Red Paddle Co Voyager Review

The Red Paddle Co inflatable SUP’s have changed a lot over the years and I was excited to see and test out their new updated 2018 lineup of boards.

The Voyager is a larger touring board that replaced their Explorer ISUP that I reviewed a few years back.

At 12’6” long and 32” wide the Voyager is ideal for the 200+ paddler or for anyone who wants to paddle with their dog, their kids or carry a lot of gear.

It can hold a lot of weight and still move efficiently through the water. We love the new color scheme and Red is constantly updating their technology and construction.

Red Paddle Co is one of the few ISUP companies that actually owns their own factory in China where they make their boards.

Therefore they are able to easily test and try out new ideas in order to make the perfect SUP.

The Voyager is ideal for touring and exploration. It is quite stable and just about anyone could feel comfortable on this board right off the bat.

SPECS

Although this review is for the 12’6″ Voyager it actually comes in two different size options.

L x W x T	12'6" x 32" x 5.9"	13'2" x 30" x 5.9"
WEIGHT / MAX LOAD	24.2 LBS / 243+ LBS	25.3 LBS / 243 LBS
STABILITY
PERFORMANCE
FINS	2 REMOVABLE FCS CONNECT SIDE FINS	2 REMOVABLE FCS CONNECT SIDE FINS
WARRANTY	5 YEARS	5 YEARS

Material:. Red uses a technology they have patented as MSL fusion. Basically it means that a second layer of polymer is fused to the drop stitch core at the raw material stage.  The two layers create a board within a board making it very strong and durable.

This type of construction is becoming increasingly popular with inflatable paddle boards as it has the distinct advantage of creating an extra stiff board while saving almost 2kg in weight.

It also eliminates hand gluing errors – of which I have seen many over the years.

Basically you get a cleaner looking board that is very stiff and strong yet lighter weight making it more portable and easier to take anywhere. It’s a total win-win!

Pros: Stable, sturdy and strong, lots of D-rings and bungee attachments for securing gear and leash, multiple carry handles, RSS battens for extra stiffness, good tracking with multiple fins

Cons: Moves well for its size but if you want faster speed you’ll need to upgrade to the longer leaner 13’2 x 30″ version of the Voyager, high price tag, package does not include a paddle

COLOUR OPTION

MORE INFO

Even though this is not the fastest board out there I still really enjoyed paddling it. It feels safe and secure even in ocean waves.

It feels stable and solid under your feet and consequently it is a lot of fun to use just cruising around or touring different areas.

You could easily paddle with a kid or a dog sitting up front and with a cooler secured at the back.

It handles the extra weight well and although it will take a little more effort to move with the 32′ width, it still glides nicely and I had no trouble doing turns.

The rails are reinforced with four layers of staggered taping keeping this board extra protected from dings and punctures.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

D-RINGS

There are several D-rings on the Voyager.

6 D-rings up front are being used by the bungee cords, then there are 4 at the back tail that can be used for storing more gear or a cooler if needed.

There is also a D-ring at the back (attached to the back handle) for securing your board leash and one at the front that can be used for towing or securing more gear.

With all these D-ring attachments you will have no trouble loading up with as much gear as you need.

FRONT BUNGEES

All 2021 Red Paddle Co boards have a new unique flat bungee system at the nose of the board.

These bungees are self closing and great for keeping your dry bag secure.

CARRY HANDLES

Usually there is one carry handle at the center of the traction pad. This one has three!

I’m not a huge fan of the three handles as they can easily get in the way of your feet.

However they do make carrying this board easier if you have it stacked with a bunch of gear.

There is also one back handle that is great to grab if you fall in the water.

FINS

The latest Voyager models have two FCS connect side fins. These two side fins provide a stable back end and really help with tracking and maneuverability.

FRONT SPECIAL FIXING

There is a special fixing at the front of the board that is compatible with Railblaza and Ram Mounts products.

This fixing allows you to secure an action camera, your mobile phone, your paddle or a fishing rod.

Love this special fixing, it’s nice to have if you choose to use it!

RSS BATONS

Red Paddle Co has been using the RSS Batons with their boards for awhile now.

For anyone who has used these before you will know that the first few times you try to install them is very difficult.

It takes a bit for the baton side pockets to wear in. However the more you use them, the easier it will get to install and remove them.

Basically these RSS Batons slide into pockets on the side rails. They help to provide more stiffness, which is especially helpful if the board is carrying a lot of weight.

However if it is not loaded with a ton of weight we don’t find them to be that necessary. The board is very stiff without them and still paddles extremely well.

DECK PAD

The traction pad is nice and long with lots of room to maneuver.  I found it very comfortable and to provide good grip.

SETUP

The Voyager comes with the Titan Pump that helps to pump up this board even faster.

I like this pump, it works well but it does add a little extra weight to the package.  It is larger than a regular hand pump.

You are still going to have to put in a little effort to get to the 18-20 PSI mark however and you’ll likely be sweating before you get on the water.

If you want to save your energy for paddling a good electric SUP pump will make things much easier. 😉

Below are the steps for easy setup:

• Take the Voyager out of the bag and unroll.
• Take off the valve cap and make sure to push the valve tip in and twist so that it ‘pops up’. This is important to ensure no air escapes as you inflate the board.
• 15 PSI is all that is typically necessary unless your board will be carrying a heavier load. Then we recommend inflating it to 18-20 PSI.
• Once inflated secure the valve cap and attach the bottom 9” FCS fin.
• Secure your board leash and go!

Setup can be done in 10 minutes flat so it takes very little time to get on the water from the time you arrive.

BACKPACK

The Red Paddle Co backpack opens on three sides making it very easy to take the board out of the bag as well as to put it back in.

It has three separate carry handles, one on top and one on each side. These carry handles make it easy to lift it in and out of your vehicle or when traveling.

The back adjustable padded shoulder straps can be tucked away so they don’t get caught on anything when traveling by plane or bus.

The waist strap adds a bit more support if you are carrying it on your back and the bottom integrated wheels allow you to pull it like a suitcase for easy transport.

It is a well thought out bag and fairly well made with strong zippers and stitching. There is also a back plastic pocket for an ID or address tag so you don’t lose it while traveling.

PERFORMANCE

I found that the Voyager makes you feel safe. It is a larger board made to handle a lot of weight .

I didn’t necessarily find it to be an exciting ride but it was a nice secure ride and sometimes when paddling in ocean chop, that extra stability and balance makes a big difference.

It glides well, tracks great and is fairly easy to paddle. It is a little slower to turn, which makes sense given the length and width but overall I enjoyed it a lot.

For myself I prefer a slightly narrower board to get better speed and performance but for paddling with gear, dogs or kids, the Voyager excels.

THE NEGATIVE

There is a lot going on with the traction pad. For example the three carry handles and the back D-rings can get in the way of your feet and I was aware of them when paddling.

Not a big deal as these accessories are also very handy. If you plant your feet and don’t move them you won’t notice them.

The price is high. You do get a lot of extras with the Voyager so just depends if you think the high price tag is worth it.  The package however does not include a paddle as many other ISUP packages do.

Overall this is a well thought out ISUP that I have no doubt will be very popular.

The Voyager is also available in a longer and leaner 13’2″x30″ version. This longer Voyager is much faster if you would like more speed!