Red Paddle Compact MSL - Review 2025

Initial Thoughts On The Red Paddle Compact MSL

When you first unpack the 2023 Compact MSL Pact iSUP from Red Paddle Co you are immediately struck by how small the package itself is. For a 12’ (or 11’ or even 9’ 6” board, all of which are size options), this board packages up impressively. When it’s rolled up and put in the Compact Voyager backpack, the bag itself isn’t much larger than a typical trekking bag. That is, after all, the point of this board.

The vision behind this compact design and innovation has the adventurous paddler in mind, The idea being this board can allow truly adventurous paddlers the chance to paddle in those hard-to-reach streams, coves, and inlets because the board is light and easy to transport. The board and the backpack are very transportable and definitely the most transportable 12’ touring board we have come across.

The Shape, Design, And Technology Of The Red Paddle MSL

The Compact MSL Pact has several new developments worth noting. The board itself is made with MSL Fusion technology to bring extra stiffness as well as weight-saving stability. There are also a variety of unique design features on the board. All of these design changes seem to be geared at making the board lighter and easier to pack into a small space.

A Thin Board Designed For Easy Transport

The two most noticeable unique design features are the board’s decking and its thickness. The board is only 4.7” thick, compared to most inflatables that are 6” or even 8” thick. This has some pros and cons that we will get into in the next section, but for the sake of design, it works to help keep the board light and packable.

The decking has a gap in the middle and in other sections throughout the board in order to make it easy to fold. This doesn’t hinder the paddling experience and definitely helps pack and unpack the board into a smaller space.

The Rail System

Another feature of the Compact MSL Pact is an added rail system. This board has rails that you slide into slits on the side of the board. The idea here is to add increased rigidity and stability to this thin board without adding too much weight or added material to pack. There are pros and cons to this, which we will dive into further when discussing the board’s features.

The board has a nice drawn-out shape that helps increase the glide, and the twin fins make for great tracking.

Overall, the silhouette and frame of the board are all designed to create a smooth and comfortable ride. But the true test of a compact board is not only how it travels on your back but also how it performs on the water.

How The Red Paddle MSL Performs On the Water

There are several unique features on the MSL Pact board by Red Paddle Co. Some of these features help the board excel on the water, while others hinder its performance a bit. The design features on the board and in its accessories aim to help make this board as compact as possible, and in this regard, the Compact MSL succeeds. But when we tested the board’s tracking, turning, stability, and strength – there were mixed results.

Tracking And Turning

The MSL compact board has fantastic tracking, glide, and maneuverability. The board easily powered forward and was easy to navigate. Its smart drawn-out design helped provide great glide on the water.

The excellent tracking is mostly thanks to the twin fin system. The two fins slant slightly inwards, allowing for power and control when steering this board. The MSL also had good turning ability. Even with the 12’ long design, it turned easily. This is mostly thanks to its lightweight and streamlined design.

Stability And Strength

With a board this compact and thin, stability and strength are always a worry. The Compact MSL Pact struggled a bit in the stability and strength department. While the board has side rails, they seem to do very little to keep this board rigid and firm. When jumping up on the board the tail and nose flopped significantly. It was not unstable, but it was not nearly as firm or balanced as other premium boards we have tested, like the ISLE Explorer Pro.

Another concern and possible design flaw was the board’s thickness – or lack thereof. While the 4.7” thickness of the board is ambitious and helpful when packing the board in its backpack, it causes some issues in the water. Apart from likely contributing to its lack of stability, it also tended to barely stay above the water.

This means if there are any major waves, wind, or chop there is a good chance your feet will get wet. While this isn’t usually a big problem, it can definitely hinder the paddling experience if you are paddling in frigid waters or decide to take a break and sit down.

Notable Features Included in the Compact MSL

Twin Click Fins

The Compact MSL Pact board comes with twin click-in fins. The twin fins provide really great tracking, and the fact that the board has the twin fins is a definite benefit. The placement of the fins at a slight inward angle allows for great control and makes the board easy to navigate.

The only downside to these click-in fins is they can be a bit tricky to click in and out of the board. While Red Paddle Co. designed these fins to click-in in a seamless and streamlined way, they can be tricky and confusing to insert. In fact, if you aren’t careful or if you are confused as to how they function, you can even crack the fin.

Multiple Carrying Handles

Three carrying handles are always better than just one – and that is exactly what the Compact MSL PACT has. There is the main carrying handle at the center of the board, which is sturdy and comfortable to use. Then there are two additional carrying handles near the center of the board to give more carrying options.

Having additional carrying handles at the nose and tail of the board is ideal, but these two added handles are better than just having one.

Added Rail System

The Compact MSL PACT has an added rail system that you insert while inflating the board. In order to insert the plastic rails, you first inflate the board to 1 PSI, and then slide the provided plastic rails into their provided slit along the two sides of the board. The process is a bit of a challenge at first, but it likely gets easier as you get used to doing this each time you inflate the board.

While the added rails likely improve stability and rigidity a bit, the board is not as stable as other iSUPs we have tested. It is, however, stable for how compact and thin it is. The issue with these rails is they can stick out a bit where you insert them.  This can cause a bit of drag and also interfere with the paddle blade when you are stroking it near the board.

It can be a bit frustrating and even slow you down, as the paddle will stop when it comes in contact with the rail system. This rail system likely could use a bit of adjustment in future designs.

Two-Chamber Pump

The board comes with a compact two-chamber hand pump. The pump is designed to pack away into a small space and works perfectly for that. The handle on the pump is a bit tricky though, and can be a bit harder to use than a standard hand pump. But it does the job and fits nicely into the backpack.

Five-Piece Adjustable Paddle

The Compact MSL PACT also comes equipped with a paddle. This paddle is not three, not four, but five pieces. The reason for having this many pieces is – you guessed it – to help keep the equipment as compact as possible. Once you assemble the paddle, it works quite well. It is a well-suited and adequate paddle, so there is no need to purchase another collapsable paddle.

Deck Pad

This board comes with a unique deck pad. In order to help fold this board in half and roll it into a nice bundle, there are several gaps in the deck pad. It looks more like 10 small deck pads when you look at the board from afar. The good news is the deck padding is quite comfortable and useful. The small gaps really don’t cause any issues, and overall the padding is soft and works quite well.

Adjustable Cargo System

The Compact MSL PACT comes with a cargo system with Red Paddle Co’s signature bungees. There are three rows of adjustable straps, which allow for ample storage. This, combined with D-rings on the back of the board, makes for ample storage on this touring board. The bungee straps are high quality and easy enough to remove if you don’t need them.

Compact Voyager Backpack

The Compact Voyager backpack is a very well-thought-out bag, and it has great comfort and lumbar support. The bag opens completely at the front and the top making it easy to pack and unpack the equipment. It is a bit thicker than a backpack, but this bag is about half the size of most iSUP carrying bags, which is very impressive considering this is a touring board.

Action Mount

There is a well-placed action mount located on the side of one of the cargo straps. This is a nice placement as it does not add any additional interference on the nose of the board, but it still has a nice placement for a camera or other accessory.

D-Rings

The board comes equipped with four D-rings towards the back of the board. This is a great feature and allows for additional storage or the addition of a kayak accessory, like a seat or cooler.

Leash

The Compact MSL Pact from Red Paddle Co also comes with a leash included in the package. It is a well-made coil leash that works well and packs up nicely.

Packing strap

The board comes with a packing strap. This makes packing up the board into a nice bundle to fit into the backpack very easy. It is durable and does its job.

Waterproof Phone Case

Red Paddle Co includes a complimentary waterproof phone case with the Compact MSL Pact. Many paddlers may already have a quality waterproof phone case, but if not, this board comes with a good one.

Ease Of Transporting The Red Paddle MSL

Arguably the most appealing quality of the Compact MSL Pact and its biggest selling point is its ease of transport. This board not only packs up into its well-designed carrying backpack, but it is fairly easy to do so. The bag itself provides good lumbar support, and it is easy to carry this board on your back for as long as you need to. It is in transporting this board that you really have a chance to enjoy Red Paddle Co’s innovation.

Is The Price Right For The Compact MSL From Red Paddle Co?

There is no question that the Compact MSL Pact is a compact and incredibly easy-to-transport touring board. For those looking for a longer touring board (11’ or 12’) that is easy to walk long distances or carry on your back while driving a moped, this board is a dream. But you will pay a pretty penny for it.

If you don’t look at the price tag, this board is a nice purchase for someone who values a compact and packable board as well as ease of transport above all else, including the board’s performance. But this board is around $2,000, which places it in the premium board category. While it is well made, it is hard to justify this price if you are looking at performance over how well it packs up.

This board does have great tracking and maneuverability, but so do many other boards that cost less than this one. There is some innovation, and the design is great, but the $2,000 is a bit hard to digest when you look at some well-performing cheaper boards from other brands.

Is The Red Paddle MSL A Board Worth Purchasing?

If you have been searching for a touring board that you can roll up and fit into an easy-to-carry backpack, and you don’t care much about the price tag, then the Compact MSL Pact iSUP from Red Paddle Co is perfect for you. It has great tracking and glides great in the water, and it has ample storage, great decking, a nice paddle, and everything you could want in a compact iSUP.

But if you are price-conscious, you might want to look elsewhere. This board is not cheap, and its performance alone does not justify its steep price tag. For Packable boards, you can also consider the iRocker Ultra Paddle Board series, here you get the same packable features, a bit less stable board, but also a completely different price.

For the Red Paddle MSL, there are a few design issues that could use adjusting, and it isn’t as stable and strong as some other top touring inflatable paddle boards. Still, it is a well-made board, and its transportability in the touring board category is great.