Inflatables-Isle, Tower, Elevate OR ?

[Green Water Sports]

Great Lakes are all hard boards.

Look for fusion, heat laminated layers etc. If it says just "Double layer" it's probably just glued which isn't as good as that MSL video outlines. Some parts are still glued, no way around that but look for fusion construction.

[Quickbeam]

Great Lakes has them for 850 but I don't believe they're inflatable. 

I must say, after THAT information link I'm very curious about the RedCo.

Now I need to know construction difference between the two.

I've always preferred buying quality so I know it will last. I'm not discounting Elevation just yet. RedCo has my attention though.

The Elevation looks pretty solid and for the price, worse case would become a solid loaner.

Windwarrior,
I've got two Red Paddle Inflatables. I've got one from 2014 which is still standing up very well, and I just purchased the 2017 13' 2" Explorer. Red makes a quality product.

[Windwarrior]

Great Lakes are all hard boards.

Look for fusion, heat laminated layers etc. If it says just "Double layer" it's probably just glued which isn't as good as that MSL video outlines. Some parts are still glued, no way around that but look for fusion construction.

YES! Absolutely!

It's looking like a toss up now between Hala and RedCo.

Leaning REALLY hard towards RedCo.

I had no idea that Hala is from Colorado. In Steamboat Springs!!

I seriously like the structure of the RedCo,the pump,bag pretty much everything about it. Pretty solid setup all around.

How long can one expect to own one? How many seasons?

[Quickbeam]

Red Paddle has the best pump in the business. I don’t think you'll find much argument on that. As for how long the board will last, that really depends. As I said in an earlier post, I’ve got a 2014 that is still standing up well, but to be honest, I don’t use it very much. I have hard boards that I use almost exclusively. I tend to only use my inflatables when I’m traveling or maybe if I’m teaching.

I should also make mention that I did have a problem on my 2014 board and Red ended up replacing it. They were very good to deal with and I’ve had zero problems with the replacement board.

[Windwarrior]

I should also make mention that I did have a problem on my 2014 board and Red ended up replacing it. They were very good to deal with and I’ve had zero problems with the replacement board.

Yep, saw the earlier post.

What was the issue with the board and what was the process to get it handled?

[Quickbeam]

The front, built in plastic fin, split on my board. It's not really a fin. More like a plastic runner that is supposed to function something like a ventral fin. In any case, it split on my board. They told me they had never seen it happen before. I went to my retailer about the problem and they contacted Red. I had no problem whatsoever, other than my particular board was out of production. They did some looking and found one left in their Warehouse, and that's the one I got. The board has been fine ever since, and I should also mention that the 13' 2" Explorer I just purchased also has the same type plastic runner or fin on the front of the board.

[Windwarrior]

The front, built in plastic fin, split on my board. It's not really a fin. More like a plastic runner that is supposed to function something like a ventral fin. In any case, it split on my board. They told me they had never seen it happen before. I went to my retailer about the problem and they contacted Red. I had no problem whatsoever, other than my particular board was out of production. They did some looking and found one left in their Warehouse, and that's the one I got. The board has been fine ever since, and I should also mention that the 13' 2" Explorer I just purchased also has the same type plastic runner or fin on the front of the board.

Good to know the company is solid to work with too!
Nothing speaks louder than that. Nothing.
Kudos to RedCo!!

[Green Water Sports]

Great Lakes are all hard boards.

Look for fusion, heat laminated layers etc. If it says just "Double layer" it's probably just glued which isn't as good as that MSL video outlines. Some parts are still glued, no way around that but look for fusion construction.

YES! Absolutely!

It's looking like a toss up now between Hala and RedCo.

Leaning REALLY hard towards RedCo.

I had no idea that Hala is from Colorado. In Steamboat Springs!!

I seriously like the structure of the RedCo,the pump,bag pretty much everything about it. Pretty solid setup all around.

How long can one expect to own one? How many seasons?

All depends on how often you use it and how you handle your gear.

If you go down the Red Paddle Co route, let me know what you want as a whole package and I'll set you up with Zoner pricing.

[Area 10]

The front, built in plastic fin, split on my board. It's not really a fin. More like a plastic runner that is supposed to function something like a ventral fin. In any case, it split on my board. They told me they had never seen it happen before. I went to my retailer about the problem and they contacted Red. I had no problem whatsoever, other than my particular board was out of production. They did some looking and found one left in their Warehouse, and that's the one I got. The board has been fine ever since, and I should also mention that the 13' 2" Explorer I just purchased also has the same type plastic runner or fin on the front of the board.

Good to know the company is solid to work with too!
Nothing speaks louder than that. Nothing.
Kudos to RedCo!!

By the standards of water sports companies, Red Paddle Co is a very professionally run outfit. I think that ULI can claim to be the first widely successful inflatable SUP company. But Red Paddle pretty much made inflatables the number one choice for SUPers worldwide in terms of sale volumes (in Europe for instance, inflatable SUPs outsell hard boards 10 to 1), and each year it tends to seem like everyone else is playing catch up with them. They aren't far ahead, and there are other companies that offer particular features for particular environments (e.g. extreme durability - although at an extreme weight penalty too) or uses. But for general use, or semi-serious race use, they are hard to beat. It's the little details too, such as the pump, bag, fins, paddles etc, that they tend to do so well, not just the big ticket items. These details can really affect your day-to-day enjoyment, and so the number of times the board will get used. A heavy, hard-to-inflate, hard to carry iSUP is pretty much a total PITA.

[Windwarrior]

Great Lakes are all hard boards.

Look for fusion, heat laminated layers etc. If it says just "Double layer" it's probably just glued which isn't as good as that MSL video outlines. Some parts are still glued, no way around that but look for fusion construction.

YES! Absolutely!

It's looking like a toss up now between Hala and RedCo.

Leaning REALLY hard towards RedCo.

I had no idea that Hala is from Colorado. In Steamboat Springs!!

I seriously like the structure of the RedCo,the pump,bag pretty much everything about it. Pretty solid setup all around.

How long can one expect to own one? How many seasons?

All depends on how often you use it and how you handle your gear.

If you go down the Red Paddle Co route, let me know what you want as a whole package and I'll set you up with Zoner pricing.

I'm going to paddle a couple next week. Going to try two sizes.
12'6 explorer
13'2 explorer

Going to also try 3 paddles
Good-basic paddle with boat
Better-carbon
Best-carbon elite

Leash-coil style
And possibly paddle bag

Curious as to what the Zoner pricing would be in those options.
Pm me the options

[Windwarrior]

One more thing....
I take very good care of my things and toys. Always have. Partially due to my upbringing and not having much growing up and REALLY appreciating what was given to me by my parents from there hard work and they always getting the best so it would last.

Nuff said.

[deepmud]

Smart to go for a test-drive.

I noted that Green Water Sports has a decent paddle with the link he posted. Saves some of the cost. I like the Red pump a lot - it's 2 speed, you push a big and a small cylinder till about 10-15psi(if you are big and strong - that's a lot of air at 15psi)  then release a valve to run just the little cylinder from there to 20-25psi.

I really like the Red Paddle bag/backpack too - has wheels, straps can be stowed, seems air-port friendly( I haven't traveled with one yet but I plan to).

Keep them flat/deflated/out of the sun on the off-season and these will last years and years.  If you make it 3 years you'll probably be hooked and buy a hard board or 2 or 3.

Buy a decent board, buy a great paddle, buy a pfd you will not mind wearing instead of tying it to the board.

[Windwarrior]

Smart to go for a test-drive.

I noted that Green Water Sports has a decent paddle with the link he posted. Saves some of the cost. I like the Red pump a lot - it's 2 speed, you push a big and a small cylinder till about 10-15psi(if you are big and strong - that's a lot of air at 15psi)  then release a valve to run just the little cylinder from there to 20-25psi.

I really like the Red Paddle bag/backpack too - has wheels, straps can be stowed, seems air-port friendly( I haven't traveled with one yet but I plan to).

Keep them flat/deflated/out of the sun on the off-season and these will last years and years.  If you make it 3 years you'll probably be hooked and buy a hard board or 2 or 3.

Buy a decent board, buy a great paddle, buy a pfd you will not mind wearing instead of tying it to the board.

Last 3yrs? As in me or the board? Lol!!
I'm part dolphin so me and water go hand in hand.

I do wonder about the longevity of ANY ISUP with all the folding and unfolding that goes on though. I can't imagine that NOT taking it's toll on seems etc.

Keep it folded and stowed in it's AWESOME backpack or semi aired up sitting in a corner during the off season? Hmm........

I also noticed in one of the MANY  YT vids, red paddle included, that RP recommended only airing up to 20 psi not 25.

[Quickbeam]

I pump mine to 18 and find it's fine. But then I'm not a big guy. I'm 5' 8" and 150 pounds.

I also see you're trying the 12' 6" and the 13' 2" Explorers. If I'm not mistaken, the 12' 6" is 32" wide. I haven't test paddled that particular board, but you may find with practice and experience that it is wider than you would like.

[Windwarrior]

I pump mine to 18 and find it's fine. But then I'm not a big guy. I'm 5' 8" and 150 pounds.

I also see you're trying the 12' 6" and the 13' 2" Explorers. If I'm not mistaken, the 12' 6" is 32" wide. I haven't test paddled that particular board, but you may find with practice and experience that it is wider than you would like.

Sigh....5'8" & 150. I remember being there. I think it was between 15&25. Good times!

Yes, I'm already thinking about that width difference. Matter of fact, it was recommended to me that I consider buying one that I grow into with experience rather than one that feels just perfect. So that's why I really want to rent those two specifically and probably will be spending most of the time on the 13'2" and see how it feels as far as balance etc.

The main reason for the 13'2" is being able to load camping gear on it. Tent,chair,hammock etc...and a possible gf in the future.