Drip Rings Are they Useful

[bgood580]

Hi guys

I notice that nearly every paddle has drip rings. One of the drip rings on my highly expensive brand name paddle has perished while the other remains. However on a recent paddle I could not notice any difference in the amount of drips between having a drip ring and the other end of the paddle which has no drip ring. I spoke to a salesman from a reputable kayak shop who said drip rings are a gimic and advised to get rid of my remaining drip ring. Am I missing something here? Do drip rings serve a useful purpose?


Thanks

[gnarlydog]

they are extremely useful, if you want to keep your hands dry on a millpond paddle.
Otherwise, I think that salesman might be right.
BTW, I notice no drip rings on traditional paddles...

[JohnA]

In very cold climates, keeping your hands dry might be more of an issue. Here in the arctic wastes of NSW I don't see why you'd bother. Wet hands help you keep cool ! When you shell out good money for a light carbon paddle, why would you use these?. IMHO Drip rings just add a few useless grams to the outside end of the paddle to increase swing weight.

[tassiejohn]

I found them useful for checking that my hands equal distance from the paddle blades when I first started paddling. Since then I haven’t found them any help at all. In my experience, when you go kayaking, you get wet

[gages]

In my experience, when you go kayaking, you get wet

Yes its an IN water sport not an ON water sport

Forget the drip rings

[saltypaddler]

I find the drip rings are good on the spare to keep it from rubbing on the gel coat as much ..that's about it.

SP

[JohnA]

I might stick a set on the spare to help preserve my beautiful orange plastic finish too then :O)

[bgood580]

Thanks guys

As I suspected.
So drip rings are essentially a waste of time - they add to the weight of the paddle and don't really prevent the drips and hey its kayaking so yes there is going to be water. So why do so many paddles have an item that appears not to add a great deal of value. Its like drip rings are an industry expectation - we need to challenge this if drip rings serve no useful purpose.

Happy paddling sans drip rings

[schroeds]

My dog gets drip rings

seriously, when you say many expensive paddles have them, I'm not so sure. Well, I've never seen a wing paddle with them anyway.

[magooch]

I prefer drip rings, because I prefer paddling with dry hands. I even put drip rings on some of the paddles that I build. If your drip rings aren't working for you, maybe you have them too close to the blade where they are being submerged.

I guess if you're slopping around in the surf, it probably makes no difference.