TEST FOR YOU!
Ark Carbon Air Blades
Swedish company Ark Sports is one of the pioneers in carbon-fiber swimming equipment. The brand's products are widely used in swimrun and open-water swimming. Now the lightweight and rigid Ark Carbon Air Blades paddle models are also increasingly used by active swimmers. Is switching to expensive carbon fiber worth it?
The Ark Carbon Air Blade weighs only 50 grams. It is available in five sizes from XS to XL. The smallest model weighs 36 and the largest 82 grams. In square centimeters, the largest is almost twice the size of the smallest, ranging from 236 to 469 cm2. The paddles are clearly marked L and R, so there is no confusion between right and left. Swimmers know!
The test pair is size S and costs 86 euros, corresponding to the M-size versions from many swimming equipment manufacturers.
The size of the carbon-fiber model should be chosen carefully, especially avoiding a size that is too large. Otherwise, shoulder problems may follow. A small example of the benefit of lightweight material: if, on a long 5-kilometer open-water swim or swimrun, you use paddles that are 50 grams lighter, your shoulders are spared roughly 150 kilograms of strain.
The lightweight, rigid and durable paddles are equipped with ten round half-centimeter holes. These allow you to adjust the fit of the paddle to your liking with the middle-finger and wrist straps. The latter can preferably be left off entirely, so the pull can also be guided better with the wrist. Three pairs of holes at different levels make it possible to find the best position for your palm size.
Lightness is a
good companion
There are no actual water-flow openings, so the freestyle pull
with this completely inflexible, rigid model requires reasonably good swimming
technique and guarantees power in the pull. Lightness is a good companion
because carbon fiber is easier to control according to the demands of
technique. A swimmer—whether recreational or active—benefits in many ways from
the lightness, thinness and stiffness.
Carbon fiber hugs you over from the first strokes, and these paddles take their place alongside traditional plastic board-style and finger-style models that have long been used for swimming. In the palm, the feel of the light matte grip is at first even slightly slippery, but with precise tightening of the strap it is not a problem. Perhaps a slightly grippier surface would be better, but if needed, a separate, more adhesive tape can be used for this. The strap is made of strong material, although the tightening could hold better. It needs to be adjusted a few times, but on the other hand tightening it or easing the grip is easy even in a hurry.
The hardness of carbon fiber is worth considering especially in sizes L and XL, because a possible hit to yourself or another swimmer is felt more clearly than with plastic. On narrow and crowded lanes I would take the small risk into account. The sharpness of the edges is not in itself a problem with these carbon-fiber paddles, but an unlucky hit to an expensive wetsuit or swimsuit can leave a snag. At times, contact with carbon fiber is felt more distinctly on the thigh than plastic.
A thin profile
cuts water better
The answer to
whether it is worth buying more expensive carbon-fiber paddles is, after trying
several different models, definitely yes. The most important benefits for
swimmers are summarized in the list below.
Benefits of carbon fiber in swim training:
- Total stiffness: Carbon fiber barely bends even during the strongest pull. Plastic paddles can begin to flex at high speed or under a powerful pull, causing some of the force to be wasted. Carbon fiber, in turn, transfers all the power from the arms directly into forward momentum.
- Extreme lightness: Carbon-fiber paddles are often only about 1–2 millimeters thick and considerably lighter than plastic ones. The lightest models weigh only 30 grams, while plastic versions can weigh more than 100 grams. Lightness reduces shoulder strain during long swim sections and makes the hand recovery phase easier.
- Better hydrodynamics: Because carbon fiber is an extremely strong material, a paddle can be made significantly thinner than a plastic one without losing strength. The thin profile also cuts through the water better and reduces resistance when the hand enters the water.
- Material durability: High-quality, though much more expensive, carbon fiber also does not deform, become brittle in sunlight (UV radiation), or scratch as easily as plastic.
Plus:
+ Lightness, narrow profile and stiffness
+ Right and left markings
+ Appearance
Minus:
- Price (with reservations)
- No extra strap
Ark Carbon Air Blades
Price: 86 €
Size: M 330 cm2 (XS, S, M, L, XL)
Length/width: 21.5 cm/18 cm
Weight: 52 g (manufacturer)
More information: https://www.arksports.com/