Quick Answer: The best paddle board phone mount for most people in 2026 is the NIXY SUP & Kayak Phone Holder at $15 — it threads straight into the standard M8 screw point on NIXY G4/G5 boards and most other action-mount hardware, confirmed direct on nixysports.com. If your board already has a RAM Tough-Track or GT Track rail installed, the RAM X-Grip Phone Mount with Track Ball Base ($63.99) is the premium pick, with a compatibility list covering 150+ specific phone models. Want your phone waterproofed as well as mounted? The ARMOR-X MX-IPH Waterproof Case with X-Mount & Carabiner ($69.99) is an IP68-rated case built for iPhone 14-17 series.
Most paddlers who want a phone on deck for navigation, music, or photos are choosing between an open cradle that holds a bare phone and a waterproof case that protects it first. Neither is objectively better — it comes down to whether you’re using the phone mid-paddle (where you want the screen visible and unblocked) or just want it along for the ride without a wave ending the trip early.
Best paddle board phone mounts at a glance
| Phone mount | Best for | Mount type | Waterproof | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIXY SUP & Kayak Phone Holder | Best budget / NIXY boards | M8 screw | No | $15 |
| RAM X-Grip Phone Mount w/ Track Ball Base | Best for track-mounted boards | Track (RAM/GT) | No | $63.99 |
| ARMOR-X MX-IPH Waterproof Case w/ X-Mount | Best waterproof | X-Mount + track adapter | Yes, IP68 | $69.99 |
1. NIXY SUP & Kayak Phone Holder — Best Budget / For NIXY Boards
NIXY SUP & Kayak Phone Holder
- Confirmed direct on nixysports.com at $15 — threads into the M8 screw point built into NIXY G4 and G5 paddle boards, or any other M8 action-mount hardware.
- Ships with two brackets: one fits phones up to 3.5" wide, the other up to 7" wide, covering everything from a compact phone to a large phone in a bulky case.
- 360-degree rotation so the screen can be angled for a rider standing or kneeling.
At $15, this is the cheapest way to get a phone off your hand and onto the deck. The M8 screw thread it uses is the same mounting point NIXY builds into its own boards’ action-mount locations, and it’s common enough across other brands’ accessory points that it usually drops straight in without an adapter. The tradeoff for the low price is an open cradle — the phone sits exposed to spray and splash, not sealed against a wave or a dunk, so it suits paddlers who mostly want a phone visible for navigation or music on calm water rather than fishing or surf conditions.
Buy it if: you want the cheapest mount that works with a board’s existing M8 point, and you’re not paddling in conditions where a wave over the deck is likely.
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2. RAM X-Grip Phone Mount with Track Ball Base — Best for Track-Mounted Boards
RAM X-Grip Phone Mount with Track Ball Base (Medium)
- Confirmed direct on rammount.com at $63.99 — a spring-loaded X-Grip cradle on a RAM Track Ball base that slides into a GT Track, RAM Tough-Track, or compatible rail.
- Lists compatibility with over 150 specific phone models, from iPhone 6s through 15 Pro and multiple Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and Motorola lines, per RAM's own compatibility chart.
- Width range 1.875"-3.25" and depth up to 0.875" — RAM notes to measure the phone with its case on, since the range is sized for a naked device.
If a board already carries a track for a rod holder, cup holder, or camera mount, the X-Grip is the way to add a phone to the same rail without a separate mounting system. RAM builds it around the same spring-loaded cradle used across its entire kayak and marine line, and the 150+-model compatibility list is unusually specific for a phone mount — most competitors just claim “universal fit” without publishing which devices they’ve actually tested. At $63.99 it costs roughly four times the NIXY pick, and it assumes a track is already installed; if your board has none, see our best paddle board rod holder guide for what a track adds first.
Buy it if: your board already has a RAM or GT Track rail, and you want a mount with a specifically documented phone-compatibility list rather than a generic “universal” claim.
3. ARMOR-X MX-IPH Waterproof Case with X-Mount & Carabiner — Best Waterproof
ARMOR-X MX-IPH Waterproof Case with X-Mount & Carabiner
- Confirmed direct on armor-x.com at $69.99 — an IP68-rated case for iPhone 14-17 series with a built-in X-Mount interface and a carabiner as a backup tether.
- IP68 per the IEC 60529 standard means dust-tight plus protection against continuous immersion beyond 1 meter — though the exact tested depth and duration is set by the manufacturer, not fixed by the rating itself.
- The X-Mount interface clips onto ARMOR-X's own track and suction bases (sold separately) or compatible action-mount adapters.
The NIXY and RAM picks above both hold a bare phone in an open cradle, which is fine until a wave crosses the deck or the board flips. The ARMOR-X case flips the order — the phone goes into a sealed, IP68-rated shell first, and the X-Mount interface on the outside of that shell is what attaches to the board. That makes it the pick for anglers, surf-adjacent paddling, or anyone who’s had a phone go for an unplanned swim before. The carabiner is a sensible belt-and-suspenders addition: if the mount itself ever lets go, the phone is still tethered rather than sinking. It’s the most expensive option here and, unlike the other two, is sized specifically for iPhone 14-17 series rather than a broad device range.
Buy it if: you want the phone itself waterproofed, not just held on deck, and you’re paddling conditions where a wave or a flip is a real possibility.
How to choose a paddle board phone mount
- Check for an existing mounting point first. An M8 screw hole is the most common factory point on paddle boards and kayaks; a track (GT Track, RAM Tough-Track, Scotty) is the next most common. Buy the mount that matches what’s already there before adding a second, incompatible system.
- Decide if you need waterproofing or just a cradle. An open cradle like the NIXY or RAM pick is cheaper and lighter, but exposes the phone to spray. A sealed case like the ARMOR-X pick costs more but protects the device itself, not just the mount.
- Match your phone size, not just the mount brand. The NIXY holder’s larger bracket fits phones up to 7” wide; the RAM X-Grip’s published range is 1.875”-3.25” wide with the case on — check both before assuming a “universal” mount actually fits.
- Skip suction mounts on soft-top boards. Suction only holds on a hard, flat, clean surface — see our best paddle board GoPro mount guide for that same tradeoff on camera mounts.
- None of these require drilling. Every option in this guide threads into a screw point or slides into a track — none puncture an inflatable board’s air chamber.
Paddle board phone mounts by the numbers
- $15-$70 — the price range across this guide’s three picks, from the M8-screw budget holder to the full waterproof case.
- 150+ — the number of specific phone models RAM’s own compatibility chart lists for the X-Grip Track Ball mount, per rammount.com.
- 1 meter+ — the minimum continuous-immersion depth an IP68 rating like the ARMOR-X case’s requires under the IEC 60529 standard, though the manufacturer sets the exact tested depth and duration.
Once your phone’s mounted, a few more accessories round out an on-water setup — see our best paddle board dry bag picks if you’d rather keep it sealed away instead, our best paddle board GoPro mount guide for action-camera options, and our paddle board accessories hub for everything else worth adding to a deck.
The bottom line
Buy the NIXY SUP & Kayak Phone Holder at $15 if your board has an M8 mounting point and you’re paddling calm water — it’s the cheapest way to get a phone visible on deck. Step up to the RAM X-Grip Phone Mount with Track Ball Base ($63.99) if your board already has a track rail and you want a mount with a specifically documented compatibility list. Choose the ARMOR-X MX-IPH Waterproof Case ($69.99) if you want the phone itself protected against a wave or a flip, not just held on deck.