SUP Mag UK March 2015 issue 4 | Page 82

Lightweight efficiency – Aquaite Aqua Pro paddle Freedom bound – Aquabound Freedom paddle w w w. a q u a i t e . c o m https://aquabound.com Aquaite are a brand that produce natural products with an emphasis on sustainable materials. The brand’s SUP paddles are steadily gaining popularity and having wielded one of their sticks it’s not hard to see why. Aquabound are another company with a long heritage in kayaking and as such know a thing or two about paddles and paddling. Their Freedom adjustable offering is a lightweight carbon shaft and plastic blade affair that’s extremely eye catching in electric blue. A super pronounced dihedral runs along the middle of the blade, to reduce ‘wag’, and the whole package looks like a quality bit of kit. The Aqua Pro is a super lightweight carbon bit of kit that feels almost like nothing is in your hands, such is its delicate nature. This isn’t to say that it won’t take a few knocks; in fact it’s quite the opposite. We used it in a variety of situations and it certainly stands up to what paddlers are likely to throw at it. A quirky but really great idea Aquaite have incorporated into their Aqua Pro is the day-glow pink/red accents found on the blade tip and handle top. Most paddles are black and, if you happen to lose your engine in the surf, can be a nightmare to locate. The pink/red colour helps riders locate where their paddle \