Red Paddle Co Compact 12′ MSL Inflatable Paddle Board Review

We first saw the Red Paddle Co Compact 12′ MSL Inflatable Paddle Board during our meeting with Red Paddle Co at Outdoor Retailer Summer Show 2022 and were impressed.  They put a lot of technology into making this inflatable paddle board perform in variable conditions as well.

Red sent over a demo board for the Engearment Team to use for the last month.  We had 10 testers on it of different levels and abilities.  This review will be a collection of our thoughts on this high-end board.

Red Paddle Co Compact 12′ MSL Inflatable Paddle Board Review

My wife and I enjoyed this board and the accompanying equipment.  Lots of attention to detail and very high quality.  Even the backpack is well made! The 12′ board rolls up into the backpack and fits nicely with the pump and collapsable oar.

The paddle is very nice, lightweight, and adjustable.  Made of a mix of carbon fiber and plastic and able to accommodate a wide range of testers.  The pump is easy to use and pushes a lot of air, quickly.  There are 3 “zones” on the pump to adjust to the use of the board.  Soft, medium, and stiff (how we used it most of the time – 20PSI)

There are two stiffing rods that insert onto the sides of the board, creating a really responsive and stiff feel. We found that is best to pump the board up to ~1PSI, then insert these stiffeners.  I fully inflated the board and was able to insert them on the first time out, but would not recommend that, LOL.

The double fin is great as they allow you to get into even more shallow water while still offering great control. We were using a well-used demo board, so the screws that lock the fins in were a little stripped.  This is not how they come when the board is new – so please note that when reading the reviews below.

As mentioned above, the backpack really is impressive.  I found that it carried the weight of the kit (35lbs) with ease.  Some testers noted that the backpack was a bit more square than the paddle board backpacks they used.  This is on purpose as it makes the load feel better.  They claim 53% less downforce on the back.

The backpack is also adjustable for a wide range of users.  I am 6’1″ and did not need to adjust it out of the box.  We had testers a foot shorter and much taller than myself using this kit.

Below is a collection of reviews and pics of our Team and their families enjoying the Red Paddle Co Compact 12′ MSL Inflatable Paddle Board

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Ryan Humphries review

 

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Phil Smith’s review

The Red Paddle Co 12 Compact MSL Inflatable Paddle Board is a fantastic, well-constructed board. There are many extras that come with it but what I like most is its durability, quality, and performance. 

This board can be used as a triple threat, meaning you can windsurf,  hit the river and obviously to ride flat water.  Honestly, I would not pay extra to have the ability us it in three different ways so that is not necessarily a bonus for me.

I thought it was stable and easy to turn and maneuver. I loved it on flat water. I like the size and the weight. I am 215 pounds, so I really like the side stabilizer inserts, which helped with stability and allowed the board to hold more weight with no flex. I like the design of the board it stayed flat in the water, turned, and was able to glide smoothly.

The straps are great; they give ample room for storage. The traction pad was very comfortable and well placed.

The pump was fantastic, it was heavy duty, pushed a lot of air, built well and I loved the gauge.  It was easy to understand the PSI levels for different uses. There are 3 settings

The backpack is very durable and built to last and deal with the elements. I also like the packability; storing the board pump, and paddle in a very compact smart way is awesome.

The fins are durable, but I did not like attaching them with several small, easily lost screws. They also did not seat flush on the board, which could cause drag. The Allen wrench included stripped easily, and I had to use my own tool to tighten it. 

Overall, it’s a great, versatile board that will last a long time! That said, the cost at over $2K is more than I would be willing to pay for a touring SUP with added uses. That’s more about me being cheap and certainly not relative to the quality of the board.

Thanks for the ride!

Phil Smith