Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon Fiber Kayak Paddle Review

Your kayak paddle is one of the best kayak accessories that you can purchase. It is often taken for granted when you first start, but after you’ve used a nice paddle you will quickly know why it’s important. That’s why when I was upgrading my paddle I was happy to find the Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon Fiber kayak paddle (Shop Now).

I started with a regular aluminum kayak paddle from Dick’s Sporting Goods. It wasn’t bad, necessarily, if you wanted a good workout. After paddling 4 miles or so, I could feel my shoulders and traps from holding the weight of the paddle. I borrowed a carbon fiber paddle from someone in our local paddle club, and I quickly felt the difference. This caused me to go on a hunt for an upgraded paddle almost immediately.

What Made Me Pick the Aquabound Manta Ray?

I started my hunt for the best paddles for kayaking. I checked out many of these on our list and many more. Since I am a high angle paddler, immediately there were some leading contenders. The Werner Cyprus Carbon fiber paddle and the Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon Fiber paddle were a few of these. The Cyprus was a little out of my budget at that time. Another strong contender was the Werner Camano fiberglass paddle. Although the Camano is a low-angle paddle, the reviews are always positive and it was within my budget, too.

Finally, after much research, I went with the Aquabound Manta Ray 2 pc. I chose the full carbon fiber model because it is a few ounces lighter than the hybrid. The hybrid has fiberglass blades and carbon shaft, and it is slightly cheaper. I felt the full carbon model was worth it, because it’s only slightly more expensive for the lighter paddle. I’ve always heard don’t skimp on your paddle, and I feel that’s great advice.

Specs – Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon Fiber Kayak Paddle

Pros

• Smooth Paddling: The Aquabound Manta Ray enters and exits the water cleanly. I noticed this right away compared to my beginner aluminum paddle. It is a smooth pull through the water.
• Lightweight: The lighter weight wasn’t immediately noticeable, but by the middle of my initial paddle, I could tell a difference in my shoulders and traps. Where I felt like I was getting a workout before, I still felt fresh and ready to paddle now.
• Durability: I was concerned about carbon fiber paddles being less sturdy than my aluminum and plastic paddle which felt indestructible. So far, the Aquabound Manta Ray carbon fiber has held up great. I haven’t noticed any real wear and it has been with me on quite a few paddles in various conditions now.
• The Posi-lok Ferrule system (more info): The ferrule is strong. Less expensive paddles have some slack in the connection, but the Posi-lok is stong. It is easy to assemble and release but feels entirely secure.

Cons

• Texture of shaft: The carbon shaft has strips along the full length and no grips. This isn’t bad on shorter paddles, but it has caused some blisters on longer paddles. I do like having some texture here for grip, but I wish it was a little smoother. Gloves help, but I always remember to put them on too late.

Overall Impression

I really am impressed with this kayak paddle. I underestimated how much the lighter paddle would help me on paddles over 4 miles. Mainly, I don’t get tired as fast, which makes trips more enjoyable. The Posi-lok ferrule is very impressive. This stands out, since the ferrules on my other 3 paddles are all weak links on those cheaper paddles. Lastly, this is definitely a high-angle paddle. While you can paddle it with a lower angle, there are better paddles if low angle is your primary stroke.

This will be a big upgrade over your starter paddles. There are more expensive paddles out there, and they are worth the money if you can afford them. If you are looking for a quality paddle and your budget is in the $150-250 range, I highly recommend the Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon Fiber kayak paddle.

Shop Now

Other Manta Ray Models:

• Carbon 4 piece (Shop Now)
• Hybrid (Shop Now)
• Fiberglass (Shop Now)