We put the Red Paddle Co Voyager V-hull Voyager head to head with a previous season flat hull Voyager to try to find out if the V-hull does what Red Paddle Co claim.
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miroslaw chorazy
3 years ago
kudos for integrity and honesty
Alex Varas
3 years ago
By no means I’m a great paddler but it’s been some years practicing SUP every single week, and moving to this 2021 Voyager from a crazy heavy and sluggish BIC 10,6×32 should have felt like a big jump, but it wasn’t. Even worse, the moment beginner paddlers had been using both head to head and all of them agreed: “the expensive one is slower and difficult to maneuver” proofed it wasn’t just my imagination. It wasn’t difficult to sell as many people see Red Paddle Co boards as “no compromise ISUPs”, which is actually right for the most part, maybe… Read more »
Really interesting to hear your feedback Alex. Great stuff
Ricky Lee
3 years ago
I tend to agree with Alex Varas below. I had a ULI Steamroller 10′ SUP board for over 7 years, I decide to upgrade and go with the best brand in the market thinking the new 2021 Voyager made sense. After the purchase I was disappointed at it’s speed and ability to manoeuvre. It seems slower than my old board. I clocked a similar time in my usual route with it expecting a longer board to be much faster. The hype on the pump is also overrated, it’s good but not a lot better than my old pump purchased in… Read more »
Thanks for your feedback Ricky. Nice to hear it wasn’t just us
Marcus Fallows
3 years ago
Hi,
Really interesting review.
I have the 2020 model with the single 9″ FCS fin setup and it’s no slouch! I can only ball it down to being the toe in double fin setup at the back of the board that’s causing all the drag as I can only assume that the V hull can only be a good thing.
I agree.. V hull with the the original single fin setup, might be the game changer?
Thanks Marcus. Looks like you have the fastest Voyager to date!
jonathan Hebert
3 years ago
Red have done so much for isups, and i have always recommended Red where it would be the best board for someone, until these new Voyagers.
i really liked the idea of two shorter fins for shallow rivers, but these would need to be 5 inches .. maybe 6 at a push.
i would really like to hear from them and their testers, as as soon as i started paddling that board, it just felt like the brakes were on 🙁
So please Red… what happened?
Neil Beeson
3 years ago
Thanks for this review. Gamechanger is a big statement, so it’s a little disappointing that it doesn’t live up to the expectation. As it’s a touring board, do you think it would perform better fully loaded? I do like the maverick thinking from Red on this one, it’s this that will ultimately move board development forward. Hopefully a company out there will take the concept and move it on further.
Great comment Neil and you are so right about red going for it. Fully loaded would be a good test too. I can see it helping with chop but wont be getting any faster. I look forward to see what red do with it next year.. Single fin maybe!
Shaun Murphy
3 years ago
I have the Voyager 12’6 2021. Mine came with warped fins. I took the fins back and the store went through all the voyager boards to try and find a straight pair, but they were all bent, twisted, and tilted. Mine were C shaped, looking down the leading edge. Standing the fins on their base, they tilt to one side. Looking through the center of the fin, you can see they are twisted. The top end is not in line with the base, and when looking head on at the fin at the leading edge, you can see one side… Read more »
Hey Shaun. Bent fins are never good. Question have you tried heating them up? It used to work with the fins in the passed if they were bent. With a twin fin setup I feel you can drop the overall size of the fins quite a bit. Both fins together could be the same or if not a bit more overall area as one single fin. Make sense? We used 2 very expensive race fins before and it helped but not for £300! What I would do if i had the board is make my own fins. It’s not as… Read more »
Hey Reuben, It sounds good. I had been using the Red fins after soaking them in boiling water and then clamping them between two pieces of wood while they cooled. Although I could get most of the C shape out of them, I was not able to get all of the twist out of them, nor the tilt to one side. It is hard to get the tilt out when they tilt right from the base. The bad shape seems to creep back after time as well. After straightening them as much as I could, I was able to track… Read more »
Hi Magnus, yes this is something on the list to do. Watch this space. Cheers, Will
Dave Brown
3 years ago
Hi Will, thanks for the further testing of the 2021 voyager, interesting results! I took delivery of a 2021 13.2 voyager in January, i was mega excited! Unfortunately my excitement was soon dampened – handle not in centre, heavier than sales info claimed, all 3 deck mounts for cameta etc faulty and flat bungees did not last 3 months….plus the speed i was expecting was not there when compared to my sandbanks 12′ tourer. So not great. I sold the board last month as i wasn’t using it and I actually prefer the sandbanks as it way lighter, easy to… Read more »
Thanks for sharing your experience Dave. Happy Paddling.
numbat70
3 years ago
I’ve got one and I love it, but it is not as fast as I had hoped. I think the claims about the Toe-in helping drive are nuts, BUT what I think it actually does, is add a bit of artificial drag to the back of the board which makes it track like an arrow.
No brand manager is ever going to say they made their board have more drag though.
Thanks for the comment. Agree, anything that helps straight line tracking always as far as Im aware slows the board down also. But with some surf shape designs I have seen, channels are put on the bottom of the board to help speed. And they are sometimes toed-in to force the water out the back which can make the board faster BUT… the overall speeds are much greater!
David Johnson
3 years ago
I have a 2021 Voyager as my first board, I like it but twin fins seem unnecessary even to me as a beginner. I replaced the 9″ fins with 4.5″ flexi fins with no change in tracking or stability. I’d preferred just a single fin.
I was just wondering if it’s possible to mould/3D Print a fin at an angle to the base, that when installed on the board would then remove the toe-in and be totally straight. That should help with the speed maybe? Unfortunately I don’t have the expertise to create the CAD model or enough know-how to get it done..
Yes this would work, its a good idea. But like you say you need to have a friend with the tech and the know how to get it done.
Jordan-na
3 years ago
This was a really interesting test! For so long, Red Paddle was the highest standard for iSUPs. I’ve been a fan for years. Their innovation and quality early on was remarkable. But like any company, they are bound to make mistakes and exaggerated claims, which I think is the case here. I think other iSUP companies are quickly catching up and Red is no longer the only brand at the top, which is why they didn’t come out on top in the head-to-head testing. And I agree about the fins; single fins for touring boards please! I’m disappointed that they’ve… Read more »
Thanks for the comment Jordon-na. I hope Red listen to their paddlers.
tnarinen
3 years ago
A little late to the show, but a comment anyway. I’ve got a 2021 13″2 Voyager and my initial feel from it matched your impression pretty much 100%. It kind of felt slower than expected, I clocked some routes I did and felt a bit disappointed of the average speed. How did I get some improment in flat water: I moved a bit further towards front, a bit front of the center handle. I felt a bit better after this and my times improved (could be this or could be my conditioning/technique improving due to more training). Also, when I… Read more »
Never too late to comment and thanks for doing so. Interesting what you are saying about trimming your feet feather forward. This could make a difference but you are still pulling the same amount of board along the water. But this is something we need to try. Smaller fins will make a difference and much thin fins too. Please keep the comments coming and let us know. Happy SUPing Reuben
Paul Pierce
3 years ago
Very Interesting thanks for investing this further. I wonder if the fin toe in is because paddle boards behave differently at relatively slow speeds than surfboards on a wave at 4x the speed. I am no hydrodynamics expert but can imagine that the water would be trying to escape from higher pressure to lower pressure in the shortest path possible, which is to the rail of the board. The faster you go more goes back. Maybe they have put the fins at an angle in line with the movement of the water at the average touring speed to stop them… Read more »
Hi Paul , Thanks for adding your comment here. I really like your camping gear weight test, I think this is something that could be added to the test into the future. You are right about toe in and surf boards shapes, but like you said we feel that SUPs just aren’t going fast enough. But I feel the tracking might improve with the toed in fins thats all. We haven’t heard anything back from Red about this. I thought they would of added a comment on a post somewhere. Good to hear that Red swapped your board over. Happy… Read more »
Jussi Nurminen
2 years ago
Interesting article. I have the 2016 Explorer and I’ve been really happy with it for years. I was considering upgrading to the new V-hull model when it came out, but didn’t really find any convincing reason to do so. I have a feeling that they’ll eventually go back to single fin setup on their touring boards. I’ve gotten more interested in downwind paddling recently. For an iSUP, the Explorer is decent in downwind, though I guess more nose rocker would help. Do you have any recommendations for a board (solid or inflatable) that would be significantly better in downwind conditions… Read more »
Hi Jussi, Have you tried a board like the Starboard generation ? As far as iSUP go your 2016 red is a great board still. But theres a big difference if you jump on a hard board like the Gen. Thanks Reuben
I have both Red boards in the 2016 Explorer 12′ 6″ and then a 2022 Voyager in 12′ 6″. What I notice more than anything between the two boards is that the batons on the new board, it is stiffer and firmer going through chop. The older one is the board I throw the dog on with me, it is also the board I loan out if I go paddling with someone who doesn’t have a board. Both are more stable and track better than the Red 10′ 6″ boards we own. I like the new board better, but I… Read more »
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kudos for integrity and honesty
By no means I’m a great paddler but it’s been some years practicing SUP every single week, and moving to this 2021 Voyager from a crazy heavy and sluggish BIC 10,6×32 should have felt like a big jump, but it wasn’t. Even worse, the moment beginner paddlers had been using both head to head and all of them agreed: “the expensive one is slower and difficult to maneuver” proofed it wasn’t just my imagination. It wasn’t difficult to sell as many people see Red Paddle Co boards as “no compromise ISUPs”, which is actually right for the most part, maybe… Read more »
You can compare a BIC 10.6 with a RED 13.2 or a 12.6
Really interesting to hear your feedback Alex. Great stuff
I tend to agree with Alex Varas below. I had a ULI Steamroller 10′ SUP board for over 7 years, I decide to upgrade and go with the best brand in the market thinking the new 2021 Voyager made sense. After the purchase I was disappointed at it’s speed and ability to manoeuvre. It seems slower than my old board. I clocked a similar time in my usual route with it expecting a longer board to be much faster. The hype on the pump is also overrated, it’s good but not a lot better than my old pump purchased in… Read more »
Thanks for your feedback Ricky. Nice to hear it wasn’t just us
Hi,
Really interesting review.
I have the 2020 model with the single 9″ FCS fin setup and it’s no slouch! I can only ball it down to being the toe in double fin setup at the back of the board that’s causing all the drag as I can only assume that the V hull can only be a good thing.
I agree.. V hull with the the original single fin setup, might be the game changer?
Keep up the good work guys!
Marcus
Thanks Marcus. Looks like you have the fastest Voyager to date!
Red have done so much for isups, and i have always recommended Red where it would be the best board for someone, until these new Voyagers.
i really liked the idea of two shorter fins for shallow rivers, but these would need to be 5 inches .. maybe 6 at a push.
i would really like to hear from them and their testers,
as as soon as i started paddling that board, it just felt like the brakes were on 🙁
So please Red… what happened?
Thanks for this review. Gamechanger is a big statement, so it’s a little disappointing that it doesn’t live up to the expectation. As it’s a touring board, do you think it would perform better fully loaded? I do like the maverick thinking from Red on this one, it’s this that will ultimately move board development forward. Hopefully a company out there will take the concept and move it on further.
Great comment Neil and you are so right about red going for it. Fully loaded would be a good test too. I can see it helping with chop but wont be getting any faster.
I look forward to see what red do with it next year.. Single fin maybe!
I have the Voyager 12’6 2021. Mine came with warped fins. I took the fins back and the store went through all the voyager boards to try and find a straight pair, but they were all bent, twisted, and tilted. Mine were C shaped, looking down the leading edge. Standing the fins on their base, they tilt to one side. Looking through the center of the fin, you can see they are twisted. The top end is not in line with the base, and when looking head on at the fin at the leading edge, you can see one side… Read more »
Hey Shaun. Bent fins are never good. Question have you tried heating them up? It used to work with the fins in the passed if they were bent. With a twin fin setup I feel you can drop the overall size of the fins quite a bit. Both fins together could be the same or if not a bit more overall area as one single fin. Make sense? We used 2 very expensive race fins before and it helped but not for £300! What I would do if i had the board is make my own fins. It’s not as… Read more »
Hey Reuben, It sounds good. I had been using the Red fins after soaking them in boiling water and then clamping them between two pieces of wood while they cooled. Although I could get most of the C shape out of them, I was not able to get all of the twist out of them, nor the tilt to one side. It is hard to get the tilt out when they tilt right from the base. The bad shape seems to creep back after time as well. After straightening them as much as I could, I was able to track… Read more »
Yes give it ago.
Some really great tips!
Perhaps DIY tips and trix like this is something to make videos about! And repairs and such things.
Hi Magnus, yes this is something on the list to do. Watch this space. Cheers, Will
Hi Will, thanks for the further testing of the 2021 voyager, interesting results! I took delivery of a 2021 13.2 voyager in January, i was mega excited! Unfortunately my excitement was soon dampened – handle not in centre, heavier than sales info claimed, all 3 deck mounts for cameta etc faulty and flat bungees did not last 3 months….plus the speed i was expecting was not there when compared to my sandbanks 12′ tourer. So not great. I sold the board last month as i wasn’t using it and I actually prefer the sandbanks as it way lighter, easy to… Read more »
Thanks for sharing your experience Dave. Happy Paddling.
I’ve got one and I love it, but it is not as fast as I had hoped.
I think the claims about the Toe-in helping drive are nuts, BUT what I think it actually does, is add a bit of artificial drag to the back of the board which makes it track like an arrow.
No brand manager is ever going to say they made their board have more drag though.
Thanks for the comment. Agree, anything that helps straight line tracking always as far as Im aware slows the board down also.
But with some surf shape designs I have seen, channels are put on the bottom of the board to help speed. And they are sometimes toed-in to force the water out the back which can make the board faster BUT… the overall speeds are much greater!
I have a 2021 Voyager as my first board, I like it but twin fins seem unnecessary even to me as a beginner. I replaced the 9″ fins with 4.5″ flexi fins with no change in tracking or stability. I’d preferred just a single fin.
Thanks for your comment David
I was just wondering if it’s possible to mould/3D Print a fin at an angle to the base, that when installed on the board would then remove the toe-in and be totally straight. That should help with the speed maybe? Unfortunately I don’t have the expertise to create the CAD model or enough know-how to get it done..
Yes this would work, its a good idea. But like you say you need to have a friend with the tech and the know how to get it done.
This was a really interesting test! For so long, Red Paddle was the highest standard for iSUPs. I’ve been a fan for years. Their innovation and quality early on was remarkable. But like any company, they are bound to make mistakes and exaggerated claims, which I think is the case here. I think other iSUP companies are quickly catching up and Red is no longer the only brand at the top, which is why they didn’t come out on top in the head-to-head testing. And I agree about the fins; single fins for touring boards please! I’m disappointed that they’ve… Read more »
Thanks for the comment Jordon-na. I hope Red listen to their paddlers.
A little late to the show, but a comment anyway. I’ve got a 2021 13″2 Voyager and my initial feel from it matched your impression pretty much 100%. It kind of felt slower than expected, I clocked some routes I did and felt a bit disappointed of the average speed. How did I get some improment in flat water: I moved a bit further towards front, a bit front of the center handle. I felt a bit better after this and my times improved (could be this or could be my conditioning/technique improving due to more training). Also, when I… Read more »
Never too late to comment and thanks for doing so. Interesting what you are saying about trimming your feet feather forward. This could make a difference but you are still pulling the same amount of board along the water. But this is something we need to try. Smaller fins will make a difference and much thin fins too. Please keep the comments coming and let us know. Happy SUPing Reuben
Very Interesting thanks for investing this further. I wonder if the fin toe in is because paddle boards behave differently at relatively slow speeds than surfboards on a wave at 4x the speed. I am no hydrodynamics expert but can imagine that the water would be trying to escape from higher pressure to lower pressure in the shortest path possible, which is to the rail of the board. The faster you go more goes back. Maybe they have put the fins at an angle in line with the movement of the water at the average touring speed to stop them… Read more »
Hi Paul , Thanks for adding your comment here. I really like your camping gear weight test, I think this is something that could be added to the test into the future. You are right about toe in and surf boards shapes, but like you said we feel that SUPs just aren’t going fast enough. But I feel the tracking might improve with the toed in fins thats all. We haven’t heard anything back from Red about this. I thought they would of added a comment on a post somewhere. Good to hear that Red swapped your board over. Happy… Read more »
Interesting article. I have the 2016 Explorer and I’ve been really happy with it for years. I was considering upgrading to the new V-hull model when it came out, but didn’t really find any convincing reason to do so. I have a feeling that they’ll eventually go back to single fin setup on their touring boards. I’ve gotten more interested in downwind paddling recently. For an iSUP, the Explorer is decent in downwind, though I guess more nose rocker would help. Do you have any recommendations for a board (solid or inflatable) that would be significantly better in downwind conditions… Read more »
Hi Jussi, Have you tried a board like the Starboard generation ? As far as iSUP go your 2016 red is a great board still. But theres a big difference if you jump on a hard board like the Gen. Thanks Reuben
Thanks for the suggestion Reuben! I recently checked your reviews of the Generation and it’s definitely on my shortlist.
The board is still a belter 🙂
I have both Red boards in the 2016 Explorer 12′ 6″ and then a 2022 Voyager in 12′ 6″. What I notice more than anything between the two boards is that the batons on the new board, it is stiffer and firmer going through chop. The older one is the board I throw the dog on with me, it is also the board I loan out if I go paddling with someone who doesn’t have a board. Both are more stable and track better than the Red 10′ 6″ boards we own. I like the new board better, but I… Read more »
Another great comment, Thanks for the input on the post.