The truism that saving weight raises both performance and price holds here, too. Because you raise your blade higher than your shaft, lightweight materials there pay off in greater fatigue reduction. Different blade materials also differ in how well they transfer energy to your stroke.

“Plastic” is a generic term here. In specs you’ll see variations like “polymer” or “polypropylene,” or plastic blends infused with nylon or fiberglass. Each might produce a modest gain in performance (and price). And “composite” is a catchall term for carbon-fiber and fiberglass.

Plastic/Nylon Blades

The low-price leader, plastic is often chosen by recreational paddlers who think it’s indestructible. It can crack, though, and degrades when left in the sun. Plastic’s flexibility might prevent it from snapping in two, but flexibility in the water sacrifices efficiency on your stroke.

Fiberglass Blades

In the middle of the price range, these offer excellent performance and durability. More lightweight than plastic, a fiberglass blade might chip, but it usually won’t crack all the way through. Rigid fiberglass blades are efficient in the water.

Carbon-Fiber Blades

If you’re willing to pay top dollar for top performance, go with carbon-fiber. Truly ultralight, it’s also ultrastiff for excellent energy transfer with each stroke.

Shaft Materials

Plastic shafts are rare. Aluminum, the most wallet-friendly shaft material, is durable and serviceable. It can also get really cold or hot, so you might want to glove-up before you grab it in cold weather, and you should stow it in the shade when it’s hot out.

Carbon and fiberglass shafts are durable, strong and lightweight. Pairing one of those shaft materials with either of those lightweight composite blade materials creates your most lightweight and efficient paddle option—and the price will reflect that level of performance.