Gear Review: Werner Camano Kayak Touring Paddle
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 8
Overall Rating: 9
Location of Test: Molalla State Park - Willamette River
Duration of Test: 2 hours
Product Name: Camano
Product Brand: Werner
Best Use: Touring, day use, extended trips, leisure paddling
Size: Sizes:220, 230, 240
Available shafts:
Straight 1 piece
Straight 2 piece
Straight 4 piece
Bent 1 piece
Bent 2 piece
Colors:
Citrus, Mt Baker, Red, Sunset, Swellz Blue, Topo Puget Sound
The Full Review:
I tested out the 2-piece straight shaft Camano 230. For this demo I paired it up with an Eddyline Rio, the two were a dream team. The Camano is a low angle paddle that makes leisure paddling a breeze while still efficiently getting you from A to B. To distinguish, there are two types of paddles; high angle and low angle and this refers to the angle the blade is positioned while entering the water. Low angle paddling is a more relaxed style of paddling. The top hand will stay in line with your shoulder height leading to less stress on smaller muscles allowing you to paddle longer with less fatigue. High angle paddling is a more aggressive paddling style that focuses on technique. Your top hand will be in line with your cheek or eye level and you will gain better tracking as your blade will stay closer to your boat while in the water. However, this will be at the cost of tiring out your smaller muscles and leading to quicker fatigue. There are pros and cons to both, it simply depends on your paddling style and preferences.
Getting back to the Camano, in my opinion, this is the best touring paddle in its price range. It features a great combination of light swing weight, stiffness and impact resistance. The Camano utilizes a mid-size blade face that makes it appealing to the widest range of paddlers. The blade is coated with fiberglass making it extremely stiff and as per usual with Werner and features a dihedral surface that allows water to flow evenly to the side of it eliminating any flutter during your stroke. It's nice. The shaft is available as a carbon blend if you opt for the straight shaft or a full carbon weave in the bent shaft. For those of you looking for a mid-range entry level paddle, the carbon blend does well to keep both the weight and the price point down. If you find yourself getting a little more serious with your paddling the bent shaft carbon weave may be your weapon of choice. The weight will go down proportionate to the price going up.
In addition, the Camano is smooth as butter when it comes to breaking apart or adjusting your feathering. Werner has this sweet technology called the smart view adjustable ferrule. If you have a 2+ piece paddle you will feel like your paddling with a 1 piece. It locks in so nice and snug. The push button to release the lock is flush with the rest of the shaft leaving no options for snagging your paddle on any of your gear. There is no wiggle while your paddling and the smart view hole allows you to see what angle your feathering is at. Just make sure to rinse this out after each use to ensure that no residue or debris builds up in there which will make it harder to function properly.
At the end of the day, this paddle will take you on a tour all day without wearing you down. The fiberglass blades allow for a copious amount of stiffness that translates to higher efficiency and less energy spent trying to control the paddle. You're going to move a lot of water with this paddle.
The Good
Carbon blend or Carbon weave shaft: This keeps the overall weight low and allows for longer paddling days.
Fiberglass dihedral blade: Stiff, strong, ease of stroking through the water. This blade is perfect for touring.
Smart View Adjustable Ferrule: This keeps the shaft feeling like a one piece, no wiggle, no snags, just firm and stiff.
Color options: Plenty to choose from and the Mt. Baker option, oh man is it beautiful.
Lightweight: That's it, this thing is a feather.
The Bad:
Inherent in a low angle paddle is the fact that with each stroke your blade swings a bit from the side of the boat. You'll notice that you may have a hard time tracking in a straight line. There may be some swing this way and that. The silver lining of this is that you'll learn quickly how to adjust your weight to counter this and all in all you will increase your paddling skills.
The Bottom Line:
Doesn't get better than this for mid range touring paddles
The Full Review:
I tested out the 2-piece straight shaft Camano 230. For this demo I paired it up with an Eddyline Rio, the two were a dream team. The Camano is a low angle paddle that makes leisure paddling a breeze while still efficiently getting you from A to B. To distinguish, there are two types of paddles; high angle and low angle and this refers to the angle the blade is positioned while entering the water. Low angle paddling is a more relaxed style of paddling. The top hand will stay in line with your shoulder height leading to less stress on smaller muscles allowing you to paddle longer with less fatigue. High angle paddling is a more aggressive paddling style that focuses on technique. Your top hand will be in line with your cheek or eye level and you will gain better tracking as your blade will stay closer to your boat while in the water. However, this will be at the cost of tiring out your smaller muscles and leading to quicker fatigue. There are pros and cons to both, it simply depends on your paddling style and preferences.
Getting back to the Camano, in my opinion, this is the best touring paddle in its price range. It features a great combination of light swing weight, stiffness and impact resistance. The Camano utilizes a mid-size blade face that makes it appealing to the widest range of paddlers. The blade is coated with fiberglass making it extremely stiff and as per usual with Werner and features a dihedral surface that allows water to flow evenly to the side of it eliminating any flutter during your stroke. It's nice. The shaft is available as a carbon blend if you opt for the straight shaft or a full carbon weave in the bent shaft. For those of you looking for a mid-range entry level paddle, the carbon blend does well to keep both the weight and the price point down. If you find yourself getting a little more serious with your paddling the bent shaft carbon weave may be your weapon of choice. The weight will go down proportionate to the price going up.
In addition, the Camano is smooth as butter when it comes to breaking apart or adjusting your feathering. Werner has this sweet technology called the smart view adjustable ferrule. If you have a 2+ piece paddle you will feel like your paddling with a 1 piece. It locks in so nice and snug. The push button to release the lock is flush with the rest of the shaft leaving no options for snagging your paddle on any of your gear. There is no wiggle while your paddling and the smart view hole allows you to see what angle your feathering is at. Just make sure to rinse this out after each use to ensure that no residue or debris builds up in there which will make it harder to function properly.
At the end of the day, this paddle will take you on a tour all day without wearing you down. The fiberglass blades allow for a copious amount of stiffness that translates to higher efficiency and less energy spent trying to control the paddle. You're going to move a lot of water with this paddle.
The Good
Carbon blend or Carbon weave shaft: This keeps the overall weight low and allows for longer paddling days.
Fiberglass dihedral blade: Stiff, strong, ease of stroking through the water. This blade is perfect for touring.
Smart View Adjustable Ferrule: This keeps the shaft feeling like a one piece, no wiggle, no snags, just firm and stiff.
Color options: Plenty to choose from and the Mt. Baker option, oh man is it beautiful.
Lightweight: That's it, this thing is a feather.
The Bad:
Inherent in a low angle paddle is the fact that with each stroke your blade swings a bit from the side of the boat. You'll notice that you may have a hard time tracking in a straight line. There may be some swing this way and that. The silver lining of this is that you'll learn quickly how to adjust your weight to counter this and all in all you will increase your paddling skills.
The Bottom Line:
Doesn't get better than this for mid range touring paddles