Carbon Fiber: These are generally considered to be the best selection for most people, with a price to match. What makes this type of paddle stand out is that it is both the lightest and strongest of all the other materials on this list. As a rule, anyone who is looking for a performance-driven paddle — and isn’t on a tight budget — should be looking in this direction.
Wood: Even though it’s not the lightest or strongest, wood paddles are beautiful and traditional. If you want to turn heads on the water, this would be your paddle of choice.
Length
In this area, the big question is whether to get an adjustable paddle or one with a fixed length. In general, this comes down to who is going to be using it. If you’re certain that you would be the only one to use it or that anyone else who would use it would be roughly the same height, than you may want to go for a fixed paddle. This will give you a lighter paddle that you wouldn’t have to worry about shifting around but the tradeoff is portability since you would have to carry around a paddle taller than you.
Adjustable would the perfect solution for a paddle that will be used by multiple people of various heights or for those who need to have a more portable option. Just remember that it will be heavier and that you may have issues if the locking mechanisms fail or aren’t secured properly.