NSP Touring LT 12’6’’ x 32’’: A comfortable and nimble touring paddleboard offering excellent value for money

Features and finish

​Measuring 12'6" x 32" x 6" (Here is the conversion from feet and inches to metres) the NSP Touring LT falls into the category of comfort-oriented touring boards. Its 32-inch width ensures excellent stability and a decent load capacity, whilst the bow and stern are only moderately narrower. As a result, the board combines good straight-line stability with a high load capacity and a secure footing. The build quality makes a convincing impression. The board is neatly bonded, with no bubbles or creases in the seams. The elongated waterline is almost entirely straight – a design feature that will prove its advantages later on the water.

There are spacious luggage nets at the bow and stern, each with four sturdy attachment points. Both offer sufficient space to safely transport even larger items of touring luggage. The features are complemented by three padded carrying handles – a particularly ergonomically shaped central handle, plus one handle each at the bow and stern. There is also a towing eye beneath the bow, whilst the stern features a D-ring for the leash.
The very generously sized deck pad extends from the front luggage net almost all the way to the stern. This ensures there is sufficient grippy standing space even for pivot turns. Only the rear luggage net can get slightly in the way, but overall the usable pad area remains pleasantly large.
Standard equipment includes a large touring fin in a US-box design. The fin, which is slightly raked towards the rear, is fitted without tools using a toggle screw. The two-part US box is also a positive feature, as it makes rolling up the board significantly easier than long, continuous plastic boxes.
There are also two additional threaded inserts on the deck between the luggage nets. These provide mounting points for accessories, although the manufacturer does not specify their exact purpose.
The board is inflated to between 15 and 18 PSI. During testing, 16 PSI proved entirely sufficient and already gave the board a very rigid overall feel.

Contents of the NSP Touring LT 12’6’’x32’’ package

• NSP Touring LT 12'6" x 32" x 6"
• three-piece fibreglass paddle
• Touring fin (US box)
• Spiral Leash
• Bravo double-action pump
• lightweight rucksack

The rucksack weighs just 1.4 kg and deliberately does not have wheels. This keeps the overall weight pleasantly low. The board fits inside with ease, and there’s still plenty of room for the pump, leash and paddle. Wide shoulder straps make carrying the rucksack over longer distances easier, whilst side compression straps keep the contents compact. The side carry handle is also practical, as this is usually how the rucksack is carried in everyday use anyway. Less successful, however, is the hip belt, which is significantly too long even for larger people and is practically unusable.
The included Bravo pump operates in both double-action and single-action modes. Thanks to its long stroke and narrow piston, even higher pressures of up to 18 PSI can be achieved relatively comfortably. The pressure gauge goes up to 25 PSI.
The included three-piece GRP paddle weighs 900 grams and features an ergonomically shaped plastic handle and a robust plastic blade. The slightly textured shaft has a glossy finish. The parts fit together precisely; the Vario shaft, in particular, sits snugly. On land, the blade feels a little soft, but on the water you hardly notice it.

Handling on the water

Right from the very first paddle strokes, the NSP Touring LT delivers exactly the riding experience you’d expect from a well-designed, comfortable touring board. Its 32-inch width ensures you stand extremely securely on the board. Getting on is easy, and even less experienced paddlers quickly gain confidence.
Despite its comfortable design, the board accelerates surprisingly well. It quickly reaches cruising speed and, depending on usage, travelled at around 6 to 7.5 km/h during testing – a good figure for this class of board.
Its stable straight-line tracking is particularly impressive. The large touring fin keeps the board neatly on course, whilst the waterline – which is almost entirely submerged – really comes into its own. Only the front 15 to 20 centimetres of the bow are slightly upturned, allowing small waves to be ridden cleanly without the nose dipping into the water.

It is precisely this flat overall design that ensures highly efficient planing. Whilst some touring boards lose out on waterline length unnecessarily due to a pronounced banana shape, the NSP utilises its entire length almost to the full. The result is excellent planing characteristics and a pleasantly sporty touring feel.
In a direct comparison, the board is noticeably more stable than our reference board, the Starboard Touring 12'6" x 30", whilst achieving virtually the same speed and directional stability; it simply requires slightly more paddling effort due to its greater width. NSP has thus achieved a remarkably good balance between comfort and performance.
The board also impresses when turning. Thanks to the slightly raised bow, the tip barely creates any drag in the water when turning, making crossbow turns in particular quite effortless. Pivot turns also work well, although the rear luggage net requires a little care when stepping backwards.
The board feels particularly at home in flat water and on calm lakes. It feels stiff and responsive, tracks straight and cleanly, and is ideal for relaxed after-work paddles as well as for extended day trips.

Manoeuvrability and handling of the touring SUP

The board glides smoothly during crossbow turns. When performing manoeuvres towards the rear, the luggage net requires a bit of care to avoid catching your foot. The soft, grippy pad extends right up to where you place your feet. Crossbow turns in the narrow tail section require more skill, but are certainly achievable. The generous pad offers sufficient standing space for various positions. In flat water and on calm waters, the board demonstrates its strengths with high rigidity, precise tracking and a brisk touring pace.

The paddle included in the NSP Touring 12’6’’ set

​The package includes a three-piece fibreglass paddle with Vario adjustment. The shaft has a slightly textured surface. All the plug connections fit securely.
The ergonomically shaped handle fits comfortably in the hand and distributes pressure evenly across the palm. The robust plastic blade initially feels a little soft during a flex test on land. However, this impression is largely put into perspective once on the water.

In use, the blade operates smoothly, enters the water without splashing and breaks the surface just as cleanly. Even with vigorous strokes, the shaft bends only moderately.
The fibreglass shaft offers just a slight, pleasant flex, which enhances comfort without feeling spongy. When dry, the surface offers a good grip; when wet, the slip resistance decreases slightly.
Weighing around 900 grams, the paddle is not exactly a lightweight, but it offers very decent performance for a complete package in this price range.

Contents of the package and practical details

The rucksack has no wheels and therefore weighs just 1.4 kilograms. Wide shoulder straps and side compression straps make it easier to carry. A side carry handle is ideal for the typical way of carrying it over short distances, such as from the cellar to the car. The hip belt is far too long and is unlikely to be effective unless you have very wide hips. During testing, the belt dangled loosely. The included Bravo pump features a pressure gauge with a range up to 25 PSI and allows for both double-stroke and single-stroke operation. The long stroke and thin piston are well suited to the high maximum pressure of up to 18 PSI. The spiral leash is included and is of solid construction.

Value for money and conclusion

The NSP Touring LT is one of the most appealing all-in-one touring packages in its price range. Instead of a significantly shortened or extra-wide entry-level board, you get a genuine touring board with an efficient waterline, excellent directional stability and good gliding performance.
Its balanced handling characteristics are particularly impressive. The board combines excellent stability with a surprisingly good top speed for its width. Added to this are neat workmanship, a comprehensive range of accessories and a fibreglass paddle that performs better than its first impression on land would suggest.
The contents of the package are also impressive overall. The only negative point is the rucksack’s hip belt, which is too long. Otherwise, you get a well-rounded complete package including a pump, a coiled leash and a practical touring fin.
Precisely because genuine 12'6" touring boards are rare in this price range, the NSP Touring LT A recommendation for anyone looking for a versatile board for lakes, rivers and longer trips.

Advantages

• A genuine 12'6" touring board with an efficient waterline
• high resistance to tipping at high speeds
• smooth straight-line stability
• solid workmanship
• large deck pad
• two spacious luggage nets
• A decent fibreglass paddle is included
• a lightweight rucksack without unnecessary wheels
• good value for money

Drawbacks

• The rucksack’s hip belt is clearly too long
• The paddle shaft is a bit more slippery when wet

Technical specifications of the NSP Touring LT

Board:

• Dimensions: 12.6 x 32 x 6 inches
• Weight excluding air and fin: 9.4 kilograms
• Operating pressure: 15 to 18 PSI
• Fin type: Trapezoidal touring fin, US box system
• Deck pad: Running continuously from the front netting almost right to the stern

Paddle:

• Type: Three-piece GRP paddle
• Weight: 900 grams
• Blade: Sturdy plastic blade
• Adjustment: Vario system

Accessories:

• Rucksack: 1.4 kilograms, without wheels, wide shoulder straps
• Pump: Bravo double-action pump, pressure gauge up to 25 PSI
• Leash: Spiral leash
• Price: 529 euros (RRP)