The Red Paddle Co. 9’6” Compact Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board. Photo: Julia Borland/The Inertia
One of the best parts about inflatable paddle boards is how accessible they make paddling. They’re easy to store, they don’t require roof racks, and they’re small enough to be taken as a checked bag on overseas adventures. But you know what would make inflatable paddle boards better? If they were even smaller.
Red Paddle Co. has a reputation for making high-quality inflatable paddle boards and the Red Paddle Co. Compact ($1,999) is the smallest board in their fleet. I recently got my hands on the Compact 9’6″ and was blown away by its packability and its performance. Read on to learn more about my experience.
| Pros | Cons |
| Packs down incredibly small | Expensive |
| Double chamber pump | Repacking it can be tricky |
| Lightweight and maneuverable | Fin design is funky |
First Impressions
As the name suggests, the Compact is well, compact. But seriously, it is about half the size of any other inflatable board I’ve ever seen or paddled. The backpack it came in was so small, I doubted whether it included a paddle and pump, so I brought mine just in case.
Much to my surprise, when I opened the backpack, it did, indeed included both a paddle and a pump. The backpack that holds the Compact is about the size of a backpacking backpack, but a little bit wider. The packing is a bit of an origami situation. The board comes rolled tightly around the double barrel pump with the five-piece paddle sitting beneath it.
Once I got the board inflated, it looked like a normal, stable all around paddle board, but with less volume than most all around boards. Because of its size, I thought the Compact would be a great option for traveling and I hoped its performance was up to par. If it was, I knew the Compact would be my new favorite iSUP.
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The Compact packs down into a convenient carrying backpack. Photo: Julia Borland/The Inertia
Notable Features
Board Length: 9’6”
Board Thickness: 4.7”
Board Volume: 222 L
Board Weight: 7.25 kg
Board Width: 32”
Bag Size: 560 mm (h) x 420 mm (w) x 320 mm (d)
Bag Volume: 75 L
Complete Package Weight: 14.5 kg
I have spent a lot of time with the Red Paddle Co. Compact and it is, hands down, my favorite all around inflatable stand up paddle board I have ever tried. In 2019, I spent a month in Punta de Mita, Mexico with the older model of the Compact and thoroughly enjoyed paddling the open ocean on it and even surfed some of the local longboarding waves and was impressed with its performance.
I recently got my hands on the newest model of the Compact and have been paddling on the canals and marinas near my home on Oahu. From a performance standpoint the board seems the same, but it packs even smaller than the 2019 model.
The board, pump, paddle, fins, and leash all fit in the backpack. Photo: Julia Borland/The Inertia
Red Paddle Co. uses the highest quality options at every turn. The package comes with the Titan 2 Pump: a double chamber pump that is twice as efficient as other pumps. It’s a game changer in inflating your board. The included five-piece paddle is a carbon paddle with a nylon blade. Although it’s heavier than a high-performance paddle, it’s a great all around paddle and is much higher quality than the paddles that are typically included in iSUP packages.
The board includes an adjustable cargo system, which is a feature I really appreciate in a board. The Compact has three adjustable bungee straps on the front of the board, which are great for strapping on gear. I found myself using these regularly for hooking on my water bottle, stashing a sweatshirt when it got warm, or stowing a dry bag on longer adventures.
The adjustable bungee system is great for stashing gear. Photo: Rebecca Parsons/The Inertia
As an experienced paddler, my favorite thing about the Compact is that it is thinner and has less volume than most inflatable stand up paddle boards. Most iSUPs are six inches thick, but the compact is only 4.7 inches thick. The lower volume and thickness make the board a little less stable, but it also makes it a lot more maneuverable. And at 9’6” by 32” inches, it’s still plenty stable. The quad stringer system also works to ensure the Compact is incredibly rigid.
If you’re a new paddler or a larger paddler, the Compact may not be the best pick for you. But if you’re small or have some experience on a SUP, you’ll likely love how seamlessly the Compact glides through the water and how easy it is to get around on.
The Compact is lightweight and maneuverable. Photo: Julia Boland/The Inertia
Drawbacks
The price. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it, the Compact is an expensive board. At $1,999, the Compact costs more than most traditional hard boards. On the flip side, it is a top-of-the-line inflatable and is possibly the best and highest performing inflatable I have ever ridden. It also packs down smaller than any board I’ve ever tried. You’ve heard the adage: You get what you pay for. You’ll just have to decide if it’s worth it.
A funky feature of the Compact are the fins. They slip in like normal surfboard fins and require using a fin key on the front to tighten the screws. However, the back of the fins has a little pin that you are supposed to insert and for the life of me, I couldn’t get it lined up to get the pin in. Finally, I figured out that the pin is to be used if you don’t have a fin key, but it was still tricky to get it lined up properly.
If you like Tetris, then you’ll love putting the Compact away but if you don’t, you may find yourself getting frustrated. My first time putting the board away I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get it to fit back in the bag. It’s not easy, but it is doable. Just be sure and pay close attention to how it was packed when you first received it and pack it back up the same way. I love how small the backpack is, but part of me wishes it was six inches bigger to make packing easier.
The Compact packs down small but performs like a high-performance inflatable paddle board. Photo: Julia Boland/The Inertia
Final Thoughts
At $1,999, the Red Paddle Co. Compact is by no means a cheap board, but it is a top-of-the-line inflatable stand up paddle board that packs down to about half the size of standard inflatable. The package includes the board, a double chamber pump, a five-piece carbon paddle, fins, a coil leash, and a travel backpack, so you have everything you need to store, transport, and paddle on your board. Sporting an all around design, the Compact is rigid and easy to maneuver, making it a great pick for any adventure.
CHECK PRICE ON BackcountryEditor’s Note: To see how this board stacks up against the competition, check out our guide to The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards. For more options, including hardboards, here’s our overall Best Paddleboards Review. We’ve also reviewed The Best SUP Paddles, and The Best Lifejackets for Paddleboarding. Need something to wear when paddling? Here’s our guide to The Best Board Shorts, The Best Sun Hats, and The Best Rashguards. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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