Nixy Huntington Ultra-Compact In-Depth Inflatable SUP Review

I can’t imagine a more portable stand up paddle board than the Nixy Huntington!

This ISUP weighs only 17 lbs and packs down into a backpack that is literally only half the size of a normal inflatable SUP carry bag.

What I found really stood out with the Huntington is that it takes very little effort to paddle. With the smaller 9’6” length and ultralight design this board is extremely responsive and quick to propel forward and turn.

Although shorter in length the 32” width really helps with stability and overall I found the Huntington super fun to paddle.

The board itself has some really nice features and the whole ISUP package includes almost everything you need to get on the water.

If you’re looking for extreme portability in a paddle board, the Huntington is a cool option to consider!

5 KEY STRONG POINTS

☑ Super lightweight and easy to carry.
☑ Ultra portable and great for all types of travel.
☑ Really responsive and takes very little effort to move and turn.
☑ Comes with great package and all accessories.
☑ FUSIONTECH construction is strong and durable.

VIDEO

In the quick video below I am paddling the Nixy Huntington on one of my favourite local lakes.

Please note the video has music so turn the volume off if needed. 🙂

SPECS

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NEW FOR 2021

This review is for the 2020 NIXY Huntington.  The latest 2021 Huntington G4 is identical in shape and design but has a new colour design.

MOST IDEAL FOR

So who is the Huntington most ideal for?

The portability factor of this board makes you automatically think of travel and adventuring.

It is ideal for travel by airplane, bus, boat or RV. However it would also be ideal for backpacking to those stunning mountain lakes you have always wanted to paddle.

Basically if you have a thirst for adventure and want to explore amazing places by SUP, be it local or across the globe, the Huntington can make that happen.

The weight limit for this paddle board is 250 lbs. It wouldn’t personally be my choice for overnight expeditions although it’s doable if you choose.

For my size and weight (5’8” tall, approx. 130 lbs.) I found the size of the board to be really easy to paddle and felt quite comfortable in most conditions.

I prefer a slightly larger board in ocean chop but if you have the skill the Huntington can tackle a lot of different situations.

My boyfriend who is 5’11” tall and weighs approx. 195 lbs. was also fairly comfortable on the Huntington and was whipping around having a lot of fun paddling it.

His two comments were that he noticed less stability with the smaller size for him right away but was still comfortable and having fun paddling around on a slightly windy lake and he really noticed how responsive it was.

We’re both used to paddling longer boards so the shorter length does feel different but I found that we both got used to it quickly and definitely enjoyed the responsive design. Plus with the 32″ width it’s more stable than you might think.

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE

Included in the Nixy Huntington G3 Adventurer package is:

• 9’6” Inflatable SUP
• Travel Backpack With Waist and Chest Strap
• 4-Piece Adjustable Fiberglass Paddle
• Typhoon Triple Action Hand Pump
• 10’ Hybrid Coiled/Straight SUP Leash
• 2 Removable Side Fins
• Shoulder Strap
• Repair Kit

Let’s take a closer look at those accessories…

TRAVEL BACKPACK

The travel backpack that comes with this package is pretty awesome.

The padded back and adjustable shoulder straps provide a comfortable fit and I had no trouble walking quite a distance with it on my back. The chest and waist straps also provide added support.

This bag is much smaller than a typical ISUP backpack.  Dimensions when fully packed are 24″ H x 20″ W x 12″ D.

There are two zippered pockets at the front of the bag that can be used for storing the small accessories such as the fins and leash as well as some cord for securing more gear.

The bag opens on all three sides making it easy to get the board and accessories in and out.

There is a side mesh pocket as well as several side gear loops for clipping on more gear.

Top all that off with an attached whistle on the chest strap and you have a great bag that works not only for travel but also for backpacking and for most awesome adventures!

Worth noting that although the board itself only weighs 17 lbs., the bag when fully packed with the board and all accessories weighs 30 lbs.

However we had no trouble carrying the fully packed bag through the trails.  If you’re hiking a further distance you may want to build up to it and do a little training first but it’s doable – far more doable than with most other inflatable SUP’s.

4-PIECE CARBON SHAFT PADDLE

The carbon shaft paddle included in this package breaks apart into 4 pieces so that it fits inside the small backpack.

The paddle easily clips together and is adjustable from 70″ to 86″.

Plus you do not have to worry if you drop it in the water as it floats and will not sink.

I found the T-grip handle to be comfortable to hold and the paddle overall felt good to use.

TYPHOON TRIPLE ACTION PUMP

Unique to the NIXY paddle board package is the Typhoon Triple Action Hand Pump.

This hand pump is a beast and works great.  The pump has three settings.  Start pumping in setting 1 until the board takes shape.

Once the pumping gets hard, turn the switch to the number 2 setting.  Continue until pumping gets quite hard again and then switch the pump to setting 3 to finish inflating the board to 15 PSI.

You can watch your progress on the integrated pressure gauge.

I have a couple thoughts on this pump…

For one it works great and made hand pumping easier.  It took me 6 minutes and 50 seconds to inflate the Huntington paddle board to 15 PSI – that included a few quick breaks to catch my breath.

I didn’t actually find it to be that much faster to inflate the board with the Typhoon pump than with a normal hand pump but I did find it to be easier.

Second although it works great it is heavier than a normal double action hand pump so it does add a little more weight to the package when carrying on your back. This pump weighs 3.8 lbs.

So the question is:  Is the triple action pump worth it?  I would say yes.  Anything that makes pumping easier is a good thing and I love that it is included in the package!

10′ HYBRID SUP LEASH

The hybrid SUP leash has comfortable padding that secures around your ankle, a coiled cord that stays on the board and doesn’t drag in the water and stainless steel double swivels for ease of movement.

It is recommended to wear the leash for safety while paddling.  If you fall in the water the leash will keep your board from being swept away from you.

SHOULDER STRAP

The shoulder strap is a nice little extra in the package.  It attaches to the two D-rings on the side of the paddle board and has a padded shoulder strap for comfort.

The Huntington is so lightweight that I find it just as easy to carry with the centre carry handle but the shoulder strap is there to use if you need it.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

2 BUNGEE SYSTEMS

There are two separate bungee systems, one near the front of the board and one at the back so there is plenty of space to store a dry bag or gear.

The front bungee system is smaller in size and ideal for securing a small dry bag or water bottle. It is easily reachable from the centre of the board.

The larger back bungee system provides more space for securing gear or a cooler.

3 HANDLES

Besides the centre carry handle there is also a front and back grab handle as well.

The front and back grab handles are ideal for grabbing your board while in the water or for pulling the board into shore.

With all three handles this SUP is easy to carry, pickup and grab quickly from the water.

MULTIPLE D-RINGS

There are 4 stainless steel D-rings being used by the front bungees and 6 being used by the back bungee section.

There is also a D-ring on either side of the centre traction pad that can be used for securing the Nixy Kayak Seat if wanted as well as the shoulder strap.

Then there is one more D-ring at the back tail of the board that should be used to secure your SUP leash.

NON SLIP SOFT TRACTION PAD

The traction pad takes up a large portion of this paddle board and is smooth and soft to stand or kneel on.

The traction pad feels very comfortable when paddling and really helps with grip.

You will notice that there is no traction pad down the centre line of the board, which is because this ISUP gets folded length wise first before rolling it up and storing in the backpack.

CARBON SIDE RAILS

The carbon side rails add an extra layer of rigidity making this board feel very stiff even when loaded up with lots of weight.

REMOVABLE FINS

There are two removable side fins. They attach by placing the fins inside the fix boxes and screwing in the little screw – no tools required.

They are easy and quick to attach and help keep the back end of this board stable and easy to turn.

PERFORMANCE

Let’s move on to performance. Just how well does this light weight 9’6″ SUP paddle?

I was curious to see how well this board was going to perform. I find with smaller ISUP’s it can be hit or miss whether they feel good to paddle or not, whether they track decently or not, and whether or not they are easy to control in different conditions.

With the Huntington I was pleasantly surprised with the overall performance factor of this stand up paddle board.

The 32” width along with the tapered nose, rigid design and two side fins all make for quite a nice ride.  It is simply a lot of fun to paddle!

WIND

One concern that often comes up with really light weight boards is if they get easily blown by the wind.

Although it is true that a lightweight board doesn’t necessarily feel as solid in the water especially in windy and choppy conditions, I didn’t notice any real concerns on this issue.

Paddling in heavy wind is never fun regardless of which board you are riding. However I felt confident on the Huntington and I had no trouble keeping the nose of the board steady and powering through some light wind.

CALM WATER

On calm water lakes and rivers I found it to handle great and it cruises along nicely. It won’t keep up to a longer and leaner board but it is super fun to rip around on.

OCEAN WAVES

The Huntington is not designed for surf but if you have the skill it is a lot of fun to play around with in waves.

Being so responsive you can quickly turn and maneuver this board in wake and swells.

We definitely noticed it to feel less stable in ocean chop and a larger person may want a bigger board for these types of conditions.

PADDLING WITH KIDS OR DOGS

With the smaller length this ISUP would not be my first choice for bringing out the kiddos or dogs but it is possible if you’re willing to give it a go.

It is definitely wide enough and rigid enough to handle the extra weight.

I had a 7 year old out with me and it was alright. I personally wouldn’t want to cover any distance with a child on board a SUP this size but for paddling around close to shore it is totally doable.

CONSTRUCTION

Nixy uses the latest ISUP technology with double layer FUSIONtech PVC construction.

This type of construction creates a very rigid board, doesn’t use toxic glue and helps to keep the weight down.

The board is durable and strong and once inflated to 15-20 PSI it is extremely rigid.

SETUP

With the smaller size and triple action hand pump, the Huntington is extra fast to setup.

Take the board out of the bag and unroll.

Take off the valve cap, push in the pin and twist so that the pin pops up.

Secure the pump hose to the valve and begin pumping with the pump in the #1 position.

Turn the switch on the pump to the #2 setting once pumping gets harder.

At roughly 8 or 9 PSI you will need to turn the switch to the #3 position to make it easier to reach 15 – 20 PSI.

With the Typhoon Triple Action Pump it took me 6 minutes and 50 seconds to inflate the board to 15 PSI. That was with fairly steady pumping and a couple quick breaks.

With the Nixy Electric Pump it took 16 minutes and 5 seconds to reach 15 PSI.

I actually found it easier to just use the hand pump included in this package as it was MUCH faster to get on the water.

Once inflated attach the two side fins and secure your leash to the back D-ring. Put the 4-piece paddle together and you’re good to go.

The whole process truly takes only 10 minutes. It could not be more simple.

After you are done paddling dry the board off well with an old towel. Remove the valve cap and push in the pin and twist to deflate.

Remove the fins, then fold the board in half length wise and roll from the opposite end of the valve.

Most paddle boards do not need to be folded in half length wise before rolling. However you will notice with the Huntington that the board is designed to do this.

There is no traction pad down the centre line of the board and all accessories are slightly off to the side such as the centre carry handle, back valve and D-ring as well as the front and back grab handles.

This is to make it easy to fold the board properly so that it is as small of a package as possible when stored in the backpack.

Once rolled up secure the strap and place it back inside the backpack.

SUMMARY

For those of us who love to adventure and explore the Nixy Huntington Ultra Compact is really quite awesome.

I have been having so much fun paddling this little board and taking it with me just about everywhere I go.

We found it to be best suited for paddlers who weigh 200 lbs. or less especially if you are a beginner. However if you feel confident in your skills it can hold up to 250 lbs.

If you live in a condo or have a lack of storage space this board will make you so happy as it can be tucked away in a closet or any small space easily.

WARRANTY

Nixy Sports is a great company and I feel confident in the quality of their products.

Their paddle boards come with a good 2-year warranty that covers everything outside of normal wear and tear.

WHERE TO BUY

Click Here For The Best Deal On The Nixy Huntington Ultra Compact ISUP At NixySports.com.

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