FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

BOARDS


What is MSL?

MSL is the material we use on all of our boards. MSL involves fusing a second layer of hard-wearing polymer to the dropstitch core at the raw material stage, rather than hand gluing it. This completely removes hand gluing errors and cosmetic blemishes. The high-tech industrial process also saves almost 2kg in weight and makes the boards stiffer at lower pressures.

What is Tec Air – technology?

Tec Air is the process we use to refine and develop our boards at every stage of production. We’re the only inflatable SUP brand in the world that produces our boards in a dedicated private facility.

I’m not sure which board is right for me

Use the handy Board Selector tool to find the best Red board for you (insert board selector link) Still not sure or have more questions? Chat to Alex from our customer service team, he’s a super helpful chap!

How durable is a Red Paddle Co board?

Red Paddle Co boards are built to withstand even the wildest adventures. Our premium-quality boards won’t let you down, giving you the freedom to explore any stretch of water. We put our most popular board, the 10’6″ Ride through 10 intense (but fun!) tests to push it’s durability to the limit. This culminated in driving over the board with a 22.5 tonne digger to prove how tough our boards are so you don’t have to! Treat it well and it will be a trusty steed.

What is the bump I found on the back of my board?

Do not fear, it’s meant to be here!

The ‘bump’ which can sometimes be seen at the back of our boards towards the bottom, is where the drop stitch material has to be cut in order to fit in the inflation valve. To try and minimise the visibility of this we try and hide it under the fins as much as possible, however on some of the boards with the US fin box system it may still be visible. Click here for a video explanation on The Bump.

How do I dispose of my board packaging properly?

Our packaging is a biodegradable polymer made from non-toxic natural recycled materials, that will be broken down by microorganisms in 180 days. Find out how to dispose of it correctly here…

Can I learn to paddle board on a Red Paddle Co board?

Yes, absolutely! All Red Paddle Co boards are inflatable boards so they’ll even kinder on your body when you fall – which will probably happen quite a bit when you start. But, all Red boards are super stable so they’re great to learn on. You don’t want to be starting your SUP journey on a bendy wobbly board. 1,000’s of SUP Schools and hire centres around the world choose Red Paddle Co as their board of choice as they’re super durable and a great board to learn on.

How do Red boards compare to ‘hard’ boards?

When inflated correctly and used for general Stand Up Paddling you will hardly notice any difference. For high performance surfing you will find you will have to adapt your style as the board rides differently to a ‘hard’ board but still rides well. The biggest benefit is that you can deflate, roll up and stash your Red inflatable board in the back of the car with ease, take it on a plane, hike up a mountain….so transporting it further afield is much, much easier than a 10 ft+ hardboard!

How long can I leave the board inflated for?

Over time you will experience some loss of pressure especially with temperature changes but just top it up before you hit the water. The board should be stored out of direct sunlight and if you are not going to use it for a while you should reduce the pressure to below 15 psi.

What is the best way to store the board?

Red boards are super durable and so you can store them pretty much how you’d like depending on your situation. You can store the board rolled up in the bag, or fully inflated or partially inflated – it’s up to you. If you don’t plan to use your board for a long time we recommend you store it in a cool, dry place and loosely rolled. We’d also recommend giving your board a nice clean and dry it off before storing it away.

How much pressure can I put in the board?

Our boards are built to take a lot of pressure. You won’t need to put more than 25 psi in your board. Above this pressure you will see no increase in stiffness but you will find the valve is hard to push down to deflate the board and it takes longer to inflate. For general use 15-22 psi is best. Heavier riders will benefit from pressure closer to 25psi.

How do I maintain my board?

Red boards are super durable and easy to take care of but a little love now and again will keep the board looking good for the longest time. Ideally wash it down with fresh water after each use, keep it out of direct sunlight and store loosely rolled. Inflatable boards don’t like to be cooked in the sunshine so keeping it cool and in the shade when not in use is key to a long and fruitful relationship.

Will hot sun cause the board to over inflate?

No, but we don’t recommend leaving your board in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. Following this advice will keep your board in good working order for as long as possible.

What is the best way to pack my board in the bag?

Check out this helpful video to see how best to roll and pack away your board easily every time

How do I attach the hose of my pump to the board?

First off, remove the dust cap from your value. Before you do anything – when your board is completely deflated and before attaching the hose to the board, ensure that the centre pin in the valve is in the upmost position by pushing it in and turning to the right. You will make this mistake at least once, maybe more but it’s super frustrating if you’ve not pushed the pin out before you start pumping as you board will deflate once you remove the hose. When connecting the pump hose, push the grey adaptor into the valve and twist to the right with some force. You will find it quite stiff to start with but it will get easier over time.

How long is the warranty on my board?

We will be offering a 5 year warranty for each board bought from the 2020 range. Just like our 2 year warranty that was available on 2018 and 2019 boards, we will require you, the customer to register your board with us via our website within 3 months of purchase to activate the extended warranty. See more details of our warranty here: https://redpaddleco.com/red-paddle-co-warranty-guidelines/ All 2020 boards come with a 1 year warranty as standard, with an extra 4 year warranty added when you register your board at here.

All 2018 and 2019 boards come with a 1 year warranty as standard, with an extra 1 year warranty added when you register your board.

Why are some of your products made in China or in the Far East?

The first thing we look at when it comes to producing our products is where can we find not only the best materials but also the best team to put them together. When we started Red Paddle Co we formed a close partnership with a small South Korean family run business that specialised in dealing with Drop Stitch (the core of an inflatable board).

After working with them for over 5 years and with our business growing at a crazy rate we worked together to build the absolute best production line, run by the most skilled workforce available.

After a lot of searching we based the factory in China, close to Hong Kong. This allowed us to attract the absolute best workforce. Long gone are the days when China was seen as a low quality producer. Modern China has some of the best and most skilled textile workforce in the world with a work ethic and attention to detail to match. We could easily have based the factory anywhere but the level of quality and work ethic we found in China greatly surpassed anything else.

We are proud to still be working with the same family in a partnership that is now entering it’s 12th year. We design everything in house at our UK based development centre using feedback from over 60 countries and tens of thousands of paddlers worldwide. Only when we are absolutely satisfied that what we have designed is a better version of what we had before will we take it to final prototyping and series production. Both our UK and Chinese based teams only let the very best products reach the beaches and waterways of the world.