These paddles are my third set of rough stuffs. After a brief fling with robson i went back to the "you get what you pay for" mentality. My first set were carbon tempests with a skypole shaft one of the most popular paddles around in Ireland and europe at the time. Really light and strong without being too stiff.

I broke my scafoid bone in my hand skateboarding 3 and half years ago and found that cranks helped the pain caused by bracing and prying the paddle,which in turn push the bone into my wrist repetitively. The crank set my hand in a ergonomic or natural position and created a space between the scapoid and wrist,hence no pain. The fact I went down to 30% feather also meant less rotation/flex of my wrist and i could simply go like the energiser bunny.

The paddles themselves were the kinetic carbon blades on a titanol (titainium alloy) spigot which in turn is fitted deep into a carbon loom (the first set,were acidentally lost on the findhorn during a rescue scenario). The titanol cranks are pretty solid but middle section gives some flex. The grips are not as fancy as some of the new pistol grips or ovalled shafts but this adds to the strentgh.
They are simple with a landmark under the sheathwrap.

The blades are really really tough. and i am yet to use a paddle that has blades that stand up to irish,welsh and scottish rivers as well as these do. By nature are rivers are generally rocky ditches by comparison with the rivers that other paddles are designed to excel in. For example when you have deep water where the features are allmost all water you can have a light paddle made from cheaper materials,no rocks no breakages.

But when the features are made from rock near or on the surface or there is a chance you will use the blade against the rock. then you need strong paddles which usually means weight! Well the rough stuff cranks are slightly heavier but they are virtually indestructable.

Like a subaru impreza versus a f1 car. Yes the F1 is faster all round but would not last 5 minutes on our roads.

Holebait