Review of the 2021 Red Paddle Co 10’6″ x 32″ Ride inflatable paddle board

So what exactly have they updated for 2021? What features have they changed, what details are refined, are the boards better? Should I get one, or maybe the 10’8″ Ride? In an attempt to answer these questions, let’s begin with the 2021 Red Paddle Co 10’6″ Ride review and videos.

Red Paddle Co in 2021

For 2021, Red Paddle Co has introduced a few key features to many of the models. Almost all boards now come standard with the Titan 2 Pump. Many models now use a twin fin system. The deck pads are now wider and longer for superior grip and comfort. The new flat bungee system efficiently and easily secures items on deck.

However it is the new V-Hull system, exclusive to Red Paddle Co, that grabs the most attention in the 2021 Red Paddle Co range. The sculpted bottom of the Voyager boards breaks the surface tension of the water increasing glide and helping the board track even better than before. Scientifically proven to increase efficiency meaning you can paddle further with less effort.

Other changes include range wide updates to the graphics, colors and accessory mounts on the boards. The changes offer a more eye catching and eye pleasing range of boards, they have aligned their position of using market leading technology with the best looking boards available.

Red Paddle Co Ride range of inflatable SUPs

The bag

The Red Paddle Co All Terrain inflatable sup bag, unchanged for 2021, is charcoal in color with red stitching. It features an internal mesh pocket, used for a leash, fin, keys etc, on the inside of the front flap. It also has paddle bungee tie downs for a 3 piece paddle against the back. The bag is lined in foil and features the solid zipper pulls.The foil lining improves the heat protection of the board if you leave it in your car or in a hot climate, and doubles as a waterproof lining so your wet gear won’t leak out of the bag after a session.

Space is aplenty for the Titan 2 Pump, a 3 piece paddle, leash and even wetsuit, PFD etc. The Titan 2 Pump comes with the board wrapped around it which is a great space saving technique and something I continue to do. It also keeps the pump secure with the board when cinched down.

Carry handles on both sides, as well as the top and bottom give you, and baggage handlers, plenty of places to grab and carry the bag. The Sherpa system allows you to carry the bag on your back with comfortable shoulder and waist straps, or tuck them away out of sight and away from hungry baggage carousel gremlins and just roll the bag on the integrated wheels and be confident the bag will arrive safely. See more photos of the bag here.

As packaged from the factory the board is protected by a layer of plastic (or paper) to separate the board from itself when rolled, small cardboard fin protectors to help them keep shape, the Titan pump in its own bag and a bag that bundles the whole lot. The fins are very durable but if they are bent when you get the board, they can be straightened easily when heated. Read more here about straightening iFins.

The pump

The Dual Cylinder system, combined with the Hi Flo handle means you are in complete control of the energy used to inflate your board. It puts the volume into your board faster and reduces the effort required to reach a higher pressure.

The original Titan Pump has been completely re-imagined and re-engineered for 2021. Red Paddle Co have taken the already proven double chamber format and focussed on ease of use and ease of packing. They’ve also improved the fixtures and fittings to make for an even more durable pump.

The packed size is 2/3rds less than the current Titan pump, which makes rolling the board much easier and results in a tighter rolled board.

Updates and innovations on the Titan 2:

• Folding feet and a removable quick release handle reduces the packaged size by 30% compared to the original Titan pump. This makes it much easier to roll and pack your pump and board.
• The chamber isolation valve is now an integrated switch rather than a removable plug, which makes it easier to switch to one chamber while pumping.
• A double-ended bayonet hose fixture (Halkey-Roberts) reduces leaks and removes damaged screw threads when attaching to the pump.
• Our redesigned air box means the pump hose now attaches to the main body to reduce the movement of the hose when inflating.
• An increase in volume overall makes for faster inflation.
• An integrated pressure gauge helps reduce impact if the pump is dropped.
• The standing position has shifted 90 degrees, so you are only astride one chamber.
• In addition to having wider feet, the Titan II is more stable and ergonomic, especially for smaller riders/pumpers!

The Titan Pump design concept features two chambers, one larger volume cylinder (low pressure) and one lower volume cylinder (high pressure). Think of it as a combination of the original Ezee and the Ezee HP side by side. You start with both cylinders pumping huge amounts of air into the board, then at about 10PSI, you move the integrated switch and it pumps through the high pressure side only. At first you’re pumping double the amount of air into the board than usual, and then you can finish it off to high pressure via the single cylinder.

Put simply, we don’t use electric pumps as the Titan 2 Pump gets the board to higher pressures, faster.

Pump Specifications:

• Pressure gauge shows to 30PSI
• Pump dimensions: 22″ x 5″ x 7″
• Pump hose length: 48″
• Pump volume of 4.12l using both cylinders
• Weight: TBA

The board

Dimensionally, the board is the same as previous years: 10’6″ long, 32″ wide and 4.72″ thick and construction wise it is the same industry leading MSL Fusion.

This process consists of industrially fusing and machine pressing the inner layer of polymer to the high density drop stitch core at the raw material stage. Same “board with a board” construction but with material that is now structurally more sound, even more rigid, as well as lighter. More details about MSL over here. Red Paddle Co have constantly refined the MSL construction, tweaking materials, thickness and bond strength which means they’ve all but stopped batch inconsistencies and it allows them to make boards from the most advanced drop stitch available, without any unnecessary excess or errors.

I’m 190lbs and I usually pump my 10’6″ Ride to 20 PSI. I find this is a good balance between time pumping and on water performance.

For a direct comparison of the 2020 (left) and 2021 10’6″ Rides (right), move the slider to see the changes.

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Many boards in the Red Paddle Co range come with built-in fins – the high-performance iFin system. With moulded fins you don’t need any tools, replacements or spares. They are specially designed to be ultra-durable and easy to pack away for transport. If they ever bend out of shape during storage or use, it is extremely easy to set them straight again, simply pour hot water over the fins and reshape them by hand.

On the 2021 Ride, the iFins are now in a twin fin configuration with reinforced base. This allows for easier roll up of the board, but you don’t sacrifice any tracking or grip because the fins are now larger than previous years. They are deeper, 4.5″ up from 4″, and with a wider 6″ base so you get the same performance as the older fins in a 3 fin or thruster configuration, but with much easier roll up now. If you didn’t look, you wouldn’t notice as there is no on water performance difference.

The other notable change is the new, and unique to Red Paddle Co, Flat Bungee Cargo System. The new self-closing bungee straps are now larger, creating more tension to keep all your gear on your board! All boards come with three bungee straps on the nose, setting you up perfectly for adventures to come.

Red Paddle Co have famously tested the durability and toughness of their boards over the years. Most recently you can watch a series of unbelievable durability tests performed on a poor 2017 10’6″ Ride model. Also, take a look at a 2014 board taking a beating. Knowing that the Red Paddle Co MSL construction boards are this strong, should put your mind at ease!

So, the board is exceedingly tough and durable, but at what cost? I put the 2021 Red Paddle Co 10’6″ Ride on the scales and it weighed in at 20lbs. For reference, the 2015 board and other double layer boards on the market, weigh in at 27lbs or more. That’s a 25% weight saving. This is a significant weight saving and is immediately apparent when you lift the board out of the box. Then when you have it inflated and carry to the water, much easier. On the water too, more responsive and easier to paddle. However, Red Paddle Co are careful not to make the boards too light. Yes, there is such a thing. Obviously the weight is there for rigidity and performance reasons, but we also need some weight in the board to control it in rougher waters or wind. A board with some weight is predictable and stable making it better suited to all paddlers.

Up a little closer we can once again see the edges of the material are cleanly cut, the glue lines that often wander on inferior brands are all perfectly straight thanks to the robots. To continue the attention to detail, the 6 bungee d-rings are stainless steel with three heavy duty bungee straps. The center carry handle is padded but no longer features the outer decal to improve the comfort and softness. There is also an updated carry handle integrated into the leash d-ring on the tail which is excellent for pulling the board through waves, up the beach or generally just holding on etc.

On the 2021 10’6″ Ride, the mount is integrated into the nose mounted handle and d-ring. For more info on the accessory mounts and parts view our inflatable paddle board accessory mount guide here.

The Red Paddle Co logos on the top and underside of the nose are screen printed on rather than a PVC layer in itself, further saving weight.

The rest

The package includes a repair kit, a waterproof phone case, and a general guide book with inflation instructions, pump tips and care tips inside the mesh pocket. Finally, a wrapping strap to keep the board rolled up.

On the water

Despite the iFin change, the on-the-water experience of the 2021 10’6″ Ride is mostly unchanged, which is great as it’s a brilliant all rounder and general purpose board! There may only be 2 fins now, but they are larger, so tracking is the same. The updates in bungee system and larger deck pad improve the ease of use and comfort in handling and riding. Handles are soft and comfortable and a treat to use to and from the water and getting back on the board. Nose and tail handles are great for pulling the board through surf/waves, especially with a child or pet passenger.

The 2021 Red Paddle Co 10’6″ Ride continues to be a great all round board for paddlers up to 220lbs. It’s the perfect width at 32″, meaning it is enough to be stable but still narrow enough to be manageable to carry on land and easy to paddle on the water. Cruising and turning is pretty easy and the 10’6″ Ride has nice glide. Either standing or kneeling, paddling is comfortable and tracking from the iFin built in fins is quite straight. The 4.72″ thickness is a perfect match between rigidity, performance and manoeuvrability. Thick enough to be rigid and keeping your feet out of the water but not so thick that it feels like you’re riding a cork or feel disconnected from the board or the water.

This is an incredibly easy paddle board for beginners to start on, or intermediates to advanced paddlers to use. Cruising the coastline, SUP Yoga, paddling workouts, riding small to medium surf, slow moving rivers, bays, inlets, intra-coastals, tropical islands, you name it! It is also a great choice for families as the 10’6″ Ride can be enjoyed by all ages, with enough space for a child or 4 legged friend up front. The almost indestructible MSL construction is also paw friendly.

The deck pad is larger and comfortable. In 2021, the “red” logo embossed texture continues, which is a nice touch yet still provides ample grip for general use and is very forgiving. Also continued for 2021, the tail section of diamond cut textured EVA provides better grip towards the tail for surfing or step back turns.

Vitals

• Length: 10’6″
• Width: 32″
• Thickness: 120mm, 4.72 inches
• Volume: 245 liters
• Weight: 20 lbs board only, 30 lbs with backpack and pump
• Max payload: 220 lbs/100 kg
• Warranty: 1 year, 5 years with product registration

Likes

• Bomb proof twin iFins – same great tracking but easier roll up
• Easy to use and secure flat bungee cargo system
• Quick inflation with the new compact and efficient Titan 2 Pump
• Top quality MSL Fusion construction with “hard-board-like” finish
• Slick graphics with attention to visual details that now match the advanced construction and stiffness technologies
• Clever internal packaging in the carry bag for secure transportation of paddle and other accessories
• Nose handle for easier handling, with integrated accessories mount for things like GPS, camera or phone
• Excellent, extended coverage EVA deck pad with diamond texture towards the tail for better feeling and grip
• Stable board, decent glide
• Five year warranty with board registration

Dislikes

• None!

In conclusion

An extremely high quality product from Red Paddle Co who are the outright leader in inflatable paddle board technologies and design – the 10’6″ Ride is still (after several years) my go to board for all round paddling and family fun. Excellent value for money when you consider the excellent quality of the board, bag and pump. I use one, my kids love it, it’s our number 1 selling board. To borrow Red Paddle Co’s own marketing speak, “If you had to choose just one board, this is the one we’d suggest.” We second that statement, and you can’t go wrong with this board.

Find all the details here: 2021 Red Paddle Co 10’6″ Ride.

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