Hi! I´m getting new paddle it will definitely be Werner paddle. But i can´t choose which one is better.......Double Diamond or Side Kick carbon bent shaft.. I will use it for playboating and little bit for creeking...Is the Side Kick stronger than Double Diamond?
Any opinion is welcome.....

They both have the exact same shaft but the blades are both different. The Sidekick is an all carbon paddle with the carbon shaft and blades. The Double Diamond has the exact same shaft but different blades. The blades are foam core with a piece of foam in each blade to make it lighter, easier to paddle with, and bigger more powerful strokes. If you're gonna be doing only a little bit of creeking, but a lot of playboating, go with the Double Diamond. If you're gonna be about the same amount of creeking and playboating, check out eh Sho-gun by Werner. It is also has a foam core blade but a different blade shape. If you don't want to spend that amount of money on either of them, the Sidekick will do just fine.

I´m just worried how quick the surface of Double Diamond will wear out...And the foam is getting water and then it will be heavy and unstable. With Side Kick don´t have this problem.

in the last couple years, no one i know who has had a Double Diamond has had this problem...i myself have an AT2 Flexi that is also foam core and it hasnt gotten any water in it. The surface of the Double Diamond will not wear out for at least 4-5 years. I had one and it broke from snapping in the middle...and i was playing really hard...so the only real decision you need to make now is if you want to spend the money on the double diamond or just got a little cheaper with the Sidekick....the sidekick is great for all around boating...its just a little heavier...but you wont know the difference

Hope this helps!

I've used various Werner and AT paddles. By far it is my personal opinion that AT paddles are far superior ergonomicaly to Werner paddles. The paddle feels like it's not ever in your hand. The angels are perfect. You can't understand what I mean until you try one for yourself. Everyone who uses my paddle says it feels awsome. Also, there is no flutter from the blade in the water and they are buoyant. Most important to me was the feel, the ergonomics are unreal. Try one any you may agree with me. They also stand behind their paddles 100%. I broke one a while back and the first thing out of their mouth was, \"Grab a pen, I'll give you a Return Authorization number\" AWSOME paddles and great service! Worth every penny.

Sincerely,
Whitewaterules

My friend has used a DD for six years. He is a class 5 boater who paddles 4+ times a week. His DD is holding up fine. The foam can't absorb water it is closed cell foam so don't worry about that no matter what other say. I would buy the DD. It also has a double layer of Dynel in the blade for abrasion. My buddy's paddle has not lost any blade size at all.

The side kick is actually lighter and the uk importers say stronger. the double diamond is a full on performance paddle even though slightly heavier dor to thicker blades feels nicer in the water origonally designed with slalom paddlers in mind but quickly adopted by the freestylers.

The dd is not as abrasion resistant especially on the face of the blades several people i know have punctured them on rock and yes they do suck in water any foam will even mini cell (closed cell) to a certain degree so i would use them for playboating and surfing but not too sure about on the creeks round here at least lts of spikey rocks.

The side kick will wear down but just use a fine grit paper tp keep them smooth and they will last for a very long time oh they have a foam rib in the middle and if you puncture that they also will suck in water. Also has a bigger surface area than the dd so has more power but not as a floaty feel in the water!

At the end of the day it depends on how heavy you are on your kit my werner players are some of the first ever produced still using them to this day many years on other friends go through paddles very quickly through snapping etc

The side kick is actually lighter and the uk importers say stronger. the double diamond is a full on performance paddle even though slightly heavier dor to thicker blades feels nicer in the water origonally designed with slalom paddlers in mind but quickly adopted by the freestylers.

The dd is not as abrasion resistant especially on the face of the blades several people i know have punctured them on rock and yes they do suck in water any foam will even mini cell (closed cell) to a certain degree so i would use them for playboating and surfing but not too sure about on the creeks round here at least lts of spikey rocks.

The side kick will wear down but just use a fine grit paper tp keep them smooth and they will last for a very long time oh they have a foam rib in the middle and if you puncture that they also will suck in water. Also has a bigger surface area than the dd so has more power but not as a floaty feel in the water!

At the end of the day it depends on how heavy you are on your kit my werner players are some of the first ever produced still using them to this day many years on other friends go through paddles very quickly through snapping etc

Urge wrote:

The side kick is actually lighter and the uk importers say stronger. the double diamond is a full on performance paddle even though slightly heavier dor to thicker blades feels nicer in the water origonally designed with slalom paddlers in mind but quickly adopted by the freestylers.

The dd is not as abrasion resistant especially on the face of the blades several people i know have punctured them on rock and yes they do suck in water any foam will even mini cell (closed cell) to a certain degree so i would use them for playboating and surfing but not too sure about on the creeks round here at least lts of spikey rocks.

The side kick will wear down but just use a fine grit paper tp keep them smooth and they will last for a very long time oh they have a foam rib in the middle and if you puncture that they also will suck in water. Also has a bigger surface area than the dd so has more power but not as a floaty feel in the water!

At the end of the day it depends on how heavy you are on your kit my werner players are some of the first ever produced still using them to this day many years on other friends go through paddles very quickly through snapping etc

When you ask Werner they say that the foam will not take on water. The company I work for makes canoes and uses foam, the same stuff, that they say doesn't take on water. Werner does say that some water can get between the foam and the carbon but is not absorbed. Yes spiky rocks will be able to puncture the face of the blades. If you want a bigger blade and more power look at the new foam core paddle (Sti'kne) if you can find a some info on it or the Shogun. The Shogun in 728 sq and the Side kick is 724. Not a lot of difference. Really I think that if you blame your paddling on the blade you have you are only addressing about 1% of it.

HI

I have just bought a Werner sho gun crank, I have been paddling with a glass bladed crank made down here in NZ till now. THe sho gun has great sized blades (the biggest werner has to offer), which i think is good, the bigger the better i say. the paddle is super stiff and i reckon that you will be hard pressed to break it or get water inside of the blades. The inside of the blade also has kevlar under the carbon. If you want the whos-your-daddy of creek paddles go the sho gun, playing go DD. Ive tryed an AT and the blade design didnt work for me, i reckon you would get used to it though. the werner didnt take long to get used to at all. IF you dont want to spend heaps (the sho gun cost lots) go for the side kick you will save a heap of money, but then again your paddle is your imterface with the water- not a place to worry about money i reckon

the foam core blades take on water and they do if you puncture them! I know of three dd and 2 shouguns being punctured on a rock as soon as the is exposed to water it sucks it in.
ONe persons dd also wore down on the edges. All owners had to dry the paddle out and epoxy the hole. they all said they would go back to a standerd blade as are stronger even though the foam core is nice to use

personally i paddle class 5 oh and I am a coach. I have been using players as long as they have been around you dont need massive blades good technique is far more important than sheer strength EVEN in massive volume! I am not blaming anything on the blades but just stating they are high performance blades and are not as strong their standerd glass or carbon blades, they just perform better in more arreated water.

Thanks to all answers.....I decided to get Double Diamond

Cool I hope you enjoy them they are a pleasure to use!

Cool I hope you enjoy them they are a pleasure to use!

Urge wrote:

Cool I hope you enjoy them they are a pleasure to use!

I really do agree that. I now have one and i can´t imagine it could be any better ...