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Paddle Wax
Surfski Kayak Facebook Group - 11/15/2025 original facebook link (comments may have been added later that were not captured here)
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Boyan Zlatarev
It is sometimes very hard to find paddle wax which doesn’t melt and also doesn’t cause blisters. I personally love using wax because it allows me to have very relaxed grip on my paddle and it doesn’t increase the shaft diameter as some of the grip tapes do. This formula is made of completely natural ingredients and while it is soft on touch it doesn’t melt away in your hands as petroleum based wax does.
Leif Davidsson
Wax is outstanding for protection of hands and non slip, I have used wax since I started surfski for 15 years ago, I also use wax for white water and surfkayaking. Yes it seams to “wear of” but actually it redistribute to parts that have less preassure, so even if it moves it will help you to have a relaxed grip on the shaft. Relaxed grip is the main benefit of any grip soluition. Now I was lucky that Boyan Zlatarev made this wax as our former supplier disapeared.
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Leif Davidsson thanks Leif, very good explanation
Ian Trautmann
Wax is fine for shorter races, but when doing a race over 3hours like the Cape Point Challenge it wears off. I water paper the paddle shaft with 220grit water paper, allows tremendous grip, and once your hands are conditioned, I never get blisters. The trick is to make sure you don't have sun tan oil residue on your hands before a race, I actually always use some sea sand and rub it through my hands before a start. This allows a very light grip and thus eliminates the risk of getting forearm pump.
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Ian Trautmann I have never raced 3 h + but have tried the sand paper and you are 100% correct that if the hands are not hardened already you get blisters. Everyone has a different strategy to keep the grip on the paddle light and mine is to use wax.
Esther Wheeler
Would this also help prevent blisters for really long days back to back kayaking?
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Esther Wheeler I am not sure about that. The idea is the grip the paddle shaft less but there is more to the reasons for blisters than just gripping the paddle. It’s something you should test with smaller amount of wax and not going straight away for the longest possible paddle.
Lars Gram Kayak
Just buy a paddle that does not get slippery 😉
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Lars Gram Kayak do you mean a certain Greenland type of paddle ? 😉
This could be a solution to some people. I am not sure it would work for me personally but you never know.
Lars Gram Kayak
Boyan Zlatarev There is a very big difference from an old fashioned wood Greenland paddle, to the modern carbon version. So if you have only used a wood version, you will be amazed by the feel of its carbon sister.
The point is that you cannot make the tip area of a wood GP almost flat, it would break, where as the carbon offers the strength that makes it possible to make the tip area almost flat. This results in much more power, control and feedback. On top of that, a carbon does not flex, so not waisted energy.
You should try 🙂
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Lars Gram Kayak thanks 🙏
I tested a carbon Greenland paddle and although I can appreciate the advancements in materials, there is no comparison to the propulsion potential of a wing paddle. The paddling technique is also very different from what I have learned.
Lars Gram Kayak
Boyan Zlatarev A wing will always accelerate better than an GP. But with the GP you can paddle 30-40 km at nearly march speed for your kayak, and stil have energy to open the red wine 🙂
Anyway this is about slippery surfaces.
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Lars Gram Kayak wings have no minimum effort / speed requirement. Someone paddled 15.000 km around Australia using wings
Margaret Jones
I wear neoprene gloves, grip is good.
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Margaret Jones some people who come to Tarifa use neoprene gloves and they love it.
I personally need to handle way too many things with my hands and neoprene gloves wouldn’t allow me to do that. Also as a swimmer it is the most unnatural thing - to wear gloves.
Margaret Jones
Boyan Zlatarev I cut the finger tips from 2nd knuckle off for dexterity.
Works for me
Author Boyan Zlatarev
it’s a good workaround. It doesn’t work for me though.
Van Douglas
I’ll take some of that 🤙🏼
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Van Douglas oh yeah
Paul Tomblin
I used to use handlebar tape on my paddle until I found out that in salt water it absolutely destroys my hands. Now I go bareback with some tape above and below the grip zone.
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Paul Tomblin I also tried tape like the one you described and I didn’t like the feel on my hands.
Michael Michael
Have you tried electrician’s tape? Instead of wax
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Michael Michael I have tried many things over the years and I didn’t like the tape at all .
Michael Michael
Boyan Zlatarev Maybe it was the wrong color tape
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Michael Michael it is possible that the tape was wrong. I like more sticky grip on my paddle, which allows me to hold the shaft very loosely (often not holding at all but just hook lightly). It is my preference and I agree there are other preferences out there. I have seen all sorts of solutions - electrical tape, soft rough surface tape, medical tape, cork grips, bicycle handle bar grip etc etc. This is the solution I found works best for me.
Yariv Rachmani
Zen Wax from Zen Master 🎯
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Yariv Rachmani yeah 👍🏻!!
Siobhan Mora-Lopez
When is this available?
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Siobhan Mora-Lopez it is available
Magnus Landin
Can I buy?
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Magnus Landin yes, Leif Davidsson has them in stock
Tim Rowe
is GonePaddling going to be retailing it?
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Tim Rowe GonePaddling better starts retailing and soon! Stuart will get a few back home.
Tim Rowe
Boyan Zlatarev good, I’d like to give it a try
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Tim Rowe ok 👌🏻 I will wake up early to catch them before they go
Tim Rowe
Boyan Zlatarev did you get the wind today?
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Tim Rowe it was not only wind but also a lot of rain! We hid away by downwind a far more mellow downwind from Sotogrande to Estepona. We got some nice runs and 50/50 on the rain vs no rain time. Total sunshine time was around 2 min and 15 seconds!
Tim Rowe
Boyan Zlatarev it was sunny here this afternoon but no DW unfortunately
Lidia Marchese
Love it! Do you ship to Miami?
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Lidia Marchese in December … yes !
Xen Gladstone
Great name!
Author Boyan Zlatarev
Xen Gladstone thank you 🙏! Do you like the surfing Buddha ??
Xen Gladstone
Boyan Zlatarev 👍
