An Independent Review of Our Tango Carbon Kayak Paddle
5-minute read + 13-minute video
We always love to see paddlers discover our gear for the first time, especially when it’s not through us. Recently, Adventure Otaku, the YouTube channel of outdoor educator and author Brett Friedman, took our Tango Carbon for a spin after many in his audience encouraged him to try it.
As you’ll see in his video below, he was a little surprised by how much he liked the performance of the Tango he was able to borrow from a friend. Take a look at what he had to say:
First Impressions
Brett’s first impressions as he first handles the Tango are that it’s “a beautiful paddle, very nicely made.”
He noted the lightweight feel right away, weighing in at 650 grams on his scale—almost exactly what we list on our site. That makes it about 50 grams lighter than his current go-to paddle.
He also commented on a couple of design details: the textured shaft and the Posi-Lok™ ferrule.
While he typically prefers a smooth shaft and wasn’t sure how he’d feel about the raised ferrule, he admitted both pieces fit together cleanly and performed well on the water. (And as he later mentioned, the raised ferrule on his other paddle didn’t trap grit or sand as he expected—always a win.)
Quick Note about High-End Paddles
As he prepares to get on the water with the Tango, Brett offers his opinion about high-end paddles:
“You don’t need a $400 paddle in order to go paddling and have amazing adventures…If you’ve got a $60 paddle or $100 paddle and it’s working for you…go outside and have fun.”
We agree with Brett. That’s exactly why Aqua Bound builds paddles across a wide range of materials, technologies and price points. We want every paddler to find a paddle that fits both their goals and their budget.
First Impressions on the Water
Once Brett got the Tango out on the water, his reaction was immediate:
“I am a big fan of first impressions. And first impressions on this paddle are very nice, I have to say. It’s very light, very stiff.”
“This is delightful! I didn’t expect to like this so much.”
He mentions that he believed the ferrule mechanism was plastic—something he’s generally cautious about—but noted it was simple and intuitive to use.
For clarity, the load-bearing portion of our Posi-Lok™ ferrule is actually 100% carbon, making it 42% stronger than traditional plastic ferrules. Only the locking mechanism (the part you twist to adjust feathering) is made from ultra-durable plastic. That ensures a smooth, secure fit that stands up to years of use.
Our Posi-Lok™ ferrule is very simple to use and very durable
Overall, Brett was impressed:
“In general, this is a super nice paddle…This is not an inexpensive paddle. It is a very nice paddle. I would have zero issue paddling with this.”
He did mention the textured shaft wasn’t his personal favorite, though not a deal-breaker.
Final Words on the Tango Carbon
Brett wrapped up his video review by saying, “I think this is a great paddle. I have no qualms recommending this if you’re shopping for a high-end paddle.”
That’s high praise from someone who’s logged countless hours with some of the best paddles in the world.
If you read through the video’s comments, you’ll also find longtime Aqua Bound paddlers sharing their own positive experiences—proof that great gear earns loyalty over time.
(And yes, Brett’s already got his eye on our new Tetra Ultralight, which we can’t wait to see him review next!)
Comparing the Tango in the Video to Our Current Tango Carbon
Because Brett tested a friend’s paddle that she’s used for a few seasons already, he had an older model than the current one we sell today.
Our current Tango Carbon blades have a couple of major upgrades over the model reviewed in this video
Here you can see the differences between the one he tested and our 2025/26 model:
- The price in the video is $474.95. Our product page for the Tango Carbon straight shaft, 2-piece model with the Posi-Lok™ ferrule currently lists it at $449.95 USD.
- The blades on our current model have received a couple of big upgrades: We now use a spread tow weave carbon that increases strength without sacrificing weight. And we’ve added our Lam-Lok™ edge protection, making these blades five times more durable.
Tango also comes in a 4-piece model, a bent-shaft model, with our adjustable-length Versa-Lok™ ferrule, and with vibrantly colored fiberglass blades.
Our Final Words
One last observation from the Adventure Otaku video:
We’ll paraphrase, but Brett comments that Aqua Bound makes more paddles than anyone, which can unfairly give us a ‘less cool’ vibe than some of our competitors. Kind of the ‘corporate’ feel that can be negative with many paddlers.
One thing Brett pointed out resonated with us: With the size of our brand presence, we can sometimes appear like a large “corporate” company. But in reality, we’re a family-owned small business in Osceola, Wisconsin (population under 3,000) made up of a small but mighty team of paddlers and outdoor recreators.
Our paddles are designed, built and tested by a tight-knit team of paddlers, engineers and craftspeople who genuinely love what they do. When reviewers like Brett—and paddlers everywhere—find joy in our gear, that means everything to us.
It’s very rewarding when we see independent reviews like this one.
Thanks to Brett Friedman of Adventure Otaku for his honest review of the Tango Carbon! You can follow him on YouTube for more.
What paddling questions can our friendly Customer Service team help you with? Contact us at 715-755-3405 or sales@aquabound.com, or choose our online chat option.
More for you...