Gear Review: Werner Cyprus Kayak Paddle
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 9
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: Willamette River, Coast
Duration of Test: 5 days
Product Name: Cyprus Kayak Paddle
Product Brand: Werner
Best Use: Kayak touring
Sizes: 205cm-240cm
The Full Review:
This paddle is GOLD!! I got the chance to use this paddle on a 5-day trip and will absolutely be buying one soon. This Cypress in a full Carbon Fiber (Blade and Shaft) with a foam core. Carbon Fiber is the stiffest of all the materials used for paddles. This means you aren’t going to get any flex in your blade which can equal lost energy in the water. (You really feel the lost energy after a while with a plastic blade.) The carbon fiber paddles are also very durable. For flatwater or sea kayaking it is very rare to damage during correct usage. Carbon Fiber is also extremely light which totally saved my shoulders after 100+ miles of paddling.
Another distinct feature of the Cyprus compared to some other touring blades is the “scoop” that the blade has. It has somewhat of a spoon shape which allows you to really grab the water with each stroke. This helped me with controlled acceleration while paddling. To me it made a lot of sense to have a blade with a spoon shape as opposed to the common spatula shape. The best feature for me regarding this paddle is the “foam core”. This means the blades are extremely buoyant. I could really feel the blade lift itself out of the water at the end of each stroke. Again, this saved a ton of strain on my body. The buoyant blade is also extremely helpful for bracing in aerated water as well as rolling.
The Good
No flex in the blades
Durable
Ultralight!!!
Buoyant blades
Ergonomic Bent Shaft (personal choice)
Scooped blade
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that you get MORE than what you pay for with this paddle. This paddle will get you high performance while kayaking and will save you tons of strain on your body. You won't have any desire to get off the water. If you try one of these paddles I promise you will never want anything else!