Kalleq

I am new to the Greenland paddle world but I am very impressed by the Kalleq! The first thing I noticed when I received the paddle was how light it is. Wow! I was first attracted to Greenland paddles due to their reputation for being well suited for long distance paddling, and the light weight of the Kalleq will make it even more effective for this purpose. The paddle feels very natural in my hands; holding it with the thumb and forefinger at the far ends of the loom gives the blades a forward cant which should help to remove any flutter. The Kalleq is a great choice for the Greenland paddle enthusiast!

I did send my Kalleq back to Gearlab for their repair service for the split on both sides of the paddle ( one side only). It took over 6 weeks to get it back. I was not impressed with the repair and I went out twice and I lost the tip again as the paddle failed and was split again. I have just written Gearlab and I am awaiting a response. I expect and hope with the good customer service that they send me a new paddle as it is obvious this one has design flaws.

Overall I have loved this paddle. However I lost the tip and the insert that holds the tip while paddling currents. Gearlab sent me replacement parts. Now, a second time I have lost a tip and discovered my paddle is splitting from the top edge, down about 2 inches on both sides. The paddle is 2 years old. No warranty now.. I have reached out to customer service but 5 days later, still no response. I expect a paddle to last more than 2 years at the high price of these paddles, especially once converted to Canadian dollars.

Ordered Kalleq 220cm in metallic green and it arrived here in Maryland from Taiwan within one week. It was boxed well, surrounded with bubble wrap, and since I also ordered the paddle bag, it was packed within the bag and arrived in perfect condition. The paddle is gorgeous and the sleeve where the two halves are joined has a smooth, snug fit. 2 black replacement tips were included in the shipment. The paddle bag is nicely designed and very well made, with padded exterior and includes a padded partition to keep the two halves from rubbing. Haven't had a chance to put the blade in the water yet, but I expect its performance will match its aesthetics.

I recently took the plunge and bought a Kalleq 230. The Bluefin is such a beautiful match to my AE Expedition Elite kayak. The paddle's maiden voyage was a week or so ago into the Gulf of Mexico. I left Flamingo, Florida at high tide just before sunrise, and headed out towards a chickee platform about 10 miles into Florida Bay to spend the night and relax. The paddle is amazing, when I unboxed it my first impression was, "this is a work of art." It is unbelievably light and perfectly balanced, and the build quality is perfect. The paddle is very comfortable to grip and over the course of the day it was nice to change hand poisons...the shaft or shoulders are very comfortable to paddle from. The Kalleq is notably razor thin at the blades, which is great for subtle ruddering. Paddling at low angles keeps more water in the ocean and less in the boat too. I highly recommend the Kalleq to anyone who is looking for a paddle for longer trips, or just great days on small waters.