam core first makes the paddle lighter, but secondly, it makes it buoyant. This means that when you are using the paddle in the water, it is actually lighter because the foam core is pushing it back out of the water as you take your strokes. If you’ve never paddled with a foam core, I highly recommend it. It feels amazingly smooth and I feel like I could last all day out there. Lastly, like all of Wilderness Systems new paddles, they have fully adjustable length and feather angle. This is very helpful because you will begin to notice you can change the length of your paddle depending on what boat or what style of paddling you will be doing that day.
The Good:
-Durable
-foam core! (extra buoyancy improves paddle strokes)
-smooth blade shape
-light
-easy to use
-adjustable
-great value
-High performance
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that the Apex fiberglass paddle is one of the most durable high-performance touring paddles on the market. The paddle is super smooth in the water, offers buoyancy in the blade, and an easy “on the go” adjustability. All in all, this makes for a bombproof paddle that will keep you out there for long days on the water.