FastKayak’s coupler system made adjusting paddle length and feather a breeze. But it held so tight that once set the paddle felt as if it were a one-piece. The coupler was easy to undo too, even after hours of being fastened and subjected to salt and fine sand.
Unfortunately for adventure racers, FastKayak currently offers the Flyer only in a one- or two-piece configuration. Racers often need a more packable four- or five-piece set up for stowing in a backpack during a trek.
Another small concern: The adjustable length on this paddle is only 10cm, making it important to dial in your desired length before buying. This small bit of adjustability makes the paddle less perfect for someone needing a single wing paddle for a variety of boats.
On a positive side note, I was pleased to learn that Fast Kayak has not moved its production overseas as many of the other high-end wing paddle manufacturers have. The company does much of its work on site in California.
Overall, the performance of the Flyer #3 paddle was excellent, and the price even better. My main concern is that at such an affordable price, wing paddles will soon be in the hands of all the teams I regularly race against!
—Jason Magness is a founder of the YogaSlackers.
