Looking for a Family-Friendly Inflatable Paddle Board? We Tried This SUP + Kayak
This paddle board was gifted to us by Niphean. This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through our links at no additional cost to you. As always, all opinions are our own.
We love finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors as a family, and on our recent road trip, we brought the Niphean Pro Touring 12'6" Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board along for the adventure!
This is our first inflatable paddle board, and we were so excited to try it out! We brought it along on our road trip and took it out for the first time at Gulf Islands National Seashore on Florida's stunning Emerald Coast.
We were a tad nervous being beginners and taking it out for the first time in the ocean, but we had so much fun with it! Kevin first ventured out for some solo knee boarding and stand-up paddle boarding, where he got up a few times and fell a few times, haha.
Then we decided to switch to kayak mode, which was what I was most excited to try at this particular destination. We switched the paddle, added the included inflatable seat, and ventured out. Once on the board, it felt super stable, and I had no problems at all balancing, even with the waves. We took turns paddling and taking the kids out for rides while it was in kayak mode, and they had a blast!
After spending the day with it, I can already tell this is definitely going to be something we bring along on more of our family adventures!
So, if you're looking for a family-friendly inflatable paddle board, especially one that gives you the option to stand up OR sit down and paddle kayak-style, here's our experience with the Niphean Pro Touring 12'6".
Use code JESSICAWINTERS for $10 off your order!
Our First Adventure With the Niphean Inflatable Paddle Board
We couldn't think of a much prettier place for our first paddle boarding adventure than the turquoise water and white-sand beaches of Florida's Emerald Coast!
Since we're beginners, I wasn't really sure what to expect. Would we immediately tip over? Would it be hard to paddle? Would adding one of the kids make it feel unstable?
Thankfully, we found it really easy to get the hang of. We did help each other by holding the board steady as we hopped on, but once we were on, it felt very stable, especially while sitting in kayak mode. The only tip-overs we had were while Kevin was attempting to stand up and paddle when some waves rolled by.
We had no problem paddling around, and the board had plenty of room for the kids to sit along for the ride while an adult paddled. Everyone got a chance to enjoy it, which is one of the biggest things I look for when we're adding new outdoor gear to our family adventures.
A Paddle Board the Kids Can Enjoy Too
The Niphean Pro Touring is 12'6" long and 33" wide, so there was plenty of space for us to bring the kids along while paddling. We took turns going out, switching riders, and letting the kids hop aboard for a ride.
Of course, everyone's experience can vary depending on weight, water and weather conditions, so you'll always want to follow the manufacturer's guidelines and use appropriate safety gear. But during our day on the water, we felt comfortable using it together.
Stand Up or Sit Down: We LOVED Kayak Mode!
Okay, this might have been our favorite feature!
The Niphean Pro Touring comes with a kayak seat and adjustable paddle, so you're not limited to using it as a traditional stand-up paddle board.
The seat was super easy to attach, and the paddle was just as easy to switch from SUP mode to a double-sided kayak paddle.
And honestly, we loved using it this way!
Is the Niphean Paddle Board Beginner-Friendly?
As beginners, we found it surprisingly easy to use!
We found the setup to be straightforward, the board felt stable, and we were able to paddle and maneuver it without much trouble. We also quickly felt comfortable enough to bring the kids along with us.
If you're new to paddle boarding like we are, I think having the option to switch between standing and sitting is especially nice.
Taking an Inflatable Paddle Board on a Family Road Trip
The Niphean Pro Touring may be 12'6" long when it's inflated, but when you're finished using it, the board rolls up and packs into its backpack-style carrying bag along with the pump and other accessories.
We were able to fit the bag nicely in the back of our Grenadier alongside our other camping and road-trip gear.
P.S. The Backpack Is Big!
I don't want to make it sound like this paddle board magically turns into a tiny little daypack.
The carrying bag is pretty large, and with the board and gear packed inside, it definitely has some weight to it.
That being said, it was very doable for us. We were able to put the backpack on, carry everything down to the beach, set it up near the water, and pack it all back up when we were finished.
And that's something I really love about the design.
We're not limited to places where we can pull right up to a boat launch. Having everything packed together gives us the option to carry the board farther into parks, down boardwalks, or to beaches where bringing a full-size rigid paddle board would be much more difficult.
For the kind of traveling we do, that flexibility is worth dealing with a bigger backpack.
Setting Up the Niphean Paddle Board
Once we got down to the beach, getting everything set up was pretty simple.
The board comes with a hand pump that fits inside the carrying bag, so we didn't need to bring any additional equipment with us.
We rolled out the board, connected the pump, and inflated it right there on the beach.
Once inflated, the board felt really solid and like a nice-quality piece of gear. It's kind of crazy to think that something you're standing and paddling on in the Gulf was rolled up inside a backpack a short time earlier!
Attaching the kayak seat was also simple, and switching the adjustable paddle between stand-up paddle boarding and kayak mode only took a moment.
There are also lots of little features built into the board that we haven't even fully taken advantage of yet, including attachment points for things like a camera, cup holder, and other gear.
And Yes, We Actually Got It Back Into the Bag!
Anyone else ever buy something that fits perfectly into its original packaging exactly one time?
Thankfully, that wasn't the case here.
When we were finished for the day, we used the pump's deflate function to help pull the remaining air out of the board.
I really liked this feature because it helped us get the board nice and flat so we could roll it up and easily fit it back into the backpack.
What We Loved About the Niphean Pro Touring 12'6"
We loved the combination of family-friendly + versatile + easy to travel with!
After our first adventure with it, a few things really stood out:
It felt stable and easy to use, even as beginners.
There was plenty of room to bring the kids along for a ride.
We loved being able to switch between stand-up paddle boarding and kayak mode.
Everything packs into one backpack, which is a huge plus for travel.
The board felt sturdy and well-made once inflated.
There are plenty of attachment and storage options for future adventures.
Would We Recommend the Niphean Pro Touring 12'6" for Families?
Yes! We had such a fun time using this paddle board as a family!
It was easy for us to use as beginners. It felt stable. The kids could ride along. We could stand up or sit down. We loved the included kayak seat. And when our day on the water was over, we could deflate the whole thing, put it back into the backpack, and toss it into the trunk with the rest of our road-trip gear.
We're already looking forward to bringing it along on more of our family adventures!
Ready To Try It Out Yourself?
Use code JESSICAWINTERS for $10 off your order!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Niphean Pro Touring 12'6" good for beginners?
This was our family's first inflatable paddle board, and we found it easy to use and very stable during our experience. We also liked having the option to attach the kayak seat and paddle while sitting down.
Can you use the Niphean paddle board with kids?
We did! During our outing, we had plenty of room for an adult to paddle while one of our kids rode along. Always follow the manufacturer's capacity and safety recommendations and consider your specific water and weather conditions.
Does the Niphean Pro Touring come with a kayak seat?
Our Niphean Pro Touring 12'6" included a kayak seat, and it ended up being one of our favorite features. The seat was easy to attach, and the adjustable paddle could be converted for kayak-style paddling.
Is an inflatable paddle board good for road trips?
This was one of our favorite things about traveling with ours. Instead of transporting a 12'6" rigid board, we could deflate and roll up our Niphean paddle board and pack it into its carrying bag. We were able to fit it in the back of our vehicle alongside our camping and travel gear.
How hard is it to inflate and deflate the Niphean paddle board?
We found both pretty straightforward. We used the included hand pump to inflate the board at the beach. When we were finished, the pump's deflate function helped remove the remaining air so we could roll up the board and fit it back into the carrying bag.
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