Introduction to the Naish Nalu 10’6 GS SUP
Naish Nalu 10’6 GS Review: Hey guys, welcome back to our review guide. We are on the cusp of the 2018 stuff about to come out, but we haven’t got our hands on it yet. So, we’re going to get on with a review of the 2017 Naish Nalu 10’6 in the GS construction. The Naish Nalu 10’6 is designed for all-round cruising and a bit of family fun, but it really has a good surf pedigree behind it to get you into those first waves.
The specifications then: it’s ten foot six long, it’s thirty inches wide, so it’s not massively wide. Four inches thick, it’s 160 liters in volume. It weighs just over 10 kilograms, which is pretty light. It has a two-plus-one fin setup and it retails at one thousand two hundred twenty-nine pounds.
The materials of this board? It’s what you call a classic epoxy construction: EPS foam core, epoxy glass wrap, with an outer hard gel coat resistant layer on the outer skin.
First Impressions of Naish Nalu 10’6 GS
Moving away from the catalog bump and onto the SUP boarder impressions. Straightaway, it does have that classic Naish styling. Yellow and green, very much the staple look of the 2017 boards. Nice, massive EVA deck pad, very thick, very comfy in a crocodile deck grip here, and at the back, you then have a diamond deck grip, which is quite nice to feel the difference when you’re standing forward and back. When you know your feet are on the board, especially when you’re getting into the sort of SUP surfing maneuvers and getting yourself back, you can really feel where your feet are having that extra different EVA deck grip at the back.
Big deep recess carry handle, like on all the Naishes, pressure valve, and that sort of stuff. The biggest thing you notice straightaway, which is more to do with the board shape than actually the materials on the board, is the big recess that comes in on the side of the deck here into the middle part of the deck. The rail itself is four inches thick, comes up and wraps around the rail, and then dives down into the center of the deck. What that does is give you a lower feel or lower riding position on the board.
Performance and Shape of Naish Nalu 10’6 GS
What that does is make the board much easier to ride because you don’t feel like you’re on a big corky board. You’re more inside the board. This is really popular on some really thick race boards. It helps get your body weight lower in the board, which gives you more connection to the wave, and it really does make a difference.
Now, having a look at the shape and the general outline of this board, it does scream classic SUP. Ten foot six long, thirty wide, relatively parallel on the rails. A nice bit of volume, a rounded nose to make it easy to paddle in, and general stability on flat water and on the wave. Coming back towards the tail, there’s a nicely pulled-in small pintail, which really aids flat water paddling glide and straight-line performance. On a wave, it still has enough maneuverability to use the board to its full potential in that sort of longboard-style riding.
Looking at the rail shape, there’s nothing super special going on — just a nice rounded rail you find on most standard surf SUPs. Slightly pulled in towards the tail, and then the sharp edge starts to increase at the last foot and a half of the board. This helps with bite and grip on the wave, especially if you get yourself further back on the board.
Bottom Shape and Fin Setup of Naish Nalu 10’6 GS
Now, let’s look at the bottom shape of the board. Remember, this is a beginner to intermediate board, so I won’t baffle you with too many shapes. The general rocker line (the forward and back curve of the board) has a nice amount of rocker that makes paddling over waves easy and doesn’t catch you out in the chop. It’s slightly smoother in the midsection, which helps with speed, and there’s a little bit of tail kick to assist with turning on the wave.
When you put a straight edge across the front of the board, it’s nice and flat, so it will get on the wave easily. Moving back to the section, there’s a small V-shape starting to appear across the board. The V is basically where the middle of the board is higher, allowing the water to disperse off the sides. This makes it easier to perform rail-to-rail turns and catch waves, making it perfect for getting into SUP surfing for the first time.
The fin setup is a two-plus-one fin system. That means it has a single US box fin with two FCS side fins. The US box fin is nicely sized, and it’s great that the fin box is positioned well, so you can move it forward or back to optimize both flat-water paddling and surf SUPping.
Flat Water and Wave Performance of Naish Nalu 10’6 GS
In flat water, the board offers a nice amount of glide because it isn’t super wide. At 30 inches wide, it gives enough stability without slowing you down, so it paddles easily for general cruising and paddling. With 160 liters of volume, it’s suitable for bigger riders and first-time paddlers. This board is definitely a great option for getting into SUP.
On the waves, the board is really fun, especially in small waves (knee to waist high). It catches anything easily. The rocker line is enough to prevent nosediving, making it a lot of fun for beginners. Experienced surfers can also get a lot out of it, especially in longboard-style riding. For longboarding enthusiasts, remember to wax up to the nose if you want to try nose riding. This board can catch waves, go nose-riding, and do quite a lot for one board.
The Recess Deck Advantage of Naish Nalu 10’6 GS
One big advantage of this board, both on flat water and in the surf, is the recessed deck at the front. It allows you to feel more connected to the board and the water. If the thickness was uniform across the board, it would feel too corky, but the recessed deck gives it a better riding feel while still offering a lot of volume.
Who Is This Board For?
This board is suited for just about anyone. If you weigh up to 85 kilograms, you can learn SUP for the first time, go surfing, or just have fun. If you weigh up to 95 kilograms and have some SUP experience, you’ll get even more out of it. Heavier, more experienced riders might want to consider a smaller board. But for beginner surfers or those new to flat-water paddling, this is a great all-rounder.
Conclusion: Pros and Cons
Pros: We really liked the shape and the recessed deck. It’s a simple but great feature that enhances the board’s feel.
Cons: At £1,229, it’s priced on the higher side. It would be great if Naish made a cheaper version, as it might draw more people away from cheaper eBay boards and toward a quality product. However, we understand the pricing.
If you’re looking for a good quality SUP, the Naish Nalu 10’6 should definitely be on your list. It’s a four-and-a-half-star board with fantastic design features. I hope you found this review interesting and informative.