Brian Nystrom wrote:

Dowd (I believe it was he) wrote that only in a
direct headwind does a feathered paddle produce any advantage.

Defintely words of wisdom and absolutely correct. When you consider that
when paddling into a headwind, the paddler is in the strongest, most
stable position, the difference that a feathered paddle makes is not
that great. Also, feather angles less than 90 degrees will cause the
paddle to lift or dive in a headwind. Overall, I found feathering to be
an overall disadvantage.

Some people think a feathered paddle (45-60 degrees) feels more natural
during the paddle stroke, and blades are always in a nearly ideal position
for offside bracing. Feathered paddles can be shorter (due to different
technique used) and therefore lighter. It's individual preference.