Paddle Grips for Take-Apart Kayak Paddle Shaft, Kayaking Accessories, Non-Slip Grip, Blister Prevention - Cascade Creek

just what i needed

Great grips for the ocean. Use these on my kayak adventures. No fatigue in my hand after 2 to 3 hours of paddling. Thank you yak grips.

June, 2017 UPDATE. I ordered another set of these today and added three photos below to illustrate a point I'm trying to make with this update. The point is that these are very good for what they're designed to do, but they should be considered "expendable," not a life of the paddle purchase if you regularly paddle difficult waters where your grip on the paddle is very tight. The wear shown in my photos is what you'd expect after two full seasons of ocean and river paddling. One photo shows not only the typical wear on the nylon covering, but also typical deterioration of the neoprene rubber beneath it, the result of countless compressions and expansions within a very limited area. The paddle shaft is visible through one of the holes. Shoes wear out after heavy use, and so it is with these. I don't fault that. Think of the damage to my thumb and fingers if the grips were NOT there. I bought another set because, after reviewing all the alternatives, these are the best on the market. The wear is identical whether the grip is black or some other color.Many reviewers complain that these "slip around" on the shaft. They do slip and that can't be stopped unless you securely tape them in place, as described in my June, 2015 review below. The photos show how they're taped. We don't buy these to accessorize the paddle, but rather to counter a specific problem ("paddler's thumb"), so the aesthetics of tape doesn't matter if tape is necessary to keep the grips where they belong. Having gone through four sets of these, I've tried everything (two-sided carpet tape, rubber cement, etc.) and nothing ultimately has worked for me other than the tape placements shown in the photos. If the grip slips only .001" with each stroke, after 1000 strokes the grip will have moved an inch. After 3000 strokes, three inches. The neoprene rubber "walks" an imperceptible amount with each stroke, but the strokes add-up. I recommend 3M "Tough" tape because it seems immune to UV sunlight damage, is easy to work with, and it removes easily after long outdoor use without leaving adhesive residue.Below are my 2013 and 2015 reviews so you can see my thoughts on this product over time.June, 2015 UPDATE: I rated these 5 stars when I last reviewed them, but I've reduced that to 3 based on my last pair. By now, I've had several pairs, purchased at different times over four years. The quality of manufacture has slipped, and the manufacturer seems to have listened too much to the whiners who complained that the split-shaft version was initially difficult to get onto the paddle shaft. Well, now they're loose enough to easily slip on, so easy that they slip around too much in use, making them useless as tactile reference points for where to keep your hands on the paddle. The newest ones move around and twist during each paddle stroke. You have no choice but to tape them as I suggested (below) in my original review. The second gripe is that the sewing of the seams on the newest model is poor, leaving a "lump" where there once was a flat seam. Yes, you can orient the grips to try to minimize the annoyance of the heavy ribbed seams, but it shouldn't be there to begin with. They should be sewn as they originally were, not as the new ones are. I'm going to check-out some of the generic knock-offs, which cost half what these do, in case the knock-offs still have some of the qualities these once had. For me, a pair lasts only one season before the rubber disintegrates at the pressure points, and before the thin nylon fabric covering begins to discolor badly and wear through.I've used these extensively on my paddle with a straight carbon shaft on both the ocean and flat water, and I like them.They aren't perfect, but I would never go back to a bare shaft. They help prevent paddler's thumb, which is the boney knot that develops on the inside of the thumb from holding the paddle shaft too tightly with your control hand. Yes, they do slip, but I stopped that with some of the new Scotch "Tough" outdoor, UV resistant duct tape. They do get wet and stay wet longer than a bare shaft, which is not a problem if you habitually wear neoprene gloves. A very slight amount of power is lost from each stroke in compressing the rubber grips, however with all those things admitted, they're still really nice to have and it's better to have them than not. You can also stop the slipping (as others have said) with a dab of silicon, or two sided carpet tape, or duct tape. The idea is to protect your hands, and these do that very well.

Still in use, held up well. Wouldn’t paddle without

I have been using these grips for well over 15 years. I just recently replaced another set on each of my paddles. The only reason they ever need to be replaced for is fading (every 2-3 years with heavy use. If kept uncovered, the sun will bleach them.Pro Tip: wait until you get to the put-in before you try to install these. Submerge the paddle handle and the grip, it will slide on much, much easier than dry. Don’t use soap to lube! The grips will slide for a while until the soap residue disappears.

These things saved my hands! Especially when I was new to paddling, I tended to hold the paddles too tightly and always came away with blisters. I'm a better paddler now, but still like having the extra grip on my paddles. On my second pair -- the first pair lasted about 6 years and were still serviceable, but were looking a bit ragged.Be prepared for a bit of a battle getting them onto the paddles. But once they're on, they're great.

I wasn't able to get both pieces installed on my Aqua Bound paddle. So, not wanting to delay my friends any longer, I went with 1 glove and this grip on the other side. I want sure if I liked this grip at first, as it felt kind of weird having the paddle feel so much bigger around than I was used to. Or maybe it was just the difference between the grip on one side and the glove on the other. But, at the end of the day, I compared how my hands felt. The side where I just used the glove, my hand was cramping and my forearm ached. The side where I used the grip was a bit tired, but no pain at all.I realized later that there is another option where the grip wraps around the paddle and velcros together, so you don't need to slip it over the paddle at all. I'm probably going to buy one of those for my next trip, so I can use my favorite paddle without discomfort.

They fit my Pelican oar very well, and are quite comfortable. Time will tell if they stay where I put them. We'll see if the move after a few trips out. I will edit my review if they do. After one 6 hour session, they met my expectations.