Niphean Clovis Point Inflatable Paddle Board Review

Niphean Clovis Point Inflatable Paddle Board Review

Inflatables like Niphean’s 10’ 6” Clovis Point have been a game changer for those looking to dip a toe into the standup paddleboard waters, add a water toy to the family cabin, or just lack the space — at home or while transporting — to make a rigid board a viable option. Built with drop-stitch construction and a military-grade PVC skin, it’s durable, puncture-resistant and stable enough to satisfy a wide variety of riders.

Toss in a few extras — like a choice of fins, kayak-conversion seat, convertible paddle, pump, and a stability-enhancing StabilTrac Fin — and you’ve got a package that, at less than $270, just may be the epitome of bang for the buck.

Unpacking The Clovis

Like most iSUPs, Niphean packs everything away into a backpack, in this case a rectangular 35” x 16” x 10” design weighing in around 19 pounds. Like most bags at this price point, it’s relatively basic, but the target audience isn’t likely hiking into remote waters. More often than not, the pack will be tossed in a car trunk or backseat, lugged in and out of the house, or just counted on to keep everything together, a task for which the Niphean pack is more than capable.

Contents include the 10’ 6” Clovis board, finished in an attractive light-wood pattern accented topside with a pop of white and mint-colored EVA foam traction pad. That same mint is carried over onto both paddle blades and handle, manual pump, and a criss-crossed bungee run through D-rings forward to secure items like a lifejacket or dry bag. You also get a trio of detachable fins (two 4 1/2” side fins, one 8 1/2” center fin), the 14 3/4” centerboard-like StabilTrac Fin, inflatable seat with backrest and tie-down straps, three-piece height-adjustable paddle with additional blade, leash, manual pump, repair kit with valve wrench and patches along with a waterproof phone bag.

Inflate the board to the recommended 12-15 psi, insert your choice of fins into their respective slide-in boxes, attach the leash and you’re ready to hit the water. Center and aft carry handles provide a convenient handhold for carrying the board or pulling up onto the sand. An additional handle at the tip would be appreciated. The adjustable aluminum paddle is marked in both inches and centimeters and extends to a max height of nearly 7 feet.

If the set has a shortcoming, it’s one shared by many affordable iSUPs — a lightweight manual pump. Its single-action design means air flows into the board only on the downward stroke, increasing inflation time. We also have concerns about the long-term durability of its plastic construction. Treat it with care, but better yet ,spend a few extra dollars for an electric pump. Niphean’s own model will fully pump up the board and shut off at the desired PSI. Even cheap electric pumps can mostly inflate an iSUP; the manual pump can then be used to add those last few pounds for the necessary rigidity quickly. They’re a huge time saver and take the single greatest headache out of living with an inflatable board.

Let’s Paddle!

On the water, we noted the 33-inch wide Clovis offered the necessary stability for a target audience that will include total newbies, younger paddlers, families, and maybe the occasional yoga enthusiast.

Dial in stability and tracking via Niphean’s choice of fins. We suggest the longer center fin as your go-to for general use and tracking in flatter water. The shorter side fins can be added to improve maneuverability, or, used alone in extremely shallow waters if you don’t mind losing a little tracking ability.

We were left with mixed impressions of the StabilTrac Fin. Similar to a boat's centerboard and positioned in the board’s geometric center of gravity, Niphean says the StabilTrac Fin counteracts lateral torque from body movement and that the fin-like wing enhances longitudinal rigidity. We noted the StabilTrac Fin indeed made the board more stable and lessened crosswind-induced sideways drift. For new paddlers, the StabilTrac Fin will eliminate some frustration, but it does introduce a pivot point near the center of the board. Without the StabilTrac Fin, we could easily take six to eight strokes on one side without the board drifting significantly off its line. However, with it installed, that was reduced to just a few strokes before we were forced to switch sides to correct. At nearly 15 inches in depth, paddlers also need to remember that the StabilTrac Fin is below them when coming into the beach or traversing very shallow waters.

For those who want a break from standing, the Clovis’s inflatable seat can be positioned atop the board’s midsection and anchored to a pair of D-rings via a minimal two-strap setup. It adds an additional layer of cushioning while positioning the rider slightly higher on the board.

The seat back is curved for a welcome touch of lumbar support; a mesh pocket on the backside keeps items like water bottle or sunscreen close at hand. Create a kayak paddle by replacing the handle with an additional paddle blade, or shorten the paddle to resemble a canoe.

Final Impression

With its combination of stylish design and overall construction details, the Clovis may be affordable, but it’s important to note it never looks — or feels — cheap. It also doesn’t make you feel like you’re on a bargain board underway, holding a nice line and offering plenty of stability.

Yes, at this price point you have to expect a few tradeoffs — the relatively minimalist backpack and manual pump come to mind — but we think beginner-to-intermediate riders, families looking to increase their enjoyment out of that waterfront escape, or those who desire (or require) an easily transportable SUP will get a lot of mileage out of the investment. Especially given the ability to also easily convert the board into a kayak-style hybrid and increase its versatility.

All in all, that’s a pretty good mix of features for only $269.99.

Click here to shop the Niphean Clovis on Amazon