Niphean 11’6 Pro Inflatable Paddleboard
Pros
- Lightweight (22 lbs) and easy to carry/launch
- Stable design that works well for beginners and larger paddlers
- Comes with a hybrid carbon fiber paddle with second blade for use as a kayak
- Welded rails for durability
- Generous kit (cup holder, phone case, mounts)
- Good mix of performance on the water
Cons
- StabilTrac fin is not really beneficial for SUP tracking
- Construction is a big step up from the base-level Niphean boards, but the carbon fiber stringer doesn’t seem to add much stiffness compared to other midrange boards
The Niphean Pro 11’6 is an all-around board that blends benefits of both a standard all-around size and a larger all-around size to fit a wide variety of paddlers and uses. The new “Pro” construction is a significant improvement compared to Niphean’s line of low-cost boards, but is more on-par with other midrange-priced iSUPs rather than performance-oriented boards. The new construction puts this larger iSUP into the lightweight category at just 22 pounds, making it very easy to move on and off the water.
Niphean includes a large set of accessories with the Pro 11’6, making it even more versatile, and the board has a good balance of on-water performance.
We think the Niphean 11’6 Pro would be great for paddlers who
- Want a larger paddleboard for better stability and capacity without going to an extra large size
- Prefer a more casual paddling session with good efficiency, but not focusing on top speed
- Are shopping on a lower-midrange budget, but still want a turn-key package with multiple included accessories
Niphean 11’6 Pro: Spec Sheet
- Main Category: All-Around, Inflatable
- Board Dimensions: 11’6” x 33” x 6”
- Board Weight: 22 lbs
- Max Capacity: 400 lbs
- Recommended PSI: 15 PSI
- Fins: Single, slide-in fin
- Paddle: 3-piece w/ carbon shaft and nylon blade + second blade
- Materials: Fusion PVC w/ knitted dropstitch core; welded seams
- Price Range: Medium
- Warranty: 3 years
Performance Review of the Niphean 11’6 Pro Stand Up Paddle Board
Overall Score: [8.8/10]
- Stability: 9.4/10
- Speed: 8.2/10
- Tracking: 8.5
- Maneuverability: 8.7/10
- Construction Quality: 9.0/10
- Features/Accessories: 9.2/10
Stability Rating: 9.4/10
The Niphean Pro 11’6 takes a lot of shape aspects from extra-wide (and extra-stable) boards and scales them to fit the 33” width in a smart way. This combination gives the Pro 11’6 a stable feel throughout the board, but doesn’t make it feel overly-large. The square tail shape and wide shoulders keep the board feeling comfortable on the water up through light-chop conditions and give you plenty of room and volume to bring along everything you need for a full day on the water. There is some noticeable flex in the board in choppier conditions and when walking on the deck, but once you are set, the Pro 11’6 settles down quickly and feels confident under your feet.
Installing the large StabilTrac fin under the middle of the board does add a small amount of stability by slowing down how quickly the board can tilt from edge to edge, but has a few other drawbacks that we feel outweigh this minor benefit.
Overall, this is quite a stable board, especially for only being 33” wide and would be a good choice as a first board for larger paddlers up to about 240 pounds.
Speed: 8.2/10
The Niphean Pro 11’6 gives a nice balance of speed and stability performance with an elongated shape and just a little bit of “extra” width. The result is a board that paddles smoothly across the water at a decent speed – especially thanks to the new carbon-hybrid paddle design – but isn’t designed specifically for high speeds. This really helps increase the versatility of the Pro 11’6 by making it easy to use and easy to paddle for longer distances.
It’s not made to prioritize high-energy, high-speed paddling, so while you can add a few MPH by really going at it, you’ll find that the Pro 11’6 doesn’t really like to be paddled that way. It bounces a bit more and tracking is reduced a bit at these higher speeds. But, the Niphean Pro 11’6 does well for both casual paddling and lower-speed casual touring.
The speed score given above is a comparative rating to other sizes and styles of paddleboards, whereby 14’ raceboards would be scoring in the high 9s, and the widest all-round boards or surf-orientated shorter boards would be in the 5s or below.
Over the many years that we have been reviewing paddleboards at supboardguide.com, we have experimented with numerous different methodologies for speed testing, involving various hardware and software solutions. However, none have proved replicable; even using the same rider in the same conditions the numbers would vary from day to day, and of course when using different riders, or even just a different paddle, the results would change significantly. For this reason, while we still test all boards in cruise mode, fast cruise mode and then push them as hard as we can, we no longer give ‘absolute’ speed data (ie 5.5mph etc) – which ultimately doesn’t really matter unless you’re specifically looking to compete – and now report more on the general feel of the board when asked to perform.
Tracking: 8.5/10
One of the most noticeable features on all of Niphean’s boards is the StabilTrac fin system. This is a very large fin that is placed in the middle of the board. It’s intended to aid in both stability and tracking performance. However it has a few drawbacks. First is additional drag and a very deep draft depth when the fin is installed. It also can make the board much harder to turn, especially quickly.
In some instances it does help with tracking, but our testers actually found this to have the opposite effect when using the Pro 11’6 as a SUP. Instead of improving tracking, it felt more like the StabilTrac fin created a hard pivot point in the middle of the board and actually reduced tracking performance.
When used without the StabilTrac fin, but with just the smaller touring-style fin under the tail of the board, our testers found the board to track straighter, easier, and had a more balanced feeling of tracking and maneuverability.
Overall, when used with just the standard touring-style fin under the tail, the Niphean Pro 11’6 had good tracking performance for its width and length. We actually recommend using the Niphean Pro 11’6 with just the single fin under the tail of the board, and would like to see Niphean drop the StabilTrac fin system from their Pro boards entirely on future models.
Niphean does include a small 3” fin for the tail box as well, called a “decorative” fin. I’m not sure if they have intended this to be used just in conjunction with the Stabiltrac fin (which would exacerbate the pivot feeling), but when used by itself provides a small amount of tracking performance when paddling in very shallow water.
Maneuverability: 8.7/10
As mentioned above, the Niphean Pro 11’6 (with just the tail fin installed) has a nice blend of performance on the water, including maneuverability. We found the Pro 11’6 was relatively easy to turn using basic sweep strokes, and responds very well to more advanced turning strokes like cross-bow draws.
The stability from the wider square tail also makes it easy to get to the tail for a quick pivot turn, and the Pro 11’6 would be a good choice for anyone wanting to learn this skill
Construction Quality: 9.0/10
Right out of the box, the Niphean Pro 11’6 looks sharp. The board comes in at just 22 lbs, making it easy to carry, load, and launch. It’s not as stiff as some other iSUPs in the same price range, but that is generally the tradeoff for a lightweight construction.
The interior is made with a standard knitted fabric material and drop stitch core. The outer shell is made with fusion-laminated PVC, and the inner seams are heat welded together.
Niphean has also added a carbon stringer system.
The stringer system has helped the Niphean Pro far exceed the rigidity of their entry-level iSUP, but are not quite as rigid as many other mid-range boards. Still, it’s good to see them experimenting with upgrades, and the overall build quality feels appropriate for this price class.
Board Stiffness:
Stiffness Test: 1.25” Bend
Our stiffness test is performed by placing the SUP on top of two sawhorses that are set 7’ apart. We then measure the board before and after loading 150 lbs onto the board’s midpoint (usually across the center handle). Of course, this test does not mimic the SUP’s behavior on the water, but it’s an unbiased way for us to understand how certain construction methods affect stiffness and overall performance of each paddleboard.
In our bend test, the Niphean Pro 11’6 flexed 1.25” with 150 pounds of weight. That is a bit more flex than we’d expect to see in a board this size with a carbon fiber fabric stringer, but on the water the flex was only noticeable when jumping or paddling hard on the board.
To ascertain the rigidity of each board we review, we have been using our own specific laboratory bend test process since 2021. The board is inflated to its maximum recommended PSI and positioned exactly on our measuring jig. 150lb weight is then applied to the standing area to see how much bend it causes. While this isn’t an exact replication of the weight distortion that occurs when a rider stands on a SUP board in the water, it still gives a very useful comparative tool in determining the relative stiffness of the various board construction processes.
Features/Accessory Review: [9.2/10]
Niphean has built out the Pro 11’6 board and kit to be highly versatile with a great set of on-board features and fittings.
The Pro 11’6 has a total of 17 D-rings, two threaded mounting points, one GoPro attachment, and two Scotty-style mounting plates. Most SUPs that utilize Scotty plates put them behind the paddler, but they are at the front of the deck on the Pro 11’6. I think this is a much better placement as it allows you to easily reach your fishing rods or other accessories without needing to turn around on the board.
The pebbled deck pad has a surprising amount of clean space considering how many attachment points are on the Niphean Pro 11’6. This gives you room to move around on the board, sit or lay down, or paddle with a passenger without worrying about stepping or sitting on hard D-rings or other fittings.
Included Accessories:
The Niphean Pro 11’6 comes with a large set of accessories. Included with the Niphean Pro 11’6 is:
- 3-piece carbon shaft paddle w/ a nylon blade
- Second paddle blade for kayak conversion
- Inflatable kayak seat and solid foot rest
- StabilTrac Fin
- 9” touring-style fin
- 3” shallow water fin
- Cup holder
- Coiled leash
- Waterproof phone bag
- Repair kit
- Double-action pump
- Padded backpack
Niphean’s accessory kit is quite extensive, and the upgrade to a carbon fiber/hybrid paddle is quite nice for this price point. While this does provide a lot of out-of-the-box utility, many of the accessories could be greatly improved, or simply removed allowing the overall price to come down and letting the user select which accessories they will want to use. The hand pump is quite basic, especially for such a large board, and as we mentioned earlier, the StabilTrac fin system is more hassle than helpful. The kayak seat design is smart, but the attachment system needs an overhaul. However, the short fin, phone bag and cupholder are quite useful and work well.
Summary Review of the Niphean 11’6 Pro
For its price, especially while on sale, the Niphean Pro 11’6 is a strong contender for a versatile all-around option. At just 22 lbs, it’s lightweight, easy to handle, and fun to paddle. As a first generation model it still has some refinements we’d like to see made, but it’s still a board we’d recommend to paddlers looking for an affordable, stable option that can dabble in some light touring. It’s encouraging to see Niphean enter this “Pro” tier with such a capable first attempt, and if they keep refining, we expect even better things down the line.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through our review of the Niphean Pro 11’6, and encourage you to hit us with any questions or suggestions in the comments below.
Until next time, stay safe and happy paddling!
SupBoardGuide
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