14'0" Sport+ MSL 800 Inflatable Paddle Board

I also paddle a 12’6” x 30” Sport and a 11’ x 32 Compact. Moving to the 14’ x 28” without any testing prior to purchase maybe considered risky but no it’s a RED, they are all very stable. The length rather than the width took a little time to get used to. Portage is considerably easier than a previous Voyager I used to own, this is a big plus. Performance is great, it picks up and accelerates very quickly all in a straight-line. If you are considering the 14’ x 28” Sport+ just buy it!

Having owned 2 x 12'6 Red Race boards for over ten years, I could not believe how much lighter and more responsive this board is. I moved over to 14' years ago, so am very much used to this length. I regularly use this for adventuring, touring and have even raced on it! Such a smart-looking board, too, but the performance is what keeps me coming back. As with all of Red products, well made and built to last.

I moved up from an 11'x32" without and have had no stability issues with the narrower profile. It is quite a bit faster than the 32" board i was using, similar I would say to a recreational canoe, which is impressive. The quality is excellent as expected. I appreciate the added d-rings behind the deck for extra storage if needed. I have noticed that it is better to stand slightly further aft than the deck graphics would suggest to avoid plowing the nose, which is rounded rather than sharply pointed. This also levels the tail with the water. Railing the board slightly gives it better penetration. While the handles and straps are excellent, the fabric takes a bit of time to dry, which means more time before storage. My biggest complaint is that the fin box catches weeds. I paddle often where fanwort is common and the fin box, which you cannot replace like a fin, has a fairly steep forward angle, enough so to catch weeds. A less abrupt forward angle and a sharper edge would help. I swapped out the finger fin screw for a round-top and that did not solve the problem. Minor issues aside, this is high quality and high performance board I would recommend to anyone paddling longer distances with or without extra gear onboard.

I received the 14' Sport + as a Christmas gift, and though I'm a year round paddle, I held off taking the new board on the water until recently, figuring there may be a learning curve to balancing, and I preferred not to risk a fall when the water is icy. I should not have waited.

As a long time user (and lover) of the 13.2' Voyager, I wasn't sure there was an inflatable out there I'd enjoy much more. My only gripe with the Voyager has been that I've always felt that dual fin design creates extra drag, while also inhibiting maneuverability.

I finally got my new Sport + on the water last week. Anticipating a calm day, I was alarmed to find that by the time I was inflated and ready to go out, the wind had picked up considerably, and the chop had gotten real. Realizing how much lighter the Sport + is vs my Voyager, I feared I was about to get tossed around and braced myself for a possible cold plunge. My fears were alleviated when I stood up and felt instantly at home. Within minutes, I was cruising as though I'd been paddling the Sport + for years. Though lighter and more narrow than the Voyager, this board is no less stable, while being quicker and much more nimble. I can change direction much more easily, and I don't find myself locked into paddling on one side or the other for long stretches.

One concern I had was the lack of V nose on the Sport +, a feature that was highly routed with the Voyager series. It appears the V nose is more hype than feature, as I experience no…