Maneuverable SUP Styles Whitewater: NRS Clean 96 Review

We pulled our standup paddleboards out of the river and onto the rocky beach to scout the crux. A section of class II rapids decorated the width of the Upper Slocan River in British Columbia. Smooth water wasn’t in our line of sight. “I might portage,” one friend said, as two experienced paddlers from our group rode by and started the wave train. 

I knew NRS had built the Clean 96 standup paddleboard for these conditions. After considering the conditions and obstacles, I decided it was a good section for me to run. Pushing off, I steered into the center, where the crests were the highest and free of rocks. 

Following the wave set, the lineup grew, and so did a strong crosscurrent, which turned the Clean diagonally and sideways. An assertive paddle stroke reoriented the board in the trough. As I rode up, over, and down each wave, the Clean gained momentum. Despite the chop, it smoothly rode the rollercoaster. 

Near the halfway point, the energy of the rollers bucked my balance. I restabilized on my knees, finishing the peak of the waves before popping back up to my feet for the tail of the segment, all with a huge smile. The Clean 96 made me want to ride through the rapids again — with a more aggressive stance and bent knees ready for the surf. 

In short: The stable, playful NRS Clean 96 ($945) is a volume-shifted standup paddleboard with continuous rocker, nose to tail. This silhouette is shorter, wider, and stout for running river crests, grazing around obstacles, and surfing. The shape maneuvers strikingly well through continuous, turbulent whitewater. While this SUP feels fine on flat water and lakes, it isn’t keen on tracking straight and speedy traverses. The Clean shines at quickly pivoting, spinning, and accelerating through crests.

Peruse the other masterful watercraft we’ve field tested in the Best Standup Paddleboards buyer’s guide.

Field Testing the Rockered NRS Clean 96 Inflatable Standup Paddleboard

I took the NRS Clean 96 and NRS Clean 110 on various day trips in Nelson and Rossland, British Columbia. The NRS Clean 96 is an excellent day trip vessel, and I never carried more than a single dry bag. I’m close to 5’6″, 135 pounds, and four other paddlers tested this model, too — plus a small dog — weighing up to 210 pounds.

Over the season, I paddled the SUP 1.5 miles on Kootenay River, 2 miles around Nancy Greene Lake, and another 4.3 miles on the west arm of Kootenay Lake. I also rode the Clean 96 on a 12-mile descent of the Upper Slocan River with sections of class I and class II rapids.

Along with this inflatable standup paddleboard, I tested the recently launched carbon-reinforced fiberglass NRS Fortuna 90 Adjustable SUP Paddle ($250). The upper-tier paddle outperformed the other basic paddles I’ve used.

Chiseled Whitewater Tool: Rockered Tips & Wide Width

The other paddlers agreed with me: The Clean 96 is a playful standup paddleboard that pivots on a dime. The continuous rocker and shorter, stouter construction allow this SUP to maneuver quickly on the water. That’s an exceptional trait for paddling in whitewater.

At 9’6″ long, 36 inches wide, and weighing 23 pounds, this board accelerates through the wave train. In choppy, prolific rapids, other SUPs can feel like a piece of lumber. They spear the waves but aren’t smooth between the crests or as playful. They might feel best forward-facing in the whitewater, but unforgiving when they turn sideways.

Instead, the Clean feels smooth and pumps through each wave. Its shorter, strongly rockered silhouette absorbs and carries momentum through cross-currents. The design allows you to steer the board in the direction you choose. This is an aggressive paddler’s dream tool.

Rockered Shape

Rockered SUPs aren’t new. For instance, the Red Paddle Co. Wild MSL incorporates a pronounced upturn. Red’s Sport MSL has a bit of nose rocker, as does the iROCKER All-Around. Hala Gear and Badfish make rockered SUPs, too. Even shorter designs are more tailored for river surfing.

But the NRS Clean 96 is the widest SUP we’ve tested at GearJunkie at 36 inches. The Wild’s width is 34 inches, as is the NRS Clean 110. The majority of inflatables tested by GearJunkie are 34 inches wide or less, including the iRocker Blackfin CX Ultra, which sits at 32.5 inches. The next widest board is the ISLE Switch Pro, a hybrid kayak-SUP design that’s 35.5 inches wide.

While those slightly narrower boards offer plenty of stability, the extra width improves this board’s playfulness side to side and ability to absorb energy in choppy water.

Inflatable Side Chambers & DropDeck

The Clean 96 has two additional side air chambers that parallel the rails, which you inflate for stability in whitewater. The SUP can be inflated up to nearly 20 psi, and each chamber can be pumped up to 5 psi, which is two quick strokes with the hand pump.

Higher-placed rails means the deck is lower, which NRS calls the DropDeck, and the paddler’s center of gravity is lower, creating more stability.

I really like the texture of this EVA foam deck pad. On long days, I often sit or kneel to grab snacks or sunscreen from my dry bag, so I appreciate when the pad is smooth yet grippy like this one. The material offers plenty of traction, too. A raised kick‑tail (or stomp pad) near the tail offers extra leveraging power.

Handles & Lash Points

When you’re pulling a SUP out of moving water, the importance of quality grab handles can’t be overlooked. The Clean has three in the center of the board, which are oriented in a triangular shape. I could easily grab those center handles when I was pulling myself back onto the SUP after enjoying swim breaks and riverside rope swings. They were also comfortable to grab while carrying the SUP sideways to the put-in.

There are two additional handles on the nose and tail, which were key for quickly pulling the board onto the rocky beach, like when we stopped to scout the rapids on the Upper Slocan.

Additional tie-down points are two metal D-rings at the tail and at the nose of the deck pad (about two-thirds from the tail). The Clean’s longer version, the 110, has more lash points with four additional metal D-rings on the tail to strap down cargo for multiday trips.

Powerful Hand Pump & Four Fins

The SUP comes with a high-pressure Super Pump II, which is a sweet tool that expedites the pump-up process. The tradeoff is that the pump is a bit cumbersome, but it’s not heavy. I just wish it were a bit leaner for multiday trips.

In the package is four fins: two 2.5-inch fins for shallow, rocky days and another two more moderate lengths — 4.75 inches — for all water conditions. I really appreciate that NRS includes extra fins, because most of the SUPs I tested this summer don’t.

The QuickClick fin boxes are so easy to use, and I really appreciate not needing to worry about misplacing or dropping fin hardware.

Roomy SUP Travel Backpack

Most inflatable SUPs now include a travel backpack but not all designs are created equal. Some require you to finely fold your board like intricate origami in order to fit. I’m not here for it.

Thankfully, NRS makes a spacious pack that’s easy to fit the Clean 96 into. There are four compression straps on the sides to help tighten the load and lower swing weight. Overall, the design feels lean but durable.

On the face, two narrow, short sections of mesh are in theory a good idea to help release moisture. But I am skeptical about taking that material through airport travel if I decide to check my SUP.

The pack lacks wheels. Large grab handles are on the top and bottom. I wish there were handles on each side, too, especially for such a large bag. I often end up grabbing the compression straps, which require loosening first.

NRS Fortunate 90 Adjustable SUP Paddle

A paddle is not included in the kit, which means you get to choose the one that works best for you. Budget paddles get the job done, but a premium design like the NRS Fortuna 90 Adjustable SUP Paddle is one that I came to appreciate on long tours, like paddling 12 miles on the Upper Slocan.

I really liked how lightweight, comfortable, and sharp this paddle felt. The Fortuna’s carbon fiber shaft and fiberglass laminate blade weigh 590 g. In contrast, the NRS Bia ($190) with a fiberglass-reinforced nylon blade weighs nearly double: 890 g. The aluminum Pelican Vortex ($70) weighs 1,049 g.

The handle was ergonomically shaped and supportive of my palms, while the shaft is mid-volume for compatibility across different hand sizes. The rounded blade is quiet and deflects better off rocks, and the slight dihedral shape is effective at displacing water. I tested the 90-square-inch blade (there’s also a 100-square-inch option) and found it provided plenty of steering power.

Fortuna has a sleek adjustment system with a lever that’s integrated into the handle and pops up to change the length between 68 and 84 inches. The only downside of this paddle is that it’s not collapsible, so you can’t fit it into a SUP bag.

Critiques

Inherent tradeoffs exist, too. The Clean doesn’t strongly pierce smooth water, accelerate quickly, or feel planted in a straight track.

As a result, the Clean 96’s tendency to turn was noticeable when I was paddling across glass. To direct the SUP straight, I alternated sides for each paddle stroke, requiring more focus and work on smooth water. In comparison, the Red Paddle Co. Sport MSL stays planted and follows a straight line, hardly requiring me to alternate sides for paddle strokes.

As a wider shape with a broader tip and tail plus rounded rails, there’s more drag. Pointier, narrower designs are built to dice smooth surfaces, meaning, the Clean won’t accelerate as quickly or move as fast as speed-oriented shapes.

This Clean 96 is built with fewer lash points compared to its larger sibling, the Clean 110. The 96 has two D-rings while the 110 has six including four to carry cargo on the tail. The 110 is longer and narrower, which makes it a less spunky, more well-rounded choice for all-around river conditions.

The 96 is excellent for experts and whitewater surfers ready for aggressive paddle technique. The 110 is a top whitewater SUP but not as nimble, a bit more planted (through waves or on lakes), and has more drag. It also tracks slightly more straight.

Ultimately, it’s still fun to paddle the Clean on flat water, and it’s stable anywhere. But lakes are not where it was built to excel.

Conclusion: Who It’s For

The NRS Clean 96 is a textbook whitewater asset with one of the widest, most rockered shapes out there today. This inflatable standup paddleboard is built for intermediate, advanced, and expert paddlers that happily steer their SUP through uneven water.

This design is made to maneuver well around obstacles, through waves, and across chop. It carries and builds power crest to crest. For experienced paddlers, it feels stable yet playful. For expert paddlers, it can support your skills as a river wave surfer.

With only two D-rings, it’s best suited for day trips. Other whitewater and river-oriented SUPs have more lash points for multiday dry bags, including its longer sibling, the Clean 110. With continuous rocker, it’s not inherently planted nor does it carry a straight track. It does best with an engaged, proactive paddler.

That said, if you only want one SUP in your garage, the Clean 96 is still fun to paddle on flat lakes, as long as you don’t mind not being a speed queen.

In a quiver of SUPs, the Clean 96 is a more technical, tailored design that’s stable, play-focused, and quick to orient. It gives you a truly energetic ride and — as long as your knees are bent and ready for it — a ton of fun on the waves.