Werner Kalliste Review

Aptly named after a sea nymph of Greek mythology, the Kalliste paddle has the ability to transform your kayaking style. It is exceptionally light, with added buoyancy provided by the blade design and materials. This optimal combination gives the Kalliste an effortless feel when powering through the water. You will want to have this paddle in your hands if you are looking to perform across long distances or simply want to reduce fatigue on the water. More than anything else, this paddle feels great in action.

Performance Comparison

Performance

Werner has a solid history of high-end paddle design, and the Kalliste is one of their top creations. The blade's quality materials and carefully engineered design combine to provide an exceptionally lightweight, polished feel. The dihedral blade design ensures that the water flows off the paddle equally, helping to deliver a smooth flutter-free stroke. The smooth back face of the paddle also helps the paddle enter and exit the water efficiently, producing an effortless feel for every stroke.

The dihedral paddle blades of the Kalliste are meticulously designed to ensure that they cut through the water like a razor through silk, allowing you to keep a confident and consistent cadence for miles on the water. The full carbon shaft helps deliver a smooth transfer of power, enabling the user to get the most out of every paddle stroke.

Ease of Adjustment

The Smart View system on the Kalliste utilizes one button to unlock the paddle, enabling the user to identify their chosen blade angle using a small view hole. In controlled conditions, all testers could use it quickly and without guidance. Cold hands or limited dexterity make it challenging to adjust this paddle as the button requires agile fingers. Also, over time, we noted that the internal joint of the shaft could become dry, making it more difficult to operate. On occasion, we needed another set of hands to help us dismantle this paddle. Basic maintenance (such as rinsing the paddle in between uses) greatly helps to ensure it will always function smoothly.

Although not our personal favorite option, Werner's Smart View system is still superior to the snap button option on many other paddles. It is less prone to sticking, and the low profile of the button means that it never gets in the way of grip and won't snag on equipment.

Locking Mechanism Security

The Smart View system on this paddle is up there with the best, and most blind testers were unable to identify this as a two-piece paddle.

If you don't need to dismantle your paddle for travel and intend to stick to the same feather for all your paddling needs, it is worth considering purchasing the one-piece version of the Kalliste. If you have spent the money for such a high-end performance piece, you might as well experience the full beauty of what this carbon paddle has to offer.

Weight

Constructed fully from carbon, the 230cm Kalliste weighs in at 34.3 ounces or 816.5 grams. This paddle's (lack of) weight is quite noticeable from the moment you first pick it up. It is not uncommon to feel like you 'air swooshed' your first strokes with this paddle. Once you get familiar with the lightweight feel of the Kalliste, you will find that this paddle can deliver in spades.

Many of our testers commented on how well-balanced this paddle feels at any angle, helping the kayaker to deliver smooth and effective strokes. The blade design further lends itself to an exceptionally lightweight feel on the water as it offers its own floatation, further helping to reduce the impact on the paddler's shoulders. The Kalliste makes it easy to fall into a comfortable but powerful cadence for extended journeys. If you intend to take your kayak out for many miles or over multiple days, your shoulders will be grateful for this paddle.

Quality of Construction

The smooth finish of the carbon blades on the Kalliste make them an easy target for surface scratches. This can happen on the water or during transport. Due to the beauty of this paddle, this probable event may upset you, but it will not have a noticeable impact on the performance of the paddle.

The blade edges are reinforced with Dynel, an impact- and abrasion-resistant woven material. This roping helps to protect the blades from wearing down; however, they are still susceptible to wear and tear. Careless transportation of this paddle (i.e., rattling around in the back of your truck) or blunt force trauma from sharp rocks could cause significant damage.

This is not the paddle you should lend to your clumsy friend. That being said, simple precautions such as using a paddle travel bag, or traveling with the paddle dismantled inside your car, will preserve the Kalliste for generations to come. It will not break out on the water, but it will break if you get overly careless with it.

Should You Buy the Werner Kalliste?

This paddle is more expensive than most. However, constructed from carbon materials and backed by Werner's solid reputation for customer service, you can feel confident that this paddle will still be in the hands of paddle lovers for many years to come. Those on a budget will want to look elsewhere, but those that can feasibly add the Kalliste to their quiver will not be disappointed. You will not look back unless it is to see your friends paddling behind you.

What Other Kayak Paddles Should You Consider?

If you take care of it, the ultra-light and elegantly designed Kalliste will not disappoint you — it rose to the very top of our testing lineup with ease. The full carbon construction and meticulous blade design are a testament to the fact that it is designed to provide the very best in performance. That said, it's expensive and we recognize that many folks will not want to or be able to buy this paddle. If that's you, fear not. If you get the Aqua-Bound Sting Ray Carbon, you can spend less than half of what the Kalliste costs and still receive an incredible paddle. For those on an even tighter budget, we highly recommend the Werner Skagit FG.