Straight Track, Speedy Glide: Red Paddle Co. Sport MSL 800 Inflatable Standup Paddleboard Review

The western red cedar and hemlock forest was peacefully quiet, almost eerie. Propelling our standup paddleboards smoothly through the undisturbed water, my partner and I reached a narrow inlet lined with vibrant green bur-reed and lily pads.

“It looks like we can get through!” I exclaimed. Shallow and crystal clear, we could see a rainbow of rocks atop the lake bed.

Swoosh! A sizable creature darted beneath our standup paddleboards, below the surface, shooting straight down the channel. “Whoa! Did you see that? It seemed to be too fast to be a beaver,” I said.

Based on our research, Champion Lake would reopen and nearly double in size when we reached the other side of the inlet. We waited several minutes to see if an animal resurfaced, but nothing did. I started to question what I’d seen, and a breeze picked up, making the water a bit choppy, but we paddled on to explore the park’s hidden shoulder of the lake.

In short: Well-rounded and stable, the Red Paddle Co. Sport MSL ($1,099) is an inflatable standup paddleboard that feels easy to paddle on lakes and rivers because it glides smoothly and speedily along a straight track, requiring fewer alternating strokes. With a lean rail, it sits closer to the water than other boards. The slightly tapered and pointed shape, plus a bit of nose rocker, increases its efficiency. The single fin is long at 9 inches, which helps direct a straight path through glass or chop. To top it off, the package includes one of the best travel SUP bags on the market, plus a water-resistant phone case.

Thumb through the other highly rated, field-tested watercraft in our Best Standup Paddleboards buyer’s guide.

Field Testing the Red Paddle Co. Sport MSL 800 Inflatable Standup Paddleboard

Five whole minutes later, on the other side of the Champion Lake passage, a fuzzy creature appeared on the water’s surface. “A loon!” Known as divers, their large, webbed feet can propel them up to 20 mph and 200 feet deep while hunting for fish.

Two darker loons bobbed to the surface, and a couple of chicks climbed on their backs. Full of colorful speckles, the male leaned his head back and let out a long howl. “Wow, it sounds like a wolf!”

That day with the loons, I explored the centermost of the Champion Lakes for several water miles.

I also tested the Red Paddle Co. Sport MSL on moving, turbulent water, including a 12-mile stretch of British Columbia’s Upper Slocan River with class II rapids. Beneath the sky-reaching Valhalla Mountain Range, I swept a glassy, open-water 2.5-mile loop on Slocan Lake, with a depth of nearly 1,000 feet.

Throughout spring-to-fall adventures, I didn’t bring along more than a few smaller dry bags, and I’m about 5’6″ and 135 pounds. A couple of other paddlers also tested the board, ranging up to 5’11” and 163 pounds. From glassy cruisers to attention-grabbing whitewater, this inflatable SUP is well-rounded and built for efficiency.

Streamlined Volume & Shape

Speed and smooth tracking are the M.O. of the Sport MSL. Other standup paddleboards I tested require switching sides for each paddle stroked, but this board cuts straighter. I hardly had to switch sides.

It rides noticeably lower to the water with a 4.7-inch rail depth, which makes it feel sleek compared to thicker 6-inch designs like the BOTE HD Aero.

The silhouette is tapered and slightly rockered at the nose, so if wind picks up like it did on Champion Lake, it slices through the chop, no problem. A squared-off tail helps maintain stability, and the 9-inch touring fin partners perfectly with tours on open water. The long fin is designed for tracking and stability, and it attaches tool-free with a fin screw. Overall, the Sport’s shape is excellent for lakes and a great option for rivers, too.

Adjustable Rigidity, Drag Reduction

Red Paddle Co. tucked in thoughtful, progressive details. Most notably, the board’s rigidity can be customized. It includes the brand’s Rocker Stiffening System: two plastic battens that slide into pockets in the rails (before inflation), which boost stiffness by 30%. It spreads the load throughout the board, so it doesn’t bow, reducing drag and increasing speed. Made of high-strength polycarbonate, they’re pliable and durable.

At 5’6” and about 130 pounds, I didn’t need them. But heavier paddlers or anyone loading down for expeditions will appreciate the extra stiffness, especially for more turbulent water and river waves.

If you’re less than 165 pounds, the battens are not compulsory. (But if you weigh less, you could insert the battens and inflate the board to a lower psi, reducing pump time.) All you do is inflate the board to 1 psi, slide the two stiffeners into the slits along the sides, and finish pumping up the board to 15 psi. You deflate the SUP before removing it for storage.

A subtle rubber shelf also reduces drag on the underside of the tail, which is a unique attribute I haven’t seen on other SUPs. More commonly, there’s a raised EVA kick pad at the back, which supports footwork when you shift weight toward the tail.

Gear Carrier: Unique Bungee Design, Soft Grab Handles

Up front, three beefy bungee straps and seven D-rings let me secure a dry bag or gear. I like that I can remove the bungees to free up the attachment points for multiday trips. I wouldn’t recommend depending on the bungee straps for rigorous whitewater, because they’re threaded through, not fixed.

One of the bungee straps has a third D-ring near the rail, which creates a small loop for holding gear: perfect for my water shoes. While I wouldn’t recommend leaving gear there during whitewater runs, it’s a nice spot to stash items on smooth sections where you want quick access.

Three roomy, soft, plush grab handles are located at the nose, tail, and center of the board. More handles are included on other whitewater-focused SUPs, like the NRS Clean 96, which has five total with three in the center. But I found that three handles were plenty effective.

I used the handles for dragging the board into and out of the water, carrying from the beach to the truck, and when I’d pull myself back onto the board after swimming breaks. An accessory mount is near the nose to attach cameras and phones, but I didn’t use it.

Easy Travel: Large Rolling Backpack

Red hit it out of the park with this included travel bag, the ATB Transformer Board Bag. The wheeled 134L bag is worth $300 on its own. It comes with soft handles and is one of the best SUP travel bags I’ve used. The former travel bag I tested with the Red Wild was different, and this one has big improvements.

Three cushy carry handles make grabbing the bag easy for loading into the truck bed. A fourth rigid handle is on the bottom, between two strong wheels that I used to roll the loaded bag across gravel and grass to the rig.

Along the back, you can pull out two shoulder straps with a chest strap and a hip belt. Another large loop handle sits between the shoulders.

With sturdy buckles, four compression straps lie across the sides, making the load more streamlined for when you wear the pack. Inside are two large mesh pockets with Velcro closures. A paddle blade pocket is placed against the back. Another roomy zippered pocket is on the outside. The exterior has a lockable zipper, and there’s a plastic ID holder, which tops off the reasons this bag is well-suited for airport travel.

Phone Case & Super Pump

Red tosses in a water-resistant phone case — a clever bonus I haven’t seen in any other packages. My extra-large iPhone has a case on it, and it could barely fit inside the included phone case. Once inside, I could operate my screen through the plastic.

The double-chamber Titan Pump quickly pumps up the SUP in less than 5 minutes. Even though the feet fold up for storage, the shape is cumbersome. But I like the icons on the psi gauge, which visually highlight the different psi ranges needed for a canoe, wind board, or SUP.

Tradeoffs

No board excels at everything. The 9-inch fin gives excellent tracking and is durable but can be limiting in shallow or rocky rivers. A shorter fin isn’t included with the package, so it’s either go big or go bare.

While a repair kit is included, it comes in a foldable case rather than a typical screw-top canister. Though a flatter design, I prefer the dry tube, because it keeps everything contained, well-preserved, and dry.

At 32 inches wide, the Sport MSL handled rapids in whitewater but didn’t pivot quickly or absorb motion in waves like a more rockered, surfy-oriented design. If running rapids is the priority, I’d recommend the NRS Clean 96 or 110, or the Red Wild, which are more upturned, playful, and sit higher off the water. The designs are wider for weathering waves, too: the Wild and Clean 110 are 34 inches wide, while the Clean 96 is 36 inches.

The deck pad, while grippy, isn’t the softest under bare feet or knees. (I’ll admit, my feet are soft, but I prefer a smoother texture.)

While the included hand pump fills the board quickly, it feels bulky to handle or travel with. And the biggest miss? No paddle in the package.

Conclusion: Excellent Single-Board Quiver

If I could only keep one SUP for all of my adventures, the Red Paddle Co. Sport MSL would be at the top of a very short list for me.

This SUP moves relatively effortlessly and fast — I even enjoyed lake paddling alongside a friend on a solid paddleboard. With confidence, the Sport glides quickly through glass, dices chop, and can handle moderate whitewater.

It’s planted, plows straight, tracks beautifully, and carries gear with ease. With seven D-rings and removable elastic bands, plus the Rocker Stiffening System, this design is adaptable. It can be customized for paddlers of different weights, as well as carrying heavier, bulkier loads for multiday trips or long days out.

With one-of-a-kind thought, the board has an elastic loop for water shoes, and the package includes a water-resistant case that hangs around your neck.

While it’s not specifically built for technical whitewater and could use a paddle, the overall design makes Red’s Sport one of the most enjoyable, all-around inflatable SUPs I’ve paddled. If you plan on mostly paddling lakes with rivers sprinkled in, be sure to highly consider this one.