NSP O² Pioneer FS Stand Up Paddleboard

Ken Hoeve and the NSP team spent over two years designing the new O² Pioneer FS Stand Up Paddle Board. Their goal was to create an extra-rigid SUP that was customizable for river exploration while still being fast and stable on both flat and moving water.

While designed primarily as a river and fishing SUP, the O² Pioneer FS is 11’ long which allows it to meet the size requirements for most organized downriver races. Not only is it wide and thick it’s also long so it is as fast as it is stable. With three Scotty mounts incorporated into the deck, you can maximize the number of fishing rods you can use at once or incorporate a GPS unit or kayak seat.

At 35.5” wide, the  O² Pioneer FS SUP has impressive stability on moving water and in rapids while the rocker profile in the nose allows it to surf over waves and play in holes, yet it’s low enough so that it won't slow you down on flat water. Very little taper over the length of the board provides additional stability in moving water and for pivot turns, while also adding substantial volume so that it can carry a lot of gear with ease.

The three fin set up on the O² Pioneer FS SUP means that you have the option to customize the amount of tracking or maneuverability you want depending upon the type of water you are paddling. Use all three fins for maximum stability and tracking on deep fast-moving and flat water or take out the long center fin and leave in the two smaller side fins so that you can paddle shallow rivers and pivot the board more easily.

NSP builds their SUPs to last by using a double-layered rail construction with a double sealing rail band along with pre-laminated fusion skin which ensures that the O² Pioneer FS SUP can take the abuse that river paddling demands. The board also includes heavy-duty metal D-rings throughout, along with four-cam straps for securing gear. There is no place for bungee cords and plastic parts on river adventures and NSP knows this, which is why they spared no expense to ensure only the best materials are used on the O² Pioneer FS SUP.

The top sheet graphic pays homage to NSP’s location on the Eagle and Colorado rivers, showing off the local watershed while also serving as camouflage so that the paddle board can fit into river environments without drawing attention.

The SUP handle has a built-in paddle holder so it's easy to carry both the board and the paddle at once. While on the water there is a paddle holder at the rear of the SUP so you can store the paddle out of the way while you fish, relax or sunbathe.

• Premium Backpack with wheels
• Dual-action high pressure pump
• 9" Nylon center fin + two smaller side fins

• Fusion reinforced double layer glueless pre-lamination
• Double-layer rail construction with double sealing rail band
• Increased nose and tail rocker for a best white water experience
• Heavy-duty nose D-rings for anchoring in rough conditions
• Nose and tail heavy-duty tie-down belts for safety gear
• 3 x Standard Scotty mounts for attaching fishing gear, GPS, or seat
• 2 x d-rings on the tail
• 2 + 1 fin set up with Click fins
• Paddle holder on the tail
• Thermoformed EVA deck pad

Due to the board's large volume, it has an inflation rate of 15-18psi which makes it more rigid than most others. You can also see in the picture below the two steel D-rings for anchoring the SUP or lashing down gear.

The O² Pioneer FS is the first Stand Up Paddle Board I’ve reviewed from NSP and I was surprised at how well it performed. Because of its 35.5” width, it is more stable than the average 30-33” wide SUP’s on the market and by combining this with a 6” thickness you get a very rigid board overall. This is ideal for beginners but also those that want to run low-class rapids or use the O² Pioneer for fishing or camping. The 11’ length and three fins also ensure that it tracks well on flat water which makes it a very versatile board. I enjoyed paddling it on the lake as well as down the local whitewater river and found that the subtle rocker in the nose allowed it to surf easily while the dimensions provided the added stability that is needed in rapids. While more nose rocker would have been appreciated for bigger waves and surfing holes it would slow the board down on the lake so I think NSP found a good compromise in this design.

The ability to remove the long centre fin and use just the smaller side fins helped ensure that I didn’t snag the board in shallow water and allowed me to manoeuvre it more easily in moving water. You seldom see inflatable SUP's with this combination of a long centre fin with two shorter side fins, you typically only have a long centre fin or three shorter built-in fins. This one long and two short fin combination allows the O² Pioneer to excel on both flat and moving water alike.

Other features found on the O² Pioneer SUP add to the board's versatility. While I did not make use of the three Standard Scotty mounts I can see their appeal for fishing or kayaking but I did appreciate the four heavy-duty webbing tie-downs for lashing gear to the SUP. I also made use of the centre paddle holder when transporting the O² Pioneer from my car to the water. This same feature is found on the Body Glove Performer SUP and one that more manufacturers should incorporate on their boards.

With the SUP, NSP includes what I think is one of the best packs available since it has not only the traditional backpack harness system but also roller wheels. This allows you to easily pull the board behind you rather than shouldering all the weight. The high-quality materials are durable and it’s well made with compression straps and even a generous external pocket as well.

I was disappointed, however, not to find a coil leash or paddle included with the O² Pioneer SUP, especially considering its more expensive price. Having these two items included would have given the O² Pioneer SUP full marks in the 'features category' of my rating below since it comes with so many other great options.

If you are looking for a robust and well built stand up paddle board that can track easily on flat water and still navigate moving water and surf some light rapids then the NSP O² Pioneer FS Stand Up Paddle Board is one you should consider. While its price point is a little higher than others, I found the quality and long list of included features to be well worth the money... just be sure to save a little cash for a paddle and leash.