When it's time to upgrade your inflatable SUP paddle, consider the following before making your decision. There are many options that serve myriad purposes, so we're here to break it all down for you to help you get the best paddle for your SUP style!

Travel (breakdown) Paddle vs One-Piece Paddle

Travel paddles are often less durable, less stiff and weigh a little more. That being said, if you don’t have a lot of storage, or if you need to fly with a paddle, these paddles are the ideal solution. The convenience of being able to throw your paddle into a backpack and take it anywhere with you is hard to beat.

For ultimate performance a one-piece paddle is the way to go. While more inconvenient for traveling, these are made to be lighter, more durable and have a continuous shaft allowing for the ideal balance of flexibility and stiffness. One piece paddles will still fit in your car and don’t take up much storage space due to the low profile of a paddle, but they don’t fit in a backpack and if you want to take it on a plane you might get an additional baggage charge.

Blade + Shaft Materials

There are two places the materials really matter: The blade and the shaft.

Many high-quality blades are made with CFRT which stands for continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic. This is a composite material more durable and often lighter than a carbon or fiberglass option.

For the paddle shaft, most paddles use carbon, fiberglass or some blend of the two. Carbon is stiffer, but less durable and more expensive. Fiberglass is more durable and cheaper but slightly less stiff.

Adjustable vs Cut-to-Fit

Many paddles on the market these days are adjustable. This means you don’t need to worry about sizing as most paddles are usually designed to fit someone from 5-feet and 6-feet-4-inches tall.

The main point where the paddle adjusts is at the T-Grip or handle at the top of the paddle. A Lever-Lock mechanism is the most common type of adjustable T-Grip due to the ease of use and the simple yet durable design.

Some paddles can be sold in a cut-to-fit (ctf) version in which you cut the paddle to the desired length. For most paddlers, an adjustable paddle will suit their needs best.

Travel Paddle Options

Hala Gear Rival Carbon Paddle

Best for: Travelers who take their paddling seriously

The Rival Carbon is a full carbon paddle from the T-Grip down to the blade. This full carbon layup makes the paddle very light and rigid for a travel paddle. If you need a travel paddle but don’t want to settle for low performance, this is the paddle for you. Serious paddlers will appreciate the versatility of a performance paddle that you can still fit inside a standard paddle board bag.

Hala Gear Rival B-Line Paddle

Best for: Beginners, paddlers on a budget

This is the go-to paddle for casual paddlers or someone on a budget.

One Piece Options

Hala Gear Grafik Blend Paddle

Best for: One paddle to rule them all

The Hala Grafik Blend is a premier one-piece paddle. The  fiber/carbon blended shaft strikes  a perfect balance of durability, stiffness and weight. The CFRT blade is lightweight and stiff and the Leverlock adjustable grip allows this paddle to work for any paddler. This is the perfect flat water paddle for someone touring or relaxing and is versatile and durable enough to bring surfing or down difficult whitewater.

Hala Grafik River

Best for: Whitewater paddlers

The Hala Grafik River is a unique offering from Hala designed specifically to crush big rapids. With a slightly thicker and more durable shaft, this paddle gives you the confidence that your gear won’t break when you need it the most. Hala departed from the traditional ‘teardrop’ shape and instead uses a larger oval design for the blade, allowing an incredible amount of power when bracing or running rapids. This is the ideal paddle for someone  who is serious about exploring rivers.

Hala Butterknife

Best for: Windy conditions, versatility, use your paddleboard as a kayak

The Hala Butterknife is another completely unique and versatile paddle from Hala. Featuring two plades and a T-grip, this paddle allows you to kayak or paddleboard with the same paddle. For paddlers in windy areas or places with rapidly changing conditions, the butterknife is seen as a safety tool as it allows you to sit down on your paddle board and paddle through winds that a traditional paddle board setup would not allow you to paddle through. For the casual paddler, the butterknife allows you versatility to only own one paddle and still use it for a variety of sports.