Looking for an honest review for the kahuna land paddle stick? We’ve bought & tested their stable of available land paddle push sticks and we’re ready to give you the low down on which land paddle will take your longboard cruises to the next level!
Learning to longboard land paddle will add a new dimension to your longboarding cruises. It’s a great way to get an upper body workout and balance out all the work your legs do on a typical cruise.
Land paddle boarding works your core, lower back, shoulders & arms. But be sure to switch sides often so that you work both sides of your body equally! And if you listen to nothing else that I say…listen to this! ALWAYS wear GRIPPY FULL FINGER GLOVES LIKE THESE unless you love having blistered hands & fingers!
Check out my Land Paddle Boarding Quick Start Step by Step Guide if you want to learn all the basics of paddle boarding. This quick start guide will have you up and paddling in just a few minutes!
The Kahuna Creations Land Paddle Stick comes in 2 different types of materials (bamboo & aluminum) with multiple sizing options & two different types of road grips. Each stick has a slightly different application.
Kahuna Creations was the first to market with a land paddle board and land paddle push sticks. They’ve cornered the market & it’s easy to see why with their robust, light weight, well thought out designs. It’s what I personally use, trust & recommend.
I absolutely love land paddle boarding to change up my workout routines. In good weather I’m able to land paddle a few times a week which I find to be a relaxing way to burn off stress & calories. Land paddle boarding makes you slow down and take in the natural beauty around you. It’s totally zen!
Whenever I’m traveling I like to take my longboard and land paddle with me just in case there is an opportunity to paddle around and see the sites in a a novel way.
If you’ve already got a longboard, the Kahuna Land Paddle Stick is an inexpensive investment to add another dimension to your cruises on the boardwalk or around the neighborhood.
Let’s get acquainted with some of the terms that I’ll be referencing throughout this buying guide. Below you’ll find the two different types of land paddle push sticks and two different types of road grips available through Kahuna Creations.
Before we dive into our review of kahuna land paddle sticks I want to quickly note that road grips are included with the price of a land paddle but you have to select the right road grip (and land paddle) for your needs which we’ll cover in this review.
How to choose the right land paddle size or length?
Correctly sizing the land paddle is pretty simple. Ideally when the land paddle is standing upright in front of you the top of the handle will fall somewhere between your chin and the top of your head while standing on your longboard.
For an exact measurement go grab a tape measure and stand up straight while standing on your longboard. Measure from the ground to your chin with the tape measure (while still standing on your longboard). The distance between the ground and your chin is the absolute minimum length of land paddle needed. The maximum being your actual height while standing on your longboard.
This is merely a starting point or a guideline. Some may like their paddles a little longer or shorter after some practice.
OUR HONEST REVIEW: KAHUNA LAND PADDLE STICK
Kahuna Creations Big Stick Adjustable- Aluminum with Pro Grip
If you’re completely new to land paddle boarding I would strongly suggest the Kahuna Creations Adjustable Big Stick with Included Pro Grip Attachment because you have some flexibility on height adjustment (adjusts from 4’5″ to 6’0″ long). It’s also the least expensive & lightest weight option.
This is also good option if you’re not the only one who will be using & learning to land paddle in your household (kids and spouses can play along too!).
Topping out at 64 inches long it’s suited for anyone 5’0″ – 6’0″ tall. There are 4 telescoping adjustment sizes- 4.5 ft, 5 ft, 5.5 ft and 6 ft. This land paddle stick weighs in at about 2.5 pounds with the included pro grip attachment. If you opt for the blade road grip attachment (sold separately) down the road (which I highly recommend to reduce weight) the paddle comes in a bit lighter at 2.08 pounds.
The pro grip attachment really is the best option for beginning land paddlers because the double road grip falls into the perfect pushing position pretty much every time (almost completely idiot proof…almost).
The blade road grip attachment is lighter but it really depends on you laying it down in the right spot on the ground to work well (it can easily flop to one side or another when you’re new and inexperienced). When you’re a beginner the pro road grip really is the way to go.
The Kahuna Creations Adjustable Big Stick with Included Pro Grip Attachment is the least expensive option in the Kahuna Creations stable of push sticks. The T handle itself is comfortable and ergonomic. One side of the shaft is flat which makes it easier to grip.
PROS:
-Lightest weight option
-Least expensive option
-Adjustable heights to suit multiple users in a household
-(Almost) Idiot proof double road grip that lands in the right place every time you push
-Arrives pre-assembled & ready to use out of the box
CONS:
-After a few uses I noticed that the stick started making small, metallic noises with each paddle push. This doesn’t bother me much because I listen to my airpods while I paddle so I barely hear anything. But if paddle boarding is your zen hour & you like peace and quiet…you might want to go with the bamboo model we’ll be discussing here shortly.
-Not much flex or bend for advanced land paddle boarding tricks/turns (bamboo model below is best for this)
-Trading out road grips was straight forward but the tight tolerances/interference fit made sliding on the new road grip quite difficult for a 110 lb woman. A rubber mallet might come in handy to get a new grip on.
The Kahuna Creations Adjustable Big Stick with Included Pro Grip Attachment is highly reviewed on Amazon if you want another perspective from my own.
Kahuna Creations Big Stick Adjustable- Aluminum with Blade Grip
If you are an experienced land paddle boarder looking for a replacement push stick or you want to jump straight to the lightest version of push stick available on the market you can check out the two blade road grip models available below (color is the only difference):
Big Stick Adjustable Blade Grip- BLACK
Big Stick Adjustable Blade Grip- BLUE
You can check out the adjustable aluminum push stick with a blade road grip in action in the video below. Just look at how much fun she’s having…this too can be you!
Kahuna Creations Big Stick Bamboo
The Kahuna Creations Big Stick Bamboo comes in just two fixed sizes (5’6″ & 6′ long) and is NOT adjustable. While these sizes may work for a lot of people it may not work for all people (see adjustable model earlier in this review for a wider range of sizing options).
Like the adjustable aluminum model discussed earlier, you do have the option of a pro road grip or blade road grip (remember that I recommend the pro grip for beginning land paddlers).
The bamboo line is very quiet and thankfully lacks the metallic clang of the aluminum adjustable model. The flex in the bamboo model is unmatched which makes it ideal for doing advanced tricks, pivots & turns on. The bamboo sticks have more “play” which means you have to put in much less effort to get the same amount of movement. You can really tell that this was made with advanced/skilled land paddlers in mind.
The Big Stick Bamboo is quite a bit heavier than the adjustable model coming in at 3.5 pounds with the pro grip attachment. The longest bamboo model tops out at 6′ feet long. The shortest bamboo model comes in at 5’6″. This would cover most adults out there in the 5′-6′ range but maybe not shorter adults or children.
PROS:
-Quiet push stick without the metallic sound of the adjustable model
-Lots of flex for comfort & advanced tricks/turns
-(Nearly) Idiot proof double road grip that lands in the right place every time you push
-Arrives pre-assembled & ready to use out of the box
CONS:
-Most expensive model in the Kahuna Creations Land Paddle stable
-Because it’s not adjustable & only offered in two sizes, it’s slightly limited for sizing
-I wish the T handle was shaped more like the adjustable model but this may be just a personal preference as a smaller woman.
The full stable of bamboo push sticks can be found at the links below:
Kahuna Creations Bamboo 6′ with Pro Road Grip
Kahuna Creations Bamboo 6′ with Blade Road Grip
Kahuna Creations Bamboo 5’6″ with Pro Road Grip
Kahuna Creations Bamboo 5’6″ with Blade Road Grip
Bottom Line- What We Recommend:
I like the Kahuna Creations Adjustable Big Stick with Included Pro Grip Attachment for all beginning land paddle boarders. It’s economical, totally adjustable, can fit multiple household members & it’s lightweight (even lighter if you purchase the blade road grip attachment down the road).
The Kahuna Creations Big Stick Bamboo Line line is best suited for an experienced paddler, someone who wants a quiet paddle, or a paddler who wants to take their land paddle boarding to the next level.
beginner tips and tricks from an experienced land paddler
- Far and away the biggest hazard for a land paddling beginner is accidentally hitting or running over your road grip with your rear wheels as you are pushing along. This…without a doubt will cause you to go flying off of your board. It’s really important to keep the road grip a safe distance away from all of your wheels at ALL times. Don’t let your land paddle drift along or drag alongside your board. Pay close attention to where the end of your paddle is at all times. Angle your land paddle away from the back wheels so there is no chance of the road grip striking your back wheels.
- Don’t paddle from a completely stopped position. Start pushing with your foot to get some speed before attempting to push with your land paddle.
- When you become more comfortable land paddling you may want to trade your Pro Road Grip for the Gen V Blade Road Grip. The blade has less weight to carry around & that’s a nice feature when you’re fully comfortable with land paddling.
- ALWAYS WEAR GRIPPY FULL FINGER GLOVES unless you love having blistered hands & fingers!
- Make sure you are front side paddling AND back side paddling to give your arms a break and even out the work load to either side of your body. After some practice you’ll be able to move around your board to switch sides without stepping off the longboard.
- Your first couple of trips will leave you sore…it happens to everyone don’t give up on it!
I hope you’ve found our review of kahuna land paddle sticks to be useful in making a confident buying decision. If you you have any questions shoot us an email. We love chatting with our readers!