The Niphean Pro 12’6 is a blend of a long touring SUP and a wide cruiser paddle board.
Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Overview
The Niphean Pro iSUPs bring new shapes and new constructions to this relatively new brand’s lineup. The Niphean Pro 12’6 offers a unique size and shape combining the length of a standard touring SUP with the width of an all-around cruiser paddle board. The result is something that is neither a dedicated touring board nor a cruiser iSUP. But with a deck full of features and a bag full of accessories, it does offer a large amount of versatility for paddlers looking for something that is comfortably stable, but paddles with a bit more efficiency.
— Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Ratings and Review Summary —
Niphean Pro 12’6’ iSUP
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Construction & Durability
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Features and Versatility
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Stability
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Speed
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Maneuverability
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Tracking
Overall Score
The Niphean Pro 12’6 offers stability and efficiency, but doesn’t specialize in any one category on the water.
Pros
- Updated construction with carbon fiber textile stringers improves rigidity
- Welded seams for better heat resistance and longevity
- V-hull shaping under the nose provides a smooth glide
- Large feature set built onto the board
- Includes full kayak conversion kit
- Excellent stability
- High maneuverability for a long paddle board
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Combination of length and width offer a unique performance profile, but doesn’t excel in any specific area
- StabilTrac fin system can improve tracking, but drastically reduces maneuverability
Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Construction and Durability
The Niphean Pro iSUPs improve on the overall build quality and rigidity from their original line of iSUPs.
The Niphean Pro 12’6” has a new welded inner rail for improved durability.
The inner core of the Niphean Pro 12’6 is built with a traditional knitted drop stitch core. The top and bottom base layers of the board are made with a knitted polyester fabric and are connected with thousands of threads stitched through the fabric in a “V” shape. This drop stitch construction keeps the board flat when inflated rather than rounding off, and gives the Niphean Pro 12’6 its 6” thickness.
The top and bottom of the board are made with a reinforced fusion PVC material that is bonded directly to the fabric layers of the inner core. This fusion process eliminates hand-gluing and the potential manufacturing issues with that process.
The top and bottom are joined together around the edges of the board with a heat-welded inner rail layer. Welding the inner rail to the top and bottom also helps eliminate errors from hand-gluing and provides a more reliable connection in hot environments. A second outer layer of reinforced PVC material is then glued on top of the inner rail to protect it and provide more rigidity.
The Niphean Pro 12’6 has a carbon fiber textile stringer on the deck and hull for additional support.
New for the Niphean Pro series is a carbon fiber textile stringer attached to the deck and hull of the board. This band of fiber and plastic matrix is glued to the board to keep it more rigid. I did notice that the edges of the stringer in a few spots were lifting off the board or weren’t quite aligned with the board’s graphics – artifacts of a hand-gluing process that weren’t quite as carefully applied.
With the deckpad, fittings, and other onboard features installed, the Niphean Pro 12’6 weighs 22.0 pounds and has a recommended pressure range of 12-15 PSI. Niphean does not list a maximum recommended rider weight or maximum total weight capacity for the Pro 12’6. Niphean also includes a digital pressure gauge built into the tail of the board to help monitor pressure. However, the gauge on our board is not calibrated correctly and routinely reads about 3 PSI lower than the actual pressure (checked against multiple devices to confirm). The pressure gauge should only be used to see if the pressure in your board is rising or falling, not to determine the actual pressure.
There is some visible flex while standing and paddling, but not enough to change performance while casually cruising.
We inflated the Niphean Pro 12’6 to its maximum recommended pressure of 15 PSI to get it ready for our bend test. With 170 pounds of weight in the standing area, the Niphean Pro 12’6 bent 1.85”. That is a little more flex than our running average of 1.6”, but not much and still within a typical range of flex in our test.
There is high flex when bouncing and noticeable flex when paddling hard.
On the water I could feel a little bit of flex in the board while standing and paddling normally when I was looking for it, but I didn’t really notice it much when just casually paddling at cruising speeds.
Bouncing on the board did create a high amount of flex with a moderately springy rebound. I could also feel the board flexing while paddling fast for our sprint test, or when trying to maximize power one paddle stroke at a time.
Overall, the Niphean has improved their construction with the Pro 12’6 that brings it closer in line with other mid-priced boards, but has room for improvements to match the level of its moniker.
Niphean Pro 12’6’ iSUP Review – Specifications
Specifications
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 12’ 6” |
| Width | 33“ |
| Thickness | 6“ |
| Weight | |
| Max Capacity | 400 pounds |
| Board Weight | 22 pounds |
| Kit Weight (SUP & accessories) | 33 pounds |
| Buying Info | |
| List Price | $699.99 |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Returns period | 30 days |
Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Features, Accessories & Versatility
The Niphean Pro 12’6 combines the length of a touring board with the width of an all-around cruiser SUP and features of a fishing paddle board!
The Niphean Pro 12’6” iSUP is 12’ 6” long, 33” wide (measured), 6” thick, and weighs 22.0 pounds. It has a maximum inflation pressure of 15 PSI. Niphean does not list a recommended rider weight or maximum total capacity. We recommend a paddler weight capacity of 250 pounds pounds and a maximum evenly-distributed weight capacity of 400 pounds.
The nose is tapered to a point with a moderate rocker in front to help cut through the water and rise over choppy conditions while still having room for cargo.
There is a GoPro-ready threaded mount on the nose of the board for cameras and other small accessories along with a carrying handle.
The nose of the Niphean Pro 12’6 has a slight “V-hull” shape where the material has been cut and reconnected to form a ridge under the nose. This shape can sometimes help reduce the entry profile of the board to give a smoother feel with more glide.
The front cargo area stretches between six D-rings and can accommodate medium and large dry bags.
There is a second threaded mount at the front of the deck pad for a cupholder or other accessories you want easy access to while paddling along with two Scotty-style mounting plates for attaching fishing accessories like rod holders.
There are four D-rings around the middle of the board to accept a kayak seat (included). And the two D-rings on the right hand side of the board also have velcro tabs to create a paddle holder.
There are three carry handles on the board (nose, center, tail) and the deck pad has a light pebbled texture for plenty of grip while still being comfortable on bare skin while standing or sitting.
The rear cargo area also uses six D-rings and can hold small and medium size dry bags. The middle D-rings are placed close enough to the rear cargo area that you can extend it for larger items, or tie down items like a cooler between the two sections.
Niphean installs a digital pressure gauge at the tail of the Pro 12’6 iSUP. Our gague is not calibrated correctly and reads around 3 PSI less than the measured pressure of the board. Because of the calibration concern, you should not use this gauge to determine the exact pressure of your board, but you can use it to see if the pressure is rising, falling, or staying the same over time.
The tail has a medium width and a slightly rounded shape (though not a full pin tail) to blend stability and provide a smaller release point for less drag behind the board.
There is one slide-in fin box at the tail of the board. Niphean includes two different fins with the Pro 12’6, a relatively small touring fin that looks more like a fin used for technical racing rather than touring.
The Niphean Pro 12’6” Also has a larger slide-in fin box under the middle of the board for Niphean’s “StabilTrack” fin system. Niphean also includes a small “decorative” fin that can go in this fin box.
Niphean includes an inflatable kayak seat and foot brace with the Pro 12’6. I do like the shape of the seat as it encourages proper body position when paddling while seated. However, the seat only attaches at two points high on the back – which means it slides around and can flip upside down relatively easily, and the foot brace can only be used in one spot which forces the seat very far back on the board and does not allow for adjustability to match different leg lengths. My preference, in this case, is to not use the foot brace and instead position the seat over the center of the board for better paddling performance and stability.
Niphean includes a rather large accessory kit with the Pro 12’6 iSUP
Niphean includes a large set of accessory items with the Pro 12’6 iSUP. Inside the kit you get:
- Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP
- Heavy duty nylon backpack
- Single-chamber, double-action hand pump
- 4-piece composite/nylon hybrid SUP/Kayak paddle
- Inflatable kayak seat with foot brace
- 9” “wave style” fin
- 15” “StabilTrac” daggerboard-style fin and 2” “decorative” fin
- Coiled ankle leash
- Basic repair kit
- Waterproof phone bag
- Threaded cup holder / phone holder
That is a rather extensive kit. The double action hand pump and heavy duty backpack are very welcome upgrades from the base series Niphean iSUP kits, and you also get the well-shaped kayak seat and full kayak convertible paddle. Between this kit, the larger size of the board, and all of the built-in features, there aren’t many SUP activities you can’t do with the Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP.
Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Paddle
The Niphean Pro 12’6 comes with a 4-piece composite/nylon paddle that converts from a single-bladed SUP paddle to a double-bladed kayak paddle.
The Niphean Pro paddle has a great blade shape and lighter composite paddle shaft.
The new Niphean composite paddle uses a blend of fiberglass, carbon fiber, and nylon to create a midweight, mid-flex paddle shaft with an impressive paddle blade design.
The paddle shaft uses a 70/30 blend of fiberglass and carbon fiber to reduce weight and create a medium stiffness profile without adding the cost of a full carbon fiber construction. Both the paddle blade and handle sections secure with a compression collar. The collar took some adjustment and the right amount of tension requires a pretty tight lever, so make sure to use your thumb along the whole length of the lever (not just the end of it) when clamping it shut.
The handle section (also primarily a blend of composite materials) has a length adjustment scale, but no indexing, so you’ll need to visually align the paddle blade and grip together each time you adjust the length. The grip is made of molded plastic with a deep woven texture printed on. I found the texture to be a bit heavier than necessary and could be uncomfortable after long paddle sessions.
The paddle blade is made with a reinforced nylon material that also has a woven texture to give the illusion it is made with composite materials. While it’s not a true composite blade, I was very impressed with how it felt in the water. The size was just right for combination cruising and touring where it was large enough to easily propel you with a few strokes, but small enough that you could easily paddle at a higher cadence. The double dihedral / pocket design stiffens the blade, holds well in the water without slipping or fluttering, and helps give it that larger blade feel in a smaller shape.
The handle section can be removed and replaced with the included second paddle blade to convert it to a double-bladed paddle for kayaking. The blade shape is definitely designed for SUP, but does work okay for casual kayak use.
Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Stability
The Niphean Pro 12’6 gives you the stability of an all-around cruiser board with its generous 33” width.
Holding the board on edge was easy thanks to the board’s extra width.
12’6 x 33” is not a common SUP size. Generally longer paddle boards are narrower (around 30”) to provide you more efficiency and speed for long distance touring and fitness paddling. The Niphean Pro 12’6 is even wider than most expedition-style paddle boards (12-14’ x 30-32”) meant for more cargo and multi-day trips.
The result here is a board that feels more like a cruiser with very beginner-friendly stability, but still has some additional speed and glide thanks to the length and shape. While standing and paddling normally, the Niphean Pro 12’6 feels very stable with no rolling or twitching. Paddling hard and fast does give it a little bit of flex and bounce, but not so much that I felt it changing how confident the board feels.
Rocking side to side was easy and smooth with the rails submerging and resurfacing predictably, and I could easily hold the board on its edge without much wobbling.
Rocking the board side to side is easy and smooth without any sticking or bouncing sensations.
The deck pad extends nearly all the way to the tail, and the pebbled texture provides plenty of traction to walk all the way back for a pivot turn. I can feel the board flex and rebound as I step back to the tail, but again, not enough to make it feel unstable. Lifting the nose is easy, and the medium width tail provides enough stability to confidently spin the board around without catching the edge or twitching back and forth.
Overall, this is a very stable paddle board. It could be improved with a bit more rigidity, but it’s not a problem for paddlers under 250 pounds for casual use.
Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Speed
The Nipehan Pro 12’6 sits between a touring board in length, but a cruiser SUP in width, so I was very curious to see how it would do in our speed testing.
The mixed-shape of the Niphean Pro 12’6 lends to some interesting speed test results
In our speed testing we look at sprinting speed performance, top speed, and casual cruising speed. Whereas touring boards tend to offer high sprint speeds and efficiency, cruisers typically fall on the lower end of the spectrum. So I wasn’t sure what to expect with a 12’6 x 33” design.
In our sprinting and top speed tests, the Niphean Pro 12’6 scored more like an all-around iSUP with an average sprinting speed of 5.0 MPH at 75 strokes per minute, and a maximum speed of 5.5 MPH.
Likewise in our casual cruising and efficiency test, it felt more like an all-around than a classic cruiser with an average cruising speed of 3.9 MPH at 25 strokes per minute and 1.8 board-lengths of glide from a single stroke.
Looking back at the data vs the size and shape of the Niphean Pro 12’6 it seems to be obvious (but hindsight is 20/20). The longer outline of the board lends it to easy and efficient gliding, but the wider shape prevents it from moving as fast as a typical touring SUP.
Niphean has created a slight V-hull shaping under the nose of the Pro 12’6 by cutting the deck of the board and re-gluing it to expand down into the water. This helps push the water away to the sides of the board rather than pushing in front of the board. In our comparative testing between other iSUP models with more dramatic instances of a V-hull shape we’ve found that it doesn’t notably improve speed or glide compared to similar-size boards without it.
By strategically cutting into the board and re-gluing the deck, Niphean is able to create a slight V-hull shape under the nose.
The slight V-hull shaping under the nose does help push water to the sides rather than in front of the board, but doesn’t noticeably improve performance.
This type of design on this size board (33”) isn’t something we’ve seen before. Typically we see v-hulls on more dedicated touring or race SUPs. Overall, if speed and efficiency are a primary concern for the board design, then the best thing to do would be to reduce the overall width of the board. Even dropping to 31-32” wide would notably improve speed and efficiency performance and still be a very stable crossover touring size.
Overall, the Niphean Pro 12’6 speed profile falls right in between the categories it was designed to cross over. It’s not as fast as a true touring SUP, but more efficient than a cruiser. For paddlers carrying lots of equipment over long distances or particularly choppy water, this could be just the right combination of size and shape. But for those wanting to maximize their speed and efficiency for fitness, racing, or long-distance touring, a narrower board might still be the right choice.
Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Maneuverability and Tracking
The Niphean Pro 12’6 likewise crosses over between cruisers and touring SUPs when it comes to maneuverability and tracking performance.
Turning with only the included rear fin is quite easy for a 12’6 board.
Typical touring style SUPs are designed to maximize tracking and thus minimize maneuverability. But, I found that the Niphean Pro 12’6 doesn’t really follow this design ethos.
With basic turning strokes (forward sweeps) I was able to turn the Niphean Pro 12’6 in a complete circle with an average of just 5.5 strokes. That’s in the same territory as most cruiser style paddle boards that are two feet shorter in length! It was the same with using a more efficient reverse sweep – I only needed 3.5 strokes.
The Niphean 12’ has a single slide-in fin with a lower surface area touring fin.
A big part of this has to do with the fin placement and size. The included rear fin is slightly smaller in surface area than a typical touring-style fin, and is cut with a shape that has progressively less surface area toward the tip of the fin. This sort of design is seen more commonly in fins designed for technical race boards to allow long SUPs to turn more quickly, but still maintain good tracking performance.
Paddling straight was not as simple as turning when compared to other 12’6 SUPs.
Tracking straight on the Niphean Pro 12’6 felt more like an all-around paddle board than a touring SUP, though. The same fin design that allows it to turn easily makes it trickier to paddle in a straight line. After 10 paddle strokes on a single side I found the Niphean Pro 12’6 to wander off course by an average of 15°. Most 12’6 touring SUPs deviate between 5-10° off course, while most all-around boards we’ve tested deviate between 12-20°. Similar to the speed performance, the Niphean Pro 12’6 falls between the two groups.
The “StabilTrac” fin is a very large dagger-board style fin for the middle of the board.
Like Niphean’s other iSUPs, the Pro 12’6 also has the option to use their “StabilTrac” fin. This extremely large fin in the center of the board will absolutely improve your tracking performance. However it will also make the board extremely difficult to turn and reduce its overall speed and efficiency. I don’t recommend using this fin unless you are attempting to use the board with a wing setup and need it to tack upwind (which is what this type of fin is actually used for).
Overall, the Niphean Pro 12’6 highly favors maneuverability over tracking performance for an iSUP of its length.
Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Warranty and Customer Support
Niphean offers a 3-year manufacturing warranty for all of their iSUPs. They also have a 30-day “no-hassle” return policy whether purchasing directly from their website or through their official Amazon storefront.
It’s easy for a brand to list a warranty policy and then work around it. However, We’ve spoken many times with Niphean’s owner and it is very apparent that, while a newer brand, they are eager to expand and improve their products and are focusing on providing real customer service rather than relying on Amazon’s policies and service.
>Niphean Pro 12’6 iSUP Review – Final Thoughts
The Niphean Pro 12’6 offers a unique shape and performance profile for paddlers.
I really wasn’t sure what to expect before paddling the Niphean Pro 12’6. I’ve not seen boards this size and shape before and was really curious to see what Niphean had cooked up. The construction is significantly improved over their original series of iSUPs, and that has made a huge difference with board feel on the water. The new paddle is a refreshing choice for boards in this price range, and it’s packed with as many features and accessories as possible.
The Niphean Pro 12’6 paddles right in between the two design categories it draws from. It fills an otherwise unfilled niche, but doesn’t quite specialize in any single performance category. Paddlers looking for a very stable expedition style iSUP, or those who want more physical deck space (for equipment or a passenger) with an all-around SUP performance feel will appreciate the extra size and performance balance of the Niphean Pro 12’6.
I really like how Niphean has improved the overall quality of their product line with the Pro 12’6 and continue to look forward to see what they come up with next.
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