NSP Performance Touring
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re looking for a stable, non-inflatable, touring board to paddle mid to long range distances then the NSP Performance Touring is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the E-Tech constriction, which is durable and has its ups and downs. Due to its 30 inch width the board is relatively stable. Its construction is on the heavier side (above 35 lbs) and has 2.82 lbs per foot, weighing 39.7 lbs. (It is worth noting that when we tested this board it was a non-production board so it is heavier than what the production boards should be.) Its shape makes the Performance Touring a touring board that can be used by intermediate paddlers and is designed primarily for recreation. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for mid to long range distances of 5-10 miles. Retailing at $1,499, the board is in the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.
First Impressions
On first impressions, the graphics and color are good, the shape design is thoughtful and the construction strikes as rugged. The Performance Touring has some nice looks, coming with an interesting mix of colors and graphics, intended to be quite lively. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories, offering features tailored primarily for recreational paddling and performance touring, hence the name. And the construction does appear very strong as something that can survive heavy use. This paddle board is difficult to carry due to its weight and the glide feels average. The board has a few unique touchpoints to note with its bulbous shaped nose which you don’t see all too often and having 14 tie-down points and a GPS mount are great perks adding versatility to the setup of the board. Once you put it all together, the Performance Touring is a relatively stable board that most people should be able to easily stand on it and paddle away.
Benefits
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Primary Use
Touring UsePaddle Boards fall into two broad categories, All-Around and Specialty boards, with all-around designed primarily for recreation while speciality boards for top performance in specific disciplines
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Durability
Very StrongDurability is largely a result of the board construction and shape, with more durable boards typically carrying more materials (added layers, PVC, etc) and as such adding to the weight.
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Stability
Very StableStability is a product of construction and shape, where boards w/ 30”+ wide and 200+ liters in volume offer plenty of stability for your AVG adult while a board under 26” wide is a challenge.
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Glide
AverageGlide is a result of board shape and construction, w/ boards weighing under 30lbs and designed for racing offering best glide while recreational boards normally being on the slow side
Learn more on the Surftech USA website.
Features
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Dimensions
14' x 30" x 8.38"Industry standard in board dimensions reads: L (length, from nose to tail) x W (width, from rail to rail at midpoint length), and H (height, from top to bottom of board at midpoint length).
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Weight
39.7 lbs (non production so heavier that it should be)Standup paddle boards tend to fall into 4 different weight classes: extremely lightweight (under 20 lbs), lightweight (20-28 lbs), average weight (28-35 lbs), heavy (above 35 lbs).
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Volume
332.1LVolume is a key metric to determine how much weight a board can carry. Boards w/ 200+ liters offer most floatation with boards under 150 liters typically for high-performance surf
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Capacity
UnknownCapacity is the max cargo weight a stand up paddle board can carry, considering not only the paddler’s weight but whatever else the paddler may choose to carry alongside him/her.
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Add On's
Bulbous Nose/14 Tie Down Points/GPS MountAdd-on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; Connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal.
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Handle
Internal Ergo GripHandles directly affect carrying ease, with external grip handles (Liftsup & EZgrab) offering most comfort, Internal Ergo Grip the mid-tier comfort, and box handles as least comfortable.
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Holders
NoFishing rod holders and/or paddle holders can make paddling that much more pleasant, esp. when needing holders for the rod or having a safe place for the paddle during yoga.
Sizes Available
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|
| 12 Feet 6 Inches | 32 Inches | 9 Inches | 316.8 L |
| 14 Feet | 30 Inches | 9 Inches | 332 L |
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Bark Expedition
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For more detailed reviews and to look at similar models, visit Supconnect.com. If you like this review, give us the thumbs up. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments. And make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss the latest news and reviews from Supconnect.