Werner Surge and Strike Paddle"Walkthrough and Review"

[@CryptoSurfer]

That’s totally awesome how your kayak kept magically changing colors!

[@WadeHarrison]

Yeah some what of a magical act 🤩

[@brianswafford3471]

I have been using a surge for almost three years now and I love it. I think your review is spot on but I couldn't tell much difference doing a roll from my old paddle. When I first got it I was concerned about the larger blade size. I had a sherpa before so I was moving to a much larger blade. I was very surprised that it had a lot more power but added very little additional strain to my shoulders and arms. I still have my sherpa but I am now at the point where I use the surge all the time because I like it so much. My biggest complaint is using reverse strokes does not feel as natural with the surge. The good side is I now use those strokes less often which makes me a more aggressive paddler: something I needed to do anyway.

[@WadeHarrison]

Yeah that’s why I was saying if you already have a pretty solid roll you won’t tell much but if you iffy on rolls or have just started getting them with say like a powerhouse paddle you will feel a difference in this and totally agree with the backstrokes that why I was saying it’s not the best for playboating because a lot of play moves use that back face load up and this paddle does not like that it’s designed to go downhill and forwards

[@BrittanyVanderlinden]

I'm using a strike (194 bent small shaft) and I love the paddle on the river but my roll has not been so easy to get. I just started a couple months ago. I now have a reliable roll but it has some issues. Funny enough I tried someone's 197 regular paddle and a 200 and regular and rolling was so much easier! Thanks for the review!

[@WadeHarrison]

Yes the offset blades are harder to roll with

[@daithigraydongraydon1294]

I have a Surge 197 bent carbon shaft. I have used it for over a year and love it. I used a powerhouse full carbon before I got the Surge. The powerhouse house is now my second paddle.

[@WadeHarrison]

Exactly like I was saying when you get use to it will not want to go back

[@MatthewBrookKayaking]

Solid review. The Crashcades ate my last Odachi too - bought a Surge and never looked back!

[@WadeHarrison]

Yeah the design of the odichi is great but if don’t hold up what’s the point I messaged Werner and told them i would take a heavier one if was stronger

[@MatthewBrookKayaking]

@@WadeHarrison yeah, definitely. Mine lasted 2 years, which was fairly decent, but still... There was a guy over here in the UK who took people's Odachis and beefed them up with some extra carbon - pretty neat job too - but it didn't solve the shaft breakage issues!

[@WadeHarrison]

@@MatthewBrookKayaking my first one lasted a year and it cracked I patched it and sold it cheap got a new one and it lasted awhile I added extra carbon tp the blades it broke at gorilla on the green which is not that uncommon so was like that not fair to blame it then got a third one and it broke in that video after only 4 months I was like that’s it I’m done unless they change something in the layups

[@IraFowler3]

Testing it on the Thompson & Raven Fork….really putting it through the paces lol

[@WadeHarrison]

Yes the flex and durability it’s great for rivers like that

[@TheOfficialDOP]

Besides specs, what’s the functionality differences between the surge and the powerhouse as far as creeking and play boating is concerned? The offset you mentioned, is the difference very noticeable? Asking because I have a powerhouse but definitely want some back up paddles. As far as the lettman, you mentioned, it was a beast to roll with, can you elaborate on that a little bit?

[@WadeHarrison]

Yeah so first the surge has that forward blade and it doesn’t like to load off the back non power face as smooth as the powerhouse or player does the surge is designed for down river power strokes and boofs not playing but you can get use to it playboating As for rolling with a lettman well the forward cranked blade it’s very difficult to orient when upside down that design is for fast downriver only it is extremely difficult to do playboating type moves I’m only talking about the one I have with the deep forward crank not the straight shaft lettman

[@TheOfficialDOP]

@@WadeHarrison funny thing, I went on Werner’s website after watching this just for shits and giggles and noticed they were having a close out on the gradient powerhouse paddle for $234, which was about $40 off from original. Figured I’d go ahead and pick up another one for that price. I’m still only about 7 months into paddling and have a decent roll that I can hit about 98% of the time so I’m thinking maybe stick with that powerhouse until my roll is bomb proof before I switch like you mentioned.

[@icelandicwhitewater]

You’ll love it for river running/creeking. Don’t know about play boating. The offset I’ve been using the powerhouse since 2006 and switched to the Surge two years ago. Never going back.

[@TheOfficialDOP]

@@icelandicwhitewater thanks, I’ll definitely check it out

[@LIVE4THEADVENTURE]

What would you recommend for a beginner, class 1,2 and maybe light3 in a Dagger 9.7 Katana? Thanks for any information and great videos you have.

[@WadeHarrison]

Oh If don’t mind getting the best i would say the Werner powerhouse but if trying to save could go with a aquabond

[@LIVE4THEADVENTURE]

@@WadeHarrison Thank you, I did not realize how many choices there are on paddles, spray skits and life vest. Paddles come in categories and the Dagger Katana is a crossover so did not really know if I should look at White water or recreational. Thanks you!

[@LeeEnfieldLB]

Excellent review Wade. My wife and I just received our new Werner Surge and Powerhouse in the mail yesterday. We pre-ordered them from the fine folks at Western Canoe and Kayak in Abbotsford BC back in September. Looking forward to ice-out and getting back on the water.

[@WadeHarrison]

That’s awesome let me know what you think about the surge

[@jameskerr4722]

I want an all around paddle moving forward and am going to buy one this week. I want a paddle that will last but also feel great in low water/high water/play boating. Do you think I should choose the surge or sho gun? I’m worried about the longevity of the sho gun and the flex/feel of the surge.

[@WadeHarrison]

I like the select paddles over the Werner’s now. But I still have my Surge I broke one and the other I still use if on very rocky runs where I need flex in the paddle i had a shogun for awhile but after a while it was splitting apart when the edge wore down but the shoguns are really good paddles design and construction. Now I will probably never buy another Werner paddle again to many better options

[@jameskerr4722]

Thanks for the reply, that’s good to know about the Werner paddles. Do you use the select wild or is another one your go to?

[@tmacoutdooring1837]

Had a practically new one I sold to a mate who needed a paddle upgrade. Kind of regretting it now. I don’t think it’s the best for his style. I probably didn’t use it enough to get used to it before selling it. Had been using a bent shaft Sherpa and graduated to bent shaft power house. The lack of reference point was odd at the time but I’ve got a little more experience now. Should I get it back🤔 enjoy the equipment reviews.

[@WadeHarrison]

Yeah exactly what I was saying that I understand if learned and mostly use a regular paddles this would be a difficult transition At first….

[@Nick-vs5wl]

Anyone else noticed the Surges delaminating around where the bend in the blade is? Mine have got to the point where there is actual cracking near the back surface of the blade. Same thing seems to be happening on several other people's surges

[@WadeHarrison]

Yes that area takes hits and flakes and cracks a lot I was trying to point that out

[@joewidner8308]

Wade, funny you put this review up now. I just broke my blade on my Mitchell paddle (which I loved) 200cm, bent shaft all carbon. Looking for a replacement to that. I like the features of the Lettman and the G Power paddles where it's a 2 piece paddle and has some length adjustment. Do you notice any flex of the 2 piece vs a 1 piece paddle? Thanks.

[@WadeHarrison]

There is ZERO flex in the lettman and g power I have used the G power and they are very similar paddles just pick up a surge or something similar for those creeks you think you will be hitting rocks

[@huntergipson3447]

Been wondering how those were about bought one a few months ago wish I would have now ! Nice video as always Wade 🤙🏼

[@WadeHarrison]

Yeah, It's such a good all-round paddle if you can find one Pick it up, I did put a link in the description for a 4-piece breakdown one if you're interested?

[@ThatOldGuyYouKnow]

I've been using one for over a year now, and I really like it. I paddle in Scotland, mostly step rocky creeks with not much water.

[@WadeHarrison]

@@ThatOldGuyYouKnow how’s it been holding up

[@stalak]

So powerhouse or surge ? ;) there is some discount for powerhouse in my country and wondering if buy one or wait for surge till spring they are out of stock

[@WadeHarrison]

I like the blade forward design of the surge but if find a deal on powerhouse take it because that’s a solid paddle no matter what and a really good backup

[@stalak]

@@WadeHarrison Its hard to tell what is a good deal nowadays :( In EU powershouse/surge bent initial price was 539 EUR and i finally ordered for 436 EUR, which is still higher than in US without discounts (415$) ....

[@orlandoberry4031]

What’s the OD on the large / small shafts?

[@WadeHarrison]

That I will have to check on I don’t know the exact size but it’s definitely notable different when you compare them

[@mikewillifordjr]

Love mine!!!!! 200 bent

[@WadeHarrison]

Awesome 🤩

[@Chompchompyerded]

Yeh it's unfortunate about the Adachi. It could have been one of the best paddles out there but it ended up being a goat because of the break issue. I've seen two of those break in really bad situations, once in Gore Canyon, and once on upper death. The poor guys who had them took really ugly swims and beatdowns as a result. The last place on earth where you want to see a paddle break is on a class 5 rapid where the line is as narrow as a mouse's tail. No stores within 300 miles of here will sell them anymore. In this kind of water they are essentially a throw-away paddle at a very steep price. That said, around here we live for spring creek boating, and in the summer after the snow melt has left and the water in all the major rivers comes down, you have to have a blade which has some sort of metal reinforcement or you'll wear it down to a nub in under a season. In my opinion, if you're going to kayak a lot in Colorado, you might as well drop the bucks and go for a Lettmann Ergonom Pro Extreme. It will take the beating as well as give you the power you need to hold a line in the ugliest of water. Of course at the price point, you'll want to rescue your paddle before your boat! LOL! I've had my Lett since the model first came on the market. It's scratched like it was in a fight with a tiger and it's kinda heavy, but I have no doubt that it will be there for me and won't break down at a critical time. It could get dragged by wild horses and come out just fine. It's a steep investment initially, but when I add up the cost of all the other paddles I'd have to have purchased along with how many times it's got me out of tough spots, it pays for itself over and over and over again, sort of like a good quarter horse. A good quarter horse can barrel race and handle cattle, and the joke is that the best quarter horses can cut fly specks out of a box of pepper. The Lett EPE is a quarter horse for your kayak... it can take it all and come out ready for more, and you don't need to curry it down and water and feed it either. It's not that the Werner Surge is a bad paddle, and in fact for a lot of the water you'd encounter out here it would be just fine if you're not going creeking or trying to hammer class 4-5+, but woe will be with you if you're down in Black Canyon and your paddle breaks. It's a long, vertical climb out. Likewise, breaking a paddle in Gore Canyon or on Upper Death is fine if you like swimming in a giant washing machine that gets the blood out and rearranges the geometry of your boat at the same time. I think back to when I was a kid and I wonder how we managed. Most of our paddles were wood back then, with a few that had aluminium straight shafts with the blade riveted to it. It was brutally basic kit back in the late 50's and early 60's. I keep wondering how we managed to survive some of the things we did. Luck had to have been a pretty big part of it. Seriously, who among you would run the Black Canyon of the Gunnison at full flood in a fiberglass boat with wooden paddles? Remember that the most difficult parts are underneath three lakes now, yet we did it in high water from Gunnison on down to the confluence with the North Fork near Hotchkiss. I shouldn't be alive and writing this. One thing though... It will probably be really hard to find a Lett with things as they are supply chain wise, and I'm guessing that will push the price of something that was already very dear up even higher.

[@WadeHarrison]

Agree the lettman is the way to go I think having a lettman as your main paddle and something like a surge or shogun as second paddle is the way to go and definitely want to have a 4 piece break down on those remoteish runs

[@georgewilliamssr5230]

I love my Werner Power House.

[@WadeHarrison]

It’s a really well designed paddle

[@powhoundus]

To my knowledge Werner never recommended Odachi for creeking. Plenty of boaters have used it for creeking but the paddle is designed to be a super light / stiff racing paddle. When you pick it up and look at it you can tell it’s obviously not designed to take a beating. No one should be shocked if they break an Odachi using it for creeking 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@WadeHarrison]

Agree that’s why I only brought mine out for big water and races but they still break way to easy lettmans and Gpower from this point on for me