Other Paddle Materials Aluminum Aluminum is one of the older modern wonder metals. Lots of inexpensive aluminum was available from the World War Two aircraft technology effort. Relatively light weight for a metal, high strength, and low corrosion attributes make it good for boats and accessories.
Metals have some advantages and disadvantages in paddles, though.
Differing alloys can allow a slight variation of feel characteristics, and the consistency of feel of several of the same kind of shaft is excellent. Metal shafts can also be easily bent into differing shaft configurations that enhance certain paddling styles. They can be insulated with foam, however, if the hassles of foam can be tolerated. Metal alloys are noisy, quite stiff, and also heavy when compared with many other more modern materials on a per weight basis. Besides as a shaft material, a very common use for aluminum in paddles has traditionally been as a protector for blade tips.