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Kayak paddle grips can make paddling more comfortable. They can provide you with additional grip, help to reduce friction and blisters, and can provide cushioning for your hands.
To give you a better idea of what’s out there and how they might help you, we’ve put together a quick guide to highlight some of our favorites.
Top Picks:
Best 5 Paddle Grips For Kayaking
1: Yakgrips Take-Apart Paddle Grips (best overall)
- Length: 6 ¼ inches
- Weight: 2.4 ounces
- Pieces: 2
These Yakgrips Take-Apart Paddle Grips are made from a soft, durable and quick drying neoprene. They are also washable using mild soap and water.
These grips come in a pack of two and are designed to fit paddles that can be taken apart, for example a two-piece paddle.
They are cushioned and designed to conform to your hands while you’re paddling, making your paddle more comfortable to hold. They are also designed to give you additional grip for improved paddle control.
These grips are designed to slide onto the shaft of your multi-piece paddle. Once in place, the inner material is designed to provide a non-slip grip to help keep the grips in place on your paddle.
Features
- Washable
- Soft material
- Ideal for two-piece paddles
2: KAPCO HoldFast Kayak Paddle Grip
- Length: 6 inches
- Weight: 0.6 ounces
- Pieces: 2
This Kapco HoldFast paddle grip is a lightweight adhesive grip that is designed to fit both one-piece and multi-piece paddles.
The grip wraps around the shaft of your paddle with an interlocking design that is best suited to paddles with shafts of between 1 inch and 1 ⅛ inch diameters.
There are two grips in a pack, so you can attach one grip for each hand. They have a flexible gel-like material that is designed to provide you with grip as well as comfort while maintaining a low profile.
Features
- Lightweight
- Adhesive grips
- Low profile
3: Zyyini Paddle Mitts
- Length: 10 ½ inches
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Pieces: 2
The Zyyini Paddle Mitts come as a pair of paddling gloves designed to offer similar features to pogies.
They are made from neoprene for added durability, comfort and warmth and are designed to wrap around the shaft of your paddle while you put your hands inside, like a glove.
They can be used on various kayak paddles, as well as canoe paddles. They are designed to offer cushioning for your hands, as well as provide you with grip for improved paddling efficiency.
Features
- Neoprene
- Easily removed
- Similar to pogies
4: Yakgrips No-Slip Waterproof SUP Grips
- Length: 16 inches
- Weight: 1.6 ounces
- Pieces: 1
The Yakgrips No-Slip Waterproof SUP grips are designed for both kayak paddles and SUP paddles, so they could be a good choice if you often switch between kayaking and paddle boarding.
It is a cushioned non-slip paddle grip that wraps around your paddle shaft and secures with a hook and loop closure. This means it can be ideal if you have a one-piece paddle.
The grip measures 16 inches long, which is longer than many paddle grips but you may still find you need two of them in order to keep your hands in the right place for efficient paddling.
Another useful feature of this grip is that it is washable.
Features
- For kayak and SUP paddles
- Hook and loop closure
- One piece
5: Seattle Sports Paddle Grip (best budget)
- Length: 4 inches
- Weight: 1.28 ounces
- Pieces: 1
This Seattle Sports Paddle Grip is made from durable silicone. It is designed to offer a universal fit that can be ideal for a range of kayak paddles, as well as SUP paddles and canoe paddles. It can also be suitable for one-piece paddles as it is designed to wrap around the shaft.
Another great benefit of this paddle grip is that it’s bright green and glows in the dark, which can be useful for added safety, especially if you paddle in low light conditions.
The Seattle Sports grip can be an affordable option if you’re on a budget but the pack only contains one grip, so you may need to order two if you want a grip for each hand.
Features
- Durable silicone
- Lightweight
- Universal fit
- Highly visible
What Features To Consider Before Buying Paddle Grips
How It Fits
How the grips attach to your paddle can be an important thing to look for, as some grips may only be suitable for paddles that can be taken apart. If you have a one-piece paddle you may want to look for a style that can wrap around the shaft.
Fit will also be important when it comes to the diameter of your paddle, so it can be a good idea to know this information in advance of purchasing paddle grips. Many grips will offer a universal fit but others may only be for specific diameters.
Material
Paddle grips can be made out of a variety of materials, giving you more choice. You might find that the best materials can be a matter of personal preference but if you plan to use the grips frequently, you might want to consider a material that can be easily washed.
Materials such as neoprene can help to provide more insulation to keep your hands warmer in cold weather.
Easy To Remove
Many paddle grips can be easy to remove but this will be more important if you want to be able to remove them after each paddling session. Grips that are easy to remove can be more versatile because you can easily transfer them onto different paddles.
Video: YakGrips – Kayak Paddle Grips
Frequently Asked Questions
I Still Get Blisters With The Grips, What Should I Do?
You could try using rubbing alcohol on the palms of your hands to help toughen up your skin. Or you could try wearing paddling gloves to help reduce friction between your hands and the paddle.
What Are The Alternatives To Paddle Grips?
Paddling gloves can be worn instead of using paddle grips. Alternatively you could use pogies.
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for the best kayak paddle grips for multi-piece paddles, we think the best ones are these Yakgrips Take-Apart Paddle Grips as they are soft, lightweight and designed to be comfortable to hold. They can also be easily removed and washed.
However, a great runner-up option is the Seattle Sports Paddle Grip because it has a universal fit, is suitable for all types of paddles and is made from high visibility silicone.
Remember, paddle grips are designed to provide added comfort and grip so that you can paddle more efficiently and for longer. So it can be a good idea to make sure the grips you choose suit your paddling style and your particular paddle.
