Red Paddle Co 12'6’’ Sport
Pros
- Excellent inflatable touring board with impressive tracking and glide. The drawn out nose really helps you paddle through the water instead of over it.
- MSL fusion + Tec Air provides for a solid board with a balanced weight that is easy to carry and paddle in all conditions.
- 5.9” thickness increases weight capacity and rigidity, while still feeling like you glide through the water vs gliding on top of the water like some 6” inflatables.
- Removable RSS Batten system really improves rigidity and firmness. This also allows for a much easier time folding the board up compared to boards with pre-installed carbon rails. Also easy to install!
- Super grippy ‘Red’ deck pad. Smooth texture in the center, with diamond groove tail pattern for extra grip when turning.
- Titan pump, all-terrain backpack, and FCS II fin are all fantastic accessories included with the board.
Cons
- Really the only ‘con’ we have is that you have to pay extra to add a paddle to your SUP kit. However, this also allows you to choose the paddle that suits you best instead of having to pay for a kit, one-size-fits-all paddle.
- We’d like to see just a few d-rings towards the back of the board so those who want to load up with extra cargo can do so.
The Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 has been in the Red Paddle Co range for quite a few years now, but has undergone some significant recent changes. The plan shape has been tweaked and the board is now manufactured using Red’s new MSL800 construction process, to create a lighter product. But most significantly, the board is now made in 5” dropstitch, so it’s thinner than its predecessors. So all up, it’s pretty much a completely new board.
As regular supboardguide review readers will know, we’re big fans of 12’6 touring boards. They’re significantly faster through the water, with better glide, and are great for longer journeys or more fitness-oriented paddling where you’re wanting to get a decent workout. Yet they’re still just about enough general purpose enough that you could teach a friend on one, or put your youngster or pet onto the board with you. And of course, they offer enough deck space for carrying a reasonable amount of cargo.
The 12’6 touring class has been around for a long time (indeed this used to be recognised as a specific racing class too), so most brands have at least one offering in this area of the market. So how would the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 fare? We’ll tell you all about it in this review, but we can start by offering the following thoughts:
We think the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 would be a great SUP for:
- Paddlers wanting a high performance touring board
- Paddlers who like a lot of stability in their 12’6
- Paddlers not too bothered about max cargo carrying potential, but instead preferring plenty of uncluttered deck space
- Paddlers who like knowing that their board comes with a 5 year warranty and the backing of one of the most well established names in the iSUP business
Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6: Spec Sheet
- Board Category: Touring
- Listed Board Dimensions: 12’6 x 30 x 4.7″
- Measured Board Dimensions: 12’7 x 29 ¾ x 5”
- Listed Board Weight: 21.5lb
- Actual Board Weight (inflated): 21.8 lbs
- Listed Max Capacity: 150kg (330 lbs)
- Recommended PSI: 15-22 PSI
- Fins: 9” US box touring fin.
- Paddle: Choose between Cruiser Tough, Hybrid, Prime, Ultimate
- Board Shell Construction Materials: MSL Fusion
- Drop-stitch type: MSL®800 double-drop-stitch material
- Price Range: High
- Warranty: 5 year (as long as you register the board within 3 months)
Performance Review of the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 Stand Up Paddle Board
Overall Score: [9.6/10]
- Stability: 8.4/10
- Speed: 8.8/10
- Tracking: 9.3/10
- Maneuverability: 9.3/10
- Construction Quality: 9.8/10
- Features/Accessories: 9.1/10
Before we get into discussing the various performance characteristics of the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6, we should take a moment to focus on a particular aspect of the design, which – to us geeky board-reviewer types anyway – really stands out as a step away from the norms.
Look again at this plan shape. Indeed, you may have noticed it already.
The widest point of the board is very clearly quite a long way behind the central carrying handle. Indeed, it’s a good 10” behind it. The board’s tail is extremely wide, indeed it has a slight snub to it, accentuating its squareness. And then it increases width in a very linear fashion, till we find some curve just behind the rear of the RSS stiffening batten. And then the width starts reducing again, very slowly but steadily, creating a very extended arrow-head nose that pretty much starts at the central handle. This is all very unusual, we’ve not encountered a board like this before.
So, what does it actually mean in practice? Let’s look at the individual performance characteristics and find out.
Stability Rating: 8.4/10
The stability score shown here is a global rating, based on comparative performance to all other sizes and styles of paddleboards (other than multi-person boards).
The Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 is the most stable 12’6 x 30” that we’ve reviewed this year. It’s a really noticeable feature of this board. Having so much width in the tail, and all that extra width just behind where you normally tend to stand, really makes a huge difference. Add in the benefit of the thinner dropstitch, putting the rider closer to the water than on 6” boards which also makes a major positive difference to the feeling of stability, and there’s no doubt that this is one seriously stable 12’6.
So don’t be fooled by what may seem like a low score for this section, our stability ratings are global, to give you an idea as to how the board being reviewed compares with the most stable and least stable offerings on the market. Stability is the most fundamentally important aspect of choosing a board – if it’s not stable enough for you to paddle comfortably, other parameters are pretty irrelevant! Ultimately, a 30” wide board like the Sport 12’6 can never offer the stability of a 34” wide board, but we can certainly confirm that compared to other 30” wide boards, the Sport 12’6 scores really well. It’s extremely stable for its size.
We are less comfortable with Red Paddle Co’s suggested maximum weight of 150kg (330 lbs) for the Sport 12’6, however. This board would not be appropriate for a 330 lb rider. 5” dropstitch does not offer the rigidity to support this sort of weight at just 30” width; we noticed that the board starts to “hinge” quite noticeably when our heaviest team riders really started putting the hammer down on the board. If 330 lbs is the all-up-weight with a whole lot of cargo, then the number is somewhat more realistic, we could see that working. However, the plan shape of the board offers the most cargo-carrying support in the rear area, but the board isn’t properly configured for that. So we’d suggest dialling it back a bit on the maximum weight recommendations. 270 lbs / 120kg is probably a more realistic upper limit. Particularly if you’re a taller paddler with broad shoulders and lots of upper body muscle, then you will be better off with a wider board – especially if you’re relatively new to paddleboarding, or have any balance issues. Check out Red Paddle Co’s new 11’6 Ride which absolutely excels in this department, earning one of the highest stability scores we’ve given out for a long time; a massive 9.7/10.
Speed: 8.8/10
The speed score given above is a comparative rating to other sizes and styles of paddleboards, whereby 14’ raceboards would be scoring in the high 9s, and the widest all-round boards or surf-orientated shorter boards would be in the 5s or below.
Over the many years that we have been reviewing paddleboards at supboardguide.com, we have experimented with numerous different methodologies for speed testing, involving various hardware and software solutions. However, none have proved replicable; even using the same rider in the same conditions the numbers would vary from day to day, and of course when using different riders, or even just a different paddle, the results would change significantly. For this reason, while we still test all boards in cruise mode, fast cruise mode and then push them as hard as we can, we no longer give ‘absolute’ speed data (ie 5.5mph etc) – which ultimately doesn’t really matter unless you’re specifically looking to compete – and now report more on the general feel of the board when asked to perform.
The Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 lives up to its ‘Sport’ billing; it’s definitely a quick board through the water.
Cruising
The Sport 12’6 is extremely easy to paddle in this mode; that long extended nose cuts a very easy and smooth line and the board slips very easily through the water. It’s reasonably forgiving of less-than-perfect technique too.
Fast Cruising
This is where the Sport 12’6 performs best. It’s really happy being pushed along at a decent pace, and will be a great board for anyone wanting to use their paddleboard for fitness and working up a bit of a sweat, or those wanting to paddle longer distances and really cover some miles. The hard release edge on the tail also plays its part; it’s noticeable that the wake is significantly reduced compared to other boards with otherwise similar tail shapes.
Going Hard
The Sport 12’6 does pretty well in this mode too. The slight lack of directionality due to the plan shape starts to become more apparent, and for heavier paddlers the very slight hinging that occurs behind the RSS battens at the widest point starts to become a bit more apparent. Nevertheless, it’s definitely among the fastest of the 12’6 Touring boards we’ve reviewed this year, and is comfortable in a wide range of water conditions too.
Overall
If top speed is high on your list of considerations for your 12’6 and you’re under around 240 lbs then do check out Red Paddle Co’s other 12’6, the 12’6 Sport+ which is 2” narrower, and really knocking on the door of 12’6 raceboard territory, yet still maintaining that wide tail and cargo carrying potential. But if you’re simply wanting a fast 12’6 tourer without sacrificing any stability, then you’re not going to do better than this Sport 12’6, which gets top scores in both departments.
Tracking: 9.3/10
Tracking ultimately comes down to board length; a longer board will almost always track better than a shorter board of the same general width. So our tracking scores are intended to show how a board compares to other boards of similar size. In the case of the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 the scores compare to other boards in the 12’6 touring board category.
The Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 tracks very comfortably, benefiting from the long straight section in the plan shape and the wider tail, both of which play their part in locking the board onto its course. The large stiff fin with its high-area touring shape also helps keep the board on track. Overall, the tracking performance compares well to other boards of this size, especially those of a more rounded plan shape.
Maneuverability: 9.3/10
Maneuverability scores are based on comparative performance to boards of a similar general length and style. In the case of the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 the scores compare to other boards in the 12’6 touring board category.
This is perhaps the only area of performance where the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 isn’t scoring significantly above average for its class. The board design is more about straight line paddling – it’s that old trade-off of tracking vs manouevrability. However, it’s never too much of a problem with sub-11’6 boards – they’re still small enough to be turned without too much effort. It just takes a few more strokes! The reduced thickness also makes the board feel a lot more stable in the turn when you’re really cranking some force on that paddle.
One area of manoeuvrability that the Sport 12’6 does get a good thumbs-up from our reviewers is with stepback turns. The wide tail makes it very easy to move back on the board, and the board feels very responsive and ready to spin.
As always, if you do want to improve the turning performance, changing to a smaller/more swept-back fin placed right at the front of the finbox will loosen up the feel of the board quite a bit.
To understand more about turning styles and how to do them, check out our how-to video
Construction Quality: 9.8/10
Red Paddle Co have led the way with many of the refinements that we now take for granted in iSUP construction, a stand-out example being the ‘fusion’ construction process whereby layers of PVC are fused directly to the dropstitch substrate with heat and pressure. Many brands now use a similar process, but Red has had longer to perfect and refine it than anyone else, resulting in their patented ‘Monocoque Structural Laminate’ (MSL) construction..
Inside the board
The drop stitch used inside the Sport 12’6 is quoted at 4.7” thick, but actually measures 5”. The drop stitch is double weave X woven, which is lighter than the traditional ‘V woven’ dropstitch yet still offering excellent rigidity.
Top and Bottom Skin
For 2025 they’ve introduced some new construction labels, and the Sport 12’6 features their MSL800 process. MSL800 utilises a super-fine inner weave to increase stiffness and reduce weight for a lighter, faster, more responsive ride on advanced paddling shapes. The exact specifications, materials and thicknesses used are unique to Red. Apparently the process name refers to the weight saving; the MSL800 is 800g/m2 lighter than their ‘standard’ MSL.
Side Construction
Whereas most brands utilise side panels to connect the top and bottom layers, Red have a different approach, they bring the top and bottom layers together to create that ‘monocoque’ construction.
Extra Stiffening Systems
Red Paddle Co have their own patented stiffening system, featuring rigid battens that slide into a pocket built onto each side of the board adjacent to the standing area, to minimise the flex through that area of the board. As discussed later, we felt that the battens could be repositioned slightly to further improve the flex characteristics of the board.
Overall
The Sport 12’6 has definitely benefited from the weight saving due to the new MSL 800 construction, and is as well constructed as we have come to expect from Red Paddle Co. It’s very noticeable that Red’s seams and general finish tend to be more accurate and well-aligned than we see from pretty much any other brand.
Normally we are a bit suspicious of long warranty offers, because they’re worthless if the brand disappears from the scene. But as Red Paddle Co have been around for 17 years and are showing no signs of slowing down, we feel that their 5 year warranty has genuine value and meaning. Just remember that you do need to register your board to get this warranty!
Board Stiffness: 1.35”
The 1.35” deflection in our 150lb bend test is a reasonably good result for a board of this size, considering the thinner dropstitch being used, which inevitably takes a toll on overall stiffness. We’d expected to find just slightly less flex because of the RSS batten system, but what we’ve noticed with this system is that it doesn’t necessarily reduce the overall deflection in a board, but instead puts more rigidity into that central standing area. So rather than the board ‘hinging’ in the middle when under load, it holds its shape through that center area but hinges in front of and behind the battens when we put it under the spot loading in this test.
Indeed, what we noticed specifically on the 12’6 Sport was that the battens are perhaps just a little bit further forward than they needed to be. Because of the widest point in the plan shape being so far back, you often find yourself standing a bit behind the handle area of the board, in which case your heels are back near the back of the RSS battens. As a consequence, especially when paddling hard, the board hinges slightly at that specific point, as there’s a lot of load on it. This was more noticeable when heavier riders used the board. It’s a very minor thing and doesn’t impair the rider experience, but it’s something that Red could look at adjusting on their next iteration of the board, as it would improve the performance even further.
To ascertain the rigidity of each board we review, we have been using our own specific laboratory bend test process since 2021. The board is inflated to its maximum recommended PSI and positioned exactly on our measuring jig. 150lb weight is then applied to the standing area to see how much bend it causes. While this isn’t an exact replication of the weight distortion that occurs when a rider stands on a SUP board in the water, it still gives a very useful comparative tool in determining the relative stiffness of the various board construction processes.
Features/Accessory Review: [9.1/10]
The Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6 comes in just the one colorway, featuring Red’s favored palette of elegant shades of blue. We really like the EVA deck pad configuration; with its various grades of grip. The ‘Red’ embossed area gives really good grip and is very comfortable underfoot, while in the tail area has the diamond-cut extra grippy stuff, giving excellent traction underfoot whether you’re wearing neoprene shoes or paddling barefoot.
The Sport 12’6 is relatively light on fittings and features compared to other 12’6 inflatables. This is largely because Red Paddle Co have other boards of similar size in their range that are designed more specifically for adventure paddling, So our guess is that they have simply decided to major on keeping the weight of the 12’6 Sport as low as possible. However, we feel that they are perhaps selling themselves a bit short in this department, especially since the board has such great potential for loading up with some cargo for adventure paddling. A couple more fixing points would not add significantly to the weight but would definitely increase the versatility that the board can offer.
On the nose we find a well padded carrying handle, plus a screw-in (M6 thread) action camera/accessory mount point. Next up are the three webbing cargo straps, attached to steel D Rings. The straps are not the full width of the nose, so the actual cargo carrying space isn’t huge, but should be more than enough for most day adventures. Having the D rings does mean that it’s easy to replace the webbing straps with criss-cross bungee or indeed any other type of storage fixing should you so choose.
We thoroughly approve of the extra fixing point on the strap nearest the rider, creating a small loop perfectly sized for holding a water bottle.
Other than the central carrying handle, the only other fittings before you get all the way back to the rear carrying handle and leash fixing point, are a solitary pair of D rings halfway back towards the tail. There’s not really a whole lot you can do with just 2 fixing points, it would make a lot more sense to have 4.
On the underside we have the single fin configuration. The central US-style finbox is full length, rather than the split style now used by most other leading brands as it makes a board easier to roll up.
Included Accessories:
Red Paddle Co boards come with the ‘ATB’, the most heavy-duty and feature-rich carrying bag that you will find in the iSUP arena. It’s super durable and extremely voluminous, but what really makes it so great is that the hip belt and rucksack straps can easily be detached, turning it into a super practical piece of luggage for air travel. Or indeed, you can just use the rucksack frame on its own, attaching the rolled-up board directly to it.
The Titan II pump meanwhile, is also a classic. Double chamber pumps remain the easiest and most efficient way to inflate a board by hand, and we really like the extra attention to detail on the Titan II, such as having a bayonet fitting on both ends of the hose so that it can be attached either way, etc.
The Sport 12’6 is not packaged with a paddle as standard but can be purchased with any of the main Red paddle range. Red’s 2025 paddle range is a huge improvement over their previous offerings, and even the most basic of their paddles is actually an excellent bit of kit.
Summary Review of the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6
So how best to describe the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6? Red markets it as a ‘step-up from an all-rounder’. But we’d actually say that in many ways it is the perfect all rounder. If you’re looking for a board that has plenty of stability and user-friendliness to learn the basics on, but can then take you smoothly and easily along the journey into better paddling, and going further and faster, then here it is. This may well be the only board you’ll ever need!
And yes, to acknowledge Red’s marketing, for sure it is also a perfect step-up from the ubiquitous rounded-nose 10’6 x 33” learning board that most people start their paddleboarding career on. If you want to stay in that general size and stability of board but you want a whole heap more classy performance, the Sport 12’6 will fill that role perfectly.
Overall, the Sport 12’6 merges the roles of beginner/general-purpose board and small tourer perfectly, in a really high quality package with a delightfully smooth and classy feel. Yes it’s a bit light on fittings compared to the competition, but other than that it’s a real standout in every way, and the upgraded construction and reduced weight for 2025 have done it absolutely no harm at all!
Happy paddling! We hope you enjoyed this review of the Red Paddle Co Sport 12’6. If you have any questions or comments please leave us a comment below!
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