SUPply Co 3-Piece Paddle Review

One feature that we aren't a fan of with this paddle and we feel is worth mentioning is how it floats. It will float when it is fully assembled but the lower portion has no foam inside and will sink — definitely something to think about if you are fully disassembling the paddle on the water or transporting it in a 3-piece state.

Performance Comparison

While we love the pun in the name, this paddle just couldn't compare to the rest.

Photo: David Wise

Performance

Our first set of tests focused on the on-the-water performance of each paddle. The SUPply 3-piece failed to impress on the myriad paddle trips we took with it, earning it a lackluster score.

Right off the bat, we noticed that this paddle has considerably more play than many of the others, especially with the spring-loaded pin connection for the lower part of the paddle.

Moving on to the handle, we do like how the grip feels. It doesn’t seem likely to cause blisters or hot spots for the majority of people. The shaft of the paddle feels fairly comfortable to hold. The aluminum shaft is fairly rigid on its own but there is plenty of give to the paddle as a whole, thanks to the slop in the fit for the lower section.

This paddle also has essentially zero offset, with just an exaggerated scoop. This means you don’t get quite the same power per paddle stroke as a paddle with a more noticeable offset, as this paddle will exit the water much sooner. This also tends to make it a much more turbulent paddle stroke.

The handle is quite comfortable to hold.

Photo: David Wise

Weight

Our next metric looked at how much each paddle weighs. While this might seem a trivial metric, especially given the very small differences between the lightest and heaviest paddles. However, these small differences can seem much more significant on longer paddles, making the heavier options much more fatiguing. The SUPply 3-piece fared very poorly in this metric, earning it one of the lowest scores of the group.

We do like how the plastic blade can stand up to abuse a bit better than carbon or fiberglass options.

Photo: David Wise

This paddle tips the scale at a little more than 2 pounds — almost a pound heavier than the lightest paddle we have tested. This probably wouldn’t be a huge deal — bordering on unnoticeable — for shorter paddle trips but will start to become noticeable very quickly for any marathon paddles.

Ease of Adjustment

Next, we rated and ranked how easy it is to adjust the length of the paddle — handy to swap between different paddlers or to fine-tune for different conditions. The SUPply 3-piece did much better in this metric, earning an average score.

This adjustable paddle has a dual-pin locking system that gives you a series of discrete positions. It’s easy enough to adjust on the water, with an almost identical mechanism prevalent on many of the other paddles.

The twin-pin locking mechanism works alright but can take some force to actuate.

Photo: David Wise

Locking Mechanism

Next, we compared the locking mechanism on each paddle. This 3-piece paddle did alright in this metric, earning a score just above average.

This paddle has a locking collar that slides the twin pins in and out. It moves fairly freely and we vastly prefer it to models that have a cam lock with a screw, as those require tools to adjust the clamping pressure and can cause problems on the water.

This paddle looks a little cheap -- and is one of the least expensive options of the group.

Photo: David Wise

Aesthetics

Our final testing metric evaluates the aesthetics of each paddle. This paddle finished out our review with a so-so score. All in all, we wouldn’t really recommend this paddle if you are thinking about style. It looks fine but it sure isn’t making any statements.

Value

This paddle is a very inexpensive option but also received one of the lowest scores of all time — a clear case of you get what you pay for, rather than being a great bargain.

Conclusion