Two boards, same price, same length, same box of gear. On paper the NIXY Newport G5 and Venice G5 look close enough that most buyers just flip a coin or pick the color they like. That works out fine more often than not, because both are genuinely good all-around boards. It also leaves a real difference on the table, and that difference is easy to feel the first time you stand up.
The gap comes down to one inch of width and 100 pounds of capacity. That sounds small until you are balancing on a wobbly morning, holding a yoga pose, or sharing the deck with a kid and a dog. This guide lays out where each board pulls ahead, who each one suits, and how to decide without overthinking it.
The short answer
Pick the Newport G5 if you want the more responsive all-around board that still feels stable for a first-timer, and you are paddling mostly solo. Pick the Venice G5 if your top priority is a rock-steady platform for yoga, for a heavier paddler, or for carrying a passenger, a child, or a dog.
Both are $649. Both ship with the full NIXY kit and the same 3-year warranty. Neither is a wrong answer, so the goal here is matching the board to how you actually paddle.
What the two boards share
Before the differences, it helps to see how much is identical, because that is most of the board.
Both the Newport and Venice are G5 builds. That means FusionTech welded seams and dual-layer fused PVC, the construction that keeps an inflatable board rigid underfoot and durable season after season. Both measure 10 feet 6 inches long and 6 inches thick, the classic all-around footprint that tracks straight enough for a cruise and turns easily enough for a beginner. Both run a single center fin for tracking, with no fiddly side fins to install.
Both also arrive complete. Every NIXY board ships with a carbon-hybrid paddle, a dual-chamber pump, a coiled leash, a repair kit, and a wheeled backpack to carry it all. There are no upgrades to buy before your first paddle, which is a large part of why a $649 NIXY board competes with boards that cost more once you add the accessories they leave out.
So the frame around the decision is small: same length, same thickness, same build, same gear, same price, same warranty. What is left is the shape of the deck you stand on.
Where the Newport pulls ahead
The Newport G5 is 33 inches wide with a 300-pound capacity. In the all-around class, 33 inches is a friendly, forgiving width. It is stable enough that most first-timers are standing within their first session, yet narrow enough that the board still feels lively when you lean into a turn or pick up the pace.
That extra bit of responsiveness is what makes the Newport the better pick for a solo paddler who wants one board to do everything: a morning cruise on the lake, a fitness paddle, a poke around the coastline. It is the NIXY flagship for a reason. If you are shopping for yourself and you are a single rider of average weight, the Newport is usually the answer. For the mechanics of getting up and moving on it, our step-by-step beginner guide walks through the basics.
Where the Venice pulls ahead
The Venice G5 is 34 inches wide with a 400-pound capacity. One inch does not sound like much, but width is the single biggest driver of standing stability on a paddle board, and that inch plus the higher capacity turns the Venice into a noticeably steadier platform.
That steadiness is why the Venice is the yoga and cruiser board in the lineup. Moving through poses, standing up off the water, or simply feeling planted while you take in the view all get easier with the extra deck. The 400-pound capacity also opens the board up to heavier paddlers and to shared loads: a parent with a small child up front, or a paddler bringing a dog along. If you want the calmest possible ride and stability is worth more to you than a quick, agile feel, the Venice earns it. Our full Venice G5 review goes deeper on how it handles.
Side by side
| Spec | Newport G5 | Venice G5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $649 | $649 |
| Length | 10'6" | 10'6" |
| Width | 33" | 34" |
| Thickness | 6" | 6" |
| Weight capacity | 300 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Best for | Responsive all-around, solo paddlers | Yoga, cruising, heavier or shared loads |
| Feel | Nimble, all-around | Extra-stable platform |
| Build | G5 FusionTech, single center fin | G5 FusionTech, single center fin |
| Included kit | Paddle, pump, leash, repair kit, backpack | Paddle, pump, leash, repair kit, backpack |
How to choose in one minute
Answer three questions and the board picks itself.
Are you paddling mostly alone, at an average weight, and do you like the idea of a board that feels responsive? The Newport fits. Do you want to do yoga on the water, are you a larger paddler, or will you regularly share the deck with a child or a dog? The Venice fits. Not sure and you just want the safest, steadiest first board? Lean Venice for the wider platform, since the small trade in agility is easy to live with while you build confidence.
If your real interest is yoga specifically, it is worth reading our yoga paddle board buyer's guide. If you are shopping for the whole crew, the family paddle board guide covers how to set kids up on the water. You can also see both boards next to the rest of the range on the NIXY paddleboards collection.
A note on color and stock
Both boards come in a few colorways, and because NIXY runs specific colors in limited quantities, a shade you like may not be around forever. If you have settled on a board and a color, it is worth grabbing the one you want rather than waiting. The performance is the same across colors, so this is purely about the look you will be happy staring at for years of paddling.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the NIXY Newport and Venice? Width and capacity. The Newport is 33 inches wide with a 300-pound capacity and feels more responsive, while the Venice is 34 inches wide with a 400-pound capacity and feels more stable. Both are 10'6" all-around G5 boards at $649 with the same included gear.
Is the Venice better for beginners than the Newport? Both are beginner-friendly. The Venice's extra inch of width makes it a touch steadier, which some first-timers prefer, while the Newport is still stable and rewards you with a livelier feel. A nervous or heavier beginner may lean Venice; a solo beginner who wants an agile all-around board will be happy on the Newport.
Which NIXY board is best for yoga? The Venice G5. Its 34-inch width and 400-pound capacity give you the steady, roomy platform that makes standing poses and transitions easier on the water.
Do the Newport and Venice come with the same accessories? Yes. Every NIXY G5 board ships with a carbon-hybrid paddle, a dual-chamber pump, a coiled leash, a repair kit, and a wheeled backpack, plus a 3-year warranty. The accessory package is identical between the two.
Can the Venice carry two people? The Venice has a 400-pound capacity, so it can handle a paddler plus a small child or a dog within that limit. It is still a single-rider board at heart, but the higher capacity and wider deck make sharing more comfortable than on the Newport.
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