NIXY Manhattan G4 Performance Inflatable Paddle Board Review

I always love a good performance board and after hearing good things about the NIXY Manhattan from several people I was really stoked to give it a try.

I review a lot of all-around SUP’s and taking on the Manhattan G4 Performance iSUP was a welcome challenge.  A 28″ tapered paddle board like this one definitely spices things up!

If you have some paddleboarding experience already and want to take your paddling to the next level with a high performance SUP designed for speed then read on because the Manhattan G4 impresses in every way and is nothing short of thrilling to paddle.

SPECS

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VIDEO REVIEW

Check out my video below to see the Manhattan in action and for a quick rundown of everything you need to know about the NIXY Manhattan G4 Performance iSUP.

WHO IS THE MANHATTAN BEST SUITED FOR?

To paddle any lean performance board you would be wise to have a little paddling experience under your belt already.

A 28″ tapered board is much less stable and will take more skill and balance to paddle.

The Manhattan is for those who have the need for speed and trust me it does not disappoint.  This board glides with power and grace providing an excellent paddling experience.

If you are just starting out and really want to get into long distance fitness paddling then just be aware that you will likely need a bit of practice to feel fully comfortable on this iSUP.

The 12’6″ length is an ideal size for most paddlers.  If you are athletic and confident in your balance, you will quickly adjust to the feel of this board.

WHAT MAKES THE MANHATTAN G4 STAND OUT?

You might wonder if an inflatable SUP can truly be classified as a high performance board.

The answer to that is yes it can… If it is designed the right way.

What really makes the Manhattan G4 stand out compared to other performance inflatable SUP’s on the market is the construction.

NIXY has used the latest in technology and design to construct this board.

All of the NIXY inflatable paddle boards are designed with the latest dual layer advanced fusion laminated woven drop stitch technology and have reinforced carbon side rails for added rigidity.

However where the Manhattan G4 differs is that it also has a center top and bottom carbon fiber stringer, which makes it even more stiff.

This center carbon fiber stringer helps this board to perform better than most on the market. 

It helps the Manhattan stay ultra rigid for maximum speed when paddling on flat water but it also helps with stability as it keeps the board extremely rigid.

HOW DOES IT PERFORM?

I love paddling the Manhattan.  You can see it in action in the quick 1 minute video above.

It’s the ideal board for outdoor workouts and building up your endurance.

It definitely takes more focus to paddle but it feels awesome. I much prefer using it in calm water but was pleasantly surprised how well I was able to maneuver my way through some chop as well.

Starting on your knees is totally allowed. 🙂

Once you find your balance and get warmed up it’s easy to lose yourself in the repetitive motion of your steady paddle strokes as you swiftly glide through the water.

I love the feeling of getting into this groove, wind on my face, all my muscles working together and best of all the board efficiently gliding as I transfer my energy into the paddle and through the water.

With a good performance board like the NIXY Manhattan it’s an extra good feeling because you know the board is efficiently working with you instead of against you. 

The result is a thrilling ride that will challenge you in all the right ways.

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT FEATURES?

NIXY is never one to shy away from adding awesome features to their boards and this one is no different.

The Manhattan G4 includes:

A LARGE DECK PAD

The large deck pad goes all the way to the back tail of the board so there is lots of room to move and maneuver your feet.

The deck pad has the NIXY logo embossed on it and lined grooves for maximum grip and comfort.

BACK KICK TAIL

The raised back kick tail is perfect for foot placement for practicing those quick pivot turns.

ONE 9″ TOOL-LESS REMOVABLE FIN

The Manhattan comes with a 9″ tool-less removable universal/FCS™ compatible center fin.

The fin is very easy to install by sliding it into the fin box and securing it with the attached screw.

3 GRAB HANDLES

Besides the center carry handle that includes a removable padded neoprene cover for added comfort when carrying the board there is also a nose and tail grab handle made of durable plastic and nylon as well.

10 D-RINGS

There are ten D-rings spread out on this board.

• Six are being used by the bungee system at the nose
• One underneath the nose for towing
• One at the tail for securing your leash
• And one on either side of the center traction pad that can be used for securing an optional kayak seat.

5 ACTION MOUNTS

New for this year are the 5 action mounts that can be used for securing extra accessories such as navigation lights, a phone holder, a cup holder, an action cam mount, fishing rod holders, or a camera mount.

There are two action mounts at the front bungee system, two on the deck pad 3/4 of the way back on the board and one at the very tail of the board.

These action mounts are a real bonus and a great way to customize your board with the accessories that work for you.

By the way all of these add on mounts and accessories can be found at the NIXY website as well.

ADJUSTABLE FRONT BUNGEE SYSTEM

The 6-point bungee system at the nose of the board is perfect for securing a dry bag and any gear you need to bring along for the ride.

The bungees are adjustable and removable so you can use them or not use them according to your needs.

OPTIONAL KAYAK SEAT

A kayak seat is not included in the package but it’s worth mentioning because you can easily clip one onto the side D-rings and paddle this board kayak-style as well.

NIXY has two kayaks seats to choose from:

1. A Foldable Kayak Seat
2. Or the NIXY Premium SUP Kayak Seat

The Premium SUP Kayak Seat offers a little more support and padding for paddling longer distances.

HOW PORTABLE IS THE MANHATTAN G4?

The Manhattan only weighs 23 lbs. and when deflated it rolls up into a fairly small package and can be carried or rolled in the heavy duty 3-wheeled backpack that comes with the package.

So the answer to that question is easy… It is extremely portable!

Transporting the Manhattan to and from the water is easy and if you plan to travel the wheeled backpack makes that a snap as well.

With the backpack fully loaded with the board and all accessories it’s a little heavier at 38 lbs. so the wheels on the backpack come in really handy for ease of transport.

HOW EASY IS SETUP?

You have two options for inflating the NIXY paddleboards.

1. You can use their dual chamber triple action Typhoon hand pump that comes with the package.  It’s quite a heavy duty pump that allows you to inflate the board to 15 PSI quickly.

It took me just over 7 minutes to inflate the Manhattan to 15 PSI myself with steady pumping.  My arms are tired at the end but all in all it’s not too bad.

2. However if you would like to eliminate the hard work before getting on the water NIXY has designed their own 12V electric pump that can do the job for you, the NIXY Ventus Universal Electric Pump.

This pump is one of the best on the market and totally worth the extra investment, especially if you will be inflating more than one board.

After the board is inflated it only takes seconds to secure the fin and the SUP leash and head to the water.

Regardless of which pump you use the whole process takes about 9 minutes.

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE

The NIXY accessory package is top of the line as well and I feel you get a lot for your money with this package.

Included with your paddle board you get:

3-PIECE CARBON FIBER HYBRID PADDLE

This is a nice 3-piece carbon shaft SUP paddle that only weighs 25 oz.

The length can be adjusted from 67″ to 84″ and the shaft has a diameter of 28.5mm.

The mid size 90 square inch blade will suit a large variety of paddlers.

This carbon shaft paddle has a comfortable T-grip handle, smooth shaft and floats.  It feels great to use and is a really nice paddle to be included in the package for the price.

However if you’d like to upgrade to a more customized pro paddle to match your pro performance paddle board then take a look at the NIXY 3-Piece 100% Carbon Fiber SUP Paddle.

Their all carbon fiber paddle is lighter, has three blade size options so you can really get the right fit for your size and plus it comes with a nice padded carry bag.

It’s not critical but if you plan to do some longer paddling adventures and really want to pick up your speed with a more efficient stroke, the all carbon fiber paddle is 100% worth it.

For more info on this paddle you can check out my NIXY all carbon SUP paddle review here.

G4 TYPHOON HAND PUMP

The Typhoon hand pump is a dual chamber triple-action high-pressure pump.

It’s larger than some others and weighs 4.37 lbs. but it works great and is able to inflate up to 29 PSI, although the highest you’ll ever need to go with your inflatable SUP is 15 PSI.

You can watch the inflation progress on the integrated pressure gauge.

The handles are removable and the legs can be folded up so that it is more compact and fits inside the backpack carry bag..

Start in low pressure and then switch to the higher pressure modes as the board gets harder to pump.  This makes it easier to finish inflating the Manhattan to the full 15 PSI a little faster.

NIXY HYBRID LEASH

Also included in the package is a hybrid SUP leash.

The 10′ part coiled / part straight leash is perfect for paddleboarding and comfortable to wear.

It has stainless steel double swivels for ease of movement and a high quality polyurethane cord.

Secure it around your ankle and attach the other end to the back D-ring on your board to keep your SUP close to you if you should fall in the water.

G4 THREE-WHEELED HEAVY DUTY BACKPACK

This backpack is really well made, very durable and includes lots of padding.  It will fully protect your board and make it easy to transport anywhere.

The bag itself is loaded with features.  It has:

• 3-sided zipper for easy access
• Large outer pocket for storing accessories
• Small inside pockets for storing the fins
• Adjustable padded shoulder and waist straps for added support
• Outer cargo hooks for securing more gear
• 3 very sturdy wheels making it easy to pull the bag to and from the water
• Pockets to insert the shoulder straps when not in use
• Side paddle pocket
• Side drainage grommets
• Multiple padded carry handles

The bag is 39″ long, 17″ wide and 9″ thick.  It weighs 5.75 lbs. when empty.  When fully loaded with the board and all accessories it weighs 38 lbs.

WARRANTY

All NIXY inflatable paddle boards come with a great 2-year warranty.

IN SUMMARY

To sum it all up all I can really say is that the NIXY Manhattan G4 delivers in every way.

From top of the line construction to ultimate performance to high quality features and accessories, this board has it all.

This is a true performance inflatable paddle board that will provide speed, excellent tracking, smooth glide and an ultra rigid platform for those looking for the ultimate in performance.

Also worth mentioning, this is a high quality board without the inflated price tag.  I’m really impressed with everything you get for under $1000.  You truly can’t go wrong here.

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST DEAL?

Go straight to the official NIXYsports.com website for the best deal and warranty on the Manhattan G4 12’6″ Performance iSUP.

 

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