The Werner Sherpa whitewater kayaking paddle is one of the most common Werner paddles you will find on the river. This paddle was designed to provide kayakers with a high performance product that is more forgiving than more specialized designs.
Werner Sherpa Carbon Whitewater Kayaking Paddle Overview
When Werner released the Carbon version many Whitewater kayakers fell in love with the performance of the materials combined with the familiarity of the Werner Sherpa paddle blade design. The Sherpa is Werner’s sort of all around whitewater paddle. They have sold like hot cakes ever since and is one of the best selling Carbon Whitewater Kayaking paddles of all time. Although the Werner Sherpa Carbon Paddle is very popular, it may not be for everyone.
The Werner Sherpa is sort of a middle ground when it comes to paddle blade surface area. This means that the Sherpa works great for mid sized paddlers or smaller paddlers who like to have a little bit more power return from their strokes. Just like every other Werner paddle, they utilize an asymmetric blade shape that reduces twisting when engaged in the water. If you are looking for a great paddle for all around river running/ creeking that provides top of the line performance, the Werner Sherpa Carbon is a great choice.
In this paddle review, I will describe my experiences with the Werner Sherpa Carbon Whitewater kayaking paddle as well as explain some of the technology that Werner used in the Sherpa Carbon Whitewater kayaking paddle.
My Experience With The Werner Sherpa Carbon Whitewater Kayaking Paddle
My first time using the Werner Sherpa Carbon paddle came when I was relatively new to paddling. For reference I had a solid combat roll but was definitely not yet comfortable in class 4 whitewater. I went on a trip with a friend to paddle the Middle Ocoee River in western Tennessee. It was my first time paddling the middle Ocoee or any section of the Ocoee for that matter. When we arrived at the put in I realized that I had forgotten to throw a paddle in the back of the truck. Luckily my friend had a spare paddle. His spare was, you guessed it, the Werner Sherpa Carbon.
At this time in my paddling career my personal paddle, that I forgot to pack, was the original Werner Sherpa paddle in fiberglass. When we got on the water the strokes felt very familiar. The blade shape made the strikes very smooth without any buffering. The Carbon construction was definitely lighter and more rigid than the Fiberglass Werner Sherpa paddle that I was used to. The Sherpa Carbon got me through the entirety of the middle Ocoee. To be honest i did not notice that big of a difference between the Carbon and fiberglass Sherpa at that time. Don’t get me wrong, the Carbon Sherpa is definitely lighter than the Fiberglass Sherpa, but unless you are a very experienced paddler that is putting a lot of demand on your paddle, the differences will not really be utilized.
Is the Werner Sherpa Carbon a Good Paddle For Creek Boating?
Werner’s website classifies the Sherpa Carbon as a river running paddle design. Some people take this too far and say that it is not designed for creek boating. This is not true. The Sherpa’s asymmetrical blade shape focuses a majority of the blade’s surface area above the shaft. This allows you to limit the amount of rocks you hit when paddling the Sherpa in shallow water. If you are considering using the Werner Sherpa Carbon as a creeking paddle go for it!
Is the Werner Sherpa Carbon a Good Paddle For Playboating?
The Werner Sherpa Carbon is designed as a river running paddle. This means it excels in helping paddlers navigate some pretty serious whitewater without issues. Some paddlers have asked if the Sherpa can be used for playboating or freestyle kayaking. My answer is always the same… There are no rules or laws that dictate which paddle can be used for what. The entire time I had my fiberglass Werner Sherpa, I never paddled a creek boat or river runner once. I learned all the fundamentals in a freestyle kayak and the Sherpa served me well. As I progressed into learning freestyle moves like loops, cartwheels, space godzillas, the Sherpa worked just fine. Even though it is not designed specifically for freestyle kayaking use, it holds its own and will not hold you back.
Does The Werner Sherpa Carbon Whitewater Kayaking Paddle Have a Foam Core?
A common question asked about the Werner Sherpa Carbon whitewater paddle is “does the Sherpa Carbon have a foam core?” The answer to this question is no. Werner does make two different Carbon paddles that utilize a foam core but the Sherpa Carbon is not one of them. If you want a carbon Werner paddle that does have a foam core we recommend you take a look at the Werner Sho-Gun or the Werner Odachi.
Can You Buy a Two Piece Werner Sherpa Carbon Paddle?
If you are wondering whether or not you are able to purchase the Werner Sherpa Carbon paddle in a 2-piece option. The answer to this question is yes. Some companies do not produce carbon paddles in a two piece option but Werner does. They make multiple different 2 piece carbon whitewater kayaking paddles. If you are a midsized paddler looking for a great 2 piece carbon whitewater kayaking paddle, the Werner Sherpa Carbon is a great choice!
Comment below if you have any more questions about the Werner Sherpa Carbon paddle or if you want to share your experience with this paddle!