The response from Gearlab was really exceptional; 8 days from order to first paddle with my Kalleq! I’ve paddled Greenland style exclusively for 6 years and mixed it up prior to that. Until now, I’ve always had a “shouldered” stix so I was a bit nervous investing in the Kalleq. The transition took two paddle outings but now I feel very comfortable with it; a band of tape on the shaft to index my grip solved this issue. The paddling experience was another story. The Kalleq blade has more surface area than my other stixs so more support for bracing and a faster ride. The thinner profile allows for very precise placement for manoeuvring strokes. The water here is still a bit too cold for a full-on rolling session but my one (very quick) trial roll was effortless. Can’t wait for more! In all, a great experience to date. I can hardly wait for my 15 day coastal trip late in the summer to see how it performs with extended paddling. Very highly recommended!
