Reviewed by Matt Hudgens

With the AT-4 Adventure Technologies has brought bent shaft paddles to the masses. No longer do you have pay an arm and a leg and then still worry about being careful not to break your paddle to get the advantages of bent shafts over straight shafts. If you've been using an AT-2, the AT-4 will feel a little different initially, but about a half hour of paddling with it makes it feel just as natural. The blades are composite with a funky yellow fabric like material on the back side and are not foam core, adding to the durability of the paddle. If you've been used to a foam core blade, this will take longer to get used to, but for a less experienced paddler or for a creek paddle non foam core blades are much less delicate. The blades come in either the AT-2 play style shape (a tilted tear drop) to fit around today's shorter, wider boats or the older river running shape reminiscent of the original AT-X. The shaft is black with a large weave, and feels beefy. The grips use AT's patented shape, which varies the diameter and shape throughout the bend to achieve optimal hand to wrist alignment while minimizing the actual amount of bend in the shaft, thereby insuring as strong a shaft as possible.

I've been using the AT-2 since it first came out in 1998 or so, and love it. I recieved an AT-4 to demo in September of 2003, and have now been using it for 10 months. For ocean surfing I like it more than the AT-2, the forward stroke seems a bit more powerful, and for the way I use a rudder stroke on an ocean wave it feels more effective. For river playboating I still prefer the AT-2, but the difference is slight, however creeking is where this paddle really shines. I no longer have any fear of having to get out a breakdown and using a straight shaft because I broke my paddle. IÕm not even sure I can break this paddle if I try to. It's got a great feel on all strokes, from powerful boof strokes to delicate side draws, and the peace of mind I now have on harder, more committed runs is worth everything to me. I also really like the highly visible yellow blades in a creek setting, making it much easier to spot in case of getting seperated from it on the creek. I've been simply tossing it into the back of my truck with tools, boats, a spare tire and other assorted odds and ends without a worry, something I would never do with my AT-2. The price is right too, while the AT-2 is an expensive paddle (though worth it), the AT-4 is within $10 of any high quality straight shaft paddle, making it a real no brainer.

So if you're in the market for a new paddle this one is definitly worth a look see. For the paddler who just wants one paddle to do everything with, or the paddler who needs a stouter second paddle for creeking, or the new paddler who wants bent shaft technology without the bent shaft price and delicacy, the AT-4 is the answer to your search.