Red Paddle Voyager 12.6 SUP – The No Compromises ISUP

Andrew Piotrowski

Overview: The look on the watermen’s faces when I rode up to the dock on a beat-up old beach cruiser bike with a large inflatable SUP strapped to my back was priceless. After a few minutes of pumping up the board, I was battling the choppy bay with a variety of aging fishing and crabbing vessels. 

The Voyager easily handled the wind, chop, and furious boat wake. I have been paddling SUPs for many years and can honestly say that this board is one of my favorites.  Over the past few weeks, I have put the Voyager through a variety of different conditions. This includes completely flat-water endurance training, 18mph headwinds with 1 to 2-foot waves, and horrendous multi-direction boat wake in the Miles River.

The Voyager handled each of them perfectly. On the flatwater it feels incredibly fast for an inflatable and rivals my epoxy racer for speed. In the chop it was stable and firm, I never felt the familiar flex that I have felt on other ISUPs.

I attribute the speed to the dual fin system and crazy cool V hull that keeps the board tracking straight and cutting through the chop. As for stability the Red Paddle Co RSS batten system and 20PSI inflation make this board feel as stiff as an epoxy board. 

Key Features:

• Dual Fins- The dual fins help to keep the board heading straight. I noticed that this board tracks much better than my other ISUP of similar size. Additionally, they are a little shorter than the typical one fin set up which allowed me to stay closer to shore in shallow water during rough weather. I also really liked that I could load the board with gear on dry land without it tipping over. 
• V Hull- I have no idea how Red Paddle Co has done this but the V hull system on an inflatable is insanely cool! Basically, the V makes it more stable in chop and very speedy as it cuts through the water. Every other ISUP I have seen has a standard flat bottom. This feature alone makes this board worth every penny! 
• Comfortable Footbed- I am really impressed with the details that Red put into this board. The entire footbed area has a really cool step and repeat Red logo that changes to a different pattern as you approach the back of the board. This allows you to feel when you are approaching the back of the board when you are shifting your feet for cut turns or waves.
• Gear Haul System- the flat bungee system in the front is really well designed and makes hauling gear very easy. I really like that you can adjust them to tightly secure gear. In the rear the series of D-rings allows you to hold a large amount of gear. I even rigged it up with a full-size cooler for fishing. 
• Paddle- Red totally had touring in mind when they designed this paddle. The blade is much smaller than the typically ISUP kit paddle. This and its lightweight make it perfect for touring, as it reduces strain on the body and fatigue. 
• Pump- I have used a bunch of pumps and this one is my favorite based on how quickly it inflates the board and the large removable grab handle. It allows you to spend less time pumping and more time paddling!
• Pack- This pack has all the bells and whistles! I think the two coolest features are the stowable shoulder and waist straps and the suit-case like wheels. The shoulder and waist straps are very comfortable and help balance the load. I wore the fully loaded pack on my bike on a four-mile ride to a local dock and it was surprisingly comfortable. You can also hide the straps behind the built-in Velcro flap. This is a great feature as it would make flying with the pack much easier and safer. Additionally, the wheel system is great for wheeling the pack down the dock or maybe even through the airport.

Red Paddle Voyager 12.6 SUP Review

What I Love: At this point, you’re likely getting the hint that I am a huge fan of this board. In addition to everything mentioned above I also really like the two mounts on the front of the board for a camera, compass, or GPS attachment. They don’t stick out and are almost unnoticeable unless they are being used. 

What I Would Change: the only thing I would add to this package is a sternum strap on the pack. I have a pretty lean build and the sternum strap would help keep things tight while hiking with the pack. That being said it was perfectly comfortable without it.

MSRP: $1649

Check it out: https://redpaddleco.com/product/126-voyager/