Aqua Bound’s Most Packable Paddles
5-minute read
Do you need your paddle to fit in your backpack? In your luggage on the plane? On your bike rack? You got it! Here are Aqua Bound's most packable paddles…
Sometimes you want to paddle so much off the beaten path or so far from home you need to hike, bike or fly to get there. That doesn’t mean you can’t bring your own paddle along—as long as it’s packable!
A 4-piece paddle is also the perfect option for your extra paddle, whether you’re heading down roaring rapids or into the backcountry.
Aqua-Bound has you covered with multiple paddle options for kayaks, packrafts or paddleboards. These are designed to stow away wherever you need to fit them. They all break down into four pieces, which means you can put them almost anywhere.
Packable Paddles for Kayaking and Packrafting
We have a ton of options for packable paddles for kayakers and packrafters that are made with a wide variety of materials and offered at different price points:
Aerial Major and Minor Whitewater Paddles
Introduced in 2024, our extensive Aerial family of whitewater paddles is the new industry standard for tough-as-nails performance. These feature our patent-pending Lam-LokTM technology in the blades, which means long-lasting durability in rocky, rough conditions season after season.
Eight models in the Aerial family are available as 4-piece paddles:
- Aerial Major Fiberglass Crank Shaft and Carbon Crank Shaft
- Aerial Major Fiberglass Straight Shaft and Carbon Straight Shaft
- Aerial Minor Fiberglass Crank Shaft and Carbon Crank Shaft
- Aerial Minor Fiberglass Straight Shaft and Carbon Straight Shaft
(The difference between Aerial Major and Aerial Minor is the blade size.)
All our Aerial 4-piece paddles have our robust Versa-LokTM ferrule system. It’s easy to use on the fly, fits snugly and is corrosion-free.
Learn more about our Aerial family of whitewater paddles. Aerial starts at $524.95 MSRP (2024 prices).
2-piece paddles can be packable…(photo courtesy of Caj Koskinen)
…but 4-piece paddles are very packable (photo courtesy of Luc Mehl)
Whiskey and Tango Kayak Paddles
Aqua-Bound's premier kayak touring paddles, the Whiskey and Tango, are available as 4-piece models. The Whiskey is a high-angle paddle for aggressive paddlers, tough conditions or loaded boats. The Tango is a low-angle paddle for long days of relaxed touring. Both are extremely lightweight.
We offer these in multi-laminate, eye-catching fiberglass or high-tech, tow-weave carbon. We’re now making our carbon models with the same Lam-Lok™ technology we developed for the Aerial for even more durability. And we’ve added a fourth fiberglass model to our lineup—Geo Punch—that also takes advantage of Lam-Lok™.
Whiskey and Tango Straight Shaft models include a 4-piece option. We fit them with our streamlined Posi-Lok™ ferrule system with its infinite feathering angles and tight fit. These paddles start at $399.95 (2024 prices).
Manta Ray and Sting Ray Kayak Paddles
Aqua-Bound’s Ray series of kayak paddles are our most popular models due to their high quality and affordability. The Manta Ray is a high-angle paddle while the Sting Ray is a low-angle paddle. Each is available in five different 4-piece options:
- Hybrid Posi-Lok™ with fiberglass-reinforced nylon blades and a carbon shaft
- Hybrid Versa-Lok™ with fiberglass-reinforced nylon blades and a carbon shaft
- Hybrid Snap-Button (the traditional snap-button ferrule) fiberglass-reinforced nylon blades and a carbon shaft
- Carbon Posi-Lok™ with carbon from tip-to-tip
- Carbon Versa-Lok™ with carbon from tip-to-tip
The Manta Ray and Sting Ray 4-piece paddles start at $149.95 MSRP (2024 prices).
Shred Whitewater Kayak Paddles
Finally, we have Aqua-Bound’s Shred kayak paddle family, designed for whitewater environments. These robust-yet-affordable paddles all have our snap-button ferrule and are available in a 4-piece model:
- Shred Fiberglass—A fiberglass shaft paired with abXII fiberglass-reinforced blades
- Shred Hybrid—A carbon shaft with the abXII fiberglass-reinforced blades
- Shred Carbon—Carbon shaft with carbon-reinforced abX blades
Then we offer the Shred Apart, which we designed in partnership with Alpacka Raft. This unique paddle can be used as a kayak paddle by one person or it can be converted into two canoe paddles for use in a tandem boat.
The Shred Apart paddle has a carbon shaft and grips with carbon-reinforced nylon blades. Our Shred family starts at $204.95 MSRP (2024 prices).
Packable Paddles for Stand-Up Paddleboarding
We offer two of our SUP paddles in a 4-piece model, the Freedom 85 and the Lyric. Stand-up paddles are especially tricky to store and transport because of their length. If your space is limited, one able to break down into four pieces may be just right for you.
The Freedom 85 is Aqua-Bound’s most popular stand-up paddle and is ideal for most flatwater paddlers. It’s very well made with durable, light materials and well-designed for high performance—all while staying affordable. It features a fiberglass-reinforced epX blade in ocean blue and a 100% carbon shaft.
The Lyric 4-piece model is identical to the Freedom 85 except the blade is white. Both paddles feature a fun Polynesian-style graphic. They both retail for $204.95 (2024 prices).
Aqua Bound’s Lyric 4-piece SUP paddle
Take advantage of our broad variety of 4-piece paddles that make it easy to stow into your duffel bag, carry-on, bike pack or backpack. They’re the ideal option for people who love to travel widely for their paddling adventures.
[This post was first published in 2017 and is updated occasionally.]
Have questions? Contact our Customer Service Team: 715-755-3405 • [email protected]
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