A SUP paddle has a single blade and a grip on top, because you stand and paddle one side at a time, while a kayak paddle has a blade on each end and no top grip, because you sit low and alternate strokes side to side. That one difference, one blade versus two, drives almost everything else about how each paddle is shaped and used.
A stand-up paddle is longer, usually about eight to ten inches taller than you, so it reaches the water while you stand upright. Your top hand wraps the T-grip or palm grip and drives down, your lower hand guides the shaft, and you switch sides every few strokes to stay straight. The single blade is angled slightly forward so it stays vertical through the power part of the stroke.
A kayak paddle is shorter relative to your height and has two blades because you sit close to the water. You hold the shaft in the middle with both hands and alternate left and right without ever switching your grip. The two blades are often set at a slight offset to each other, which reduces wind resistance on the blade that is out of the water.
For a lot of NIXY paddlers this is not an either-or. If you own a board you sometimes stand on and sometimes sit on, you do not need to buy a whole second paddle. You can add a second blade to your existing SUP paddle and turn it into a kayak paddle in seconds.
The NIXY G4 SUP Kayak Blade ($69) attaches to your NIXY SUP paddle to add that second blade, so one paddle covers both standing and sitting. If you paddle a kayak most of the time, a dedicated two-piece kayak paddle is the better tool, but for switching back and forth on the same board, the conversion blade is the simple pick.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a SUP paddle as a kayak paddle?
Not as-is, because a SUP paddle has only one blade and a top grip meant for standing. You can add a second blade to convert it, which turns it into a functioning two-bladed kayak paddle.
Why is a SUP paddle longer than a kayak paddle?
Because you stand up to use it. A SUP paddle has to reach the water from a standing height, so it runs taller than you, while a kayak paddle is shorter since you sit much closer to the surface.
Do you hold a SUP paddle and a kayak paddle differently?
Yes. On a SUP paddle one hand grips the top and one holds the shaft, and you switch sides as you go. On a kayak paddle both hands hold the shaft in the middle and you alternate blades without switching your grip.
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