Ultralight paddles - packraft

[HighUintas]

I ordered an alpacka narwhal for my wife for her birthday and have been looking at UL paddle options. She will be using it for both flat water as well as hiking/running up with it and floating back down, likely only class 2 and maybe a bit of class 3 water. She's short at 5'2", so a shorter paddle is necessary I think.

So far I see:

Aquabound whiskey, 26-28oz $400
Supai olo, 14oz $220

Are there any other options?

Has anyone used the supai olo on rivers that can speak to its utility and durability? I haven't been able to find much on it.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

That Supai paddle is really intended for lakes and ponds. Probably not something you’d want to do any real paddling with.

Aquabound whiskey is a great paddle though.

 

[antaresproper]

REI has the aquabound whiskey on sale for $279 if that helps.

 

[HighUintas]

That Supai paddle is really intended for lakes and ponds. Probably not something you’d want to do any real paddling with.

Aquabound whiskey is a great paddle though.

Ya I ordered that supai and then realized it was intended for flatwater ( although the updated version has a deeply curved paddle for more power), but then saw someone comment in a review that it snapped in 15 minutes of using it. So, I thought maybe the durability wouldn't be up to snuff for a rough ish river even if the shape was sufficient for her needs.

I was looking at that aquabound whiskey, but hoping there was something lighter or at least something with the ability to make it shorter. I think she said she'd probably need a 200cm paddle max length.

Seeing it's on sale at REI from the comment below.... If It isn't suitable for her I can easily return it.

 

[HighUintas]

REI has the aquabound whiskey on sale for $279 if that helps.

I didn't see that. Thank you!!!

 

[NM13]

Sawyer made a beautiful UL multi-piece adjustable length paddle. Not sure if it's still available. Love mine. I have several Aquabounds. They are serviceable but basic. Werners are the best for me though. You might have to custom order a 4 piece shaft. Worth it.

 

[skaliwagify]

Whiskey is going to be close to the lightest "real" paddle you can get, but my understanding is that the blades are pretty fragile and can chip on rocks.

 

[HighUintas]

I ended up going with the aquabound manta ray carbon 4 piece. That was about the lightest more durable and length flexible option I could find. I think it will work well for what she'll use it for

 

[Highwarlok]

I have an advanced elements packlite 4pc it has been good for flat water and is sold as a kayak paddle. Not sure how it would do on class 2 or 3 water as the blades are nylon and not glass reinforced.