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Product Review: 2016 Red Paddle Co Explorer Plus 13’2″ Inflatable SUP Board

As mentioned in a prior post, we have been awaiting the arrival of the 2016 Red Paddle Co product line. The shipment recently arrived and we had our first opportunity to take a look at the new Red Air inflatable SUPS, consisting of 17 models. New for this year are three boards – the 8’10” Whip, the Explorer Plus 13’2″, and the Sport 12’6″.

Founded in 2007, Red Paddle Company is a UK-based business focused solely on the design and manufacture of inflatable paddle boards and accessories. Well-known for their ruggedness, each of the boards utilize high pressure drop-stitch technology – allowing them to be inflated from 16-22 PSI – and feature quadruple rail construction and double layering. The larger boards come with the Red Paddle Titan pump, a dual-barrel pump allowing one to inflate a paddle board in minutes.
For 2016, Red Paddle Co introduced a technological advance termed MSL (Monocoque Structural Laminate) fusion technology. The new process has resulted in boards that weight up to 10 lbs lighter than previous models, without sacrificing soundness or rigidity. Indeed, the 2016 slogan for Red Paddle is “stronger, stiffer, lighter.”
Our first write-up on the new boards focused on the Sport 12’6″ iSUP – a 30″ wide, sleek, inflatable cruising model reminiscent of the original Race 12’6″, constructed from thicker 150mm drop-stitch material and the revolutionary new rocker stiffening system (RSS).
Included in this shipment was all the new Explorer + 13’2″, a feature-rich, high-speed cruiser built as the ultimate exploration board. So, we opened the box and started getting ourselves acquainted with this intriguing new model. (Please note, some of the information here will be repeated from other writeups.)
Red Paddle Co Explorer Plus 13-2: Getting Started
The box as received weighs 41 lbs, measuring 37 x 15 x 15 inches.

Inside the box is the SUP body, two RSS side battens, Titan dual barrel pump, pressure gauge, backpack, cinch belt, removable fin, instructions and repair kit – as well as a bonus cell phone case. Once rolled up, the SUP board and paddle fit into the backpack, as well as optional breakdown paddles under 37 inches.

Weight is 37 lbs for backpack, board and pump, which all easily fit in the back of a small car. The board alone is approximately 24 lbs.
Red Paddle Co Thirteen Two Explorer Plus: Setup
The Red Paddle Co 13’2 Explorer Plus inflatable SUP arrives rolled up around the Titan pump, inside the backpack. Instructions are located inside the cell phone case, attached to the zipper pull on the bag.

For your first set up, remove and unroll the SUP body. Lay it out face up so that you can access the military valve.

The Explorer Plus 13-2 utilizes one spring-loaded military valve for inflation.

Original Source: AirKayaks >>