Niphean Classic All-Round 11' Review

Niphean Classic All-Round 11' Review

Niphean’s Classic All-Round 11 checks a lot of boxes. Its drop-stitch core mimics the feel of a rigid board when fully inflated yet allows every bit of its 11’ x 33” x 6” girth to pack neatly into a 3’ x 16” x 6” backpack for transport and storage. Its on-water performance mixes top-notch stability and carrying capacity with a touch of touring-friendly glide. Construction is backed by an impressive three-year warranty. Extras are plentiful, with nearly everything you need to go from backpack to sunny paddle included. In the package we tested, we got the addition of seat and paddle conversion that allows this iSUP to double as a kayak.

All for a street price around $300. Too good to be true, or solid value? Here’s our take.

The Goods

The board itself is a beginner-friendly design with a touring-influenced nose, gently curved midsection and square tail that prioritize stability over speed. An EVA traction mat extends from midsection to tail. Below, a trio of fin boxes secure a 9” surf-style fin, dual 4.5” surf-style fins, or combo of all three. An additional fin box in the center of the board can be utilized to add Niphean’s patented Stabiltrac fin, a 15” daggerboard-like design that aims to improve tracking and enhance stability even further. Overall fit and finish is impressive, with our tester showing clean lines between layers, no puckers or gaps in construction and an attractive color palette.

Amenities include a pair of crisscross bungees to secure gear. Grab handles are featured at the tail and midsection. Four D-rings allow mounting of the included inflatable kayak seat. Two threaded bases, one at the nose and other centrally positioned, allow for accessories like an action camera, fishing rod holder or Niphean’s included bottle/phone holder to be mounted. The latter’s design accommodates the included phone dry bag, just be sure to wrap its lanyard around one of the adjacent bungee D-rings in case it accidentally goes overboard.

Additional items include an adjustable aluminum-shaft paddle that extends from 66” to 82” (170-211 cm), kayak paddle blade, manual pump with pressure gauge, coiled leash with Velcro ankle collar, repair and patch kit, and aforementioned backpack with handy separate compartment for smaller items like fins.

Simple Setup

While a single-action, single-chamber manual pump is included, we’ll give our usual advice to consider purchasing an electric pump. It lessens arguably an inflatable’s biggest hassle, the extensive pumping required to get a board up to the required pressure. Niphean offers its own electric pump as a package option; it adds about $60 to the bottom line.

Once inflated, fins easily slide into place and secure with tethered clips. One person can carry the 19-pound board to the water via the central handle strap. An additional handle is located at the tail to pull the board up onto the shore but another on the nose would be beneficial for two-person carrying.

The aluminum paddle is easily adjusted to the appropriate length and marked in both inches and centimeters. Alignment grooves on the shaft keep handle and blade properly aligned.

On The Water

Underway, the Niphean Classic All-Around 11 proves quite stable. Its 11’ 6” length plays a role, but so too its 33-inch width, about an inch more than the norm. While we never pushed the board to its whopping 500-pound capacity, it ably carried a variety or paddlers without ever feeling like we were pushing the board’s limits. We’d be confident adding a child or pet on occasion. With the standard three-fin setup, the board tracked relatively true for about six-to-eight strokes before we had to switch sides to maintain our line. Pronounced rocker at the nose prevented pearling. The large expanse of traction mat topside allowed us play with foot placement, as well as securely drop a foot back to perform a step-back turn.

The inflatable kayak seat and extra paddle blade add another dimension to the board’s versatility. Two straps anchor the backrest to one of two sets of D-rings forward for leverage. A gently curved backrest adds a touch of lumbar support, while a netted back pocket is ready for extras like sunscreen.

A footrest would be appreciated, both for leverage and comfort. Its absence is no surprise on an entry-level board but probably limits lengthy or aggressive sessions. Also be aware of that screw-in cupholder when kayaking, as it can scrape against nearby legs if you aren’t paying attention. Stowing it under a bungee and placing drinks/phone in the seat’s netted back pocket is a simple workaround.

About That Fin

Like its shape and length suggest, the Stabilitrac fin is designed to help the board track and reduce sideways slip. It paid off during the strong crosswinds we encountered during our first paddle session, adding to overall stability, especially for novice riders. The fin does, however, introduce a pivot point under the center of the board. In crosswinds we found ourselves switching sides roughly every four-to-six strokes, a couple less than without. Still, it’s a worthwhile tradeoff during the learning curve and when paddling on a blustery day.

The fin had a more pronounced effect on straight-line tracking in kayak mode, likely due to the paddler’s lower center of gravity. Stiff winds didn’t push the board off its path, and tracking was so true that it proved a bit of a challenge trying to turn around a mangrove island in our path. Our suggestion? Play with both setups and see what’s best for you. Beginners will probably benefit from the added stability, while more experienced riders may prefer just the tri-fin setup and enjoy the longer time between side-to-side paddle switches.

Also, remember the fin increases the board’s draft to nearly 15”. In skinny or obstacle-filled waters, pay attention or you may unexpectedly strike the fin. We’d also suggest installing and removing it at water’s edge to keep it out of the way when carrying.

Final Word

Our final impression is one we used on a previous Niphean review — the Classic All-Round package offers a lot of bang for the buck. It’s a big board that can handle big loads, double as a kayak, and still prove fun for solo paddlers. Fit and finish is above average, extras are plentiful and, yes, the price is right.

Add in the peace of mind provided by that warranty, and it’s a board worth looking at.