niphean Carbon SUP Paddle, Adjustable Lightweight Paddle Board Paddles with Rigid Carbon Composite Shaft and Nylon Fiberglass Blade, Floating 3&4-Piece Set for SUP& Kayak

Why it's worth it

The niphean breaks into four pieces and switches between a 65-to-83-inch SUP paddle and a 94-inch kayak paddle. If you own an inflatable and sometimes sit down to paddle, that's two paddles' worth of use from one shaft, in a package that fits a backpack.

Plenty of SUP days end with somebody sitting down. Your knees give out, the wind picks up, or a kid claims the standing spot. The niphean handles that without a second paddle: pull the pieces apart, add the second blade, and you've got a 94-inch kayak paddle. It's sold in three-piece and four-piece versions, and the four-piece is the one worth having.

More people have lived with this paddle than anything else in the guide. That's useful, because the owner feedback is consistent rather than glowing. Most buyers upgrading from the paddle that came with their board call it light, sturdy and easy to adjust, and several bought a second one. The complaints cluster in one place — the hardware — which tells you what to check when it arrives.

From our review of 5 adjustable carbon sup paddles, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +Plenty of SUP days end with somebody sitting down
• +More people have lived with this paddle than anything else in the guide
• +The build is a carbon composite shaft with a nylon-fiberglass blade, which is a sensible pairing for recreational use
• +The length range tops out at 83 inches in SUP mode, a couple of inches shy of the Overmont

What to know

• –Despite the floating blade claim, some owners say theirs sank, including one who lost a blade in a pond for good
• –The metal piece that locks the blade to the handle section has fallen off for more than one buyer, leaving the paddle loose in…