Malik

I've been curious about greenland paddles, but they aren't easy to find. Gearlab appears to be the go-to greenland paddle manufacturer for most people, and the price was right for the Malik, although I would have preferred a 230cm length. In order to get that, however, you have to go to one of their higher end paddles, and there's limited availability right now. As this was my first greenland paddle, I didn't want to invest a lot of money only to find that it wasn't for me. I'd done all the research online, but was still not sure if I'd like it. The company is based in Taiwan, and I was also skeptical of ordering online from an oversees company, but since so many others had done so and approved of their products, I figured I was safe. The paddle arrived only a week after I ordered it, so no issues there. It ships with a bar of wax, similar to ski wax, that they recommend using on the parts of the paddle that fit together. It's a very tight fit, so the was was helpful, and I don't think I'll be taking it apart for easy transport like I do with my other paddle, because the fit is so tight. It's not easy to get it apart or pressed back together. There is no option for feathering with a greenland paddle like you have with most Euro blade paddles. I expected that it would take some getting used to, but I loved it immediately. I expected that I would not be able to paddle as fast as I can with my Aqua Bound StingRay paddle, but my top speed with the greenland paddle is actually about 1 mph faster (verified with Strava). When I'm careful enough to paddle efficiently, it's very smooth... like a hot knife through butter, with minimal splashing. My only complaint is that there are no drip rings, and I'm not sure how you would do that, as the round portion of the paddle is limited to the center. So, I get a bit of water in the cockpit which previously wasn't an issue for me. That's a bit bothersome, as I usually have a high end digital DSLR camera/lens on the floor. So now I have to make sure I keep the camera covered to avoid getting too much water on it. I still feel like I could use a 230CM- the Malik is only available in 220- or get a more narrow boat than my Eddyline Skylark. So... I'll probably end up ordering the next one up in their line as soon as one is available in a 230 in something other than black. I definitely recommend that everyone at least give a greenland paddle a try.

Got this as a christmas gift. Looks like another high quality design that i can't wait to get on the water with.

Wonderful rendition of the original greenland paddle. Using it in my classes and its a wonderful paddle to use. Very durable to perform under daily abuse. Only grouch is I hope the neck could be more seamless or of a lower profile, closer to the shaft. Ability to change the tips is a great feature too!

Since my main paddle for my CLC Shearwater Sport is a wood Greenland style paddle, I wanted something as a back up. I bought this since it could break down and I could stow it on deck. The quality for the price is out of this world. I've used much more expensive paddles that didn't feel nearly as nice as this paddle. If this is the quality of one of GearLab's least expensive paddles, I'd love to try one of their top tier paddles. My only complaint is the button you press to unlock the paddles once the shafts are brought together can be kind of hard to press. But it's such a minor thing, it's hardly a problem. You won't be disappointed with this paddle.

My first Greenland paddle and I'm very impressed with it.

New to kayaking, coming over from canoes. Wanted to start with a greenland style paddle and picked Malik. I'm very happy with the performance of the paddle, easily able to keep up with a group using euro-style paddles. I like the shoulder on the paddle, helps me easily locate my hands and work with the angle I want from the blade. The slight ridge down most of the blade helps with control and seems to be a stiffener when plowing ahead. Feels like a perfect paddle to perfect rolling and sculling when laying down in the water. Comes apart, has an excellent joint, very solid, truly works as a single piece when connected. When apart and in a bag it's great over the shoulder on my bike. Wanted a paddle to explore kayaking and I'm very satisfied with Malik being able to take me where I want to explore.

I’ve been kayaking for a little over 2 years so my skills are quite limited compared to other reviewers. Most of my trips consist of 10-20km days out on the tidal section of my local river watching wildlife, mixed with frequent bursts of high pace for fitness and just enjoying my time on the water. I found out about Greenland style paddles recently and was eager to try one out after reading about comparisons with Euro blades. I didn’t want to splash out for a full carbon one and I also didn’t want a wooden one piece paddle. I wanted something two piece, not too expensive and relatively maintenance free for convenience. After a little over 30km done with it I can say I’m very happy. The paddle was designed for people like me in mind so I think Gearlab have succeeded with the Malik. It’s well made. It’s very user friendly but I did find a slightly canted stroke was far more powerful for me but it’s still forgiving no matter what you do. I had no trouble covering distance at my usual pace. I could generate more than enough power with the paddle to push very hard too. It can be pretty silent too if you want which is useful for sneaking up on wildlife. I can only give it 5 stars as it’s doing exactly what I want, but I can appreciate more experienced people will likely prefer higher end models and will rate this lower. But for my purposes it’s great and I’m really enjoying it.

Great to be able to have a high quality product as an "introduction to Greenland paddles" that is both performative and durable for the novice.

At a lower price than other Gearlab Greenland paddles, the Malik is a good solution for two piece Greenland paddles for kayaking schools/camps; however, it should be noted to your students that the hydrodynamics of the paddle is noticeably different than other Greenland paddles. The paddle is durable and can take a solid day of paddling. Most notably, I tested this paddle in Pacific City, Oregon in 22 foot break. It stood up to a gnarly pounding over the lip. That said, if price is the factor steering you towards this paddle, I would recommend a wooden paddle with Gearlab's new two piece ferrule adaptation. If price isnt as big of a concern, turn to the KQ paddle from Gearlab, an outstanding paddle which is far and above. For durability and price, I applaud this paddle. For paddle-ability, I would suggest the KQ over the Malik.

Gearlab have taken a new direction to their previous paddles with the Malik. Made out of plastic, this is a cheaper, lower performance option. Gearlab sent me the Paddle at no charge which I have agreed to on the proviso that any opinions (positive or negative) are mine to express. I’ve had some limited time on the water with this paddle, comparing it directly to an Akiak. I’ve also shared it amongst a number of other paddlers, both familiar with Greenland paddles and unfamiliar, in order to get their views. The Malik is not simply a polypropylene copy of another Gearlab paddle. The most notable design difference is the tapered, cylindrical spine that runs down the paddle almost to the tip. I assume Gearlab added this to stiffen the blade with it being constructed from more flexible plastic. This spine changes the dynamics of the blade in the water. The spine acts mildly like the dihedral that you find on many euro style paddles. The dihedral helps water to spill more evenly across the two edges of the blade. This means that the blade experiences less flutter or cavitation in use if you don’t have good technique. Unusually for first time users of Greenland paddles, none that used the Malik reported fluttering or cavitation. And pushing the blade straight down into the water hard it is possible to generate some flutter, but noticeably less than with the Akiak. Aleut paddles (another style of Inuit paddle from the Aleutian Islands) had a ridge on one side of the blades and many users of them today enjoy the lack of flutter with this paddles when the ridge side is used as the power face. However the Aleutians did not use the ridged face as the power face. It seems the ridge was incorporated on the non-power face to strengthen and stiffen the paddle whilst allowing it to be made thinner and lighter than an equivalent Greenland paddle. They used the flat face of the paddle as the power face, it seems (records are very scant) with a canted stroke. Much like the way Greenland paddles need to be paddled to generate maximum grip with the somewhat wing paddle effect (I am not great with the how the physics work - but in practice the canted stroke dramatically increases the grip on the water and power from the paddle). I was concerned that the Malik would not allow the use of a canted stroke due the slight dihedral shade. In practice, I am glad to have found the ridge is ‘soft’ enough to allow some cant of the stroke. However the Malik is unable to generate quite the same power that Gearlab’s other paddles can. I am able to generate slightly faster cruising speeds with a shorter, and noticeably smaller bladed Akiak. This is the trade-off for reducing the flutter and cavitation that beginners often experience. Gearlab have made the Malik quite wide (as wide as their Kalleq paddle) to maximise drag in the water and this somewhat makes up for the lower efficiency of the blade in generating lift. Which beginners are again going to like and without good technique, many people will find the Malik more powerful a paddle than some other Greenland paddles. It is possible to skull quite effectively with the Malik, but again the technique is not as smooth as with some other Greenland paddles. The Malik is also a dream to roll with – being big and buoyant, and few are likely to notice much difference even though it is not quite as efficient and precise for generating sweeping lift from the water. Other users have noted that it is dry and quiet to paddle with. The paddle shares a couple of features with Gearlab’s higher end designs – that being the carbon fibre loom and ferule and the ‘signature’ replaceable tips. I see that Gearlab now offer a cheaper fibreglass loom version which I think is a step in the right direction. A bit of extra weight at the loom would do very little to change the swing weight – the figure that matters most on the water. If I were to buy I would get the fibreglass loom version. But I am glad that they retained the replaceable tips. Polypropylene does scuff and ‘fur’ up pretty easily with scrapes and dings, and for a paddle like this that is designed to be a bit of a ‘beater upper’ I could imagine the tips getting rough pretty quickly. This would reduce the performance of the paddle. However one of the tips ‘fell out’ of the paddle when it was knocked over onto a hard floor by a dog at a club training day. Yes, the treatment was rough and no one would expect something like a carbon paddle to survive such a fall. But this is a club level plastic paddle and should be able to take this. The tip was easily glued back into place however Gearlab should look to ensure that the design is as tough as can be. I am not personally a fan of shouldered paddles but Gearlab made the correct choice in having shoulders on this paddle. Beginners find it much easier to locate their hands and paddle symmetrically with the shoulders. I hold my paddle fairly wide (almost a third of the length apart – with the Malik just outside the shoulders or with just my index and thumb inside the shoulder) and with the Malik the little ridges on the blade do dig into my hands a bit. This is not that uncomfortable but for a long day, I can imagine some rub points developing on my hands. Having said that, I don’t see this being a paddle that gets used for 40km-60km days on the water. Those from colder climates that wear thick gloves maybe won’t notice. If I were to use this paddle for extended trips I would consider wrapping some duct tape around the base of the blades. Those new to Greenland paddle will mostly love this design, and so on that aspect Gearlab have nailed the brief. The paddle is tough, well made and easy to use. The paddle has some limitations, and can’t be made to perform the same as a more refined model when used with good technique. But beginners will get more out of this paddle than more refined models with its limited flutter and more easily accessed power. The Malik has achieved its brief in being a beginner friendly Greenland paddle. However that same beginner friendliness translates into a paddle that that is a bit more limited in how far you can grow your technique with it. Paddle style is really a personal choice and whatever style you prefer (Greenland, euro or wing) I can name world leading sea kayakers that favour them. However too many kayakers don’t try Greenland paddles because of the impression that they lack power. And this is true if you don’t use good technique (especially the canting of the blade). With the Malik, the dihedral somewhat impedes a canted stroke and so some kayakers who try it may reinforce preconceptions of the low power Greenland paddle. Though it is also true that plenty more who would have tried another Greenland paddle and given up due to the initial feelings of flutter and cavitation will continue on with the Malik. So long as they realise that the paddle has some limitations, and can’t be made to perform the same as a more refined model.