Introducing the Hydro FlowX

It’s time to change the game.

For the past decade, Black Project has been dedicated to designing the world’s most high-performance SUP paddles and fins. And while our team athletes have racked up 19 World Titles and smashed World Records – our ultimate goal is to help every paddler get the maximum enjoyment out of their paddling experience.

In this pursuit, we have pushed the envelope and bent the “rules.” Now, the time has come to throw out the rulebook entirely.

Meet the Hydro FlowX. The World’s First Three-Dimensionally Designed Paddle

Featuring a completely reimagined design, the Hydro FlowX is a paddle unlike any other.

At first glance, your eyes will pop at the feature on the neck of the blade––an innovative new design that we call Advanced Flow Technology (AFT). It is designed to significantly increase paddle efficiency and smoothness by reducing turbulence and unwanted blade movements.

Next, you’ll notice another major structural update––the Deep Power Scoop (DPS) on the blade face. Featuring a deep scoop design with dihedral edges, it delivers power in a controlled manner and works in harmony with our Advanced Flow Technology to create a first-of-its-kind, three-dimensional paddle design.

The combination of the flow technology and deep scoop produces a fluid paddle stroke which reduces energy usage while increasing forward thrust. The outcome is significantly less paddler fatigue – enabling you to paddle longer, faster and more often than ever before.

“For the first time, a paddle company has designed a standup paddle to work in a three-dimensional way as it moves through the water,” said Chris Freeman, co-founder of Black Project SUP. “This change in thinking and design will dramatically alter the way people think about and interact with their paddle.”

The 3D blade design concept enables water to flow more efficiently around the paddle by eliminating turbulence and unwanted fluid resistance, which in turn, allows the paddler to truly harness the power of the water and enhance the efficiency of their paddle stroke. Additionally, we increased the rake angle to a little over 9 degrees––compared to 8 degrees in the original Hydro – for a slightly easier catch.

The end result is a completely reimagined paddling sensation that will feel smoother, easier and ultimately – faster.

Our Fastest Ever Paddle

While individual results will vary and speed is just one aspect to consider, our testing has shown the Hydro FlowX will increase your overall speed. When putting in a similar effort, paddlers can expect a 3-5% improvement in speed and lap times or paddle the same speed with less effort (when compared to the original Hydro, which is already faster than most race paddles).

While this might not sound like much, saving just three seconds per kilometer in a 10K race will shave 30 seconds off your overall time. Not to mention, reduced fatigue will allow for powerful late race bursts and more training sessions––two critical factors that will give you a consistently bigger advantage over time, while simultaneously protecting your body.

4% Lighter

Due to its design, the Hydro FlowX cannot be made in the same way as other ‘normal’ paddles. True to the Black Project spirit of innovation, we overhauled our construction to achieve the optimal balance, flex and weight ratios.

To reduce overall weight, we reworked our laminate layups with a mix of carbon and Kevlar pre-preg laminates. We also introduced 30-ton carbon – a strong but lightweight carbon that’s 25% lighter than our previous material. The resulting paddle is approximately 4% lighter than an equivalent model of the original Hydro.

Additionally, the Hydro FlowX’s redesigned blade offers massive structural strength. This gave us the dual benefit of being able to optimize the use of carbon in certain areas, while still achieving an overall strength enhancement.

Despite the increase in overall blade volume, the Hydro FlowX is the lightest and strongest paddle we’ve ever made.

Example weights:

A Reimagined Paddling Experience

The Hydro was already a great paddle – and its results make an excellent case to support this – but we weren’t interested in tinkering around the edges. To stay at the top, you can’t be afraid to break norms so we started with a completely fresh concept.

For the past 18 months, we’ve been quietly breaking every rule in the book. Putting our radical ideas into computational models, testing those prototypes on the water, and then going back to the drawing board again. It’s been a long and arduous process (which eventually broke our original 3D printer), but we couldn’t be prouder to introduce this paddle to the world.

The early returns are exceedingly positive. In recent months, pre-production versions of the new paddle have been made available for a select few athletes and retailers for feedback.

When comparing the new Hydro FlowX to a range of other top brands, T.J. Gulizia at Hood River’s iconic Big Winds outfitter said, “There is no comparison, the Hydro FlowX is the smoothest paddle ever.”

The owner of Bray Lake Watersports, Simon Frost, commented that, “It looks proper weird but feels lovely in the water. Smooth and powerful, but strangely easy.”

If you already have a Hydro, the FlowX will be a natural progression. The feel of the shaft and handle will be familiar, but the blade will glide through the water in a quieter, smoother and more controlled manner. This creates less fatigue and a significantly reduced risk of injury – especially during longer paddle sessions – so you can spend more time focused on improving your technique, fitness and overall speed.

We believe standup paddling is more than a sport – it’s a lifestyle, a state of mind and an escape from life’s problems. Only paddlers understand the feeling when – even for a brief moment – you fall into that blissful state of flow and all that exists is your board, your paddle and the water.

The Hydro FlowX was designed with those transcendent moments in mind. Because in the end, it’s all about the experience.

We are confident this paddle will allow you to enjoy the standup paddling experience unlike ever before.

We’ll see you on the water.

Sizing Info

With blade size and shaft flex options to suit all padders there is a Hydro FlowX paddle designed for your specific needs. Most paddlers will opt for the Medium75 shaft option, heavier paddlers will benefit from the Stiff50 shaft while lighter paddlers will love the Medium100 option on the Small-Slim and XS-Slim.

Features:

• Advanced Flow Technology (AFT).
• Deep Power Scoop (DPS.
• Available in XL, L, M, M-Slim, S, S-Slim and XS-Slim.
• Newly enhanced TEXCARBON construction. 
• Hot glue construction.