I bought this paddle to replace an existing two piece carbon paddle (another brand) because I was the only one using it, and I wasn't a fan of the adjustable mechanism that seemed to loosen from time to time. Here are my initial thoughts:
Ease of set up- No problems cutting the paddle to height based on the recommended approach, although I did watch a few other videos as well and appreciated the advice to do a practice cut before cutting to the exact height. Provided heat wrap was a nice touch and I was able to get a clean finish out of it.- I used a glue gun versus epoxy to allow for handle removal again if ever required.
Weight- I should have weighed it before I made the cut, but at a height cut for a 5'9" paddler this paddle weighs about 630 grams. I don't have a precision scale, so if you are desperate for an exact weight you can probably reach out to Taiga. What I think is more important is feel. This paddle feels extremely light. There are times on the reach and catch phase when it feels so light that I am looking down to make sure that the blade is still on the paddle. Is this good or bad? Not sure really, but what I can say is that it has translated into less fatigue on longer paddles. I would also say that the weight is well balanced. There is nothing top or bottom heavy about it. It just feels really light all-around.
Feel and power transfer- I was debating between this paddle and elite paddle, and opted for the diamond paddle because of the hybrid blade design and presumably gentler flex. I am not racing, but I am doing some aggressive fitness paddling sessions along with longer touring paddles. If you are worried about this paddle shaft being too flexible, I can say that will not be the case. This model is substantially stiffer than my two piece carbon paddle, and I was actually worried that it would translate into shoulder pain over time. That never happened. Instead I have less elbow and shoulder stress, and more power. Not sure what magic they put into the paddle to make that possible because the blade size is roughly the same as my previous paddle, but whatever special sauce they are using it works. Power transfer is amazing, and it is still comfortable for longer paddles. If you want more detail on the flex aspect, my only reference point would be hockey sticks because I am a good Canadian like that. The flex point seems lower in the shaft versus a mid-kick kind of flex. If you play hockey you are nodding your head right now. If not, try to imagine flex closer to the blade versus higher up on the shaft. Does it really matter? No idea. I am not using it to put pucks top shelf.
Looks- When I took it out of the box my wife's reaction was that it is a beautiful paddle. I agree. Great job on the looks side, but that is a matter of personal preference. Finish is really nice although you need to know that the white elements are painted, and will inevitably wear over time. I already have a scrape line in the blade where the white is coming off. Yes, it is a work of art, but it is also a paddle. Battle scars are a sign that you are giving it some love.
Overall- Would buy again and recommend to others for sure. I am still not sure if the high aspect blade of the elite paddle would be better for my purpose, but I am super happy with this paddle. If Taiga ever runs a demo near me I will try out their other paddle and try to provide some comparable info between the two as an updated review.
