Red Paddle Co Ride 10’6″ iSUP Board Review

Red Paddle Co is easily one of the best inflatable paddle board makers on the market and that has been built on two main pillars: Quality & Authenticity.

Indeed, Red Paddle Co is the Bugatti of iSUPs, making every board they make a spectacle of endurance and reliability. Hence, the Red Paddle Co Ride 10’6″ might be considered an expensive board but it’s one of the few boards out there which is actually worth the extra buck.

Nevertheless, there is only one way to find out if this Ride 10’6″ iSUP is the perfect pitch for you or just Red Paddle Co expensive toy. So, let’s take a closer look at this little wonder.

Red Paddle Co Ride Review — Features & Specs

Measurement

The Red Paddle Co Ride 10’6″ is a great inflatable paddle board made with laser precision and dedicated purpose.

Starting at the top of the dimensions chart, the length of any inflatable paddle board defines its value and compatibility. Hence, the Ride 10’6″ at hand measures a comprehensive 10 feet 6 inches in length which is the perfect size for young adult and adult paddlers. However, that doesn’t exclude most teenagers, depending on their size.

As for width, the Ride stands at a comfortable 32 inches. Indeed, this is not the widest board out there nor that it should be because the width to length ratio of this board is just perfect. Also, at 32 inches, you won’t only have extra room to move around comfortably as you go but it will also grant you noticeable overall stability.

Thickness might not be the first dimension on this chart but it definitely isn’t the least important. Indeed, the thickness of any inflatable paddle board can influence the user’s experience as well as the board’s quality. Accordingly, the Red Paddle Co decided that 4.72 inches is the perfect number that will grant the board that extra rigidity it needs while maintaining its slim and fine profile.

Quality

As far as quality is concerned, you can obviously expect nothing but the best from a product at this price range but we can’t help but worry since this is an inflatable product after all.

Well, how can we say this without sounding biased? I think we can’t. See, Red Paddle Co. has developed a unique technology which can be found on all its inflatable paddle boards and it is rather different from the traditional PVC and drop stitch technology.

Indeed, Red paddle Co’s exclusive MSL fusion technology is recognised as the industry’s leading construction process. It involves fusing a second layer of hard-wearing polymer to the dropstitch core at the raw material stage, removing hand gluing errors. This makes the boards way more stiffer at lower pressures.

The result is simply impressive both visually and quality wise. In fact, the final product always ends up flawlessly which cannot be achieved with the human hand. Nevertheless, human interaction remains necessary in the inspection and testing phase which ensures that every board is capable of enduring high drops, cars running over it and even collision with rough objects. Check out this video of Red paddle Co driving a 22 tonne digger over one their inflatable paddle boards built with MSL technology.

Features

There is nothing like a nice set of features on an inflatable paddle board but only when it’s necessary. Hence, Ride 10’6″ stands out for being one of the few inflatable paddle boards out there that perfectly balances out practicality and authenticity.

So, in order to keep that subtle practicality, the board comes with a discreet but extremely efficient gripping pad. The pad will not only grant you the ability to perfectly balance yourself as you go but it’ll also help you improve your command over the board.

Moreover, the Red in question comes with a rather impeccable cargo net which consists of 6 D-rings connected via a bungee cord, making a practical little tie down system for you to secure down anything from your paddles to your fishing gear when sailing around. Also, the Ride 10’6″ iSUP features an extra ring on the nose for towing the board.

Further, nothing says practicality like the central carry handle which makes it possible for you to carry out the board individually on land which is a lot harder than you think being an inflatable and all. Without that central handle, you’d be obliged to request for help every time you plan on taking it on a quick tour. The board also comes with a tail carry handle which can be used for securing or even attaching an ankle leash.

Performance

On a board that costs enough to buy two or even three cheap inflatable paddle boards, you’d have your eyes settled on the performance assessment chapter more than anything.

Indeed, we really want a robust inflatable paddle board but we want one that necessarily out performs anything else that is cheaper. Hence, it would not come as a surprise that the Red Paddle Co Ride 10’6″ is actually one of the few recreational boards out that can rival the big boys down the racing section.

In fact, the Ride 10’6″ iSUP at hand is perhaps the only entry level iSUP with such detailed finish. The board is undeniably a master piece and that can be seen in every curve and bump on its hull. From the smooth edges, to the perfectly tuned shape, this board has gone miles ahead of its supposed competitors.

The board at hand is also equipped with a sublime navigation system that gives it enough agility and pose to manoeuver like a fish once handled appropriately and cut through water like a knife through butter.

Packaging

Concerning packaging, it is undeniable that even a board like the Red Paddle Co Ride 10’6″ can look bad without the proper accessories. Hence, the makers of this beast thought it’d be vital to hook you up with everything you’ll need to maintain the board and that includes:

• The Board (Deflated)
• A high quality high pressure hand pump with pressure gauge
• A waterproof case for notebooks, smartphones and other accessories
• A premium quality carry bag that’d fit all of the above + a standard repair kit