REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Good paddling power
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
BIC Sport Original FP Review
The BIC Sport Original FP is a great entry level paddle that can take a beating but is a bit heavy
Credit: Amazon
By Marissa Fox ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 15, 2019
RELATED: The Best SUP Paddles of 2025
Our Verdict
The BIC Sport Original FP is a great introductory paddle that is plenty durable and won't bash your budget quite as hard as the top-tier paddles are prone to do. It has plenty of paddling performance with a good catch and power stroke, but it is on the recovery where you notice this paddle's primary flaw: its weight. This paddle is a bit heavier than many of the other products, which becomes particularly evident during long paddling sessions. The BIC's extra weight did bring it down a bit in the score, but it is still a good option if you don't mind your paddle having a little extra heft.
Our Analysis and Test Results
We think the BIC Sport is essentially a great baseline to compare other paddles against. It does well across the board, looks alright, and its main flaw is just the added bulk. Throw all this together for a reasonable price, and you have a great option for a new paddler who doesn't want to shell out a ton of cash for a premium paddle but is also willing to invest a bit more than the cheapest options out there.
You can see some slight flex when paddling hard with the BIC Sport but it's nothing compared to an alloy aluminum model.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Performance
The Original FP has a longer and slimmer blade that is more rectangular than teardrop-shaped. It enters the water smoothly, but its flatter blade doesn't quite compare to the dihedral blades when it comes to catching the water.
You can get plenty of power out of this paddle, and it generally has a clean exit. It also recovers well for such a heavy paddle, as it is very nicely balanced and weighted. Truth be told, we wouldn't have necessarily thought it was one of the heaviest paddles until we weighed everything side-by-side, which brings us to our next metric.
You can get a decent amount of power out of the BIC with its great blade design but this paddle is held back by its higher than average weight.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Weight
The BIC Sport Original is fairly heavy, earning it one of the lower scores of the lineup.
This adjustable paddle weighs in at 2.25 lbs.
Ease of Adjustment
The BIC Sport Original is a 2-piece paddle that is fairly easy to adjust, earning it high marks in this metric.
The Sport Original can change in height from 67" to 83" and relies on the TwinPin locking system. It is fairly simple to change the length, but the length can't be adjusted on a continuous scale — you are limited to ½" increments.
It can be a little finicky to adjust the length of the BIC Sport while you are on the water if conditions are rough.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Locking Mechanism
The TwinPin locking mechanism utilized by the BIC Sport is far from our favorite type, easily overshadowed by other systems — particularly the LeverLock. However, the BIC does do a fairly good implementation of it, earning it a so-so score.
It can be a bit more finicky to change the length of this paddle on the water due to this mechanism. The upper portion of the paddle slides easily enough, but the extra effort to ensure that it is aligned correctly when it comes to rotation and length to snap the pins in can be a bit harrowing in choppy conditions. It also takes a bit more force to engage or disengage the mechanism.
The BIC Sport Fiberglass is a great entry-level paddle that is durable, paddles well, and doesn't look half bad.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Aesthetics
The BIC Sport is far from being the favorite of the group when it comes to aesthetics, but isn't bad looking, earning it a mediocre score.
The BIC is about as plain as it comes in the looks department, with only a small graphic accent on the blade for visual appeal. Its minimalistic design looks a little cheaper than other options, and there are fewer color options available, but it's a little more striking than the paddles of the monochromatic variety.
Value
The BIC Sport is a solid value, offering a considerably more impressive performance than its price would suggest.
Conclusion
All in all, the BIC Sport Original FP is a solid adjustable SUP paddle that would have scored very well if it were only a bit lighter.
—Marissa Fox
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