There are a plethora of different materials used to make lacrosse shafts today. One material that has surged to the top in the past decade or so, however, is carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber shafts are tremendous options because they provide amazing strength without being too heavy and flex in a way that other shafts can’t. Traditionally, players used metal lacrosse shafts. These, however, have a tendency to dent and bend more so than carbon shafts and have comparable weights.
This guide goes over the best carbon fiber lacrosse shafts currently available and goes over what to consider to narrow down your decision.
Table of Contents
Best Carbon Attack Lacrosse Shafts
1) ECD Carbon Pro 3.0 (2 Shafts – Speed & Power)
Drip Level: 5/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber + Kevlar
- Weight: 5.29 oz (Speed), 5.82 (Power)
- Shape: Extreme Concave
- Grip/Finish: Raised texture at top of shaft (Speed) & bottom of shaft (Power)
- Colors: Black, White
- Flex: Moderate to High
- Warranty: 6 months
ECD took the best features of the Carbon Pro 2.0 shaft and implemented new features to make the 3.0 even better.
It comes in two variations: Speed and Power.
The Speed version—mainly tailored for attackmen—has a higher flex point allowing for a quicker release. It also features a raised texture grip towards the top of the shaft to give you better control with one-handed cradling.
The Power version—mainly tailored for middies/outside shooters—has a lower flex point allowing for more power on outside shots. Its raised texture is towards the bottom of the shaft to give you more control during those outside bombs.
Both shafts are now reinforced with Kevlar, making them even stronger while maintaining a good strength-to-weight ratio. Something else new in the 3.0, they come with a sliding end cap that allows you to move it to where you’re most comfortable.
The Carbon Pro 3.0 shafts also come with a new, more concave shape. In my opinion, this gives a much better grip as compared to the 2.0 and most other shafts.
Both versions have clean designs featuring some text and logos that are barely noticeable on the shaft, in a good way.
On the downside, the Carbon Pro 3.0 shafts are a bit heavier than some other attack and middie shafts. While this helps them hold up over time, you may want to look elsewhere if you have a strong preference for extremely light shafts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjJT4KCLR14
2) Maverik Hyperlite
Drip Level: 5/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 4.8 oz
- Shape: Slight concave
- Grip/Finish: Smooth matte finish
- Colors: White/Black, Black
- Flex: None
- Warranty: 6 months
The shaft on our list of the best carbon fiber lacrosse shafts is the Maverik Hyperlite. It’s one of the lightest shafts on the market today (and the lightest shaft Maverik has ever created), weighing in at only 4.8 oz.
Maverik just released the newest version of the Hyperlite in October 2022. It comes with an updated design and the same great performance as past models.
Unlike some other carbon fiber shafts, the Hyperlite is designed not to flex. If you are used to metal shafts but want to try out a carbon fiber shaft, this may be a good option instead of jumping straight to a shaft designed to flex.
The Hyperlite has a slight concave shape and a matte finish for a smooth feel. It comes in black and white/black, both of which have blue accents and a clean design.
One of my favorite parts of the Hyperlite is the adjustable butt end that you can move on the shaft depending on where you prefer it.
If you are looking for a lightweight carbon fiber attack shaft, look no further than the Maverik Hyperlite. It checks all of the boxes when it comes to a great shaft and there’s a reason it’s used by countless pro and collegiate players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyTorALoMIg
Other Buying Option
3) StringKing Composite 2 Pro
Drip Level: 4.8/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 4.76 – 6.88 oz
- Shape: Slight concave
- Grip/Finish: Smooth matte finish
- Colors: Black, White
- Flex: None
- Warranty: 6 months
Another carbon fiber shaft makes our list of the best carbon attack shafts with the newly released (October 2022) StringKing Composite 2 Pro.
Like past models, it comes in 4 different variations which differ in weight. The table below can help you decide which option is best for you.
The new Composite 2 Pro comes with Smart Taper technology that adds extra material where shafts are typically the most prone to breaking. In our testing, we’ve found this shaft to be very strong.
The biggest downside of this shaft is the weight of the versions designed for more advanced players (175 g and 195 g). While these aren’t super heavy, there are lighter carbon fiber shafts available.
If you’re looking for a great carbon fiber shaft that will last for a long time, the new StringKing Composite 2 Pro is a great option to consider—especially if you don’t mind the extra weight of the more advanced shafts.
4) Warrior Burn XP Carbon
Drip Level: 4.9/5
Details
- Material: Carbon composite
- Shape: Octagonal
- Grip/Finish: Dot matrix on bottom half
- Colors: White
- Flex: High
- Warranty: 6 months
The Warrior Burn XP Carbon Shaft is the second composite attack shaft on our list due to its durability, light weight, and great feel.
If you like flexible shafts, then the Burn XP Carbon is arguably your best bet. The XP stands for “extreme power” and you can really feel it when shooting. Compared to stiffer shafts, you can really feel this shaft flexing as you shoot, helping increase shot power.
There is a dot matrix grip on the bottom half of the shaft that helps reduce the need for tape. Many players have to tape up other to add grip but this makes them much heavier. This makes the Burn XP Carbon’s natural grip a huge plus.
The shaft comes with two end caps: a Warp end cap that provides more leverage when shooting (my personal preference) and a normal end plug that is smaller and lighter.
Overall, if you are a fan of lightweight and flexible carbon shafts, the Warrior Burn XP Carbon is a phenomenal choice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlG5EMucbig
5) STX Fiber Shafts
Drip Level: 4.8/5
Details
- Material: Carbon composite
- Shape: Concave (X) or Octagonal (O)
- Grip/Finish: Targeted grip zones
- Colors: White, Black
- Flex: Moderate
- Warranty: 6 months
Much like the Sc-Ti series, STX also offers multiple shapes in its elite Fiber carbon composite shaft line: X & O.
The X shaft has a concave finish that I personally prefer as I feel like it gives me more feel in my gloves and leverage. The O shaft has a more-traditional octagonal shape that is more rounded than the X.
While the STX Fiber shafts aren’t the lightest available, they hold up very well over time and aren’t prone to splintering like other carbon fiber shafts. This makes them a great option for attackmen that dodge a lot and middies who need a dependable shaft for both offense and defense.
Another thing that stood out to me with the STX Fiber shafts is the targeted grip zones. These are texturized areas that provide you some grip—eliminating the need for tape.
Finally, the Fiber shafts have a moderate amount of flex. It’s not as noticeable as the Warrior Burn XP Carbon but you can definitely feel it a bit when shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-4b51jc5Pg
6) Warrior Evo QX Carbon Attack Shaft
Drip Level: 4.8/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 4.59 oz
- Shape: Concave
- Grip/Finish: Extra grip on important areas
- Colors: White
- Flex: Minimal
- Warranty: 6 months
The Evo QX Carbon Attack is one of newest shafts from Warrior and is another great carbon option for the 2023 season.
The Evo QX Carbon Attack is a hollow carbon fiber shaft that is one of the strongest in the game. Its unique hollow carbon design helps it stay very lightweight at only 4.59 oz (Warrior’s lightest shaft ever) without sacrificing durability.
Unlike the Warrior Burn XP Carbon shaft, the Evo QX is very stiff for a carbon fiber shaft with virtually no flex.
One of the other favorite parts about this shaft is the Tactical Grip located on key areas of the shaft to provide more grip. Best of all, this extra grip is designed not to tear up your gloves as we’ve seen with some other gritty shafts.
The Evo QX Carbon Attack shaft comes in a clean white design with light blue accents. It’s by far one of the best-looking shafts in the game and is sure to look great with your head of choice.
https://youtu.be/bza4ydG_V8M?t=938
Best Carbon Defense Lacrosse Shafts
1) Warrior Burn XP Carbon Defense
Drip Level: 5/5
Details
- Material: Carbon composite
- Shape: Traditional octagonal
- Grip/Finish: Matte finish
- Colors: White
- Warranty: 6 months
Just released in October 2021, the Warrior Burn XP Carbon Defense is one of the best shafts for both defensemen and LSMs currently available.
It is designed to strategically flex to provide more power on shots and long passes as well as checks. If you like how it feels when your pole flexes (which typically only happens with carbon fiber shafts), then you’ll definitely like the Burn XP Carbon.
Another great thing is the dot matrix grip that gives you a good feel of the shaft in your gloves but won’t tear them up like many other shafts with rougher grips. This reduces the need for tape which can weigh your shaft down.
The Burn XP Carbon Defense comes with two end caps which you can switch out based on your preference—a larger one that provides more leverage for checks, passes, and shots, and a lighter one if you don’t want the extra weight.
Overall, if you are a fan of lightweight and flexible carbon D poles, the Warrior Burn XP Carbon is a phenomenal choice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIVse45jMU&ab_channel=WarriorLacrosse
2) ECD Carbon Pro 3.0 Defense
Drip Level: 5/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber + Kevlar
- Shape: Concave
- Grip/Finish: Matte finish + raised texture
- Colors: White, Black
- Warranty: 6 months
ECD took the best features of the Carbon Pro 2.0 shaft and implemented new features to make the 3.0 even better.
The Carbon Pro 3.0 Defense is now reinforced with Kevlar, making them even stronger while maintaining an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Something else new in the 3.0 is that it comes with a sliding end cap that allows you to move it to where you’re most comfortable.
The Carbon Pro 3.0 Defense features a low-kick point that gives an extra bit of flex on shafts and shots—a great feature that not many D shafts have.
Both the white and black versions have clean designs featuring some text and logos that are barely noticeable on the shaft, in a good way. There is also a raised texture towards the bottom of the shaft to give you some extra grip while eliminating the need for tape which can weigh your stick down.
Overall, the ECD Carbon Pro 3.0 Defense is a great, durable shaft that is great for any defenseman or LSM that prefers carbon fiber shafts. There’s a reason it has been used by elite pro players like Matt Dunn over the summer before it was released to the public.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjJT4KCLR14&t=204s&ab_channel=ECDLacrosse
3) STX Fiber O Defense
Drip Level: 4.9/5
Details
- Material: Carbon composite
- Shape: Octagonal (traditional)
- Grip/Finish: Targeted grip zones
- Colors: White, Black
- Warranty: 6 months
STX makes a second appearance on our list of the best carbon fiber defense lacrosse shafts with its elite carbon shaft: the Fiber O Defense.
The Fiber O shaft has a more-traditional octagonal shape with targeted grip zones that give you a better feel of the shaft and reduce the need for tape.
While the STX Fiber O Defense shaft isn’t the lightest available, it holds up very well over time and isn’t prone to splintering like other carbon fiber shafts. This makes it a great option for both defensemen who are constantly laying checks as well as LSMs who carry the ball in transition.
The Fiber shafts have a moderate amount of flex. It’s not as noticeable as the Warrior Burn XP Carbon but you can definitely feel it a bit on hard passes and shots.
Buying Options
4) StringKing Composite Pro 2 Defense
Drip Level: 4.6/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 12.70 – 14.11 oz
- Shape: Slight concave
- Grip/Finish: Smooth
- Colors: Black, White
- Warranty: 6 months
If you are a StringKing fan but prefer a carbon shaft, the Composite 2 Pro Defense is a solid choice (literally). It has very little flex for a composite shaft and unmatched impact resistance.
Just released in October 2022, the updated version of the popular Composite Pro Defense sill features Smart Taper technology to optimize the balance of the shaft while adding strength where the weakest points usually are.
Like the original Composite Pro Defense, the Composite 2 Pro Defense comes in two weights—360 g and 400 g. If you are a younger player (15 and under), we recommend going with the lighter version and vice-versa for those 16 and up.
Unlike a lot of other shafts, the StringKing Composite 2 Pro Defense doesn’t have too much grip. Instead, it has a smoother feel. In addition, it features the same (very nice looking) minimalistic design as the Metal 3 shafts.
StringKing has really pushed towards. the front of the crowd when it comes to shafts and the Composite 2 Pro Defense is no exception. If you want a clean, carbon fiber shaft without the flex that most come with, you can’t go wrong with this pole.
Best Carbon Goalie Lacrosse Shafts
1) Maverik Hyperlite Goalie Shaft
Drip Level: 5/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Shape: Slight concave
- Grip/Finish: Smooth matte finish
- Colors: Black, White
- Flex: None
- Warranty: 6 months
We start off our list of the best goalie shafts with the Maverik Hyperlite. It’s one of the lightest shafts on the market today and the lightest shaft Maverik has ever created.
Having a light shaft is essential for goalies. The lighter your shaft, the faster you can move your hands to make saves. This—combined with its strength—makes the Hyperlite our top shaft for goalies.
Unlike some other carbon fiber shafts, the Hyperlite is designed not to flex. If you are used to metal shafts but want to try out a carbon fiber shaft, this may be a good option instead of jumping straight to a shaft designed to flex.
The Hyperlite has a slight concave shape and a matte finish for a smooth feel. It comes in black and white, both of which have blue accents and a checkered pattern on some (white) or all parts (black) of the shaft.
One of my favorite parts of the Hyperlite is the adjustable butt end that you can move on the shaft depending on where you prefer it.
If you are looking for a lightweight carbon fiber goalie shaft, look no further than the Maverik Hyperlite. It checks all of the boxes when it comes to a great shaft and there’s a reason it’s used by countless pro and collegiate players.
2) ECD Carbon Pro 3.0 Goalie Shaft
Drip Level: 4.8/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber composite
- Length: 36″
- Weight: 5.64 oz
- Shape: Concave
- Grip/Finish: Raised texture top third of shaft
- Colors: White, Black
- Warranty: 6 months
If you are a goalie that prefers composite shafts, you can’t go wrong with the Carbon Pro 3.0 Goalie shaft from ECD—a new release for 2022.
It is very light and should have no problem holding up even when deflecting the hardest of shots. If for some reason it does break, there is also a 6-month warranty allowing you to get a replacement.
The Carbon Pro 3.0 Goalie features a mid kick point and Flex8 technology to allow you to effortlessly make outlet passes.
It also has a textured grip on the top third of the shaft to give you better control when trying to make saves. We’ve found this to be one of the best parts about the Carbon Pro 3.0 Goalie as compared to other shafts. You won’t need any tape when using this shaft thanks to the built-in grip for your top hand.
3) StringKing Composite 2 Pro Goalie
Drip Level: 4.6/5
Details
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Length: 36″
- Weight: 5.01 – 5.71 oz
- Shape: Slight concave
- Grip/Finish: Smooth
- Colors: Black, White
- Warranty: 6 months
StringKing also offers a composite shaft line and the goalie version is our favorite. They also just released the Carbon 2 Pro shaft line which is even better than the original.
The StringKing Composite 2 Pro comes in the same weights as the Metal 3 Pro: 142 grams for those 14 & under and 162 grams for those over 14. You also have the choice between black and white, and it features similar minimalistic decals to the Metal 3 Pro shafts.
If you prefer a shaft with a smoother grip, then the Composite 2 Pro is a great choice due to its smoother finish than many of the other options on this list.
The Composite 2 Pro Goalie uses Smart Taper Technology that increases strength at the points that are typically checked the most and are most prone to damage while reducing weight as much as possible.
If you go with the StringKing Composite 2 Pro Goalie, you can rest assured that it will hold up well without slowing you down.
Pros of Carbon Lacrosse Shafts
- Typically lighter than metal shafts. The main reason people opt for a carbon fiber shaft is that they are typically lighter than metal shafts with similar (or better) durability, in many cases.
- May add speed to your shot. Another benefit of carbon fiber lacrosse shafts is that they usually flex more than metal shafts, giving you more power on your shots and hard passes. While it may not be super noticeable when playing, you may find that using a carbon shaft gives you extra miles per hour on your shot speed.
- Usually stronger. Whereas metal shafts often form dings and dents over time, carbon fiber shafts almost never do. Instead, they tend to hold up well for a very long time and last longer than metal shafts.
- Grip. It is easier for companies to add different textures to carbon fiber lacrosse shafts to improve your grip on the stick. Instead of having to tape up a metal shaft (adding extra weight), carbon shafts are often good to go as they are.
Cons of Carbon Lacrosse Shafts
- More prone to catastrophic failure. Even though carbon fiber lacrosse shafts don’t bend or get dings, they are more likely to catastrophically fail (such as snapping in half), leaving them unusable. Whereas you can use a metal shaft with dings and dents, once a carbon shaft splinters, you can’t use it.
- May feed odd. Another con of carbon fiber shafts is that they can feel weird when you first use them, especially if you are moving from a metal shaft. Since most have solid cores, the weight distribution can feel a bit funky at first.
How to Choose a Carbon Fiber Lacrosse Shaft
When it comes to deciding which carbon fiber shaft is best for you, there are a variety of factors to consider. Some of which are more obvious than others, however the most essential aspects you should take into consideration are the shaft’s durability, weight, and grip.
Durability
Debatably the most important factor is the shaft’s durability, as the absolute last thing you want to do is pour your hard-earned money into a low-quality shaft.
Carbon fiber shafts require advanced technology to perform well. For this reason, we recommend looking into the most elite options (as highlighted above), instead of cheaper carbon fiber shafts that are more prone to breaking.
It’s also important to read customer reviews (as we’ve done to create this guide) to see how different shafts hold up over time.
Weight
Weight is another important factor, as no one wants to lug around a heavy shaft that slows down their dodges, passes, shots, and checks. You also don’t want to use a shaft that is so light that it doesn’t have great strength.
When deciding on a shaft weight, take into account how much weight you can carry comfortably and how physical you play. If you get checked a lot of lay hard checks all game, a heavier option may hold up better for you over time.
Many companies, such as StringKing, offer varying weights based on your age and level of play.
Grip
The final point to consider when it comes to deciding which carbon fiber shaft is best for you is the grip. Many people often overlook the grip of the actual stick itself, but it is an essential aspect of your game that should not be neglected. It can seriously affect your level of comfort and, therefore, overall performance.
While you can always add tape to a shaft to enhance the grip, this adds weight which could slow you down. Luckily, many carbon fiber shafts come with different textures to give you a solid grip without the need for tape.
Lacrosse Shaft Size Chart
Here are the most common regulation shaft sizes by the level of play and position. Note that “Adult” refers to high school and higher.
|
Position |
Youth |
Adult |
|---|---|---|
|
Attack/Middie |
28″ – 30″ |
30″ |
|
Defense |
28″ – 60″ |
30″ – 60″ |
|
Goalie |
28″ – 40″ |
30″ – 40″ |
>> Read More: Standard Lacrosse Shaft Lengths
How We Rate Lacrosse Shafts
We take our ratings seriously and only recommend products that we would use ourselves.
To come up with our ratings for each product, we test the product ourselves whenever possible, review product specifications (weight, strength, material, grip, etc.), and read customer reviews/talk to lacrosse players we know that use the product.
When testing lacrosse shafts, specifically, we weigh the shafts, feel them in gloves (for both grip from the shape of the shaft as well as the texture of the finish), shoot with them to understand how they flex, and check them with another stick to see how they hold up.
When it’s not possible to extensively test a product ourselves, we spend extra time talking to real customers who have used the product for a while themselves.
If you ever have any feedback for any of the products listed on this page or have a recommended addition, please contact us and let us know!
Other Lacrosse Shaft Guides
- Best Lacrosse Shafts
- Best Attack Shafts
- Best Defense Shafts
- Best Goalie Shafts
- Lightest Lacrosse Shafts
Photo credit: Flickr
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