As a coach, you want the best fit for your crew. Concept2 can help you find the best oars to complement your crew’s size, technique, and boat type.
Throughout the rowing stroke, the load the athlete feels varies from the catch, through the drive, to the release. We offer different blade designs so you can find the right feel and balance for your athletes to maximize their speed every stroke.
Whether you’re coaching youth, collegiate, elite or masters athletes, there’s the right blade to match your crew.
What's On This Page?
Comp Blade
The Comp combines the best elements of our existing designs to create a lightweight, efficient, and stable blade. The Comp has a solid lock in the water at the catch with a dynamic acceleration into the finish. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, seven crews medaled using Comp sculls (2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze).
The blade width and the Vortex Edge are the two most important blade features that contribute to boat speed. The Comp blade has a small surface area, resulting in a lighter weight, efficient blade that releases easily.
The Comp is a short, wide blade that is very stable on the drive which contributes to confidence when applying power and overall comfort. “Weight in the hand” or “swing weight” is lighter than oars with larger blades, saving energy and facilitating higher stroke rates.
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Blade Notes
- Smaller surface area
- Wide blade improves stability
- Curvatures tuned for loading efficiency and handling
- Low swing weight
- Rigged to same length as Smoothie2 Vortex
- Only available with a Skinny shaft
Dimensions
Blade length: 43.5 cm
Width at tip: 19 cm
Width at broadest point: 26 cm
Thickness: 5 mm
Fat2
With minimal slip in the beginning of the drive, the Fat2 offers efficiency gains that increase boat speed. The Fat2 combines vortex-generating features and increased blade width, resulting in a stiff, heavy feel at the catch and a high handle speed at the finish.
Proper rigging requires a 4-8 cm shorter overall length than other designs. The Fat2 is a great option for athletes who are looking to find extra speed and are prepared to experiment with rigging.
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Blade Notes
- Increased blade width and surface area
- Tapered tip with Vortex Edge
- Rigged 4-8 cm shorter than Smoothie2 Plain Edge
- Curvature to aid in depth control
Dimensions
Blade length: 55 cm
Width at tip: 19 cm
Width at broadest point: 26.5 cm
Thickness: 5 mm
Smoothie2 Vortex Edge
The Smoothie2 Vortex Edge blade combines the characteristics of smooth-faced plain edge blades with the added efficiency of a vortex-generating edge. Based on the same principles used in aeronautics and unique to Concept2, the Vortex Edge increases efficiency by reducing slip and results in a firm feel during the early part of the drive and accelerating handle speed at the finish.
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Blade Notes
- Tapered tip with Vortex Edge
- Additional blade tip protection
- Rigged 1-2 cm shorter than Smoothie2 Plain Edge
Dimensions
Blade length: 54.5 cm
Width at tip: 19 cm
Width at broadest point: 25.5 cm
Thickness: 5 mm
Smoothie2 Plain Edge
The Smoothie2 Plain Edge blade is a modernization of the traditional hatchet blade. Investigating the effects of curvature and tip angle on blade handling and efficiency proved faster than previous designs. The smooth blade face, curved top edge, and wide tip result in a soft feel at the catch and a moderate handle speed over the course of the drive.
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Blade Notes
- No traditional central rib
- Curvatures tuned for loading efficiency and handling
- Industry standard at all levels
Dimensions
Blade length: 54.5 cm
Width at tip: 25.5 cm
Width at broadest point: 25.5 cm
Thickness: 5 mm
Big Blade
Released in 1991, the asymmetric hatchet-shaped design of the Big Blade was 1–2% faster than existing designs and revolutionized competitive rowing during the build-up to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. This success guided the direction of blade evolution to wider and shorter blades. However, the Big Blade feels softer at oar entry compared to current designs and has a heavier load in the last third of the drive, which is counter to the rowing style of modern crews.
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Blade Notes
- Asymmetrical
- Central ridge on blade face
- Rigged 1-2 cm longer than Smoothe2 Plain Edge
- Available in two lengths: 55 cm or 52 cm
Dimensions
Blade length: Available in 55 cm or 52 cm
Width at tip: 25 cm
Width at broadest point: 25 cm
Thickness: 5 mm
Macon
Concept2’s first blade, designed in 1976, was based on the traditional wood “Macon” of the day. This first blade, produced with composite materials, reduced weight and added durability to the finished oar. Characterized by the symmetrical “tulip” shape and central spine, this blade is a suitable choice for classic recreational rowing boats.
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Blade Notes
- Symmetrical
- Central ridge on blade face
- Rigged 8-10 cm longer than Smoothie2 Plain Edge
- Available in Medium and Large widths
Dimensions
Blade length: 58 cm
Width at tip: Medium 16.5 cm / Large 18 cm
Width at broadest point: Medium 20 cm / Large 21 cm
Thickness: 5 mm
Custom Colors
Concept2 offers blades in a wide range of custom colors in addition to our standard white. These colors are available at an additional cost per blade and longer lead times may apply. There is no additional charge for the standard white.
Colored blades are available as single, solid colors only. You will need to apply any additional designs or stripes you may need.
Please see our online Oar Order Form for the full range of colors.
Vortex Edge
The Vortex Edge improves blade efficiency by:
- Decreasing slip in the first half of drive, increasing resistance and efficiency.
- Increasing slip in the last quarter of the drive, which decreases backwatering.
The Vortex Edge also provides an additional benefit of protecting the blade edge from wear or impact damage.
Our testing has show that a Vortex Edge provides a speed advantage. The Vortex Edge comes as standard on our Comp, Fat2 and Smoothie2 Vortex Edge blades, and can be added to our Big Blades
