Kialoa Mekana Double Bend

Tuesday morning, I received my new Mekana Double Bend paddle from Kialoa.  I was excited to use it but had to wait that afternoon for my hubby to get home from work to get it in the water. When I first placed the order I was somewhat hesitant, I love the fact that Kialoa designed the Mekana for the female paddler, but I was unsure of how I felt about and would do with a smaller blade, slimmer shaft and handle and new blade angle. Majority of my other blades are relatively larger and usually my go to paddle is my Hoku, that I absolutely LOVE, but I figure I’d give the Mekana a try to see how it would feel.

Once Jason got home from work and loaded up our OC1s, we headed across the Deception Pass Bridge to one of our favorite spots to launch from, Bowman Bay on Fidalgo Island. The bay was getting west winds and the tide had reached max flood creating some good swells when we first launched out.

As soon as I planted my new blade in the water and completed my first stroke, I immediately could feel a difference and knew that I have found my new fave! Everything felt so much smoother, I was loving my new Mekana. With the thinner blade and new angle, the catch was so clean and so smooth it felt like silk, and as I followed through with my stroke I did not feel like I was working or pulling as hard. The slimmer shaft & handle fit comfortably in my hand, that at times throughout my session out on the water, I honestly thought that Kialoa made this paddle just for and specifically for me, as if they took a mold of my hands and shaped it to fit.

When Jason and I got back on land, he asked me what did I think of my new blade and unlike when I first placed my order, without hesitation I replied “I LOVE IT”. This is definitely a paddle I would recommend for all my fellow paddlers and want to tip my hat off to Kialoa for doing such an amazing job in designing the Mekana Double Bend!

Much Mahalo, a huge Dankulu na Si Yu’us Ma’ase, and Thank you!!!