BIC Sport Original FP Review

We think the BIC Sport is essentially a great baseline to compare other paddles against. It does well across the board, looks alright, and its main flaw is just the added bulk. Throw all this together for a reasonable price and you have a great option for a new paddler who doesn't want to shell out a ton of cash for a premium paddle but is also willing to invest a bit more than the cheapest options out there.

Performance Comparison

Performance

First and foremost, we rated and compared the paddling performance of each of these adjustable SUP paddles. This metric accounts for 30% of each paddle's total score. We took these paddles out in all sorts of different conditions and on different paddling excursions, comparing their performance. Specifically, we looked at how each paddle did with each of the three components to a typical SUP paddle stroke: the catch, the power stroke, and the exit, as well as how well it recovered to set up for the next paddle. The BIC Sport Original FP did well, scoring in the upper portion of this group.

The Original FP has a longer and slimmer blade that is more rectangular than teardrop-shaped. It enters the water smoothly but its flatter blade doesn't quite compare to the dihedral blades when it comes to catching the water.

You can get plenty of power out of this paddle and it generally has a clean exit. It also recovers well for such a heavy paddle, as it is very nicely balanced and weighted, Truth be told, we wouldn't have necessarily thought it was one of the heaviest paddles until we weighed everything side-by-side, which brings us to our next metric.

Weight

Accounting for 20% of each paddle's final score, our next metric dealt with the weight of each paddle. While it might not seem like there is much of a change in performance when the weight difference is only a pound or two, it becomes very noticeable after extended use. As mentioned above, the BIC Sport Original is fairly heavy, earning it one of the lower scores of the lineup.

This adjustable paddle weighs in at 2.25 lbs.

Ease of Adjustment

The next two metrics of our review are each worth 20% of the total score for each paddle and have to do with the ease of altering each paddle's length. The BIC Sport Original is a 2-piece paddle that is fairly easy to adjust, earning it high marks in this metric.

The Sport Original can change in height from 67" to 83" and relies on the TwinPin locking system. It is fairly simple to change the length but the length can't be adjusted on a continuous scale — you are limited to ½" increments.

Locking Mechanism

The TwinPin locking mechanism utilized by the BIC Sport is far from our favorite type, easily overshadowed by other systems — particularly the LeverLock. However, the BIC does do a fairly good implementation of it, earning it a so-so score.

It can be a bit more finicky to change the length of this paddle on the water due to this mechanism. The upper portion of the paddle slides easily enough, but the extra effort to ensure that it is aligned correctly when it comes to rotation and length to snap the pins in can be a bit harrowing in choppy conditions. It also takes a bit more force to engage or disengage the mechanism.

Aesthetics

For the remaining 10% of the score, we compared and contrasted the style of each paddle. The BIC Sport is far from being the favorite of the group when it comes to aesthetics but isn't bad looking, earning it a mediocre score.

The BIC is about as plain as it comes in the looks department, with only a small graphic accent on the blade for visual appeal. Its minimalistic design looks a little cheaper than other options and there are fewer color options available but it at least is a little more striking than the paddles of the monochromatic variety.

Value

The BIC Sport is a solid value, offering a considerably more impressive performance than its price would suggest.

Conclusion