NRS Baron 6 Review

The Baron 6 is 11' 4" long, 36" wide and 6" thick. It's recommended inflation pressure is 15 psi. For most of the other contenders we tested, the recommended psi is 14. It also has a triple fin configuration. What all this equates to is one very, very stable and sturdy board. Everything about this board is high quality. It is constructed with a high quality heavy duty PVC, the materials in the sidewalls are double thick, it comes with a 9" large fin and two sets of 2 and 5" smaller fins. It has a very fancy backpack, pump, gauge and a Leadfield valve adapter.

Performance Comparison

Stability

We think it would be challenging to find a more stable board. Though not fast and light, this board is not one you will easily fall off of even in choppy water or over big boat wakes. The Baron 6 won our highest score in this category.

Glide Performance

This is one metric where this product did not do well. It does not go fast, quick or easily. If you're looking for fast and light, this is not your board. Try the Editors' Choice award winner, the Isle Touring or the Shubu Raven instead. If you're looking for something mega stable and durable, this might be for you.

Ease of Transport

The Baron 6 comes with a very fancy backpack with nice padded straps, but that doesn't make it any less heavy. This is the second heaviest product tested. The Xplorer is the only contender heavier, but it's also over two and a half feet longer and two inches thicker. We loved the quick release clip system used to install and remove all three fins.

Ease of Inflation

It's pump and hose are not universal and cannot be used with most paddleboards. You can only use the pump and hose that it comes with and you cannot buy a motorized pump as an accessory for this board. It will not work without personally modifying it.

Best Applications

The Baron 6 may be the board for you if you are a beginner, would like to practice yoga on it, want to paddle with more than one person on board, want to take small children on board or want to bring along your pet. It is a very stable board and earned our highest score in the stability category. It is also made from a very high quality heavy duty material and is double reinforced on the sidewalls. So if you are hard on your gear, this may be the board for you.

Value

This is one of the most expensive products we tested. It does come with a three year warranty. Comes with six D rings. Four on the front so that you can attach a bungee cord and make a cargo system yourself and one on each end for anchoring to a dock, tying up to a rock on shore or attaching a leash. This product comes with a 9" large fin and two sets of 2 and 5" smaller fins, a very fancy backpack, pump and gauge.

Conclusion

The Baron 6 is a very stable board and earned our highest score in the stability metric, but it scored the lowest of all the boards we tested in the glide performance. It is very hard get moving and it takes some extra energy to paddle. It scored fair in the ease of inflation and transport categories because it takes longer to inflate than most of the boards and is the second heaviest board that we tested.