I am using a Werner Kalliste, its feather lite and my wrists love the bent shaft. I`ll never go back to straight shaft paddles. Although the price is rediculously expensive

Try a good greenland paddle some time. You will be amazed at how well they work. Plus they are a lot cheaper.

I switched to a short ZRE bentshaft canoe paddle. I'll never go back to a kayak paddle. Works very nicely with a rudder. On a non-ruddered boat I am not sure how great it would be but I know my shoulders do love a 10 oz paddle at the end of the day

I have the bent shaft werner ikelos and love the bent shaft! what a difference.

Woodhead and Derek (and any other bent-shaft kayak paddle users out there): How long have you been using your bent-shaft paddles (when did you get them)?

I purchased my bent shaft about 2 months ago. I use it at least 3 times a week. It is so much better on my wrist. It is a very natural angle.

So, do y'all feel it is worth the extra money for bent shaft? I paddled with one for a about 15 minutes...testing out a friends and found it a little awkward. How long did it take to get used to it?

Deb, I polled several paddling partners, and asked whether they were aware of anyone, anyone at all, who paddled regularly with a bent-shaft kayak paddle. Nobody knew anybody. I've noticed that, over the years, people with extra money to spend will buy bent-shaft paddles, paddle with them for a while--all the while telling everybody how wonderful they feel--but a year later, the bent-shafts are nowhere to be seen--people are back with the old standbys: the straight-shaft Europaddle or the GP, the lightest ones they can afford. The bent-shafts just don't seem to work out over the long haul.

I have been using my new Werner Cyprus 205-cm bent shaft paddle for the last four months. Currently, is my favorite paddle when I paddle my favorite boat, my Little Wing. I also use a straight-shaft 220-cm Werner Little Dipper and did use a 210-cm Shuna - which is a good paddle, supposedly very similar in shape to the Cyprus, but I never really liked it with any of my boats or the way it moved through the water.

My favorite paddle for several years had been my Little Dipper, but when I used it the other day it felt awkward. The bent-shaft Cyprus did feel strange at first, but now that I am used to it I feel that I get more power and that I am considerably more efficient and less tired when paddling my Little Wing 12.5. When I am in my Folbot Cooper, I think I prefer the straight 220-cm Little Dipper or a Greenland paddle. Maybe different types of kayaks paddle best with a paddle that matches the spirit of the boat.

A GP may be best for a Greenland or Brit boat, but a bent-shaft carbon paddle seems to work well with the carbon fiber Little Wing; it seems to fit the sporty nature and quick handling of the boat (I cannot imagine paddling a Little Wing with a GP - it seems like it might create bad vibes).

I also like the positive indexing of my hand placement that is almost forced by the configuration of the bent shaft. Currently, I find the Werner Cyprus to be the most versitile of my paddles for switching from one type of stroke or brace to another, but I will always keep my Little Dipper for a change of pace.

Strange Magic could be correct that I may change my mind at some point in the future and give up the bent shaft - especially for long distances.

Mike, you mention that your hand placement is almost forced by the configuration of the bent shaft, and that you like that. It is that very aspect of bent-shaft paddles that seems to lead to their being discarded, sooner or later. People just get tired of that. In order to properly wield the paddle, you must hold it in just one way--you can't alter your grip, slide your hands closer or farther apart, rotate the shaft in your hands for a different blade angle. Bracing becomes problematic. Rather than you being in control of the paddle, the paddle is in control of you--that's what most paddlers find is the heart of the problem with them.

I used several Bent-shaft paddles for approx 500 days (250 with a Current Designs Medusa, and 250 with a Werner Kalliste).

I do like the bent-shaft idea. It did limit tendonitis, keeping the wrists just that little bit straighter. For long distance touring, it can be very comfortable.

I was able to adjust my hand positioning on the paddle. It is differnt from a straight shaft however. I liked the way a bent-shaft paddle feels when performing a nice high-brace, you just hang from the bend.

However, this last winter I built myself a Greenland Paddle, and my werner is now relegated to my Spare, sitting this whole season on my back deck.

It's now been almost a year since I asked people about bent-shaft kayak paddles--about reporting whether, a year later, they still paddled regularly with the bent-shafts. Anything to report??

I just have a comment from a little different angle and that is that folks who use a bent shaft are probably either paddling a ruddered boat, or are not using the full range of paddle techniques. I find myself using the paddle off center a lot these days to compensate for wind, current and sometimes maybe it's just me with a lopsided stoke.

I have been using my Werner Cyprus bent-shaft paddle for over one year now. I still prefer it to my straight-shaft paddles (Werner Little Dipper and Shuna). Although had positions are somewhat limited, I find that I can paddle with it slightly off center to compensate for wind. I feel that I can brace better with my bent-shaft paddle, but I cannot compare directly since the bent shaft blades are foam-filled carbon (more buoyant) and the two straight shaft paddles are soled fiberglass.

At two recent sea kayak symposiums on the Great Lakes I observed that about one-half the coaches (class instructors) used bent shaft paddles.

I have to admit that I am ignorant of the intricacies of the bent shaft, so my question is, how much latitude is there in choosing feather angles and is there a control hand? I've only used a crankshaft once and it wasn't feathered.