IPIK 219

PROS:
- Mind-blowingly lightweight.
- Stiffness and efficiency makes it my first-choice for anything but surf paddles.
- Quiet, thin edges & tip profile enter & exit superbly.
- Oval loom is a winner (I still like rounded-square wooden looms too). Perhaps another few degrees of forward rotation would be nice. Isn't slippery when wet.
- Shoulder profile is lovely. Enough for an reference point but no impediment to fast repositioning. Some people I've swapped paddles with on trips, even users of other Gearlab GP's, have commented on flutter but the moment they bring some attention to the high edge of the shoulder on the recovering blade, it goes, their stroke is better balanced, & they become more efficient.
- The split shaft is a tight joint and has remained so.
CONS:
- May not matter to some people and everyone uses their paddles differently but, the blade scratches insanely easily. Just look at this paddle the wrong way and it will be scarred for life. I really hope Gearlab find a robust, lightweight finish.
- Some may find a very tiny flutter in the stroke until they correct their technique, which usually doesn't take more than a few strokes to sort out and a few sessions to build into muscle memory.
- The split shaft joint can be tough to split, but if that's the only way to ensure that joint stays tight for years I'm fine with it. If I had the option though, I'd probably buy a fixed shaft model as my 'daily driver' and stow the split shaft model for emergencies.

Akiak is good; Kalleq is better; Ipik is awesome!

I’ve never really liked carbon fibre Greenland paddles. That is, until I met the Kalleq. (Those slicey blades!😍) The Ipik takes it all to the next level. Impossibly light, the sharp blades slip deep into the water and make every stroke seem almost effortless. The shape of the oval loom and its transition into the shoulders encourages the correct hand position and a relaxed grip. The icing on the cake is the beautiful shimmering colours that appear when the blades are wet. I look forward to being able to order this paddle in various sizes to allow for a more personalized fit.

I had a chance to demo the "regular" Ipik very recently. It is a beautiful paddle...very light, nice soft shoulder, thin blades that quietly cut thru the water, and very buoyant. Everything to like, but the loom...the oval shape is great, but at 57cm(22+") it's too wide. The loom thickness is beefy...just too thick. I'm an average size.... wear a L glove and have a wingspan that puts me at a 218cm paddle length and a loom width of 48 to 50cm. I've several wooden GPs...some from skilled paddle makers and some I have carved that I have used for almost 20 years. To properly grip a GP the shoulders on the loom need to fit the paddler. If I could custom order my loom size, I would do it.... the paddle is that nice. In the mean time I'll stick with wooden GPs. Still a great way to paddle.

My paddle weight exactly 585 gr. So light, so perfect ! I can't wait for spring time to arrive to test it on the water.
The IPIK feels great in hand. The shoulder is smooth and comfortable. Design and textures are awesome !
Thanks again Gearlab for such a great product !