Nixy Monterey G5 iSUP Review
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Pros
- Stable, user-friendly platform thanks to slightly wider tail shape vs previous years
- Fabulously maneuverable for its size
- Light and responsive on the water
- Great set of fittings and fixtures
- Nice, clean design
- Sporty feeling for a larger iSUP
Cons
- We’d prefer to see the board supplied with a more cruising-orientated fin
The 5th edition of the Monterey sees several significant changes to Nixy’s expedition/adventure board, and as our review team found, the outcomes are extremely positive.
The previous version of the Nixy Monterey (the G4) fared very well in our review last year; we really rated it for its overall stability and versatility. However, we did have a couple of issues with it. In particular, we were not convinced by the double-chamber construction. Adding a second air chamber to a board creates extra weight, a variety of construction issues and a whole lot of extra failure points, so we’re delighted that Nixy have returned to single chamber construction with the G5 iteration of the Monterey.
The plan shape has also been adjusted, in line with the general trend towards wider tails that is happening throughout the iSUP world. This increases the stability, balance and general straight line performance, and we immediately noticed a clear improvement over the G4 in this respect when we began checking out the Monterey G5, as we’ll be detailing in this review.
We think the Nixy Monterey G5 would be a great SUP for paddlers who:
- Want a great all-round general purpose paddleboard
- Is looking for a board with a bit more stability and user friendliness than your typical all rounder
- Values a loose, lively feel in their board even though it’s big and stable
- Likes the idea of being able to choose their own set of accessories rather than ending up with stuff they don’t need
Nixy Monterey: Spec Sheet
- Board Category: All-round / heavyweights board / cruiser/tourer
- Listed Board Dimensions: 11’6 x 34 x 6”
- Measured Board Dimensions: 11’5.5” x 34” x 6”
- Listed Board Weight: 25 lbs
- Actual Board Weight (board only, not inflated): 21 lbs
- Listed Max Capacity: 400 lbs
- Recommended PSI: 15 PSI
- Fins: Single 9” swept-back US-box fin
- Paddle: Not supplied as standard, choose from options at purchase.
- Board Shell Construction Materials: dual layer PVC
- Drop-stitch type: woven
- Price Range: $625
- Warranty: 3 Year Warranty from date of purchase covering everything outside of normal wear & tear
Performance Review of the Nixy Monterey Stand Up Paddle Board
Overall Score: 9.2/10
- Stability: 8.9/10
- Speed: 8.7/10
- Tracking: 8.6/10
- Maneuverability: 9.0/10
- Construction Quality: 9.2/10
- Features/Accessories: 9.2/10
Stability Rating: 8.9/10
Any iSUP boasting 34” of width has been designed very much with stability in mind. However, over the past 18 months the goalposts have been moving in this aspect of board design. Designers are now pushing ever more width into the rearward half of their board shapes, and what seemed like an uber-stable platform just a few years ago can now feel positively wobbly in comparison to some of the latest shapes out there.
The Nixy Monterey is a perfect example of this. In our review of the G4 version we lauded its high stability factor, and Nixy have further increased the width of the tail in this latest edition, so the G5 is actually even more stable than its predecessor. Yet we’ve ended up giving the Monterey G5 a slightly lower overall rating for stability. To be clear, this is because the goalposts have moved. The G5 is undoubtedly a stable board, and great for learning, carrying cargo, fishing, kayaking mode, putting other people or pets on, anything like that. But if stability is super high on your list of priorities, there are definitely more stable 34” wide boards out there.
The main reasons that the Monterey G5 is scoring slightly lower in the stability stakes is because Nixy have clearly chosen to maximize its maneuvering potential and throwabout feel. There is still a whole lot of curve in the plan shape in comparison to many other designs, and the relatively small swept back fin is very much about a loose feel rather than optimizing stability. Indeed, the wider tail has actually added to the fun feel of the board, making it even easier for stepping back for pivot turns and other fun stuff.
If you do want to add a bit more stability, an easy hack will be to replace the swept back fin with a more upright one with greater area.
Speed Test: 8.7/10
| Board | |
| Top Sprint Speed: | 5.3 MPH |
| Average Cruising Speed: | 3.7 MPH |
To obtain our speed test results, we use a Speed Coach Sup 2. This gives us accurate readings on how fast we are paddling and our current stroke rates. For the top sprint speed, we paddle as hard as we can for approximately 10-15 seconds and then record our average speed. For the casual test, we paddle at 35-40 strokes per minute for approximately 30-60 seconds and record the average speed.
There are two pretty much unbreakable rules in paddleboard design; longer boards go faster, and wider boards go slower. So, what happens when you have a longer, wider board? The Nixy Monterey G5 is a classic example of this design conundrum. It’s marketed as an ‘expedition’ board, which generally implies that it has been designed for more ambitious, longer-distance paddle sessions. Yet it’s also built to be super stable. So can it be both?
On the whole, the Monterey actually does a pretty good job in making it work. The board has a very respectable cruising speed, indeed it’s faster than many 32” wide boards we’ve reviewed in this respect. It cuts an easy, smooth line through the water, with a nice feel to the way it glides.
The nose rocker starts relatively early, which detracts from the top speed just slightly on flat water (as it essentially makes the board shorter), but gives a smoother ride in more choppy conditions.
The extra drag from the 34” width becomes apparent if you try to push the board much faster, and the board certainly isn’t going to win any races. But it’s undoubtedly fine for extended paddle sessions, and less experienced paddlers in particular will enjoy the easy ride that the board offers.
Maneuverability: 9.0/10
Another set-in-stone rule in board design is that longer boards aren’t as maneuverable as shorter boards. However, there are definitely some tricks that a designer can employ to help loosen a board up. As discussed in the Stability section of the review, Nixy have clearly decided that they want the Monterey G5 to have a fun, loose, turny feel to it, rather than the locked-in, straight-line feel that many boards of this length exhibit. And they’ve used those design tricks very effectively.
For starters, the very curved plan shape really comes into play as a positive here. The board is as quick and easy to spin round using paddle turning techniques, as any 11’6 you’ll find. It felt more like a 10’6 in this respect. Changing the board configuration from 3 fins (as found on the G4) to just the one center fin – and making that a swept-back wave-style fin too – also dramatically loosens the feel of the board.
So all in all, this is definitely one of the board’s strongest points. If you’re wanting a big stable board that still actually feels quite small and throwabout, then you’ve come to the right place! There aren’t many boards like this on the market; most 34” boards are designed with stability as the primary goal, and thus often feel fairly staid and safe on the water.
Tracking: 8.6/10
Boards with 34” of width never tend to have the most brilliant tracking, simply because your paddle blade is entering the water a long way out from the centerline of the board, which inevitably means a greater turning element to every stroke you take.
However, tracking performance is pretty much by definition the opposite of maneuvering performance. If a board is easy to turn, it tends not to be incredibly directional. All the factors that boost one tend to inhibit the other. And sure enough, the Monterey G5’s tracking capability is less than you’ll find on 34” wide boards with a more parallel-sided plan shape.
However, in its favor, the light weight of the board means that it’s responsive to steering strokes, if you know how to use your paddle to keep your board on course. Plus of course, if you do want to boost the tracking capabilities, there’s a very easy mod you can make to the board; simply replace the wave fin with a more upright touring fin and it’ll immediately make a difference.
Construction Quality: 9.2/10
Nixy have significantly revamped their construction method for their G5 range. The board still features a core of woven dropstitch, with a ‘fusion’ outer skin of two layers of PVC laminated together. Dual layer Fusion has pretty much become the industry standard for a high performance lightweight yet durable construction, and Nixy are clearly very comfortable with the process.
The big change for this year is that the side panels of the board are now welded on rather than just glued, which is no doubt a big part in why Nixy have been confident to increase their warranty period by another year.
Another change is the move away from the use of carbon cloth on the rails. Carbon has been popular in recent years because it supposedly adds some extra durability and increases stiffness, yet as we’ll be discussing in the next section, the change in measured board flex between the G4 (with carbon) and G5 (without) is a miniscule 0.06”! Admittedly, the slightly wider tail on the G5 has contributed a bit of extra stiffness too. But overall, moving away from the carbon cloth certainly hasn’t hurt the Monterey G5, particularly as the new construction has shaved several lbs off the overall board weight (again, despite the extra material due to the wider tail). Light weight is definitely a good thing.
As mentioned earlier, Nixy has also done away with the dual chamber approach, which we’re happy to see. While it might seem like a great idea to have multiple chambers in your board from a safety perspective, boards almost never experience structural failure while out to sea, and even if it did happen, it’s actually not that helpful to be left with a small inflated inner section while the rest of the board is just soggy cloth. If you’re worried about your board deflating, always wear a buoyancy aid and carry some comms (which is the best possible advice for being safe on the water anyway).
Board Stiffness:
Stiffness Test: 1” Bend
How much a board sags when placed under load is one of the main differences between the quality brands and the cheaper iSUPs built to the lowest price possible. The cheaper boards tend to sag a whole lot more, and you really feel that on the water. We measure the deflection of hundreds of different iSUPs every year, and just 1” of deflection definitely puts the Monterey G5 into the high-performing sector.
The board certainly doesn’t display any noticeable flex on the water for riders under 220 lbs. It’s only when you really go hard and try to achieve top speeds that the small degree of flex becomes noticeable.
To ascertain the rigidity of each board we review, we use our own specific laboratory bend test process. The board is inflated to its maximum recommended PSI and then placed across two sawhorses positioned exactly 7 feet apart. We then measure the distance from the middle of the board to the floor. Then, we place a 150 lb weight on the middle top of the SUP, and measure the distance to the floor again. The difference between the two measurements shows the deflection, or ‘sag’, that the board has experienced due to the added weight. We have been reviewing the stiffness of boards using this technique since 2021 and while it 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 stiffness of the board’s construction process.
Features/Accessory Review: 9.2/10
Features:
As can be seen on the deck shot above, Nixy haven’t been frugal when it comes to fittings and fixings options on the Monterey G5. As well as the bungee placings on the nose and tail, there are attachment points for a kayak seat and footrest, and no less than 5 screw-in fixings dotted around the deck for attaching action cameras, fishing rod holders, drink-holders and other such accessories. The board is certainly very well equipped for a wide range of adventuring options.
If you’re not intending on using the board in kayak mode, then we’d recommend a simple and easy hack; move the longer bungee to the front of the board, utilizing the footrest D rings, so you have a 6-point bungee at the front, and just a 4-pointer at the tail (if indeed you need a tail bungee at all). That front area of the board has much more width and volume for carrying cargo, whereas any significant weight at the tail bungee fixings tends to destabilize the board.
The Monterey G5 is available in 4 different colorways, choose your favorite when you’re ordering the board from the Nixy website.
We approve of the big easy-to-grab carrying handles at the nose and tail. Unlike most other brands Nixy has chosen to put the inflation valve at the nose rather than the tail. However, it makes no difference to how the board inflates, deflates or performs.
On the underside of the board we find a towing eye on the nose, and a single fin box in the tail. The fin supplied is of the swept back variety, which is a nice fin in itself, but as discussed throughout this review, we do feel that a more upright fin would be better suited to the general style and length of the board.
We really like the simple but neat approach taken by Nixy, of permanently fixing the fin plate into the fin box, and then having the bolt built into the fin, so that there is never any risk of losing either, or that fiddly moment of trying to get the fin plate into the fin box.
Included Accessories:
Nixy have made a break from tradition with their accessory bundling this season. Rather than supplying their boards as standard with paddle, pump, bag and leash, you now choose what you require during the purchase process. The only accessory that comes as standard is the fin.
This process makes a lot of sense, since many people will already have pumps, paddles, leashes etc, or prefer to choose from several options rather than being forced to buy, for example, a hand pump when they only ever intend to use an electric pump.
While we haven’t been able to review the Nixy accessory options this year, we checked them all out last year when we were looking at the G4 range of paddleboards, and found them to be of excellent quality. The carbon paddle and electric pump were particularly impressive. So we have no reason to doubt that the options will be of equally good quality this year.
Summary Review of the Nixy Monterey G5
Nixy describe the Monterey as: “Designed for taller paddlers and those seeking additional length, the NIXY Monterey G5 is your ideal companion for any expedition or fishing adventure.”
Our take on the Monterey G5 is actually slightly different. We’d suggest that the board is actually more about larger people. Taller people don’t specifically need a longer board, they just need more all round stability, especially if they’re both tall and wide in the shoulders. Larger people generally will benefit from this board though, particularly larger people wanting a board that still feels fun and lively.
The thing that sets the Nixy Monterey G5 apart from the competition is that it’s one of the few 34” wide boards that still has a lively, throwabout feel.We feel that Nixy are perhaps selling themselves just a bit short here. The Monterey is more than just a board for expeditions and fishing, it’s actually a great all-rounder for bigger people, who want a ‘scaled up’ version of the Nixy Newport. We’d happily recommend this for heavier beginners wanting a board to learn on, as a family all rounder, and with all that maneuverability, it could even work well for a heavy paddler’s first forays out into small waves.
Happy paddling! We hope you enjoyed this review of the Nixy Monterey G5. If you have any questions or comments please leave us a comment below!
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