Aqua-Bound Shred Fiberglass Whitewater Paddle - 1-Piece for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

Got this as my first paddle, been working great but as a get better it might be time to upgrade since this is on the heavier side.

Really like my Shred, I broke another paddle and needed a replacement on a budget for a race, and Backcountry.com recommended the shred. It's large offset blades are durable, and provide excellent power for nice clean strokes. The fiberglass blade strength is better than expected. I have really put this poor paddle through some stuff, smashing into rocks during high speed slides,high impact adjusting pokes while creek boating, and have used it more than once to shield myself from hitting some walls. Comfy, powerful, and cheap earned a spot in my kit.

Thank you to Backcountry.com and Aqua-Bound for hand-selecting me to review this piece of gear for the benefit of the backcountry.com community. I received my 198cm Aqua-Bound Shred a few weeks ago. This paddle looks just like the photo and is true to size. I tried it out on Meadowcamp, a class 4+ section of the Deschutes River in Bend,OR. As soon as I entered the water I went for a roll and it was no problem. Once in the rapids I began making my way from eddy to eddy and was able to get where I wanted to go without difficulty. I usually use a 200cm Werner Powerhouse and I did notice that the Shred had a lot more flex It took a little getting used to but wasn't a big issue. I intentionally paddled hard into several rocks to get a feel for the durability of the plastic blades- they're stronger than I would have guessed. I've given this paddle a 4 star rating because it is perfectly adequate for whitewater kayaking. The recommended use for this paddle is 'entry-level paddling. I think this paddle would work well for many all the way up to class 3-4. It may be a good choice for smaller/weaker paddlers because of the flex. For the money this is an extremely good deal for folks that are entering the sport. I have been carrying the 4 piece breakdown version of this paddle for 2 years and it has gotten me out of several tough spots already. I will continue to test the Shred on class 3-4 into the winter and report back in a few months.

I moved to kayaking after years of paddling canoes because the (used) boats were cheaper than whitewater canoes (such is the life of a college student). For me, the most shocking part of the switch didn't occur in the water, but instead when I looked at paddle pricing. Fortunately, I managed to land one of these with my first kayak. Now, to begin with the pros: It's light enough, it's reasonably comfortable, and, at least as a 19 Y.O. male in good shape, found that I could put even the longest days on the water without getting fatigue. It's a whitewater design, and the catch is fairly clean. It's not as nice as the Werner I use now, but I'm glad I started with this paddle so that I can appreciate the difference. To put it simply, there isn't anything I can't do with this paddle I can do with my current paddle. However, if I may caution those looking for a first paddle: get a breakdown paddle. You may pay a little extra now, but if you do end up upgrading your paddle later, you end up saving money as you can repurpose this paddle as your spare paddle instead of dropping money on a third paddle when that time comes.

I bought this paddle after getting into kayaking and it fits the bill for me.

The blades are very sturdy and provide tons of purchase. This paddle does everything I ask of it and more...and for the price I shouldn't ask much at all from it.

If you’re doing water where your paddle may be the difference between life and death, I would get a different paddle, but if you are looking for an entry level paddle, guest paddle, or a spare, this is a good paddle for the money (especially if you use a 20% off coupon). Also, if you a looking at long days of paddling or overnight tripping, then you are ready to spend a little more money for lighter paddle. One more thing, while this paddle's shaft has slight oval shape, it is still almost round. I would add a "register" to the fixed hand position, so that you can be assured that you have found your grip.