Segla Gear Guides

Start Here: What Kind of Paddler Are You?

Before looking at any size chart, the single most important question is: how do you paddle? Your stroke style determines your paddle discipline — and that shapes everything else, including the ideal length.

• Low-angle paddler: relaxed, horizontal stroke close to the hull. Common in sea touring, expedition, and distance paddling. You sit lower, sweep wider, and prioritise endurance over raw speed.
• High-angle paddler: upright, vertical stroke further from the hull. Common in surf kayaking, racing, and paddlers coming from a whitewater background. You sit higher, drive harder, and prioritise power and cadence.

Most sea kayakers are low-angle paddlers. If you're not sure, you almost certainly are one.

The Three Variables That Determine Paddle Length

Once you know your stroke style, three variables refine your ideal length:

1. Stroke angle — the most important factor. Low-angle paddlers need longer paddles; high-angle paddlers need shorter ones.
2. Paddler height — taller paddlers sit higher above the water and need more reach.
3. Boat beam (width) — a wider kayak puts you further from the water's edge, requiring a longer paddle to reach a clean catch.

Euroblade Sizing: K-PRO Paddles

Our Ultimax Carbon K-PRO and Ashika Carbon K-PRO are available in two adjustable length ranges: 208–218 cm and 214–224 cm. Both are adjustable within their span, so you can fine-tune on the water.

Step 1: Stroke Angle

• Low-angle: start with the longer range (214–224 cm) as your baseline.
• High-angle: start with the shorter range (208–218 cm) as your baseline.

Step 2: Refine by Height and Beam

Within your chosen range, set the paddle toward the longer end for low-angle touring and the shorter end for higher-cadence paddling.

Greenland Paddle Sizing: A Different Logic

Greenland paddles don't follow the same rules as Euroblades. The narrow blade, low-angle stroke, and extended paddle techniques used in Greenland-style paddling mean that sizing is less about beam and more about your body and how you use the paddle.

Choosing Between 220 cm and 225 cm

Our Greenland paddles — the Ikigai, Narwhal, and Viper — are available at 220 cm. The Ikigai is also offered at 225 cm.

• 220 cm: the right starting point for most paddlers. Suits heights from around 160–185 cm paddling standard sea kayaks.
• 225 cm (Ikigai only): better suited to taller paddlers (185 cm+), those paddling wider boats, or paddlers who use a lot of extended paddle technique and want more blade in the water during sculling and rolling.

The narrow blade means a longer Greenland paddle doesn't feel as heavy or unwieldy as a long Euroblade — so if you're on the boundary, go longer rather than shorter.

→ Browse the full Greenland Paddles collection

A Note on Torso Height

Total body height is a useful proxy, but what actually determines reach is your torso height, the distance from your seat to your shoulders. Two paddlers of the same height can have meaningfully different torso lengths. If you have a long torso relative to your height, size up slightly. If you have a shorter torso, size down.

This matters most for Greenland paddles and low-angle Euroblade paddling, where the stroke arc is longer and reach plays a bigger role.

Not Sure Which Length to Order?

If you're between ranges, paddling an unusual boat, or transitioning from one stroke style to another, get in touch, we're happy to advise based on your specific setup and paddling background.

Ready to Choose Your Paddle?

Read our Sea Kayak Paddle Buying Guide for a full overview of blade styles, shaft materials, and what to look for at each price point. If you're weighing up Greenland vs. Euroblade, our comparison guide covers technique, conditions, and paddler profiles in detail.

Browse our paddle ranges: Greenland Paddles | Elite Paddles (K-PRO)