Ultralight Tetra 2-Piece Versa-Lok Kayak Paddle

Premium, ultralight touring paddle designed for maximum performance and durability. Built with a full foam core for effortless strokes and seamless construction that eliminates the blade-to-shaft joint for increased strength and optimal performance during technical strokes. Patent-pending LAM-LOK™ edge protection defends against impact, abrasion, and delamination. High-visibility graphics help paddlers stay seen, and a custom-developed grippy shaft texture ensures confident control in all conditions. Versa-Lok ferrule makes changing conditions easier to navigate with 10cm of adjustability.

Features:

• Full foam core low-angle blade offers tremendous buoyancy
  and effortless stokes
• Proprietary Lam-Lok™ US Patent Pending technology protects blade edges and dramatically extends the life of the
  paddle
• Seamless construction eliminates the blade-to-shaft joint for increased durability, strength, and optimal performance during technical strokes
• High-tech spread tow weave increases the strength, stiffness, impact resistance while reducing weight
• High visibility graphics helps paddlers be seen
• 100% carbon shaft indexed at hand-placement for a comfortable grip with custom-developed grippy texture for confident control
• Versa-Lok™ ferrule offers 10 cm of additional length and infinite feathering options, and does so with an easy to use and understand system that is secure (no disengagement), robust (will hold form for a very long time), and resistant to corrosion (nylon plastic and stainless steel parts).

Product Specs:

• Shaft Material: Carbon spread tow weave
• Blade Material: Carbon spread tow weave with Aramid
• Blade Size: 6.6 x 18 in.
• Blade Surface Area: 98 sq. in. (632 sq. cm)
• Weight: 22 oz. (602 g)
• Ferrule Angles: Infinite

Peter's Comments:

Full disclosure, I have one of these paddles but with the Posi-Lok and not the Versa-Lok, and absolutely love it. The Posi-Lok has a fixed length and fixed 15 degree increments for feather but otherwise it's the same paddle.

The Versa-Lok allows you to set different lengths with is great for different widths of boats or sharing your paddle with other paddlers of different heights, so it provides a degree of flexibility over the Posi-Lok.

Yes, the price is up there and for some that will be off putting but if you can look past that, here's a list of what you get for the money from my experience.

• Grippy texture - I found the 'sticky' feeling of the shaft a little odd at first but when you're in rough water and are being splashed, having a firm grip of the paddle is very re-assuring.
• Lightweight - If you're on the water all day, your muscles and joints will appreciate the lightweight of this paddle. The foam core in the blades makes the blades more buoyant than most other blades and you can feel the blades popping out of the water as you paddle. This gives you a small assist and with the general lightweight of the paddle it adds up to a big difference in your fatigue at the end of a long day (and short days too).
• Blade Profile - I find the blade size and profile is near perfect, I can put down enough power when I need it. The blade has enough dihedral to catch when I want/need but not too much to inhibit strokes like sculling slicing through the water.
• Quiet - I find the blade is a little bit quieter than a normal blade, now I haven't measured it, it's just my aging ear I am using for that but it does seem a little quieter, which makes it not just a little bit more peaceful on the water but is a nod towards efficiency too. Less noise means more of your effort goes into propulsion and not making noise, not to mention no flutter either.
• Stiffness - Talking efficiency, the shaft and blade is very stiff and just like the noise thing, that means less flex and more of your effort goes into propulsion instead of bending the shaft and blades.
• Decals - I like the reflective decals on the paddle, not just for the looks but also because anything that helps me get noticed on a busy waterway is a plus in my book. These are reflective and catch the light well.

If you're not sure, book a demo at the shop and try our demo Tetra for yourself and let us know what you think.