Grip tape for paddles feels like a comparatively superior piece of kit. Nonetheless, it may be a lifesaver, particularly for novices or sporadic kayakers.
Mainly, your ideally suited kayak paddle is the one which feels greatest in your palms.
That is the place grip tape for paddles is useful for each talent degree.
Grip tape is designed to be wrapped round your kayak paddle shafts to enhance grip and friction; they normally go over the half that you simply grip.
What Is Grip Tape For Paddles?
Grip tape for paddles not solely improves the grip of your paddle but additionally prevents blisters, retains your palms heat, and makes your kayak paddle extra sturdy.
Kayak paddles encompass a number of completely different components:
You may disassemble dismountable paddles into these components and put again collectively earlier than a tour.
You apply kayak paddle grips or grip faucete to the shaft close to the throat on either side – that’s the place you maintain on along with your palms. Doing this gives you with additional grip; it additionally reduces friction and blisters, and cushion your palms for extra snug paddling.
There are a lot of makeshift options: bicycle handles, tennis racket grips, common electrical tape, ice hockey stick tape, heat-shrink tubing, you title it! Some folks swear by surfboard wax and even evenly sanding the shaft the place you maintain it.
Nevertheless, an excellent grip tape for paddles has unbeatable benefits in materials, utility, and practicality.
Why Is Grip Tape For Paddles Wanted?
Briefly, paddle grip will increase the effectivity of your paddling.
Particularly on longer or frequent kayak journeys; lengthy paddling can tire your palms and trigger blisters in your pores and skin.
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A moist paddle might slip out of your palms. You could even should tighten your grip a lot that your knuckles flip white.
Discomfort is just not your pal if you wish to take pleasure in a pleasant kayak journey. That’s what the grip tape for paddles is for.
How Do You Tape A Paddle Appropriately?
Right here’s the way you apply the grip tape to the paddle shaft:
- Ensure that the paddle shaft is clear, grease-free and dry earlier than you start with the appliance.
- Most grip tapes have a transparent movie on one facet to stop the tape from sticking to itself.
- Maintain the tape on the paddle as you unwind it and peel off the clear movie.
- Wrap the tape across the shaft a number of instances to make sure a agency maintain.
- Start wrapping the tape in a spiral across the shaft, overlapping the earlier layer evenly by half with every wrap.
- For added safety, apply at the very least 2 layers.
A size of 5 toes of tape ought to be ample for one layer on one facet of the paddle. So for a double layer on either side, it’s best to have about 20 toes of tape.
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5 Greatest Grip Tape for Paddles You Can Purchase
Snug and reasonably priced anti-slip grip tape product of weatherproof silicone. Waterproof and quick-drying. Withstands freezing and scorching temperatures. Prevents blistering and improves dealing with. Works with any shaft diameter.
1.7mm thick, 5mm vast, accessible in a wide range of colours.
That is the number one alternative in the marketplace of grip tape for paddles. Particularly created for water sports activities. Manufactured from silicone for superior efficiency. Out there in a number of colours. 36 inches of tape per roll (can wrap about 10 inches of the paddle.) Burnwater’s promise: As soon as positioned, you by no means want to alter the tape!
One other silicone grip tape – nice for a non-slip grip with a contact of padding. Self-fusing so there can be no residual adhesive on the paddle shaft in case you take away the tape. Sweat and waterproof.
Excellent for kayak, canoe, and dragon boat paddles. Every roll is 1″ vast and 78″ (2 meters) lengthy and is sufficient for making use of on 2-3 paddles. This tape will persist with itself, so there isn’t any glue or sticky adhesive. Hornet presents a 100% satisfaction assure.
This tape is just not particularly for water sports activities, nevertheless it checks all containers however. It’s product of silicone, proof against climate, excessive temps, chemical substances, and saltwater. As a self-fusing tape, it doesn’t use adhesive and is simple to take away.
What Are The Options to Grip Tape For Paddles?
Other than the aforementioned makeshift options comparable to bike handlebar grips and electrical shrink tubing, you may also strive some skilled options.
Paddle Grips
Paddle grips are padded and designed to suit your palms whereas paddling Completely different configurations and dimensions guarantee the absolute best match. Some are even attachable to your hand with an extra strip. Supplies comparable to neoprene will help to offer extra insulation to maintain your palms hotter in chilly climate.
Paddling Gloves
Many paddling gloves are product of neoprene. This makes them waterproof and insulating, just like a diving go well with. They’re very grippy and hold your palms good and heat! Along with a cushty grip with out blisters, you’ll be capable to have an extended tour with out freezing your fingers off.
Pogies
Pogies provide you with a greater really feel and management of your paddle than gloves; they’re mittens that connect to the paddle and permit a bare-handed grip on the paddle shaft. They wrap round your palms to maintain them heat. Consider them as little sleeping luggage on your palms.
Paddle Wax
Paddle wax prevents moist or sweaty palms from slipping off the paddle as a result of the moisture merely pearls off. This reduces fatigue and will increase efficiency.
A skinny layer on the affected areas earlier than the tour and occasional re-waxing on longer excursions present ample safety for the entire day.
A pure different with out components is lanolin, obtained from sheep’s wool (subsequently sadly not vegan). Its particular characteristic is that it protects the fingers with a water-repellent and really sturdy movie, utterly stopping the formation of blisters.
Professional-tip: You should use surfboard or SUP wax immediately onto the paddle shaft for higher grip!
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Issues To Bear in mind About Grip Tape For Paddles
Numerous Makes use of
Grip tape for paddles will enhance the grip however add much more to your consolation whereas paddling.
- Measurement: In the event you purchased your paddle second-hand or just miscalculated the correct diameter on your palms, paddling can turn out to be fairly annoying. With each stroke, a too-small diameter will trigger the paddle to spin or slip out of your hand. Some folks use a number of layers of grip tape to extend the diameter of their paddle.
- Place: In the event you hold shifting your palms nearer, making paddling much less environment friendly and perhaps even inflicting again & shoulder ache. A unique materials would possibly provide help to hold your palms the place they need to be with out having to continuously look.
Materials Sturdiness
Because the tape comes into contact with water, you might want to alter it every so often. However the greater high quality the tape is, the much less you must fear about it.
First, take note of the fabric of the grip tape. Most grip tapes lately are product of silicone.
Silicone is by far the most effective materials for grip tapes, because it gives most grip and retains your palms blister-free. It’s additionally very sturdy, climate and UV resistant.
Silicone grip tape is ideal for kayaking, as water and dust can put on out typical straps.
Altering Paddles
Even with grip tape, you may get blisters to start with! Both manner, the pores and skin has to get used to repetitive movement, and the palms should develop calluses.
In the event you’re continuously altering paddles to keep away from blisters, you’re not doing your self any favors. You’re not giving your palms an opportunity to get used to the actual shaft.
Basically, don’t hold altering your paddle. Get an excellent paddle and get used to it! The extra you paddle with it, the higher and quicker you’re going to get!
Closing Ideas
Kayaking is a improbable technique to spend a soothing day and mentally unwind whilst you’re on the transfer.
Nevertheless, to actually get essentially the most out of kayaking, you want the correct gear. Along with a strong kayak that matches your wants, you wish to have a paddle that permits you to paddle quick with out your palms getting drained too rapidly.
Wrapping grip tape round your kayak paddle is really easy that you could’t actually get it fallacious greater than as soon as. Simply kidding, it actually is so simple as something! However you’ll thank your self for utilizing it!
