In these Niphean Paddle Board Reviews, we will be going through all the ins and outs of this affordable ISUP to find out where it truly ranks among budget inflatable paddle boards.
I go through my on-water tests with the 10’6” Clovis board, as well as give insight as to my thoughts on the construction, some unique board design innovations, and how I liked paddling this board.
Here at Inflatable SUP Authority, we have tested a lot of different boards from various price points, so we know a thing or two about inflatable SUPs!
Come aboard and join us as we go through the ins and outs of the Niphean inflatable paddleboard.
What Did We Think of the Niphean Paddle Board?
In our testing, our main conclusion was that it’s a solid board for its price point and a solid entry-level board for beginner paddlers of different sizes. The Niphean Clovis package sent to us has a big center fin located in the middle of the board, along with a regular center fin and side fins.
We found that having the center fin on really helped with the stability of the board. This is especially key for beginners. When we removed it, that degree of stability was not there, and the board had more side-to-side play.
To note, there’s nothing wrong with a board that has side by side play, infact, some of our top rated boards are a little more loose stability wise. But for beginners, this will not be the most comfortable feeling, especially when standing for the first few times.
Overall, we felt the board was solid for the price and the innovation that it brought. It’s not the most well-constructed SUP in the market, as it does have some noticeable flex when you are paddling harder strokes on it. But for its price point, it gets you out on the water and gives you a decent starter board to get you started.
Niphean Paddle Board Reviews Ratings
Below is how we rated the Niphean paddle board. The score is reflected in the averages below. As of now, we don’t use weighted averages as we like to rate a variety of points that make sense to the user. Some paddlers will have different criteria they look for in an ISUP compared to others.
Total Score: 7.7 (Average of Accumulated Scores Below)
- On-Water Performance – 8.25
- Stability 9
- Tracking 7.5
- Speed 7.5
- Maneuverability 9
- SUP Construction – 7
- Board Features – 7.4
- Deck Pad 8
- D Rings 7.5
- Deck Bungees 7
- Handles 7
- Accessories – 7.4
- Backpack 7.5
- Paddle 6
- Pump 7
- Fins 9
- Set-Up/ Take Down – 8.5
Pros
- The board is very stable with that middle fin in place
- It is offered at a good price point
- The middle Stabill-Trac fin is a very interesting addition
- Comes with everything you need to get started
- The board is lightweight
- Offers 3 3-year Limited warranty
- Has decent maneuverability even with the center fin in place
- All fins are detachable
Cons
- The paddle is aluminum and feels a bit cheap
- The board has some flex to it
- Not as stable in the water without Stabil-Trac fin
- The Middle Stabil-Trac fin only increases tracking a little bit
- Stabil-Trac fin does slow the board down a bit more, and seaweed catches onto it easier
Who Should Be Using the Niphean Paddle board?
The Niphean paddle board is ideal for beginner paddlers looking for a starter board that won’t cost them an arm and a leg. The Niphean board is a great first step to get back into the world of paddle boarding.
The StabilTrac fin offers beginners of most sizes a boost in stability and helps plant the board in slightly windy conditions. You can feel the difference when you have it on vs off, but we will get into that more in our On-Water Perfomance section.
Intermediate paddlers can also use this board, although it is primarily intended for casual/ recreational use. When I got onto the board, I did notice a good amount of flex on the board compared to more of the mid-tier price point brands that we have tested previously.
What SUP Activities Can the Niphean Paddle Board Be Used for?
Below are some instances which you can use the Niphean paddle board. These will help give you ideas as to how to use your new Niphean SUP.
Recreational Paddling
The Niphean SUP is great for casual paddling around lakes and calm water environments. You can venture to coastal environments and slow moving rivers as you get more experienced, but one thing you need to keep in mind is staying in deep enough water for the Stabili-Trac fin not to bump the bottom. Also be weary of rocks, logs etc that produde outwards.
Kayak Hybrid
If you purchase the Niphean inflatable kayak seat or any other compatible kayak seat, you can definitely use the Niphean paddle board as a kayak hybrid. The board comes with 4 D rings in the middle that will be suitable for most kayak attachment points. Just make sure the seat you are getting has 4 attachment points!
Paddling With Small Passenger
You can use the Niphean paddle board for paddling with a small passenger, such as a dog or small child, perched towards the front. For this to be an ideal board, the deck padding would extend to the front, but for small recreational jaunts, this board can do the job. Especially if you have a kayak seat onboard.
Niphean On-Water Performance
The Niphean paddle board offered a decent on-water performance rating for a board of its price range.
| Rating Factor | Score | Average SUP Score (All Around Boards) |
|---|---|---|
| Total On-Water Score | 8.25 /10 | 8.0 |
| Stability Score | 7.5 /10 | 8.3 |
| Tracking Score | 7.5 /10 | 7.8 |
| Speed Score | 7.5 /10 | 7.7 |
| Manueverability Score | 9 /10 | 8.1 |
Stability
Stability was definitely this board’s strong suit, especially when the Stabil-Trac fin was added. I rated the tracking at a score of 9 with the middle fin added, as it was a big help in keeping the board steady without having too many unanticipated wobbles.
Going from kneeling to standing was straightforward and easy, which is something a lot of beginners will appreciate. Without the Stabil-Trac fin, the board is more wobbly and has more side-to-side play, which may take you some getting used to.
For beginners, I recommend paddling somewhere deep enough and using the Stabil-Trac fin first when getting started. As you gain more experience paddle boarding, you can then start experimenting with taking the STabil-Trac fin on and off.
Tracking
| Tracking Factor | Paddle Strokes | Average Paddle Strokes (All Around) |
|---|---|---|
| Paddle Strokes To Keep Straight Course | 4.5 | 5.8 |
When testing the board, I thought the Stabil-Trac fin was going to make a difference of at least a few strokes. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I found the Stabil-Trac fin gave the board an extra stroke and a half at 4.5 strokes a side (5 stokes one side and 4 on the other). This score was below the average stroke rate that we have tested across all around paddle boards.
Without the middle tracking fin, the score was 4 strokes a side.
One area where the Stabil-Trac fin really did make a difference was when the wind started blowing. Anybody who has paddled an inflatable paddle board knows how the wind can affect your speed and trajectory when paddling. With the middle Stabil-Trac fin, the board stayed planted in the water and did not veer off course, which was a nice little bonus.
Speed
Truthfully, this will probably be the area that most paddlers using this board won’t care about. But there is something you need to know! I found the board was significantly more nimble and faster without the Stabil-Trac fin than with. On top of that, I found that the middle Stabil-Trac fin picked up a good amount of seaweed, which, after even just 15 minutes of paddling, becomes noticeable.
So if you want to travel longer distances with this SUP and have some experience, it may be best to take the STabil-Trac fin off so that you can cover more distance faster.
Manueverability
| Manueverability Factor | Paddle Strokes | Average Paddle Strokes (All Around SUP’s) |
|---|---|---|
| Paddle Strokes for Reverse Sweep Stroke | 3.5 | 4.2 |
| Paddle Strokes for Reverse Side Paddles | 12 | 13.3 |
Another thing that surprised me about this SUP is that its maneuverability was not as affected by the center fin as I thought it would be. Somehow, even with the center fin, the Niphean board was able to do 3.5 Reverse Sweep Strokes (4.2 is the average across all around boards currently). Without the center fin, the Niphean did it in 3.25 reverse sweep strokes.
In terms of Reverse side paddles, the Niphean was able to do 12 side paddles. The average across all around SUPs is currently 13.3.
Without the center fin, the board was about to do 9 reverse side paddles, which is a 3-stroke improvement to having the Stabil-trac fin attached.
So what does this all mean? It means the Niphean offers some very good maneuverability metrics, which is good for tighter waterways. Just don’t forget to remove the center fin when you get to more shallow areas!
Niphean Paddle Board Stats Deconstructed
- Length: 10’6″
- Width: 33″
- Thickness: 6″
- Weight: 19 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 450 Lbs
- Materials: Fusion PVC with Drop Stitch Core
| Rating Factor | Score | Average Score (All Around) |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Score | 7 /10 | 8.3 |
The Niphean paddle board features a fusion PVC layering labeled “Edge Fuse Technology,” which is thinner than some of the other ISUPs I have tested. But then again, we aren’t paying for top-of-the-line quality here. The main point of the Niphean paddleboard is to get as many people out on the water as possible.
The board can be blown up to 15 PSI thanks to its drop stitch core that consists of thousands of strands holding the board together. Admittedly, I went to 14 PSI for precautionary reasons, but anything between the 12 and 15 PSI range should be fine for this board.
Niphean has not released too much about their board’s construction, so I can only assume it’s assembled similarly to a lot of the other Amazon boards based on the amount of flex I felt when bouncing on it.
Niphean Board Profile
The Niphean has the standard “Cruiser board” dimensions that fit the 10’6” and 33” wide description. The board is made to be more stable while still maintaining some streamlined efficiency. I did notice that the board’s nose is not as uplifted as some other boards, which did create more drag compared to other SUPs I have tested.
The board is fairly wide throughout. When the Stabil-Trac fin is added, it boosts the stability by a good margin.
Niphean Paddle Board Features (What’s On Deck)
| Rating Factor | Score | Average SUP Score (All Around Boards) |
|---|---|---|
| Board Features Score | 7.4 | 8.1 |
| Deck Pad Score | 8 /10 | 8.3 |
| D-Rings Score | 7.5 /10 | 8 |
| Deck Webbing Score | 7 /10 | 8.1 |
| Handle Score | 7 /10 | 8.2 |
The Niphean Paddle Board, much like other starter boards, is pretty bare bones in terms of onboard features included. There are no fancy action mounts, extra D rings outside of the 4 in the middle for the kayak seat.
Niphean Deck Pad
The deckpad provided a good amount of grip with a crocodile skin-like texture. I found that boards that have this type of texture grip your feet well, which is helpful, especially when the deck is wet.
The deckpad takes up about ⅔’s of the board and is a standard length, which is perfectly fine for a solo paddler. If you wanted a small dog or a child on board, then you would perhaps prefer the Niphean Pro, which is 1 foot longer and offers a longer deck pad area for your pooch to chill on without worrying about water on the deck.
Niphean D Rings
The board offers 11 D rings, which is standard for these kinds of boards. The first 6 are used for the Bungee deck webbing, while the 4 middle D rings can be used to clip on a kayak seat or possibly a cooler.
Niphean Deck Bungees
There are 3 rows of bungee deck webbing on the front of the board. Which is pretty standard with Amazon-style SUPs. We did wish that Niphean had added at least 2 bungee deck chords in the back to give the paddler a more complete storage solution. Although this seems to be reserved for the Niphean Pro Package, which offers 5 rows of deck webbing.
The bungee placements are closer together, which is a bonus if you have smaller odds and ends such as water bottles, etc. Recently, I started strapping a small cooler onboard to hold my water bottle snuggly inside to reduce the likelihood of it rolling off, and I must say that setup has been working out well.
If you are new to paddle boarding, other things you can stash in the 3 rows of bungee deck webbing include sunscreen, life vests, dry bags, or even fishing tackle if you are a recreational fisherman.
Niphean Handles
The Niphean 10’6” SUP has 2 handles, one in the center to carry the board to the shoreline and one in the back. The Niphean board is not particularly heavy, so in my experience, the handle is not particularly hard on the hand. It offers a neoprene cover, which is a vast improvement over handles that are made of just nylon, which dig into your hands.
Niphean Accessories Explained
| Rating Factor | Score | Average SUP Score (All Around Boards) |
|---|---|---|
| Accessories Score | 7.4 /10 | 7.9 |
| Backpack Score | 7.5 /10 | 8.1 |
| Paddle Score | 6 /10 | 7.8 |
| Pump Score | 7 /10 | 7.6 |
| Fin Score | 9 /10 | 8.1 |
The package offers a pretty standard accessory kit that is all you need to get onto the water. Unlike other packages in the Niphean paddle boards price point, you can also get some good add-on accessories, such as an inflatable kayak seat with back support. While the kayak back support is shown on the Niphean website, it is sold separately.
Niphean Bag
The bag is pretty standard for what you get with boards of this price range. It’s good for holding the board, but I would not recommend using it for long-distance hikes as the straps do not have a ton of padding. And after 15 minutes, you will really begin to feel the straps dig into your shoulder!
The bag offers one big compartment to put your board and all the accessories inside. We did wish that the bag had some more pockets/compartments, but once again that comes with the Pro package.
Niphean Paddle
The paddle that comes with the board is once again pretty standard for what comes with packages of this price range. The paddle shaft is made of aluminum, and the blade is made of a nylon material.
If you upgrade to the Niphean Pro boards, you get a carbon fiber paddle with your package.
I’m personally not a massive fan, as I have had a paddle that was made of similar materials (from a different manufacturer, not Niphean) fail on me because I was using harder strokes to paddle. The paddle can be particularly vulnerable when it has been sitting in the sun for hours.
Having said that, it is a paddle, and if you are new, it will most likely do just fine for you. It’s only when you start trying out more lightweight paddles that you start to notice these little differences.
Niphean Pump
The pump is a standard single-chamber dual-action pump. Truthfully, I did not have a chance to test this pump out. I used the Outdoor Master Shark 3 pump to pump this board up. While this may be a bit overkill for some of you who are new to the sport, I do recommend eventually upgrading to some sort of electric pump.
I’ll put it to you this way. If you are using the board more than 5 times a year, I highly recommend getting the electric pump to do the pumping for you. Especially if you have the off lower back pain spurts like I do.
Niphean Fins
Niphean gets almost solid marks in this category for its innovation of the Stabil-Trac fin. It’s very different, and I think it’s awesome that it was thought up. The Stabil-Trac fin improves the stability of the board by a good amount and also keeps your board planted in the water, even if you encounter some wind.
The board also comes with a normal center fin and some side fins to help tweak the handling of the package even further, which I do appreciate.
The only thing I am not a big fan of is the fact that it’s a slide-in fin setup, and it could potentially get warped if damaged because it’s made of plastic. In which case, you may just have to get a new paddle board.
But this is pretty rare, and oftentimes these slide-in fins last the life span of the board.
Niphean Set-Up/ Take Down
| Rating Factor | Score | Average Score (All Around) |
|---|---|---|
| Set-Up/ Take Down Score | 8.5/10 | 8.2 |
Overall, the package is pretty easy to get together and set up. If you are new to paddleboarding, follow these steps:
- Take the contents out of the bag, roll the board out, preferably on a mat.
- Attach the pump to the board and start inflating (hint: An electric pump saves time and energy on this)
- Lean against a post and attach fins. Look at your location to determine what fin setup you want. If it’s particularly shallow, I would keep the Stabil-Track fin off
- Bring whatever you need (life vest, snacks, water, attach leash)
- Launch the board (if you are launching from he shore, make sure the fins point outward towards the water so that they are not scraping on the bottom
- Get on and have a paddle!
When taking down the board, I especially recommend having a mat because the board will be wet, and you don’t want grass and dirt all over it when putting it away. When deflating the board, I would get all of the air out by using an electric pump that has a deflation valve. Doing this step really helps the board become compact.
Otherwise, I guarantee you will have some issues fitting the board back into the bag as there will still be small pockets of air inside the board. I know because I have done this over the years. And I know just how compact they make these budget SUP bags!
When folding the board, I actually recommend folding from the fins to the nose as the fins make a good folding pattern that you can follow. I often find that when I am folding from the nose, I have to re-adjust the board sometimes.
About Niphean Paddle Boards
Niphean is a relatively new player in the affordable inflatable paddleboard sector. Niphean is a company that has brought sailors, inflatable paddle board engineers together to make a company that makes it easy to get people onto the water.
What’s impressed me the most about this company is the innovations they put into their boards, like the Stabil-Trac fin and the fact that they offer a surprisingly good warranty on their boards for an affordable SUP.
Niphean Warranty and Returns information
The Niphean paddle board comes with a 3-year limited warranty that covers the following:
- – Seam or valve leakage not caused by external damage
- – Deck pad delamination
- – Factory-related material or bonding failures
It will not cover external damages, which is pretty typical of all ISUP companies. This is much better than what you would see with most Amazon boards, which typically have a 1-2 year warranty on their SUPs.
The return policy of the Niphean paddle board is 30 days, which is usually standard/ the minimum for most ISUP manufacturers.
Where to Buy the Niphean Paddle Board
You can purchase the Niphean SUP on Amazon.com or on the Niphean Website. Niphean has several different models you can choose from that range in size and quality of materials used in the boards. This one we are reviewing is considered entry-level in their lineup.
Comparable Boards
Below are some of the comparable boards that are in a similar price point to the Niphean SUP that also have decent quality materials placed in them.
Retrospec Weekender Plus 2
The Retrospec Weekender is another impressive board with similar dimensions. While the Niphean focuses on innovation, the Retrospec Weekender Plus 2 focuses on adding value, and in this case, this package includes the inflatable kayak seat, kayak paddle attachment, and shoulder strap to carry the board.
You can click here to see our Retrospec Weekender Plus 2 Review
Maddle Paddle Board
The Maddle SUP is a slightly higher price point but has a similar build with some unique designs. While it is a Canadian company, it does also ship to the United States. The dimensions of the Maddle Paddle Board are similar, except that it is 1” thinner in width and does not have the long Stabil-Trac fin for boosted stability.
You can click here to see our Maddle Paddle Board Review
Is the Niphean Paddle Board a Good Pick?
The Niphean SUP is a great pick if you are on a budget and want a transpoprtable, easy to set up SUP that is stable. The board offers an affordable package attached with a 3-year warranty that allows you to enjoy the local waterways without having to worry about lugging a heavy board.
Its Stabil-Trac fin also allows you to be confident, even if it’s your first time standing on a paddleboard!
What are some of your experiences with the Niphean Paddle Board? Let us know on our Facebook Page!