Replacing last year’s Flow model, the 2018 Red Paddle Co 9’6″ Wild is designed to be the ultimate whitewater SUP board. Featuring bombproof construction and a design that serious river paddlers are sure to appreciate, the new Red Paddle Wild model is sure to be a popular choice among the river running community.
The 2018 Red Paddle SUP lineup is more diverse than ever, with plenty of activity-specific models for all types of paddlers. In this review of Red Paddle Co’s new 9’6″ Wild whitewater board, we’ll cover the features and construction, specs, included SUP accessories, new warranty coverage, and the best place to buy it.
2018 Red Paddle 9’6″ Wild: Board Overview
Measuring 9’6″ x 34″ x 6″ and weighing 28 pounds, the 300 L Red Paddle Wild is capable of supporting up to 265 pounds. At 34″ wide, this board offers outstanding stability while the shape gives it tremendous maneuverability.
Construction
As with all of Red Paddle’s 2018 boards, the 9’6″ Wild is constructed with the company’s proprietary Tec Air manufacturing process. One of the most important aspects of this manufacturing system is the use of MSL Fusion technology (Monocoque Structural Laminate). Red Paddle essentially streamlines the manufacturing process, eliminating unnecessary materials and steps with the use of highly-advanced machinery — the end result is an inflatable paddle board that is more durable, lighter, and finished with a higher level of consistency.
Features
The top deck of the 2018 Red Paddle Co 9’6″ Wild whitewater SUP features a diamond pattern EVA foam traction pad that is neatly embossed with the “Red” logo. The multi-color deck pad provides excellent grip — something that is especially important in whitewater and rough conditions.
Located in the middle of the deck pad is a centered carrying handle and two additional grab handles located near the rails. The convenient center handle makes it easy to carry the board around when it’s fully inflated, and the twin grab handles positioned near the rails are excellent for safety and additional control.
Moving to the nose of the board, Red Paddle included 6 stainless steel D-rings for securing gear and there’s an elastic bungee cord with grip strips underneath for stashing dry bags and other gear. The top left D-ring has a built-in accessory mount that is compatible with the Railblaza and Ram Mounts systems, and there’s a second one located at the tip of the board’s nose. Additionally, there’s another grab handle at the nose which makes it easy to pull the board in and out of the river.
The tail of the board features a raised kick tail for improved control, a Tec Air inflation valve, and a final grab handle with a built-in D-ring for attaching a SUP leash.
On the underside of the 9’6″ Wild are four fixed gummy fins mounted on either side of the large, removable center fin…
2018 Red Paddle Co 9'6" Wild Rating
- Construction
- Stability
- Features
- Versatility
- Speed
- Warranty
Specs
| LENGTH | 9'6" |
| WIDTH | 34" |
| THICKNESS | 6" |
| WEIGHT | 28 lbs |
| VOLUME | 300 L |
| MAX CAPACITY | 265 lbs |
| PRICE |  |
What’s Included
Included with the 2018 Red Paddle Co Wild is the company’s super efficient, dual cylinder Titan Pump, wheeled roller backpack, repair kit, and water resistant phone case. All of the accessories included with the Wild are extremely high-quality, although we would love to see a paddle and leash included. We’ll share a coupon code below which you can use to get a free paddle and significant discount.
Warranty
New for 2018, Red Paddle Co is now offering a full 2-year warranty on all of their boards. The previous warranty on Red Paddle’s boards was only a year, making the 2018 models an even better value overall.
Where to Buy it
The 2018 Red Paddle Co 9’6″ Wild is currently in stock and ready to ship at Pumped Up SUP. The company is also throwing in a free 3-piece travel paddle, free shipping, free pressure gauge, and no sales tax on all orders outside of Maryland state.
Final Thoughts
As river SUP continues to grow in popularity, more and more paddlers are looking for whitewater-specific boards to add to their quiver. While all-around boards like the popular Red Paddle 10’6″ Ride can work in these conditions, a model that is specifically designed for river SUP is preferable and will deliver far better performance. The 2018 Red Paddle Co 9’6″ Wild is a tough and extremely well-designed river SUP board, and we predict that it will be a popular choice with river surfers this season.
We’re big fans of Red Paddle’s top-shelf build quality, and the doubling of their manufacturer warranty for 2018 is a really nice bonus. All of the included accessories in Red Paddle’s bundle are very nice, and using the coupon code above will also get you a free paddle and discount.
Another thing that we really like about the 2018 Wild is the fin configuration, and the removable center fin gives you some added flexibility when conditions change.
Overall, if you’re looking for a well-built board that is designed to excel at river surfing and whitewater paddling, the 2018 Red Paddle 9’6″ Wild is a great choice that should serve you well for years to come.
