Werner  Kalliste Paddle - Carbon

I was looking for a Werner Cyprus all carbon, high-angle, two-piece, standard grip, 230cm, straight, preferably black, kayak paddle, but there were none to be found. I ordered this Kalliste, and it is the best paddle I have ever used. I was unsure about a low-angle paddle, but it handles well at all angles, it's feather-light at 23 ounces, strong, has a very secure joint (no play whatsoever), no cavitation, it pops out of the water at the end of the stroke. I've used it on Buffalo River in calm wind, flat water, little current, and on Lake Erie in 10-15 mph wind, 2+ foot rolling waves and some chop. Will be trying it on a 13 mile Niagara River trip soon. Werner deserves their reputation (it would be hard to go back), and REI handled the order so I had it within a few days.

I have maybe 11 touring kayak trips under my belt, so I am no pro, but I LOVE this paddle. My first two trips with it were quite miserable as the balance with this paddle is quite a bit different than the Camanos I was used to paddling with and the wind and waves were pretty rough. However, once I had the time to try out some different strokes on the flat water, I have found the sweet spot and I love it! This paddle definitely works best with a very low angle stroke. I get a ton of power out of every stroke and my arms can go for much longer before they get tired, if they do at all!

This is my second Werner foam-core carbon paddle. I used the first one for two years and traded it for a larger blade. Both paddles showed almost no wear after two years of use. I can't think of a single way to improve the Kalliste. It is simply perfect. Strong, light, comfortable. It's much quieter than the Werner Camano---no annoying "plouk!" Pricey, yes, but once you've paddled a Werner carbon paddle it's hard to imagine using anything else.

Have used this for several years with both SOT rec boats and glass SIK touring boats. Paddle has been a great companion. Incredibly light and surprisingly durable. It sees white water doing a nearly 200 mile run down the John Day River every year and countless days out fishing our touring and has yet to let me down. Made in the USA. Highly recommended. My partner has a Fiberglass Camano and it is just a tad heavier at lower cost and would highly recommend it as well.

I thought long and hard before I made this purchase. Had I not just bought a 17 pound kevlar solo canoe I probably would have passed it by, but my old Werner fiberglass paddle felt heavy and not a good match for the boat. The Kalliste feels dramatically lighter, and the blade design makes it absolutely rock solid going through the water. Moreover, it is a beautiful piece of workmanship. It is simply a joy to use.

I'm a long-time paddler and finally decided to upgrade from a mid-priced Aqua Bound Manta Ray. I'd briefly tried my friend's Kalliste, so knew what to expect. On a remote kayak camp I was able to see what it could do and how it compares to the Aqua Bound. It's significantly lighter, though my previous paddle never bothered me weight-wise, even using it for 4-5 hrs at a time. I think the stiffness is about the same but the way it enters and especially the way it exits the water is beautiful. It's hard to describe but there's clearly more power and a wonderful feel transmitted up the shaft as the water pours off the paddle while finishing your stroke. I can only liken it to the difference in the feel and handling between mid-priced cars and high-end cars. Honestly, I was skeptical if this paddle was worth the price, and planned to return it if I wasn't in love. Once I felt the way the paddle pulled through the water, giving me so much more sensation and info, I felt more attuned to what I was doing. Whether you want to spend the extra money for this kind of experience won't be for everyone, but I'm really glad I made the leap and can't wait to get out on the water again.

The only paddle that beat this one is the bent shaft model. Very light and in my opinion.... the best of the best. If you can fork out the $$, you will not be let down.

Have made multiple trips into Yellowstone with a variety of paddles. This one is great for paddling long stretches at a time. It is light weight with just the right blade area for the power needed without excessive effort.

I've used it for fishing out of my kayak on the river. It is light and strong.

Both my wife and I have used this paddle for the last 4 years. We had some very nice laminated wood paddles before these ($$), but there is no comparison w/ the Werners. These paddles are extremely light yet very stiff-no notable flexing in the shaft at all so all your power moves you the way you want to go. We both love the bent shafts, no wrist fatigue or pain even w/ multi-hour trips. Buy or make a good case to protect them when not in use.