Michael,
If long distance bushwhacking or commercial travel is part of my trip, I always take one of my two 4-piece paddles because they are the easiest to pack and protect. They also offer the weight saving benefit of not requiring trekking poles. I pack just the blades and then use the paddle shaft as a walking staff (chair foot protector on the bottom). I take my 4-piece Werner Powerhouse (209 cm, 41.6 oz.) primarily for difficult whitewater trips. Otherwise I take my much lighter 4-piece Sawyer Packrafting paddle (205-230 cm, 32.2 oz.). This paddle's shaft length variability also makes it ideal for a large mid shelter center pole. If the nylon stretches do to moisture, I just lengthen the center pole to once-again achieve a taught pitch without having to get out of the shelter. The adjustable length also provides the variability of a high pitch for warm weather and low pitch for cold weather.
I otherwise take one of my 2-piece paddles because they are cheaper for the same material, lighter than the equivalent 4-piece, and stronger. For trips with little bushwhacking and a lot of flat water paddling, I use my carbon fiber 2-piece Epic paddle (215-225 cm, 25.8 oz.).
I had paddled hard-shell touring kayaks, folding touring kayaks, and hard-shell whitewater kayaks for many years prior to purchasing my first packraft in 2004. This year I am planning on a multiple-week pack rafting trip in central Alaska. It is a sacrilege for an UL packrafter to admit this, but I am taking my HEAVIEST PADDLE, 4-piece Werner Powerhouse, for this trip. There is no alternative exit strategy if I break a paddle on this all bushwhacking / III+ WW trip. Everything else in my pack is UL and the total weight for 10 days is 35.5 lbs. In addition to food/water/camping equipment, this includes standard WW safety gear (helmet, foam PFD, dry suit, throw rope, etc.) plus an, 8-weight fly rod and related fishing gear.
