There’s a new whitewater paddle player in town. This fall, Aqua Bound debuted its new Aerial Paddles, engineered for performance in whitewater—a category first for the marquee paddlemaker.
Get a Grip
On the grip side, whether you go for the straight or crank shaft, it’s designed for what it maintains is industry-best indexing and comfortable control. An elongated, softened triangular grip shape helps you intuitively know blade position in relation to indexing. Also helping is a slightly tactile, rubberized overcoat that helps maintain a controlled grip–and the company maintains it won’t destroy paddler calluses, either.
BadAss Blades
For blades, know they’ll withstand the rigors of whatever you throw their way, thanks to their patent-pending Lam-Lok™ technology. The process double downs on edge protection with the revolutionary mechanical stitching process with an aramid thread which, in addition to resisting impact and abrasion, the company says is five to 10 times more effective at fighting delamination than blades without it. Lam-Lok™ mechanically bonds the laminated blade layers together with 33 feet of an aramid thread, dramatically extending the life of the paddle—no matter how many rocks you scrape it on. The blades also feature a wide, flattened foam spine that simulates the performance qualities of full foam-core blades. With a larger core area and localized reinforcements to maximize strength, stiffness and durability, it also has asymmetric blades with a slight dihedral for smooth, powerful strokes.
We can’t wait to test them out and offer you a complete review.
MSRPs:
Aerial Minor Carbon 1-Piece Straight Shaft Kayak Paddle: $549.95
Aerial Major Fiberglass 1-Piece Straight Shaft Kayak Paddle: $449.95
Aerial Major Fiberglass 1-Piece Crank Shaft Kayak Paddle: $549.95
Aerial Major Carbon 2-Piece Versa-Lok Straight Shaft Kayak Paddle: $599.95
Info: https://aquabound.com