Rating: 4.5 Stars
The Red Paddle Co boards are marketed as being some of the best on the market and although we agree they are great paddle boards we don’t always agree that they are at the top of the line.
However it’s hard to argue with the functionality of the Ride and it has long been one that we admire.
Our only gripe with the Ride (besides the high price tag) is that it really doesn’t move all that fast. However if great handling, quick maneuvering and versatility are more your thing as opposed to speed, the Ride excels in these areas.
Overview
Price Point: Over $1000
Build: Inflatable MSL laminated technology
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Use: All-Around design. Quick and easy to maneuver.
Size: 10’6” long, 32” wide, 4.75” thick
Weight: 21 lbs.
Load Capacity: 220 lbs.
Details
The Ride is an all-around board that was designed to be fun for cruising around on flat water and to ride equally well in small surf.
Although this board is 32” wide creating some decent stability it is only 4.75” thick as opposed to 6” like most others.
At 4.75” it won’t be as stable as a 6” thick board, nor will it be able to hold as much weight but it will be quick and easy to turn and maneuver and if you have the skill it has great control in surf.
The three smaller attached back fins create a stable back end and help with control and performance.
The Ride is a lot of fun to paddle and we find that rarely are people disappointed with it.
It is also extremely portable as it rolls up into quite a small package. You can easilyt take this board traveling , ride surf in other countries and explore new areas.
Design
The design is simple yet effective. The ocean blue colors are subdued but attractive.
The round nose and slightly tapered tail really plow through choppy water well.
Although a smaller board like this won’t provide as much stability as a longer or thicker ISUP, you will get used to the feel easily and appreciate how responsive the Ride is.
This board will take a little bit more time to get comfortable on.
Unless you already have quite a bit of paddle boarding experience we would recommend starting off slowly on flat calm water until your legs and core feel stable and comfortable.
We would have loved for the Ride to have a removable touring fin. However Red has designed this board to handle well in surf and the smaller tri-fin configuration is ideal for that.
So although the Ride is versatile and can technically be used in any type of water, it is not the most ideal for flat water touring or covering longer distances.
The tracking is not as good as a touring board or even as good as some of the longer and leaner all-around paddleboards.
Although it doesn’t take a lot of effort to move it will take longer to get to your destination.
Features
Bungees – The large front bungee section allows you to secure your dry bag, PFD, water bottle or other essentials.
Center Carry Handle – The center handle has no padding on this board, which we thought was unfortunate. However it does lay flat and stays out of the way of your feet, which is especially helpful if you are surfing.
Back Grab Handle – The back grab handle is helps for pulling the board to shore or grabbing the board from the water.
Front D-ring – The front D-ring on the nose of the board can be used for towing or for securing more gear.
3 Attached Fins – The tri-fin setup on the Ride helps with control and maneuvering.
Package
The best price we’ve seen is on Amazon.com and the package on there includes:
3-Piece Carbon Nylon Paddle – This is a good lightweight paddle and considering the higher price of this board we are glad to see this paddle included in the Amazon package.
Double Chamber Titan Pump – This double chamber pump does inflate the board faster. However we also find it to be a little heavier to carry and sometimes a bit awkward.
This pump isn’t a deal breaker for us, we could take it or leave it.
Wheeled Backpack – We love their wheeled backpack. It opens on all three sides making it easy to remove the board and provides enough room and protection to store the board and all accessories.
Waterproof Cell Phone Case – The waterproof cell phone case is nice to have as most of us tend to bring our phones out on the water with us.
Repair Kit – The standard repair kit includes a couple PVC patches, repair glue and a valve tightener.
To Sum It Up..
Although we don’t think you necessarily have to spend this much to get a great paddle board, there’s no denying Red Paddle Co’s great reputation and marketing.
We give it 4.5 stars. The Ride is a pretty cool inflatable SUP, not perfect but definitely a lot of fun and well made!
Warranty
The Red Paddle Co Ride 10’6” ISUP comes with a 2-year warranty.
Best deal on the Red Ride is at Amazon.com.