Do You Need a Separate Paddle to Kayak Your Paddle Board?

No. You do not need to buy a whole second paddle to kayak your board. A kayak blade attaches to your existing SUP paddle and turns it into a double-bladed kayak paddle. So when you drop to a seated position and want to paddle kayak-style, you are not carrying two full paddles or spending on a second one.

Here is why it works. A SUP paddle is a shaft with a single blade on one end and a T-grip handle on the other. A kayak blade is a second blade that connects where the T-grip was, giving you a blade on each end. That is exactly what a kayak paddle is: a shaft with two blades. Swap the grip for a blade and your one paddle does both jobs.

This is the practical way to run a board as a kayak. Add a seat, click on the kayak blade, and you have a low, efficient double-blade stroke for covering distance or paddling into wind. Pop the blade back off and you are standing and paddling SUP-style again.

The NIXY G4 SUP Kayak Blade ($59) is a hybrid carbon fiber blade that clicks onto a NIXY paddle in seconds, so one paddle covers both stand-up and seated paddling. If you want to see the full range of shafts and blades, browse the paddles collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is a kayak paddle different from a SUP paddle? A SUP paddle has one blade and a T-grip. A kayak paddle has a blade on each end. A kayak blade converts a SUP paddle into the two-bladed kayak version.

Does the kayak blade fit any paddle? The NIXY G4 SUP Kayak Blade is built to fit NIXY paddles. Check shaft compatibility before pairing it with another brand's paddle.

Do you need a seat to paddle a board like a kayak? A seat makes seated paddling far more comfortable and efficient. With a seat and a kayak blade, an inflatable board paddles much like a kayak.

Can you switch back to stand-up paddling on the water? Yes. The blade attaches and detaches quickly, so you can go from seated kayak-style to standing SUP-style during the same outing.