Has anyone heard a lot about the new h2O-2 paddle or tried one out yet? I wanna know what it is like?

I've used mine about 5 times now and I'm really impressed. The blades seem pretty durable and I really like the feel of it. The sticky grips are awesome. I was previously using an AT-4 which was good but this is definitely better.

I have the H2O \"team\" (the green blades) since October and I love it.

I have the H20-2 blade on the neutral bent shaft for about 5 or 6 months already. I love it. Best paddle I've ever tried. Grips are really awesome (available in 2 sizes and different colours) Blade is very stiff and there is zero flutter. The blade glides really well in the water on all types of draw strokes too. I think the blades will also last a very long time and won't reduce much in size like a lot of other blades made from carbon fibre/fibreglass. I read somewhere on an excellent review that the H20-2 was preferred by most people over the H20-Team. Read here:

articles.richardhartman.net/h2opaddles/h2o.htm

Excellent article!

A mate of mine broke his shaft and John Hevetsi from H20 sent him over a new 2007 one free of charge. The 2007 shafts are almost 20% stronger and a touch lighter too. They have a weird weave to the material. Like irregular blocks in various shapes, unlike the 2006 one I have. I have never come across a weave like that. There is also the silver look one. Here is a picture of it..

The shaft locates in the blades with a sort of a slot. If you know anything about injection moulding you'll know this is very difficult to do. What this means to you, is that the blade will never rotate around the shaft, and never loose your angle. The first part of the blade is sort of a 'y' shape and made from a different type of plastic (very stiff), than the main part of the blade which is moulded over the 'y' shaped part.(more durable plastic) This makes the blade very stiff and allows them to make a thin plastic blade which no one else has ever been able to do.

I recently bought another one, second hand, but the blade is a custom shaped blade. Quite different and very smooth actually.

If you're concerned about the strength of the shaft then go for their straight shaft. So far, I'll take my chances on their neutral bent which is the s**t. I don't think you can go wrong with an H20. I highly recommend...

Does anyone have any idea when more distributers for these paddles will appear in the UK, because at the moment there is only one in Ireland, and that makes it difficult to get hold of a H20 paddle in England, Scotland or Wales.

Alex

I have used the Team which is pretty much the same with a little wider grip. The grips were comfortable and didn't get slippery when wet and shaft is super stiff. For plastic blades they seem very durable. It is heavier than some other all composite paddle out there but the 'swing weight' made it paddle a lighter than it seems. I liked it. Try one out if you can.

do the newer h2o-2 paddles have the lighter colored carbon shaft?

I just ordered the H20-2 paddle with a straight carbon shaft. The straight shaft doesn't have the cool grips as the bent shafts have, but what can you do... I like it straight.

Does anyone have any idea when more distributers for these paddles will appear in the UK, because at the moment there is only one in Ireland, and that makes it difficult to get hold of a H20 paddle in England, Scotland or Wales.

Alex

Paddleworks currently have the largest stock of H2O paddles in the UK at the moment but Robinhood, Totnes Kayaks, Woodmill Canoes, Stirling Canoes and Windermere Canoe & Kayak all get them to order.

Cheers,
Colm

Riverkid06 wrote:

do the newer h2o-2 paddles have the lighter colored carbon shaft?

No, not all of them. Depends on what you want. The silver is pretty bright. Not everyone would want that. I think it looks pretty schweeet.

More info between the 2 main blade types:

www.h2opaddles.com/power_comp.html

The older shafts look like this, which is one of mine:


Enjoy

And the new 2007 shafts look like this:



Sorry for the double post but I couldn't get it to work with both pics. One is uploaded, the other a link.

I got mine early last season.... and I luv it. Kinda like the goofy colors too, I've spent a fair amont of time looking for friends AT's and Werner carbon paddles in the river after a beat down... knock on wood... well just a matter of time (don't want to get bad Ju Ju/jinx myself) before my river god issued beat down... my yellow blades and grips should be an easy pick. Great contrast in the water.
If you don't have a local dealer, order by mail. Just know what offset ya want, length and shaft. My bent shaft feels way relaxed in my hands.
Good luck!

how do they compare to an AT2 paddle?? Im looking at one of them as well?

AT paddles are good also, quite a bit more expensive. Also, I see lots of folks sanding their grips or using surf wax on them for grip. The H2O's feel great in your hand. Try em out... don't forget the ever popular personal preference. Good luck

This is my first post on this site so hello to all!
I was just wondering if these paddles seem short to anyone else or is it just me? Does it have to do with there design or what.

Welcome Stumpster,
They may appear shorter due to the ergonomic shafts but still the same lengths. When I used to race slalom I had a 204 straight shaft 90 degree off set now 194 and 30 degree. So, some change for me personally, but if your compairing to touring paddle or sea kayak paddle, yes they are much shorter than those. Just make sure your compairing apples and apples. Enjoy!

Thanks for the welcome spinn120!

I just switched from a AT4 play 194 to a AT2 flexi 197 and it seems just right.
My first was a 204 60deg wood so I deffinetly know where your coming from.

I just wondered if the grip placement on these h20's are different since you look at their site and I didn't think I saw anything over a 194. Do you know if there is a sizing chart for them somewhere?

197cm is the longest stock length available in the WW paddles. Technically, you can request any length you want for the \"custom\" WW paddles as they are built to your exact specs.

Grip width is different depending on whether you're talking about the H2O-2 or H2O-Team paddles. On the H2O-team, the grips are positioned closer to the blades so hand width is slightly wider than it would be on a similar length of h2O-2 paddles. I don't think there are any stats currently available on grip widths in relation to overall length.

stumpster wrote:

This is my first post on this site so hello to all!
I was just wondering if these paddles seem short to anyone else or is it just me? Does it have to do with there design or what.

The paddle I had before getting my first H20 was pretty long. Just over 200cm. I was concerned about the shorter length as I prefer a longer paddle to get maximum power and also worried about the hand position. I ordered the 194cm, I think, and I love it. The hand position is perfect and the blades have heaps of power without being over board. A number of people have them here already and love them. Try them out...

While I've heard great things about H2Os from everyone I know that paddles with them, I thought I should mention that out of the six people I know with them, three have had to return them due to leaking… water getting into the shaft.

That's not good. Maybe an unlucky batch. I'm sure they were helped out with no hassles. Or? Out of 9 people I know that paddle with them here in SA, zero have ever had water in them...

Yep, they got sorted out without problems. I just thought a 50% failure rate was worth mentioning, but as you say, it may have been a bad batch…

I am in the procces of getting a new paddle, does anyone have a link to the prieces of the H20 Paddles? thanks

give them an email and they will send u the price lists of all the paddles.

15 years ago buying a paddle was pretty easy, the options were only limited to one or two brands. Nowadays there's heaps of brands to choose from.
Also means paddlers are doing research on what is the best product out there before forking out their hard earned dollars.
2 months ago I was dumb enough to lose my Werner Sidekicks, they might still flush out one day but I doubt it. So the process of getting new paddles started. A paddle shop offered a good deal on AT4's, quick Google search reveals plenty of issues with these paddles (water in the shaft mainly).

H2O's seemed the stuff. Good reviews. Read a paddlers introductory Scandinavia Blog only to read about 2 breakages of H20's in quick succession, his own paddle and a mates (I now notice reference to this has been removed).

I think I will stick to Werner, you can lose them but you cant break them (unsolicited plug from an un-sponsored paddler).

Jurgen wrote:

15 years ago buying a paddle was pretty easy, the options were only limited to one or two brands. Nowadays there's heaps of brands to choose from.
Also means paddlers are doing research on what is the best product out there before forking out their hard earned dollars.
2 months ago I was dumb enough to lose my Werner Sidekicks, they might still flush out one day but I doubt it. So the process of getting new paddles started. A paddle shop offered a good deal on AT4's, quick Google search reveals plenty of issues with these paddles (water in the shaft mainly).

H2O's seemed the stuff. Good reviews. Read a paddlers introductory Scandinavia Blog only to read about 2 breakages of H20's in quick succession, his own paddle and a mates (I now notice reference to this has been removed).

I think I will stick to Werner, you can lose them but you cant break them (unsolicited plug from an un-sponsored paddler).

Werner's don't break? Jee, i didnt know that. I broke mine. I must be in dream. Sounds like a lot a hog wash. They are good but do break. Not required to make comments like that. Thanks

ceastabrook.blogspot.com/2007/05/val-aosta.html

ceastabrook.blogspot.com/2007/02/weekend...les-perspective.html

Thought I'd throw in one more positive review for the h20-2 ... I generally use a straight shaft paddle and when I've tried out bent ones they just never felt right. My hands wanted to slide one way or the other. I suppose I could get used to those, but the h20-2 with a bent shaft felt perfect and natural from the first second. I love those grips. I think I might get one this summer.

I was looking though their website an they only offer a 45 offset and i have always used a 30....

kidkkayaker, are you talking about H20? If so you need to check again…

www.h2opaddles.com/whitewater.php

Sweet, i was hopeing i was mistaken!