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NIXY Newport Review | 2021
The new NIXY Newport G4 is a great all-around inflatable paddle board that is surprisingly lightweight, feature packed, and very stable. A part of NIXY SPORT’s next-generation G4 lineup, this versatile board is an excellent option for paddlers of all skill levels and will be giving the all-around SUPS, offered by other brands, some stiff competition this season, as we’ll cover in this NIXY Newport review.
NIXY’s inflatable paddle boards were significantly updated for the first time since 2019 with the introduction of woven drop stitch construction, new features like action mounts, fresh designs, and updated accessories. These boards are lighter than many other inflatable iSUPs on the market and can be inflated to higher PSI for incredible rigidity.
Founded by Nicolas and Ale Szczedrin and headquartered in Irvine, CA, NIXY Sports specializes in designing high-quality inflatable SUPs at affordable price points. NIXY has a manufacturer-direct marketing model that eliminates the middle man and their reduced overhead costs allow the savings to be passed on to the consumer.
In this review of NIXY’s 10’6″ Newport all around paddle board, we’ll cover the inflatable SUP’s features, specs, pros and cons, warranty coverage, what’s in the box, where you can buy it, current discounts that can save you money, and more.
Specifications
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 10'6" |
| Width | 33“ |
| Thickness | 6“ |
| Weight | |
| Max Capacity | 300 pounds |
| Board Weight | 21 pounds |
| Kit Weight (SUP & accessories) | 39 pounds |
| Buying Info | |
| List Price | $895 |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Returns period | 30 days |
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— In a Hurry? Here’s a Quick Summary —
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NIXY Newport G4 Review: SUP Overview
The NIXY Newport is an incredibly versatile inflatable SUP that can be used for a wide variety of paddling activities. At 33 inches wide it’s an inch wider than the average all around SUP, giving it outstanding stability and making it an especially great choice for family paddling. Yet because of the board’s light weight (only 21 pounds) and excellent tracking, it’s just as fast as narrower all around boards; a rare case of having your cake and eating it too!
The company also makes the 34 inch wide NIXY Venice G4 — an even more stable board specifically designed for those looking for the ultimate cruiser SUP or fitness/yoga paddle board.
Design
The Newport G4 sports a fresh, vibrant design this season, available in five colors: Aqua, Blue, Purple, Exuma, and Palm. Palm — the color of our review board — was a limited edition color for the previous version of the Newport, but is now a stock color.
— Drag slider below to compare the Newport G3 and the Newport G4 —
Features
As mentioned previously, NIXY has made a number of changes to this board, so let’s dive right in…
— Click on hotspots for additional details —
Cargo Area
Center Carry Handle
Rear Carry Handle
Front Cargo Area
Front Grab Handle
Leash D-Ring
D-Rings
Carbon Fiber Side Rails
EVA Foam Traction Pad
Starting at the nose of the board is the grab handle which is helpful when you’re handling the board in and around the water.
Just behind it is one of NIXY’s unique features. As with NIXY’s other paddle boards, the Newport G4 features a Halkey-Roberts inflation valve located at the nose. We really like the fact that NIXY places the air valve there instead of at the tail as most brands do — this makes it easier to roll up the board when it’s deflated as you just fold the board from the tail and push any excess air out at the nose.
New for 2021, NIXY has updated their valve to a simple push-button operation. Rather than needing to push and 1/4 turn the valve to lock it in the open position when you want to deflate the board, you simply push once to lock it open and push again to lock it closed. Very convenient!
Moving down the board we come to the 4-point front cargo area. This is a great place to stash snorkeling gear, Crocs or flip flops, a dry bag, etc. While approximately the same size as before, it offers several new features. First, the bungee system is now adjustable to secure different sized gear, or can it be easily removed entirely for full access to the deck.
Second, the front two points also contain M8 threaded action mounts for attaching accessories like GoPro cameras, fishing rod holders, etc. In total, the Newport adds five action mounts this season.
The NIXY Newport is covered by a generously sized EVA foam traction pad that extends from under the front cargo area back to the tail of the board and nearly from side rail to rail. This is certainly more coverage than a lot of its peers and is even enough that it could also be used for SUP yoga or fitness activities, although the NIXY Venice G4 remains the ideal board for that application. The traction pad is stamped with tiny NIXY logos, providing excellent grip when both wet and dry and is comfortable under foot even for long periods either standing or sitting.
At the middle of the board is a carrying handle that’s covered by a soft neoprene grip. Unlike most other brands, the handle cover is removable, allowing the handle to lay flatter, which makes the board a lot more comfortable to sit or lay on (another great feature for SUP fitness enthusiasts).
Located just behind the carrying handle along the outer edges of the deck pad are two D-rings for attaching NIXY’s optional kayak seat.
Moving towards the tail along the outer edges, new this season are two more M8 threaded action mounts for attaching accessories. Behind them is the rear 6-point cargo area. Like the front cargo space, the bungee system is now adjustable and removable. In addition to increased cargo capacity, this also gives you a secure place to stash your gear when there’s a passenger or pup riding along at the board’s nose.
Just behind this is the rear D-ring for attaching the included SUP leash. This mount point also includes the fifth new M8 action mount for this season. Finally at the tail is the rear grab handle – particularly useful for lifting the fins up so that they’re not drug through rocks or sand.
Both side rails are reinforced with carbon fiber strips for increased longitudinal rigidity and abrasion resistance. There’s also a bungee paddle holder located along the left rail that can also be use to connect two NIXY boards together while on the water.
On the bottom, at the rear the NIXY Newport G4 features a triple fin setup. There are two small side fins and a large center fin, and all fins are removable. All three fins use a convenient integrated thumbscrew to secure the fins to their fin boxes. This makes the fins easy to attach and remove, but we find this is slightly more secure than the lever lock system used on some other brands.
Having the ability to remove all three fins is really nice for a few different reasons. First of all, removing all of the fins allows you to roll the Newport up into a smaller footprint for easier packing and storage. It’s also great if you rack multiple SUPs on the roof of your vehicle as you can easily stack them on top of one another without having to worry about fins getting in the way. Lastly, the board’s removable tri-fin setup gives you a lot of added versatility as you can experiment with different configurations — tri-fin, twin fin, or single fin — depending on the water conditions and your performance preferences.
New this season, the center fin box is now US/FCS compatible, allowing you to use a wide variety of after market center fins for fine tuning your Newport’s performance.
Also located along the bottom of the board is a bold, oversized NIXY logo and a final D-ring located at the nose. This is really handy for those times when you want to tether the board to a dock, an optional anchor accessory, a boat, or another SUP.
Construction
In 2018, NIXY transitioned their entire inflatable paddle board line to ultra-lightweight FusionTech. Essentially, by fusing — rather than gluing — together their dual layers of PVC that form the top and bottom layers of their boards, they were able to save weight while making their boards stronger and longer lasting. It also resulted in a nicer looking board since there were no wrinkles that you sometimes get from the more common gluing process.
In 2019, the company added carbon fiber reinforced side rails to their lineup which added additional strength and rigidity to their boards.
In 2021, with the launch of their fourth generation (G4) boards, NIXY introduced woven drop stitch technology to its construction. Drop stitch is the internal material that allows an inflatable SUP to maintain its distinct shape even under high pressure. Woven drop stitch is an advanced version of this assembly with several benefits: it is lighter than standard drop stitch, it makes the board easier to fold when deflated, yet the board is stronger and stiffer when fully inflated.
NIXY has been testing woven drop stitch in combination with their FusionTech and carbon fiber side rails for over two years. The end result is a board that is even lighter, stronger, and stiffer than before. The weight difference is noticeable — every time we went to pick up a NIXY board during our testing we were surprised how much lighter it seemed compared to other SUPs.
Paddling Performance
Put simply, on the water, the Newport G4 is a lot of fun to paddle. It’s a board that can be enjoyed by paddlers of all experience levels. Beginners will appreciate its great stability while experienced paddlers will notice its excellent tracking.
Where the Newport really shines is its versatility. We get a lot of requests from paddlers looking to buy a board (often for a family or group of users) that’s both fast and stable – the mythical “do everything” board. While many all around boards claim to get that balance right, we find 31 or 32 inches wide often isn’t quite enough for the stability that a lot of paddlers want. The Newport G4 gives that extra bit of balance without sacrificing any speed. If you’re looking for a board that can do a lot really well, this is an excellent option as it can be used for a variety of conditions and paddling activities.
Thanks to its light weight and high rigidity, the board feels quite responsive and maneuverable especially when compared to heavier all around SUPs. About the only time its low weight could be seen as a a negative while testing was in high wind and choppy water conditions when it was buffeted around a little easier than much heavier boards like the Blackfin Model XL. But unless you plan on spending most of your time paddling in such conditions, the lesser weight was most often a benefit.
Our Newport Impressions: Likes and Dislikes
NIXY had an interesting challenge on their hands for the 2021 Newport. They already had an award winning board and accessory package. So how do you improve on that? The secret, in their case at least, appears to be in sweating the details. A lot of our favorite elements are the small touches that really refine the experience. Things like:
- the adjustable and removable cargo bungee straps
- the inflation valve stem that locks open with a simple press rather than a quarter turn
- the five new action mounts
- the folding feet and removable handles on the pump
- the lighter and much better looking paddle
- placing the inflation valve at the front of the board for easier rolling up (this has been a NIXY signature for a while, but still had to call it out)
- adding a deflation port to the pump
- the ability to tuck away the shoulder and waist straps on the backpack when not in use (also a carryover from their previous bag)
- the slimmer backpack
Altogether it makes for a very polished and enjoyable package.
As for dislikes, we still have a few. We wish the front cargo area were larger and further forward. This would free up a bit more of the deck area. And we’d love if they added removeable side grab handles for small children passengers like iROCKER has. Finally, we find their side-mounted paddle holder a bit fussy to use, much preferring THURSO’s version on their Waterwalker boards.
Still we’re admittedly reaching for very nit-picky details to have something to bring to the dislikes side of the conversation. None of these are remotely showstoppers. In short, NIXY has managed to put together a very polished package.
Accessories: What’s Included
NIXY’s included accessories are some of our top rated overall and provide everything you need to get on the water (aside from your PFD). That hasn’t stopped them from refreshing nearly every part of their accessory bundle for 2021. Included this season are:
- Updated wheeled roller backpack
- New 3-piece carbon fiber hybrid paddle
- New Typhoon double chamber / triple action pump
- 3 tool-less fins (covered in the board review above)
- 10 foot coiled ankle leach
- User manual
- Repair kit
Note: This year the have not include the shoulder carry strap that was previously included for the 2019/2020 seasons.
Backpack
Included with the Newport is NIXY’s updated roller SUP backpack. Already one of our top rated backpacks, NIXY has nevertheless found some ways to improve upon it for the 2021 season based on customer feedback — a feature we look for in top SUP brands.
This is a rugged, well-built bag meant to take a lot of use. It retains the same basic design last season’s, but they’ve made it slimmer which makes it that much easier to wrangle in and out of vehicles. This addresses our main complaint from last year, which was that the bag was a bit oversized and the floppiness could make it unwieldy at times.
The front exterior of the bag features a large, zippered storage compartment. While it’s too small for the included pump, there’s plenty of room to store the inflation hose and other included accessories. On the outside of the storage pocket is a see-through luggage ID tag window which is great if you’re planning to fly with your board.
Also located along the bag’s exterior are compression straps and webbed loops which can be used to attach accessories.
At the bottom of both sides of the bag are a large, open storage pouch meant to stow the blade of your paddle pieces, while the shafts are then secured using the bag’s adjustable compression straps. These pockets are also equally handy for holding a towel, water bottle, change of clothes, or anything else you want quick access to.
New for 2021 — and sorely missed before — are the large grommets in the bottom of these pockets that allow water and sand to drain out more easily.
The bottom of the bag features three oversized roller wheels which make it so easy to get this bag from point A to point B. The roller wheels feature a deeply grooved traction pattern which is perfect for pulling the bag through grass, sand, and dirt, and the inclusion of a third wheel prevents the middle of the bag from bottoming out and getting damaged when pulling it over curbs, rocks, and other obstacles. Other brands would do well to take note because this combination of wheel size, tread, and three wheels easily makes it the champion for covering any terrain we test it on.
There are four grab handles on the bag, located at the top, both sides, and bottom. The heavy-duty grab handles on the top and side of the backpack are firmly padded and super comfortable. The bottom grab handle is made out of durable plastic and is convenient for pulling the bag in and out of the car.
The shoulder straps on NIXY’s backpack are padded and fully adjustable with stitched looped attachment points and plastic D-rings to the front of them which can be used to attach small accessories with a carabiner. The pack also has an adjustable sternum strap and waist belt for stabilizing the bag when it’s on your shoulders. There’s also a slick Velcro storage area which can be used to tuck the straps neatly away and out of sight when not being used. This is particularly handy when flying to prevent the straps from being chewed up by the airlines.
Paddle
For 2021 NIXY introduced an entirely new paddle for their G4 boards, including the Newport. This new floating, 3-piece travel paddle’s shaft and blade is made of carbon fiber hybrid material. It weighs only 25 ounces, shaving roughly 15% off the weight of last year’s paddle while increasing rigidity.
While that may not sound like much, it’s surprising how much of a difference a better, lighter paddle can make in the experience of a SUP — after all that, that’s your interface with the water and the part that you’re lifting and moving hundreds or thousands of times a day!
The clear satin finish carbon fiber pattern and minimalist NIXY branding are a sharp look as well. Unfortunately, the t-grip is still a very common plastic one used on many paddles out there. It isn’t bad, but is just very average in feel in comparison to the rest of the otherwise excellent paddles.
Typhoon Double-Chamber Pump
The Typhoon pump received an overhaul for the 2021 season as well. It is still a double-chamber, triple-action pump to keep the inflation process fast and easy (unless you want to check out our top-rated electric SUP pumps), but they’ve added some nice refinements.
Weighing in at a little over 4 pounds, the new pump uses two paddles to switch between the stages rather than the former pump’s control dial. When you begin to inflate the Newport, just set the paddles to stage #1 — this will rapidly add air to your deflated board. Once pumping becomes more difficult, you can switch to stage #2 and lastly to stage #3 to finish inflating the board. The pump is capable of inflating pressures up to 29 PSI, although the Newport only requires 15 PSI.
One small but important new refinement: the feet on the pump now fold up and the handles screw off and stow on the back of the pump. It’s amazing how much easier this makes it for the pump to fit in the backpack or in other tight spaces!
The built-in pressure gauge, which tells you exactly how much air is in your board at all times during the inflation process, has moved from the top of the pump’s handle to the main housing.
NIXY has also moved the the inflation port from the handle to the body of the pump. So the hose is no longer moving up and down the whole time you’re inflating the board.
At long last they added a port for deflating boards! If you’ve not used this feature before this is certainly a trick to start using if you pump has one. At the end of the day once you’ve rolled most of the air out of your board, attach the hose to the deflation port on your pump and to the valve on your board. Now pump just as if you were going to inflate the board. Instead, though it’s going to suck all the last remaining air out of the board to give you a factory-like vacuumed-flat board. Once all the air is removed, detach the hose and close the valve. You can now easily roll up the board smaller and tighter than you thought possible!
Finally, the pump also includes two different width (red or black) washers to go on the end of the hose attachment to ensure a good seal with the valve. We think this is a good idea since we’ve seen variability in fit between different brands and years of boards, valves, and pumps (and it’s not unusual for people to own a mix of gear). Sometimes an extra millimeter makes all the difference!
Leash
Since 2018, NIXY has included SUP leashes with all of their boards. It’s great to see companies actively promoting SUP safety and they’ve once again bundled a nice leash in with their 2021 iSUPs (essentially the same one included with the G3 boards).
The included leash features a hybrid design with a durable coiled cord. There’s a comfortable neoprene ankle cuff, dual metal swivels at both ends to prevent tangles, and a built-in key storage pocket which is very handy.
Repair Kit & User Manual
Last but not least, NIXY includes a user manual and an inflatable paddle board repair kit. The repair kit comes with a valve wrench and three PVC patches.
Optional NIXY Accessories & Add-ons
In addition to their lineup of inflatable SUPs, NIXY Sports also has a growing range of paddling accessories. While the following isn’t included with the Newport, it’s available as an optional add-on (and we highly recommend it)…
NIXY Elite Electric iSUP Pump
While the new Typhoon dual-chamber pump is a lot faster and easier to use than last year’s BRAVO pump, nothing beats an electric paddle board pump when it comes to overall convenience. NIXY’s Elite 12V DC electric iSUP pump is extremely easy to use, delivers great performance, and comes with an awesome carrying bag to keep everything together.
To inflate the Newport with NIXY’s electric pump, you simply plug it in to your vehicle’s cigarette lighter adapter (or attach it directly to the battery with the included alligator clips), set the dial to your desired PSI, and press “On”. The entire inflation process is fully automated and there’s even an auto-shutoff safety feature that will turn the pump off once the desired pressure has been reached.
To read our full review of NIXY’s electric paddle board pump, click here.
Warranty & Returns Info
NIXY provides a 30-day risk-free return policy, which takes the worry out of your purchase should you find it’s not the right board for you. You only pay return shipping (we recommend keeping your packaging until you’re sure you’re keeping the board). We appreciate that they don’t charge a restocking fee like some brands.
They offer a 2-year limited warranty on all NIXY SUPs, which is pretty standard for mid-tier and premium paddle boards. Included accessories receive a 90-day warranty, which is a bit above average. The NIXY warranty page is also one of the most to-the-point warranties we’ve seen. See the NIXY warranty page on their site for more details.
Where to Buy
You can buy the new NIXY Newport direct through the company’s official website. NIXY’s website always has the lowest prices and the company offers free shipping, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and no sales tax on orders outside of California. They also provide excellent customer support, both before and after a sale is made.
Sales and Discounts Codes
NIXY frequently has a special promotion going on or a discount code available. Click here to check our “Ultimate Deals Page” for the most current deals available from NIXY and other top inflatable SUP brands.
The Competition: NIXY Newport vs. Top All Around SUPs
If you’re looking at the NIXY Newport G4, then you’re likely considering other feature-rich all around SUPs in the under-$1,000 price range. We’re most often asked for comparisons to the Thurso Waterwalker family and the iROCKER All Around boards.
The Newport is considerably lighter than both the THURSO Waterwalker and and iROCKER All Around paddle boards. With the addition of five threaded “action” mounts the Newport has closed the features gap where iROCKER had previously led. In terms of included accessories, NIXY’s high quality package is on par with THURSO’s but edges out iROCKER’s in our opinion.
Newport offers more color options than the THURSO Waterwalkers, but iROCKER offers even more designs. And while the Newport is only available in one length, iROCKER offers two lengths, and THURSO offers three lengths of their respective all around SUPs.
Finally, the Newport has the the highest list price of three brands’ all around SUPs offerings, but all of them can frequently be found on sale or some sort of promotional offer (bookmark our SUP sales page to stay on top of the latest deals).
Check out our in-depth reviews of these paddle boards and top rated all around SUPs from more brands:
All Around SUPs Top Picks
Final Thoughts
We’re extremely impressed with NIXY’s new 2021 G4 inflatable SUP lineup, and that’s saying something since their previous G3 boards were all Top Picks on this site. The Newport G4 is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a great all-around SUP that can pretty much do it all.
One of the few disappointments is that NIXY is not yet available in the UK or Europe.
One of the first things that you’ll notice when picking the Newport up is just how lightweight this board is. The Newport weighs in at only 21 pounds — a huge weight reduction when compared to many other inflatable SUPs. In addition to the impressive weight savings offered by their FUSIONtech and woven drop stitch construction process, the Newport can also handle higher inflation pressures if you have a need for added stiffness.
And with the refinements NIXY made for the 2021 season, they’ve addressed practically every nit-picky issue we could find in the previous generation of the board. In addition, they’ve added some of the popularly demanded features like action mounts.
All in all, the updated Newport is perfect for anyone who is looking for an extremely lightweight, rigid, and affordable inflatable SUP. This feature-rich board is really fun on the water and it’s a great option if you’re willing to spend a little more to for those advanced construction technologies and premium accessories.
If you’re in the US or Canada and looking for an all around SUP this season, the NIXY Newport G4 should definitely be on your shortlist.
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Hi there! I’m 5’2” and 130 lbs. I am torn between the Nixy Newport and Huntington models. I do like the lighter compact size of the Huntington but Newport is a solid all-around. Any recommendations? Thanks so much!!
Hi Luisa – The NIXY Newport is a great all-around board. It’s arguably the more versatile SUP given its greater length and tri-fin setup, so it’s the board I recommend in most situations.
There are actually two variations of the Huntington this season. Both are 9’6″ long and have the same shape. However the “compact” has a single center fin and the same set of accessories as the Newport. You would want to choose it over the Newport if you preferred a shorter board, didn’t mind center fin only, and wanted the lighter weight (although the Newport is already incredibly light).
The “ultra compact” version of the Huntington has only two side fins and a set of smaller accessories. It’s designed to fold in half and then roll up into and much smaller backpack. I would only go with it if your top priority was having the absolute most travel friendly SUP possible.
Find more details and comparison on our NIXY SUP comparison page.
Well, I wound up going for both one of these Nixy Newports and the UICE Carbon!
FYI, the UnderIce *isn’t* a rebrand – they are the OEM factory that makes a bunch of other “known” brands SUPs, like Mistral and some European brands. They also had a nice carbon 725 gram paddle, and better accessories available on Alibaba. (Paddle: https://underice.en.alibaba.com/product/1600238396811-818455817/2021_PREMIUM_QUALITY_Super_Lightweight_Bamboo_FULL_Carbon_Paddle_Adjustable_3_pieces.html?spm=a2700.shop_plser.41413.19.71c126d9VFtnsV ).
Like you rightfully pointed out, there’s likely not going to have much after-sale warranty support. But, I’ll be interested to compare the Nixy with the similiar-featured UICE that comes in at half the price. https://underice.en.alibaba.com/product/1600258170397-811625360/UICE_Standard_Set_11_x33_x6_335x883x15cm_SUP_Paddle_Board_Stand_Up_Inflatable_Paddle_Board.html?spm=a2700.shop_plgr.41413.13.72714ffbHPXvkZ
Ryan, enjoy the new boards! I’d be interested in your thoughts on the UICE compared to other boards once you’ve had an opportunity to try them out.
Most paddlers are not going to be comfortable with the risk that comes with buying a SUP or accessories with little to no warranty or customer support. But some adventuresome people like yourself might be interested to know.
As a 240lb 6’2″ person that could use some board volume and width, I’m currently torn between Blackfin X, this Nixy, and the UnderIce Black Carbon models from UICE. They all have carbon fiber supports, similar sizes, but the Blackfin is wider than all for stability… I love the 2021 Nixy “Palm” graphics compared to the others though! Arg, decisions. Any experience with the UICE carbon series products?
Hi Ryan! I’ve not been hands-on with the UICE carbon series, but I would stay way from them. They look like a rebranded version of a standard off-the-shelf Chinese factory SUP model (this is pretty common) with low quality accessories. (example: aluminum paddle). You’re likely going to have little in the way of after-sale warranty support. In contrast, NIXY and iROCKER are both an entirely better class of board construction and come with much high-end accessories. You’ll be much happier with them in the long run.
Choosing between the NIXY and the BLACKFIN is harder and comes down to personal preference. The NIXY Newport’s “Palm” graphic is sharp and at 33″ it is more stable than your average all-around board, handling great. The most noticeable thing is that NIXY boards are surprisingly light compared to BLACKFIN boards due to their use of woven drop stitch and fused (instead of glued) construction. This is most beneficial if you’ll be carrying the board long distances.
The Model X takes the cake with the most action mount points and special fishing rack mounts, if those are important to you. At 35″ wide it’s going to offer an extra bit of stability, whereas I’d give the Newport the nod for being a bit faster.
One other option you could look at is the NIXY Venice. It has all the benefits that come with Newport, but is 34″ wide, so it’s even a bit closer to the Model X in stability. Unfortunately it doesn’t come in the Palm design.
NIXY Newport: Review | Buy
NIXY Venice: Review | Buy
BLACKFIN Model X: Review | Buy
Hope that helps!
This is a wonderful article! However, after reading I am stuck between an iRocker All Around 11 ($555 shipped) and the Nixy Newport ($635 shipped). I am 5’4″ 150lb female and will occasionally have a passenger and or gear with me. Will using this primarily for lakes and reservoirs. With the given prices I can buy these 2 models new at, which do you recommend? I have rented a few times in the past but now want my own setup 🙂
Thanks!
Hey Natalie! That’s a great price on the iROCKER ALL-AROUND 11′. Both boards would work well for you, so you just have to decide if the additional things included with the Newport justify the current price difference. The Newport gives you a better backpack, shoulder carrying strap, carbon fiber reinforced rails, dual bungee storage areas, front/rear grab handles, and a paddle holder along the rail. The ALL-AROUND 11′ includes child safety handles at the nose and an integrated GoPro accessory mount.
This is a great article. I am now confused. I am a female, 5’9″ and 166 pounds. I am a beginner. Should I get the irocker cruiser, the nixy newport or the blackfin x?
Hi Susan! Thanks for the nice comment…
All three of the boards that you mentioned are excellent for beginners and come with a great warranty (2 years). The BLACKFIN Model X is the most stable, followed by the iROCKER CRUISER and then the Newport. At the current selling prices, I’d say the Newport offers the most value.
Here is a summary of the key differences between the boards:
-GoPro mount: Included with the Model X and CRUISER
-Pump: All three boards come with the exact same pump
-Paddle: BLACKFIN’s carbon fiber paddle wins
-Backpack: The BLACKFIN and NIXY bags are comparable
-Carbon rails: Model X and Newport
-Kids’ handles: Model X and CRUISER
-Dual bungee storage: Model X and Newport
-Shoulder carry strap: Newport
The best thing to do is prioritize what is most important to you and then go with the board that ticks the most boxes.
I hope that helps, Susan! If you’ve got any other questions, just let me know and I’ll do my best to assist.
This is a great review – thanks for providing souch detail. Do you think the Newport is appropriate for ocean use and light surf?
I’m an experienced flat water (lake and river) paddler, and have done some surfing but have some shoulder issues and want to tinker with SUP surf in the future. 5’7″, 160 lb female in case that matters. 🙂
Hi Jen! Thanks for the nice comment.
Yes, the Newport will do just fine in both of the scenarios that you asked about. It’s an excellent all-around board that you can do a lot with.
Hope that helps. Happy paddling…
Great review. My head is spinning, so many choices. Everytime I think I have narrowed down my choices, you throw in another option. I’m 5’10” and 170lbs, looking for a fun, fast board for mainly flat but also ocean. I have considered 11 irocker all round and sport, Thurso Waterwalker 11 and now the Nixy!!! I’m not a beginner, but looking to buy a board that will last me for a few years at least. Can you let me know which of the boards I’m looking at are the fastest and which of the boards I’ll take a stand and say that the irocker all round 11 may be the best all round board, but the sport is likely to be faster. I noticed that the Nixy is not only the shortest board but it is also the widest. How does this affect it’s speed and maneuverability compared to my other choices. If it was your cash, what would your first choice be? Thanks.
Hi Greg, thanks a lot for your comment. Yes, there are definitely a lot of great choices right now if you’re in the market for a new iSUP — while this can make it harder to choose, having a variety of great options is a good problem to have.
Wider boards offer additional stability but they’re typically a little slower and can sometimes make it more difficult to paddle while maintaining proper technique. Personally, I don’t find this to be an issue with the Newport which is 33″ wide — the differences become much more noticeable at 35″-36″+.
If speed is number one on your priority list, I’d personally choose the iROCKER SPORT 11′ or even step things up and go with a larger touring model. While you’ll sacrifice some versatility and maneuverability, touring SUPs are a ton of fun for just cruising around. If you need specific recommendations as far as that goes, just let me know.
Hope that helps, Greg.
Indeed that helps. Thanks. I’m curious to hear about your touring isup recommendations now.
Regards.
Greg
It’s my pleasure, Greg. I realized after I replied that I probably just made your decision even more difficult by mentioning the touring option, but I think that’s worth a look based on how you’ll be using the board.
There are three really great options that I’d recommend for 2019. They’re all affordable, have great warranties, and come loaded with features: the BLACKFIN Model V, THURSO Expedition, and NIXY Manhattan (stay tuned on this, I’ll have a full review of the 2019 version up next week).
Hello! Checking in to see when you will be publishing your NIXY Manhattan 2019 review. I am leaning towards this board but might choose one of the other touring boards you reviewed and mentioned above after your review :). Looking for something that tracks well (so interested how the triple vs single fin options impact this – I have used sups with both but never inflatable) and is fun to paddle distances on flat and choppy (mostly) lake water. Also, interested in the ability to change to kayak – all seem to have this, but have you tried them? Is it worth it? Do they compare equally? Thank you so much!!
Hi Lynn! Thanks a lot for your comment…
Our review of the 2019 Manhattan will be live this week. No issues with tracking whatsoever on the board and attaching a kayak seat is always a nice option to have as it gives you added versatility. Needless to say, it doesn’t provide the exact same experience as paddling a kayak but it’s still a lot of fun, particularly if you enjoy seated paddling.
Hey Jason, I appreciate all reviews that you post. They have helped me narrow down boards based on features I find important. I was looking at the Blackfin line and thought I made my mind up until I saw this board and review. Front and rear handles are something I want and are absent on many boards. I know they are at different price points but I am wondering your opinion on durability. Triple vs double ply comes with weight difference but does it affect durability? Also they have the same warranty but how do these stack up in terms of quality. Is it just that the Nixy line is comparable to the iRocker line and the Blackfin is a little more premium in that it has a carbon paddle? Also, I will also be checking these as luggage for trips if that would change your recommendations. Would appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks,
Kevin
Hi Kevin, thanks for your nice comment. For 2019, I would say that the NIXY Newport is probably more comparable to the BLACKFIN Model X than iROCKER’s CRUISER in terms of features and pricing. NIXY has added a lot of premium upgrades to their boards this year and also improved their accessory bundle, bringing them more in line with what the BLACKFIN SUP range offers. Also, NIXY’s MSRP pricing this season is definitely closer to the BLACKFIN SUP range, with iROCKER’s normal line coming in at a lower price point.
Performance-wise, the Newport is very similar to iROCKER’s CRUISER model while the BLACKFIN Model X kicks things up a notch in the stability department. The Newport and CRUISER are both 10’6″ x 33″ x 6″ — the Model X measures 10’6″ x 35″ x 6″.
In terms of durability, I’ve never experienced any issues with boards made by NIXY or iROCKER (including their BLACKFIN line) and both companies offer solid warranties.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of the above boards in my opinion. They all offer excellent value, great features, and a solid bundle of accessories. I would prioritize what’s most important to you (taking into account things such as price, weight, features, performance, aesthetics, etc.) and then choose the one that best satisfies those requirements.
I hope that’s helpful, Kevin. If you have any other questions, just let me know and I’ll do my best to help…
Hello Jason. I have been researching inflatables for a while and wanted to ask for your advise. I am 5’10 195 pounds and live in Puerto Rico so I will be using it mostly in the ocean. My main concern is that the board can stand heat. I like both the Thurso 10.6 and the Nixy Newport. For what I understand in terms of extras Nixy has a better bag and Thurso has a better paddle plus a cooler. In terms of board quality Nixy can stand 20psi but can be used at 15psi. Will this fact make it a better choice for hot climate since heat expands air? Or, are the boards the same quality and the Thurso price and extras make it a better option? Thank you in advance.
Hi Luigi, thanks for your comment…
The NIXY Newport does in fact come with a nicer bag and it’s a lighter board as far as weight goes, whereas the THURSO includes a carbon shaft paddle and SUP deck bag. Also, the NIXY feels a bit more stable due to an extra 2″ of width.
Both are fun boards with excellent 2-year warranties, and I think they would do perfectly fine in Puerto Rico’s climate (assuming you care for them properly and don’t leave them out in the hot sun for extended periods of time). I’m in Panama in a similar climate and have had absolutely no issues with either board.
As you mentioned, the 2018 NIXY boards can be inflated up to 20 PSI but I think it’s a great idea to stick to a lower inflation pressure as it’ll allow extra room for expansion. 15 PSI is sufficient and the board performs perfectly fine at that pressure.
I hope this helps, Luigi. If you have any other questions, just let me know and I’ll do my best to assist.
Thank you!