Solstice Watersports Adjustable Paddles

This four piece paddle seems every bit as robust as any two piece paddle I have seen or tried in this price range and the one I received fit together better than most comparable two piece paddles. I bought it to fit in the backpack with my inflatable and it works great for that purpose. Paddling on flat water I felt no flex or flutter but bracing for balance while getting out of the boat I did feel flex so I will be careful not to stress it. I hopefully will not find myself needing it on whitewater but being so small, light, and handy it will probably find itself going along for the ride as an emergency spare. If I find myself escaping a situation I did not expect the paddle to survive I will be back to upgrade my review, or if it fails a situation that a rec paddle should survive I will be back to drop a star. For now I find it a good value for a four piece paddle.The existing reviews and comments have me confused. Many people are saying they received an 86 inch paddle and one commenter even said they received an 86" paddle that was 130 cm but the one I received (from VMInnovations) is 90.5 inches (also 130 cm unless I am missing something). I cannot help but wonder if there are two different sizes being shipped and it is disconcerting that the listing does not specify length.Another thing that had me confused is some people complaining about one grip being larger than the other. I am an experienced kayaker and I could not figure out what they are talking about until I received mine and was pleased to see it has an indexed grip on one side. This is a feature most low end paddles do not often provide and one that should be mentioned in the bullet points. The higher end paddles will have the index swell molded in or have a slightly oval shape on the control side so your hand knows what the angle of the blade is when your eyes don't have time to look. Mid-range paddles will sometimes have the index indicator sealed under the grip, like this paddle, and if the paddle has none you should tape a piece of rope or a straw lengthwise on the grip, even with the center of the flat back of the paddle, and then get used to using it. There is nothing worse than getting caught by surprise being knocked around by wild water, paddle slipping out of your had forcing you to re-grab it, then try to take a recovery stroke only to have the blade slice through the water pulling you upside down because you did not notice it had spun in your hand. An indexed grip is also a big help when learning how to roll your kayak, and invaluable if you find yourself needing to do a recovery roll in inclement conditions.

I read the mixed reviews and was skeptical. Mine was new, fit together very precisely, and has no "shudder" when paddled as hard as I can paddle it (and I am a muscular 6'2" 220 lb. guy!) so the weight of the materials is worth it. The grip has a very nice feature that someone thought was a defect!!! The right handle has a raised section that allows the paddler to know which way the blade is facing- which can be a lifesaver when recovering ones paddle and having to keep your eyes on upcoming water and NOT having to look up at the paddle blade. This is a super back up, or even budget primary paddle. Oh, the drip rings are included and are EFFECTIVE!

This is my first paddle so I don't have anything to compare it to. Just got it as a testing paddle to see what I may need or want later one. The four pieces are nice. breaks down into small manageable size. Comes with a case which is a bonus. Seems pretty solid but have yet to use it. It definitely feels a little heavy which probably will be a factor with fatigue after a long day of paddling. I'm sure there is much lighter ones on the market. One of the buttons doesn't line up exactly on the hole on that connects the paddle, so it doesn't pop up completely but still feels locked enough.

The paddle bar is nicely made and feels sturdy. Unfortunately it came with paddles to a completely different paddle so could not test it. Seller was Amazon.Update: I really wanted to try this paddle and had reordered it. The second one was great and is my favorite 4piece paddle as I use my advanced elements 4piece as a carry-on backup. This paddle is great but it seems getting one that isn't damaged or missing/wrong paddles is the real issue.

The SUP / Canoe configurations are great, and I'm pleased with those. Also transaction was great / quick, product arrived in 2 days and was well packed. I'm disappointed in the Kyack option. 2nd blade does not float, so if you're on a river, in deep water, and you drop it, it will be gone. Also, there is no way to lengthen the kyack configuration. While it's nice to have the two blades and sit / paddle for a while, it's really a little short for that purpose.

I'm not a paddling expert, so this review is from a more casual perspective. The paddle is great, seems tough and durable. It comes with a carry bag with a drawstring to keep the 4 pieces on. And the included drip rings are pretty beefy. You can also adjust the angle to offset the two paddles.Very happy with it!

We are super happy with our paddles. We bought two so ny son and I could paddle together and train our family dog. They are adjustable which makes it nice if other family members want to use them. They are really easy to adjust and came with a convenient carrying bag :)

Solidly made, strong, and very inexpensive. A good economy priced paddle.Separates into two pieces approx 35" long, which is very easy to stow when stored. I weighed it in the storage bag (which feels like it's made of polyester) and mine is 3 pounds 0 ounces, which feels a bit heavy compared to my other aluminum paddle which is 2 pounds, 2 ounces (I think). Be sure to rinse carefully after each use, because this kind of design is more prone to jamming than others. I would recommend this as a spare or concessional use, but not for a dedicated paddler. I'll keep this one in my small sailboat for emergency use in case the outboard ever quits.  Solstice Aluminum SUP Paddle, Aluminum/Black, 84-Inch