The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of outdoor gear

NRS Mayra Review

A stable board that lacks transportability, this model is best used for SUP yoga.
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Price:  $1,095 List | $1,095.00 at Amazon
Pros:  Stable, no middle strap (for SUP yoga)
Cons:  No middle strap (for use when carrying), pump nozzle is not universal
Manufacturer:   NRS
By Shey Kiester ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 10, 2017
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67
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#9 of 10
  • Stability - 30% 9
  • Glide Performance - 25% 6
  • Maneuverability - 25% 5
  • Ease of Transport - 10% 6
  • Ease of inflation - 10% 6

Our Verdict

The NRS Mayra was a favorite for lazy days lounging on the water. We loved taking a book out with us on this model or doing some light SUP yoga on calm days. While thinner than most other models, this board makes up for it with a wider waist. Of course, all of this stability comes at a price, and this board was one of the least maneuverable in the review. But if you're planning on perfecting your downward dog instead of your turning radius, then this board may be right for you.

For a more maneuverable board that's almost as stable, check out the Editors' Choice Hala Carbon Straight Up or Best Buy Isle Explorer.

Cosmetic Updates

This summer season the NRS Mayra has an updated look. Though the colors are refreshed, the design of this board remains the same.

July 2019


Compare to Similar Products

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This Product
NRS Mayra
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award   
Price $1,095.00 at Amazon$1,399.00 at Amazon$795.00 at Amazon$679.00 at Amazon$849 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
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89
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78
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77
Star Rating
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Pros Stable, no middle strap (for SUP yoga)Technical design, quality construction, multi-level friendlyStable, sturdy, thick, dual cargo system, handles on both endsStable, sturdy, fin arrangement optimizes glideGlides well, stable
Cons No middle strap (for use when carrying), pump nozzle is not universalExpensiveNot super fastLacks dual cargo system, not super fastHumongus, not super easy to transport or pump up
Bottom Line A stable board that lacks transportability, this model is best used for SUP yoga.This is a fantastic board for anyone looking for high performance on a multitude of adventures.Top scores in nearly every metric combined with a reasonable price for such a high quality board, the Explorer is our Best High Performance Buy.The Inflatable by iRocker is a high-performing model that testers loved.Excellent stability and maneuverability make the Xplorer a standout performer.
Rating Categories NRS Mayra Hala Carbon Straight Up Isle Explorer iRocker All-Around 11 Tower Xplorer
Stability (30%)
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
Glide Performance (25%)
10
0
6
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
8
Maneuverability (25%)
10
0
5
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
8
Ease Of Transport (10%)
10
0
6
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
6
Ease Of Inflation (10%)
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
Specs NRS Mayra Hala Carbon... Isle Explorer iRocker All-Around... Tower Xplorer
Weight Capacity (lbs) 200 lbs 350 lbs 275 lbs 435 lbs 800 lbs
Weight (lbs) 26 lbs 23.5 lbs 22 lbs 24 lbs 36 lbs
Dimensions inflated 10'4" x 34" x 5" 10'6" x 32' x 6" 11' x 32" x 6" 11' x 32" x 6" 14' x 32" x 8"
Dimensions folded up (feet, inches) 1' x 35" 32" x 18" x 12" 1' x 33" 1' x 33" 36" x 18"
Paddle Included? No No No Yes Yes
Time to inflate (minutes) 5-9 10-15 4-7 4-7 5-10
Pump included? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fin configuration Large detachable center fin 2 removable side fins, 8" center flex fin 2+1 plastic fins, with large detachable center fin 2+1 plastic fins, with large detachable center fin Large detachable center fin
Bungee cargo system No Yes Yes Yes No
Comes with backpack Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Warranty 3 years 3 years 1 year 2 years 2 years

Our Analysis and Test Results

Among the most stable boards in our review, the NRS Mayra was a showstopper when it came to activities like SUP yoga, whitewater, or after work beers on the water. However, this comes at the price of glide, which the NRS model lacked.

Performance Comparison


With a high score in stability and lower scores in other metrics, the Mayra was not the highest scorer in our test. However, depending on your needs, this may be the board for you.

The NRS model was easy to inflate but its pump lacks a universal model which means if you're hiking in you'll need to bring this pump and the pumps for any other boards.
The NRS model was easy to inflate, but its pump lacks a universal model, which means if you're hiking in, you'll need to bring this pump and the pumps for any other boards.

Stability


This metric was by far the Mayra's strong suit. Although this model was an inch less thick than most contenders, its waist made up for it. At 34" wide, this model had two inches of room on any other model, which made it easy to make movements and shift weight when riding on the board. We loved having our furry friends along for the ride on this model, and it made SUP yoga fun and easy. If you're looking for another model that is slightly less as expensive but just as stable, look at the Isle Explorer.

Glide Performance


With such a high stability score, the NRS model had trouble performing in the glide metric. A blunt nose and the wide waist made this thing feel like a boat when trying to maneuver tight turns. However, if you're planning on sitting in one place for awhile out on the water, then this shouldn't be a factor. For a more maneuverable board, we recommend the iRocker 11 or the Isle Explorer.

The NRS featured a single fin but its wide design made it stable. Plus it comes with a narrower fin if you are floating in the shallower water.
The NRS featured a single fin, but its wide design made it stable. Plus, it comes with a narrower fin if you are floating in the shallower water.

Ease of Transport


Although NRS provides a high-quality bag that is reminiscent of a river bag and is built to last, the Mayra lost points in this category because it was the only board in our review that lacked a center handle. This crucial handle makes carrying the board by yourself much easier, and we found that this board was nearly impossible to portage. For a more transportable model, look at the PEAK Inflatable or Red Paddle Co Voyager.

Ease of Inflation


The Mayra was one of the few boats that stuck out in this department and unfortunately, it was not in a good way. Although the included pump was among the stronger pumps in the review (like the Isle Explorer and iRocker pumps), the nozzle was the only one in the test that was not universal. This means that none of the other pumps in this test fit this model, and the Mayra's pump could not be used with any of the other models. While not too big of a deal if you only have one board, this can be annoying with more than one board, because it requires you to lug different pumps around.

The universal nozzle that is common to most pumps is shown on the left compared with the non-universal nozzle of the NRS model
The universal nozzle that is common to most pumps is shown on the left, compared with the non-universal nozzle of the NRS model

Durability


NRS's river knowledge is clear on this plank, as it is made of good materials and seams are low-profile. However, this contender lost points in this category because of its lack of a center handle, which opens this board up to abuse. Almost across the board, testers' first comments about this board surrounded its lack of the center handle, which makes it extremely difficult to carry with one person. Many resorted to dragging it to and fro, and over time, this will cause damage. Boards with a better carrying system are the Isle Explorer and the Red Paddle Co Voyager.

Best Applications


This board is by far the best of our test for SUP yoga or carrying around an antsy furry friend. The stability of this model makes it very good for making shaky movements while on top, and although it performs far below other models in terms of glide, that does not detract from the experience of yoga atop the board.

Dog + SUP = Love
Dog + SUP = Love

Value


At $1095 this board is not as cheap as the cheapest board in our review. However, because this board filled an important niche and satisfied the needs of SUP yoga enthusiasts, we feel that the price is consistent with what you'll get in this package. Figure out a way to carry this board to and from the water, and it is sure to last season after season.

Conclusion


The Mayra is a purpose-built board, and it shows. Although this board did not top every metric, it crushed the one that is important for its designed purpose. If you're planning on doing more than a few sun salutations out on the water and aren't planning on pushing your SUP on long-distance missions, this is the board for you.


— Shey Kiester