I just picked up a Old Town Vapor and need a paddle. Any suggestions please re length, aluminum vs carbon etc. Tks in advance.

I'm by no means an expert, so this is just how I went about it. You'll find there are different types of paddles for different uses.

I went with a Bending Branches Angler Classic paddle. I felt it was a good middle of the road quality paddle based on reviews, talking to different dealers, and just feel...putting hands on a couple. Also it has a hook release built into one of the blades which I assumed was a bit of a gimmick, but I have actually used it once so I guess it paid for itself. There is also a measuring tape down the shaft(I'm sure there's a few jokes in there somewhere) for quick measurements if you don't want to pull out the trough. The shaft also has a slight shape shift into an oval shape where the hands go for better ergo.

If you've got the budget for it, I would go carbon. It's super light and more responsive which makes your paddling more efficient. If not, then aluminum is more economical. Also, if you're not going to be on large bodies of water and won't need to paddle long distances, you may not want to spend the money on a carbon even if you do have the budget for it. Just something to consider.

As far as length, go to the manufactures websites and there will be a sizing chart which will help guide you to the right paddle. I'm taller and sit up relatively high in a Jacskon so I went with a 240cm. If you're shorter and sit lower to the water, might look at a 220 or 230cm.

Paid $139 before kayakfishinggear.com discount, but they can get pretty pricey if you keep going up in models.

I know there's more to paddles than this like ferrule angels and whatnot, but for a novice like myself, this is how I went about my decision making process.

God luck!

Length is going to be dependant upon your height, the width of the kayak and how hi you sit off the boat. As for aluminum vs carbon it all depends on preference really. An aluminum bending branches whisper paddle was what I used with my big tuna for quite some time and it worked well, I switched to a lighter fiberglass paddle simply because I enjoy being out all day and when your paddling All day, looking for where those fish are at, fighting the current and the wind you WILL noticed the difference in weight, to skip over fiberglass all together and go for a carbon paddle is nice, I haven't moved to a carbon paddle simply because I haven't justified spending the money. They are great paddles, and if you can afford it then buy carbon, if not aluminum or fiberglass paddle will do great. You've just got to weigh cost against reward.

It depends on your price point but here is a good start:

http://www.paynespaddlefish.com/2013/04/how-to-choose-perfect-paddle.html

Consider length, shape of the blade, material, and weight. The various manufacturers usually have guides on their web sites for determining length, which is some combination of your height and the width of your kayak.

I have a Bending Branches Slice Hybrid Plus ($179) and a Bending Branches Glide Glass Plus ($129) paddle. Both paddles are adjustable for length and feathering. I like the Slice Hybrid better, it's a little lighter because of the carbon shaft and the blade shape is more suited to my high angle style of paddling. I'm sure a $400 paddle might be even better, but I have other things to spend my money on.

There are a lot of subtleties that may or may not make a difference to you.

Yakgrips definitely are worth having.

Just to let you guys know, your advise was very welcome. So here is what I got.

The Aquabound Stingray FB/CB Kayak Paddle is perfect for general-purpose recreational use and light touring, the Sting Ray excels at all kinds of paddling. Solid in the water and light in the hand, the soft dihedral cross-sectional shape of the blade gives flutter-free performance and great ease of use.

Ferrule - Snap Button

Comes with 3-Hole Snap-Button: trouble-free snap-button ferrule comes with 0 and 60-degree RHC and LHC feature positions. Quiet and precise, it won�t squeak or wiggle.

Blade Material - abX II Resin
This paddle features Aqua-Bound's new, exclusive abX II resin. This material is lighter than the previous generation of abX material, and 22% stronger. The blades are gas-assist plastic injection molded, reinforced with fiberglass fibers. All the better to keep you on the water and out of trouble.

Shaft Material - Carbon

This paddle features a pure carbon shaft that provides superior performance with low swing weight.

$110.00 delivered.

Tks again

Great price for a carbon shaft.

Cool! Good choice