Young paddlers need a smaller paddle with sized-down blades and a narrow shaft. They need a paddle that can adjust as they grow and that is durable enough to stand up to heavy use and some wear and tear. I have researched dozens of so-called kid paddles and only found a handful of paddles that meet these criteria.
The Best High-Quality Sized-down Paddle for Youth:
Starboard Enduro 2.0 Tufskin
Adjustable 2-Piece Carbon Hybrid Kids SUP Paddle
The Starboard Enduro is a carbon hybrid SUP paddle for kids. It’s a high-quality paddle; built to last a long time and grow with kids who are passionate about paddling. It has a carbon shaft and an incredibly strong durable ABS blade. It adjusts in length more than most kid paddles, which helps it last more years and helps justify the higher price tag.
- Adjusts from 57.9 to 81.9 inches which fits the youngest paddler up to a young teen
- Has a carbon s40 narrow shaft
- The slim profile and ABS blade make for a durable and lightweight paddle and efficient strokes
- Because of its extremely durable design and a great warranty, this paddle is even used for whitewater and for paddling schools.
- Blade Length: 16.7″ / 42.5 cm
- Blade Width: 7.2″ / 18.2 cm
- Area: 66.7 in² / 430 cm²
- Total Length: 80.2″ / 203.7 cm
Below are links to the current price for the Enduro on Amazon (with free shipping and 30-day returns):
Starboard Enduro 2.0 Tufskin Adjustable Hybrid Carbon 2-Piece Kids SUP Paddle
The Starboard Enduro is an amazingly well built paddle for your kids and will be a joy to use for many years (5-years-old up to 16-years-old for many kids).
If the pricetag is too high and spending over a hundred dollars on a paddle is not in your budget, read my recommendation for the next best SUP kid paddle, which is a little more affordable and works well for kids up to about twelve or thireen years old. Currently these are the only two kid-sized SUP paddles I recommend.
Happy Paddling!
-MJ
About Me – Welcome to One Step Closer to Nature!
Hello, my name is Megan Joseph! Welcome to my website! I am a lover of all things nature and outdoors. I grew up in rugged Idaho, surrounded by mountains and nature, and spent summers backpacking and packing our horses into remote corners of the state as a child with my parents and sisters.
When I graduated from high school, I moved to a beautiful ski town, Jackson, Wyoming which only perpetuated my love of mountains, waterways, and fresh air. After getting married and a few years of living on the line between Teton National Park below the towering Teton Mountain Range, riding our bikes past the expansive elk refuge and only miles away from Yellowstone, we relocated and spent the next ten years raising our three baby boys in rural New England where we enjoyed exploring a new face of nature in Connecticut’s thick forests, rock wall lined farms, sandy beaches, gentle surf, and tiny islands. And only thirty minutes from Rhode Island beaches and waves…pure joy!
Some of my greatest joys are getting my hands dirty working in my garden, watching my boys explore up and down the banks of the river behind our house, and hearing the clucking of our 18 chickens as they meander and scratch the dirt looking for bugs – they seem to wake up each morning as excited as the day before to explore and enjoy the abundance of the outdoors as much as I do!
My life mission is to help families and individuals get back into nature and spend more time outside in the fresh air and sunshine. I believe this is where we thrive and can be our healthiest and happiest.
As a writer, I have always loved research and writing about health, hobbies, and the outdoors. I enjoying compiling data to motivate and inspire others.
Wishing you many adventures outside, and encouraging you to take one step closer to nature!
-MJ