This one's for DJ and anyone else who may have surfed the new Naish Nalu 11'.
I appreciated the Seabreeze advice when I was torn between the Mana 9'5" and the Nalu 10'6" for my wife (used as a surfer by me during the week). Ended up with the Mana as I got a sweet deal on a used one. Still would like add the 10'6" but the 11' is intriguing.
My only board is an old 11'6" Nalu. It has been a blessing. I have caught a ton of waves and covered a lot of ground over the past few years just cruising over reefs, checking out the marine life and dropping a few pounds on that big old battleship.
The wife's 9'5" has been fun for a few surfs and I had been thinking that my step up board would be a Hokua or something along those lines. But considering my predilection for exploring the outer reefs near my home on the north coast of Puerto Rico, I'm now thinking that maybe an easier paddler may be the call.
I love to surf prone boards and love to surf SUPs. But the exploration, the free ride and getting away from the crowds are easily as important to me as throwing a board around.
So my question is what do you folks think of the 11' Nalu? How does it compare to the 10'6" and the 11'4"?
I know there are other great brands out there, but the Naish vendor in my neck of the woods is a good guy and it keeps it simple if I don't bombard my feeble brain with too many options.
I'm 6-foot, 215 pounds but will get down to around 200 pounds as the winter waves kick in.
Thanks in advance

DavidJohn said..
Others might not agree but IMHO the new 11' Nalu is a better board than the old classic 11'4'' Nalu and also even better than the new 10'6'' Nalu.

A smaller and lighter person might prefer the smaller 10'6'' but us bigger guys will like the 31'' wide board more… I love mine..

Thanks DJ. Great videos. Looks like a nice spot you've got there. No shortage of bottle-green glassy days. Life is good.

ShireSUP said..
As a simillar bigger person as DJ so elequantly put it I have to agree, the Nalu 11' is a really good all round board. It wont paddle as well as the 11'6 but looses the corkiness too. I originally had the 11'6 and moved to something smaller but wider and less corky, then picked up the 11'4 last summer which I loved riding the nose, but founds it limitations (as a single fin) in over 3' surf at the Alley one day.

But the 11' you can surf it from the back, the middle and the nose its really sweet. Its a good do everything board, that because of the bannana lacks a little in the effortless paddle long distance stakes, but given the choice of the 11'4 and the 11' - I sold the 11'4

But when you take off I found it better to be in front of the handle - a tip for when you buy one

Thanks ShireSUP for the valuable input. I'm counting my pennies as we speak. Could take a bit of time but I'll get there.

Yep, I'm getting one too! Just as soon as I sell my 2014 GX Glide.
I tested one out in the surf and the same as ShireSUP, I found once on a wave, now I'm talking a 2 foot mushburger, that stepping forward to around one third of the length from the nose, the board accelerated, surprisingly.
I liked it.