Nixy Monterey G5 Expedition Paddle Board Review

Do you need a larger board that offers a bit of extra stability? The Nixy G5 Monterey is a fantastic option.

I have really loved paddling this Expedition style paddle board and found the larger size to be surprisingly nimble and easy to maneuver.

It feels great to ride whether on flat water lakes or when plowing through waves and choppier conditions.

The 11’6″ length and 34″ width make it ideal for a taller person and it’s perfect for loading up the kids or dogs.

Also because it is so stable it is an excellent choice for SUP fishing, photography, overnight SUP trips and it could even be used for SUP yoga.

The lightweight design, superb quality of construction, functional features and stable design make the G5 Monterey a top contender for one of the best Expedition sized inflatable stand up paddle boards on the market.

MONTEREY G5 SPECS

LENGTH:  11’6″

WIDTH:  34″

THICKNESS:  6″

VOLUME:  370L

RECOMMENDED AIR PRESSURE:  15 PSI / 1 BAR

BOARD WEIGHT: 22 lbs. (10kg)

MAX LOAD:  Up to 400 lbs. (181 kg)

MONTEREY G5 PRICE

For the size and quality this SUP is priced very well.  You can find the best deal plus free shipping direct from NixySports.com.

COLOR OPTIONS

The latest colour options for the Monterey SUP are really fun. You have the choice between four different limited edition prints; the Maui, Exuma, Ibiza and Tulum.

BEST SUITED FOR

The Nixy G5 Monterey is best suited for anyone needing a slightly larger board that is still very portable.

A taller person will appreciate the extra length, a heavier person will appreciate the extra stability and rigid construction. Anyone wanting to do any type of paddling expeditions will appreciate the size and features.

For myself as a 5’8″ women with three small dogs I found it to be a super fun board and I loved taking it out.

It excelled in windy conditions and is a very comfortable ride.

KEY FEATURES

I find the Nixy boards always have great features that are functional and convenient to use.

The G5 Monterey is no different and you will find that it has:

CARGO BUNGEES

There is a cargo bungee system at both the nose and tail.  The bungees are adjustable and removable so you can use them as you need.

You can easily fit several dry bags under these bungees or even use them to secure a small cooler.

GRAB HANDLES

There is a grab handle at both the nose and tail as well as a padded centre carry handle.

ACTION MOUNTS

The Monterey has a total of five M8 action mounts. These can be used for securing fishing rods, a phone holder, an action camera, a cup holder or other accessories.

Many of these can be found at the Nixy website and added on as optional accessories on your SUP purchase.

18 D-RINGS

There are 17 D-rings on the front of the board that can be used to secure a kayak seat or other gear.

Plus there is one D-ring underneath the nose of the board that can be used for towing if needed.

With all these secure tie down points it’s easy to deck out the board for the perfect adventure.

LONG DECK PAD

The UV protected EVA traction pad goes right from the tail of the board all the way up to the front bungees.

The deck pad is stamped with the Nixy logo and provides good traction when paddling.

I found the deck pad to be very comfortable and the length of it provides lots of room to maneuver.  It’s also perfect for kids or dogs to sit or stand without slipping.

REMOVABLE FIN

The Monterey package comes with one 9″ tool-less US/FCS™ compatible center fin.

This fin is really easy to secure and remove.  You don’t need any tools, it slides into the fin box and screws into place in seconds.  The screw part is attached to the fin so you won’t lose it.

If paddling in very shallow water you can replace the larger fin with a smaller flex fin like this one that Nixy sells on their website.

PORTIBILITY

Even for a bigger board the Monterey is highly portable.  When deflated it rolls up into a fairly small package and fits nicely into the NIXY rolling backpack carry bag, which is an optional add-on.

The fact that this is an inflatable SUP means that you can take it anywhere.  When the board is inflated it weighs only 22 lbs. so it’s still easy to carry and transport.

I didn’t find the size of the Monterey to be difficult to carry at all.  It’s a very portable board and I think most would be quite comfortable with it.

QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION

There are so many inflatable paddle boards on the market now but the quality of construction can differ greatly.

I’ve never had any issues with any of the Nixy paddle boards.  Their inflatable SUP’s are constructed with laminated woven drop stitch material and advanced welded seams.

This is the highest quality and most durable construction available for inflatable stand up paddle boards.

This type of construction creates an extremely durable as well as lightweight paddle board.  I feel very confident in the quality and manufacturing of the Nixy boards.

PERFORMANCE

Being a larger 34″ wide board you might think the Monterey will take extra effort to paddle, turn and to keep tracking straight.

However I found it to be quite the opposite.  This board is extremely well designed so even with the wider width it still glides smoothly and doesn’t take much effort to turn and maneuver.

I had it out on a couple of windy days and I was really happy with the way the Monterey handled and kept me feeling stable and secure.

Sure it’s not the fastest board on the water but anyone looking for a larger expedition style board is typically not looking for speed.

That being said it’s not sluggish either and the tracking with the fin attached is great.

I didn’t have any complaints with the performance.  In fact I loved paddling this board.  Sometimes having that extra stability and comfort is worth the more relaxed ride.

WARRANTY

Nixy offers an excellent warranty for their boards.  The Monterey comes with a 3-year warranty from date of purchase, which covers everything outside of normal wear and tear.

This longer warranty is a direct reflection of the great quality of construction.

Plus if you are not happy or if you change your mind Nixy offers a 30-day hassle free return with paid postage.  That’s great peace of mind.

PROS & CONS

To summarize here’s a list of all the pros and cons for the Monterey G5 Expedition iSUP.

PROS

It’s not hard to gush about the positives of this paddle board.  It’s a nice SUP with some great features.  The pros include:

• High quality durable construction.
• Stable and comfortable to ride.
• Dual cargo bungees that are adjustable and removable
• Versatile design for different SUP activities.
• Quick and easy setup.
• Lots of D-ring tie down options.
• Kayak seat compatible (kayak seat is sold separately).
• 5 M8 action mounts so you can deck it out with cameras, fishing gear, speakers, a phone holder, a cup holder or whatever suits your adventure best.
• Super fun print and color options.
• Excellent 3 year warranty

CONS:

On the other hand it’s not easy to come up with some negatives.  If you haven’t already noticed I really like this board and I feel it’s great quality for the price.

There’s one con that I’ll point out, although in truth it could also be seen as a positive.

The Monterey comes with the fin and the repair kit only.  All other accessories such as the pump, paddle, leash and backpack are all optional add-ons that cost extra.  When purchased with the board these accessories are 30% off.

So for the base price tag you are not getting an entire package and once you add on the accessories the price goes up.

However what I like about this is that you don’t end up paying for accessories you are not going to use.

You can choose either a hand pump or an electric pump.  You can also choose what type of SUP paddle you want.  You might want to pay extra for a super lightweight 100% carbon paddle or keep the price down with a fiberglass/carbon hybrid paddle.

The point is the choice is yours and you only pay for the accessories that you want and need.  So in that sense this ‘con’ could very easily be perceived as a very good thing.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion the Nixy Monterey G5 Expedition style inflatable stand up paddle board is ideal for so many different adventures.

It handles well in most conditions, can hold a ton of weight, feels really comfortable to ride and the fun designs will stand out on the water and on land.

This is a high quality board that will not disappoint.  It’s an easy board to love and the 3 year warranty is icing on the cake.

If you want to take your explorations to the water this iSUP is an excellent choice.

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST DEAL

For the best price, free US shipping and accessory options go straight to the Nixysports.com website to choose which design suits you best!