In the first SUPboarder Pro Tests for 2021 we’re going to be testing the newest accessory for any SUPer wanting to increase their water time… 5m Wings…to access this head to head test of an amazing 13 wings, sign up to SUPboarder PRO.
Brilliant test Reuben and well done to the whole team! I lost patience waiting on the test… and bought a 6m Airush/Starboard wing about a month ago and have had such good fun in all sorts of conditions. In my limited experience of a few session with one wing, I definitely agree with everything you said in the comments about that particular wing. One of the most amazing things for me, coming from a Windsurf background, is the massive wind range these wings have! I’m now considering a smaller wing and was thinking about a 4m Airush/Starboard Freewing. Based on… Read more »
Hey Ciaran. Sorry it took so long but glad you made the right choice with the wing. Size wise you are bang on, a 4m would work really well along side your 6m. And like you said the wind range is crazy. These two wings should have you covered for on the wind strengths you will want to go out in. You could get some epic down wind swell surfing on the loch at yours. Happy winging!
Managed to get access now. Great review, cheers for that. I have had 3.5 and 5 F-Ones for a year and I am still happy with them as I mainly downwind and waveride but happy to hear my upcoming purchase of a 6 Smik sounds justified
Great review Team!!! Coming from the isup world though .. i just dont understand these such high prices. I can see where the money goes in isup’s , with all the tech of drop stitch and heat welding etc etc. but can’t seem to relate that to a £800+ wing. i understand all the R&D and stuff … but they’re just coming with such a heavy price tag 🙁
We hear you Jonny. The Prices do vary from brand to brand and there are definitely cheaper price point wings are coming onto the market now. It’s the same with kite surfing, prices vary but there definitely seems to be quite a lot of complexity in designing and making a wing that works well. There will always be cheaper price points and more expensive price points. The only thing I will say comparing wings to inflatable paddleboards is that can be a lot less design work going into an iSUP because they are very much constricted by using a drop… Read more »
Fraser
3 years ago
Great review!
IMO an all rounder category for intermediate/advanced riders would be great if you only wanted one do-it-all wing.
On the contrary, maybe a follow up video with recommendations if you are considering two wings, eg power/pumping for low wind, other factors for high wind.
And on pumping- getting up on foil is one of the hardest things to do as a total beginner. Lots of pumping power helpful when inefficient and learning … but that’s missing from getting started category…
Hey Fraser, Thanks for your comments and suggestions. Reg pumping as a beginner. Philip Seu hights the same comment. We found in our experience from teaching beginners that they are not at the stage of learning how to pump with the wing. They just use the wing to slowly pull themselves back onto the foil. So the getting started award and categories does not include pumping. With the power category also most beginners found it harder to control and use more powerful wings when they first start. But if a certain rider thinks they need more power then they can… Read more »
Thanks for the response! I think the key thing here is that without pumping power (and bad technique) it’s really hard to get on foil in lower-moderate winds as a beginner. I started with a 5m f-one and pumped until I fell over from exaustion while other riders were getting up on smaller wings and smaller foils easily. I swapped wings once and a 6m powerful ozone wasp had noticeably more pull! Looking back, it was the 17kts + days that got my foiling for the first time because there was enough wind to compensate for my lousy technique. A… Read more »
Yeah I got you… We have had some great feedback from readers about how to make the test better for next year. The hardest thing now is keeping the time dowm Happy winging Reuben
Philip Seu
3 years ago
Very well done overall. I I like how you explained your rating criteria in detail and the numerical scoring as well as objective date such as weights and dimensions. One criticism is with your concept of giving a category award because the criteria used are too narrow. For example, everyone knows that one of the biggest challenges for a beginner is getting on foil yet your “Getting Started” award does not consider power (static or pumping) and neither does your “Wave Riding” category. What good is all that other stuff such as ease of turning over if you cannot foil… Read more »
Hi Philip. Glad you enjoyed the test. Reg, Award categories, we did think long and hard about what categories to put into the awards. And like I said in Frasers comment below about the getting started award. We found in our experience from teaching beginners that they are not at the stage of learning how to pump with the wing. They just use the wing to slowly pull themselves up onto the foil. So the getting started award and categories does not include pumping. With the power category also most beginners found it harder to control and use more powerful… Read more »
Again, you did a very comprehensive, labor intensive test and produced great information that will help consumers make decisions. However, I have been thinking more about your methodology of the Discipline Scores and I really feel you made a pretty big mistake in the way you came up with these category winners. Your response above is reasonable but the “headlines” I see online are things like “my wing won or came in second in ….” It is misleading because the power of the wing was not a factor in 2 out of the 3 Discipline Scores. I little thought experiment… Read more »
Hey Philip, Thanks for your comment and i like how you have highlighted your point. We will defo take you points up with the team and make sure the test improves into the future. I do understand what you are saying. There are so many things to consider when doing a test like this. But as ever we want to improving things into the future for sure. Do you want to be in charge of data and testing criteria next year? I can only imagine how many wings we will have!
Reuben, I am excited about what you are doing because this is by far the most serious tests of wings out there. You might find it helpful to get more diverse opinions on your approach to next year’s test. Let me know if I can help.
Thanks Philip. Yes we are looking to always make out tests better. Where are you based?
Hum3
3 years ago
Fantastic work guys. Really valuable insight. My comments would be: – your testing shows that price does not necessarily give you a better product. I know you didn’t go into pricing but clearly there are some brands who can deliver a great product at great value. – the F1 is STILL near the top of the pile and there haven’t been any leaps made to surpass it, YET! A shame you couldn’t get a couple of the newer / soon to be released models, but I’m sure you’ll slot them into the table once you get a chance. I’m very… Read more »
Hi Christian. Thanks for adding your feedback and comments. You have some good points in there. Yeah the F-one could do with an update but it’s still so good in the surf. Trying to time this test at the right time was an issue. It was a shame that we could get the new OZONE too. But so many buyers wanted this test out months ago we couldn’t wait any longer. As I said in this video there are so many other wings out there, some brands just could make wings in time for the test and some brands didn’t… Read more »
Peter Piet
3 years ago
Great test! Happy to pay you a month’s worth of subscription 🙂 Besides the obvious (c’mon Slingshot!), and maybe I just missed it my 1st time watching; Is there a real difference between the wings concerning the width of the windrange? Seems there’s a small difference in lower end (either more power of better pumpability), but are the top ends comparable or do some wings have noticably broarder ranges? What would your real world guess for the windrange of the 5m wings be? Funny thing about this new sport is that after one answer mulptiple new questions arise, but would… Read more »
Hey Peter Good question. I would say that a 5m wind range for me would be 9-25knts. But Im quite happy to use many wings powered right up…bigger jumps! When it comes to keeping control in the high winds just have a look at our De power category. It incorporates a few other things like going into manoeuvers but it gives you a pretty good idea about how we felt the wings handled the higher winds. Most of the wings were pretty comfortable. But the Duotone is the one wing that can get a little bit awkward in the high… Read more »
Thanks for your reply. I currently own a WASP 4m, but that limits my riding chances significantly because I need around 16 knots to get going, 20 to have fun. On inland lakes that windstrength is rare, at our North Sea coast it usualy means you have to deal with breaking waves/shorebreak (in knee tot bellydeep water) and currents. Not ideal to get the hang of it… :-).
Hey Peter I agree launching in surf in marginal conditions can be really hard work.
ICSurf
3 years ago
Congrats, you Kernow testers knock it out of the park!!! Great review and a really great insight into wings. I own 3 wings by 3 different brands to use in very different circumstances. I think as you correctly point out what’s good for one person isn’t necessarily going to be best fit for someone else. Beginner, wave rider, freeriding etc.. I don’t know how you test this but I’d like to know if a 5m or a 5.4m is actually the correct area. I feel some brands maybe passing off a slightly larger wings as a smaller wing and thus… Read more »
He he, only got through about 4 Pasties if I remember rightly. Glad you enjoyed the test. Thanks for your kind words. Like you said riders are all so different and trying to match them to the right wing isn’t always easy. Having more awards is easier to do this. But after last years feedback from readers wanting less awards. We kept it at 3 this year. Reg area. We did talk about this, but decided not to include it in this test, also hard to manage accurately. I think you are right though and thats why the feel of… Read more »
Thanks Ian. You have a good selection of wings there. Let us know how your kids are getting on with it. I’m sure others would like to find out about that.
RobCee
3 years ago
Great test guys. The range of experience within the team and local conditions mean each wing is put through a series of useful tests. I have an air rush/ starboard wing and agree your assessment. Probably a good thing to not discuss price… so many variables there depending on country, time of year and, for the UK, post Brexit currency rates! Loved the outtakes BTW. Thanks again and all the best for 2021.
Hey Gerhard Thanks for the comments. Gong didn’t want to to be involved with the test. We have heard mix things about the GONG wing. Most seam to find it ok and good value but we have heard of some breaking early in use. I will try and get some more feedback from Gong owners here… TBH When it came to using your wings in gusty and lighter wind conditions we tested all the wings in a few locations and one of the locations is directly off the front of where we are based which gives us gusty conditions, so… Read more »
Julian Dorey
3 years ago
Great review, well structured and a lot of info packed in. I started on an Echo and have just gone to the Ensis 5.2 thinking of the Unit 4m as a quiver partner. The Echo was great, a bit of a flip flopper in bigger wind and heavy/sinky when maneuvering in/close to the water. But it was so good to use as as an ex windsurfer – totally boomTastic. Ensis? not sure yet but it has the long handle design so close to the Echo but not as grabbable, super easy close to the water when reloading and good power.… Read more »
Thanks for your feedback Julian. Glad you are loving the winging.
Andrewfriend
3 years ago
great test, shame the gong guys didn’t send anything over… one question I had is how these wings stack up compared to last years? by the looks of it some havent changed – the ozone and fone? but others are different – duotone naish etc. has there been much development, and how does for instance a 2019 duotone wing stack up against all of these ones? thanks!
Good question. I still personally really like the original duotone. But the newer wing definitely has had some big improvements and it feels more comfortable in a wider range of wind conditions. Talking about the F-one it just goes to show how well designed that wing was in the first place. I feel if it had a few extra handles it would’ve taken the top spot in the surf this year. Unfortunately the new ozone wasn’t available for our test because it’s out in March. And Gong were a no show! As a summary of the new wings compare to… Read more »
David Keeley
3 years ago
Well done, good read. Be interesting if the review contrasted the likely more comparable Armstrong 4.5m (rather than 5.5m), as I think an oversize wing is a liability most most other categories.
Hey David, Thanks for your comment. We did discuss this at length. We decided the 5.5 would fit better as many of the other wings in the test where 5.2 /5.3m so plus 5m in size and only had one PPC wing smaller than 5m. But we have a 4.5 Armstrong here now so we will give it a go and answer any questions about it. Thanks again for the feedback, please keep it coming.
Yeah, Im About to put and Armstrong overview video out next week. But I have use the 4.5 a lot more over the last month and think it’s a much more balanced wing, the window works on this one.. and I do think this is the wing that Armstrong have designed their range around. Seams like a nice balance of control and power. Still don’t think it’s the best wing out there and the top 3 test results wouldn’t change. But its a better wing for sure and I have been happy riding it.
Howard LeCain
3 years ago
So dare I say it! I dare! When do you plan on doing a wing board review?Bottom designs are all over the board. Literally 😉
I’ve done some testing of three boards w very different shapes using the same foil and wing on a given day. I looked at obviously what we all desire “earliest lift off”. Then I did the intentional nose touch or ability to bounce off the water. Thirdly, for those of us who live in the real world, “shlogging” how stable and easy was it to wing in less than planing conditions, waiting for a gust. Obviously there’s other factors like strap placement, construction, pad, and a few other nitpicks. Look forward to your review.
Good overview – very nice testing and information – many thanks for that.
I´m on a slingwing V2 6,4 at the moment (shame it is not in the test this time) and I´m looking for a smaller wing to have a complete quiver. Any recommendations for a – lets say 4,5 wing – as a higher wind wing that is a good supplement to the Slingwing V2
Hey Cord, Yeah it was a shame we didn’t get on the V2. When its comes to getting a 2 wing quiver, keeping with the same brand wing is sometimes a good thing. It was the same in windsurfing and kitesurfing as well, if the wind picked up you could drop down a size and still feel very comfortable because the characteristics of the sail or kite would feel the same so you could transition during a session quickly and efficiently. But apart from that it really depends on what sort of feel you would want when it gets windy.… Read more »
Good morning Reuben, thx for Your kind respond. I like the V2 for its lightness. I use it for super light conditions on a inland lake. For its powerfulness I have no comparison because I have never ridden someting else. Could you give me a hint regarding the V2 6.4th power compared to your test candidates? I aggree with your tip to stay with one brand in the quiver – always did that with windsurf and kite gear. I just dont know if the step down to a V2 4.4 is to big. The 5.4 seems to close on the… Read more »
Unfortunately I cannot judge or tell you how much power the V2 has because I just haven’t even had one go on it. But I think there’s been some big improvements since the V1. I would generally say that dropping down for you for a 4.4 would be a good choice. 2 m in size is generally a good drop and what most of our readers are telling us that they are comfortable with so I see there be no reason why you wouldn’t feel the same with your V2 quiver. Generally smaller wings should always feel the best and… Read more »
Robb Hammond
3 years ago
I can only access the 1 minute promo video. How come I cannot find the full test? Was it taken down?
Hi Robb, you are seeing the teaser clip – you need to clear your browser cache or refresh the page a few times to see the full video. Your browser does this to make things faster…. but causes this annoyance
Mulder
3 years ago
Very good review, I now know everything about wings. Good Job!
Hi Robert. Sometimes it’s usually just to do with your computers cache which is the way it updates and refreshes its memory (or the way I understand it as a non-techy person :-). Try and log into a new browser and sign in to pro and the video should be there. Or delete your browser history and cache and try again. Failing that if it’s still a problem please let us know and I’ll get the team to look into it.
Hey Alex. I think we are meant to be getting one to play with. It could be a nice wing and good for your girlfriend. The only thing I would be cautious of is the words they use here ‘More forward pull and increased speed’. If she is a lighter winger she may not need that?! And it might more too much power?? Makes sense? What size do you think she would need?
I’ll be cautious, she’s 55kg (vs my 85k) I’m leaning towards a 4m so i can use it in stronger wind (in conjunction with my 6m airush for lighter wind) I watched the blueplanetsurf with Rob Whittall from ozone, what he said about minimising different material across panels to maintain the integrity of the sail over time seems to make sense, have u tried the ozone v2 yet?
No it missed to test because it wasn’t out yet. But those guys really know what they are doing wing wise I feel. I see there’s a fair weight difference between you two.
Hey Henry – sign up for a PRO account an you should have access – In some instances you will need to clear your browser cache to see the test video rather than the preview video – this can sometimes be a problem with new sign ups as browsers dont reload the page after you have signed up.
How do you think it will compare now to the Freewing V2 / V1 as a beginner allrounder wing? I mean, they lowered the weight by more than a kilo (even with the alloy boom) and to me with zero experience in this sport or any wind sport it seems like a boom is much easier to handle than those straps.
I wonder which one would you suggest to purchase as the first ever wing?
Hey Eran. TBH we need to get on a Slick to give it a real go. I think we may have one on order though! When it comes to the boom I believe you are right and it is easier than using handles, but having said that when we have taken beginners out many find that using wings with lots of handles not too much of a problem either. As long as they are big and easy to get hold of. But lucy learnt with an original Duotone and she found the boom really a great help to help her… Read more »
Classic… it has just arrived in the post just now… I will try and get out asap and let you know the feedback.
Chuck Waite
3 years ago
I really should have subscribed before I bought my wing. 😀 I got a takuma 5m after taking a lesson. I’ve been happy with it overall but it can be squirrelly at times and it is indeed prone to smothering you when tacking. I find I have to make sure I tilt it up a bit as I cross over. I’ve only practiced on windsurfing boards so far, so perhaps it will be a somewhat different experience on foil. Any plans for a follow-up video for high-wind condition wings and sizes? That’s a ways off for me yet, but it… Read more »
Thanks for your positive words Chuck. The Takuma is a pretty good wing and hits a good price, so you haven’t got a dog by any means! You will get the hang of the tacking, trying to keep your front hand as far forwards (to the front leading tube) will always help if you are getting back winded!
We would love to do some high wind testing for sure. Let see what happens this autumn, I will put it to the team
DaveyB20
3 years ago
Super testing Reuben and team, comprehensive and as always so informative and objective.
Vasileios Tsiaras
3 years ago
Hi guys, nice review. Have you got a review for the 2022 models coming out soon?
Hi, We are going to be putting our focus onto foils this year instead, with a foils buyers guide. But we are bound to have stand alone wing reviews coming out on the site also.. Thanks Reuben
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Well done boys ..pro testers
Thanks for the comments guys.
Brilliant test Reuben and well done to the whole team! I lost patience waiting on the test… and bought a 6m Airush/Starboard wing about a month ago and have had such good fun in all sorts of conditions. In my limited experience of a few session with one wing, I definitely agree with everything you said in the comments about that particular wing. One of the most amazing things for me, coming from a Windsurf background, is the massive wind range these wings have! I’m now considering a smaller wing and was thinking about a 4m Airush/Starboard Freewing. Based on… Read more »
Hey Ciaran. Sorry it took so long but glad you made the right choice with the wing. Size wise you are bang on, a 4m would work really well along side your 6m. And like you said the wind range is crazy. These two wings should have you covered for on the wind strengths you will want to go out in. You could get some epic down wind swell surfing on the loch at yours. Happy winging!
I have the 4 and 6 too – as a windsport I’m blown away by the windrange of wingsurfing – and the freewing too.
Hey Mike
Yeah, it’s crazy how much wind you can use these wings in. Quick to pump up too!
Good to hear you are enjoying the Airush.
Wel worth the wait!
Thanx for the good work.
Thanks for the feedback.
I can’t seem to access this wing comparison.
I have signed up and am logged in but keep getting the sign up to supboarderpro to access message
Hi Kent, sounds like your browser cache. Clear it or try signing in on another browser.
Managed to get access now.
Great review, cheers for that.
I have had 3.5 and 5 F-Ones for a year and I am still happy with them as I mainly downwind and waveride but happy to hear my upcoming purchase of a 6 Smik sounds justified
Glad you enjoyed it Kent.
Great test! First of its kind. Only missing the Slinwing v2. Perhaps you could add it later if you can get a hold on it. Thanks!
Yes this would of completed the test.
And the Duotone Unit
Great review Team!!!
Coming from the isup world though .. i just dont understand these such high prices.
I can see where the money goes in isup’s , with all the tech of drop stitch and heat welding etc etc.
but can’t seem to relate that to a £800+ wing.
i understand all the R&D and stuff … but they’re just coming with such a heavy price tag 🙁
We hear you Jonny. The Prices do vary from brand to brand and there are definitely cheaper price point wings are coming onto the market now. It’s the same with kite surfing, prices vary but there definitely seems to be quite a lot of complexity in designing and making a wing that works well. There will always be cheaper price points and more expensive price points. The only thing I will say comparing wings to inflatable paddleboards is that can be a lot less design work going into an iSUP because they are very much constricted by using a drop… Read more »
Great review!
IMO an all rounder category for intermediate/advanced riders would be great if you only wanted one do-it-all wing.
On the contrary, maybe a follow up video with recommendations if you are considering two wings, eg power/pumping for low wind, other factors for high wind.
And on pumping- getting up on foil is one of the hardest things to do as a total beginner. Lots of pumping power helpful when inefficient and learning … but that’s missing from getting started category…
Cheers!
Hey Fraser, Thanks for your comments and suggestions. Reg pumping as a beginner. Philip Seu hights the same comment. We found in our experience from teaching beginners that they are not at the stage of learning how to pump with the wing. They just use the wing to slowly pull themselves back onto the foil. So the getting started award and categories does not include pumping. With the power category also most beginners found it harder to control and use more powerful wings when they first start. But if a certain rider thinks they need more power then they can… Read more »
Thanks for the response! I think the key thing here is that without pumping power (and bad technique) it’s really hard to get on foil in lower-moderate winds as a beginner. I started with a 5m f-one and pumped until I fell over from exaustion while other riders were getting up on smaller wings and smaller foils easily. I swapped wings once and a 6m powerful ozone wasp had noticeably more pull! Looking back, it was the 17kts + days that got my foiling for the first time because there was enough wind to compensate for my lousy technique. A… Read more »
Yeah I got you… We have had some great feedback from readers about how to make the test better for next year. The hardest thing now is keeping the time dowm
Happy winging Reuben
Very well done overall. I I like how you explained your rating criteria in detail and the numerical scoring as well as objective date such as weights and dimensions. One criticism is with your concept of giving a category award because the criteria used are too narrow. For example, everyone knows that one of the biggest challenges for a beginner is getting on foil yet your “Getting Started” award does not consider power (static or pumping) and neither does your “Wave Riding” category. What good is all that other stuff such as ease of turning over if you cannot foil… Read more »
Hi Philip. Glad you enjoyed the test. Reg, Award categories, we did think long and hard about what categories to put into the awards. And like I said in Frasers comment below about the getting started award. We found in our experience from teaching beginners that they are not at the stage of learning how to pump with the wing. They just use the wing to slowly pull themselves up onto the foil. So the getting started award and categories does not include pumping. With the power category also most beginners found it harder to control and use more powerful… Read more »
Again, you did a very comprehensive, labor intensive test and produced great information that will help consumers make decisions. However, I have been thinking more about your methodology of the Discipline Scores and I really feel you made a pretty big mistake in the way you came up with these category winners. Your response above is reasonable but the “headlines” I see online are things like “my wing won or came in second in ….” It is misleading because the power of the wing was not a factor in 2 out of the 3 Discipline Scores. I little thought experiment… Read more »
Hey Philip, Thanks for your comment and i like how you have highlighted your point. We will defo take you points up with the team and make sure the test improves into the future. I do understand what you are saying. There are so many things to consider when doing a test like this. But as ever we want to improving things into the future for sure. Do you want to be in charge of data and testing criteria next year? I can only imagine how many wings we will have!
Reuben, I am excited about what you are doing because this is by far the most serious tests of wings out there. You might find it helpful to get more diverse opinions on your approach to next year’s test. Let me know if I can help.
Thanks Philip. Yes we are looking to always make out tests better. Where are you based?
Fantastic work guys. Really valuable insight. My comments would be: – your testing shows that price does not necessarily give you a better product. I know you didn’t go into pricing but clearly there are some brands who can deliver a great product at great value. – the F1 is STILL near the top of the pile and there haven’t been any leaps made to surpass it, YET! A shame you couldn’t get a couple of the newer / soon to be released models, but I’m sure you’ll slot them into the table once you get a chance. I’m very… Read more »
Hi Christian. Thanks for adding your feedback and comments. You have some good points in there. Yeah the F-one could do with an update but it’s still so good in the surf. Trying to time this test at the right time was an issue. It was a shame that we could get the new OZONE too. But so many buyers wanted this test out months ago we couldn’t wait any longer. As I said in this video there are so many other wings out there, some brands just could make wings in time for the test and some brands didn’t… Read more »
Great test! Happy to pay you a month’s worth of subscription 🙂 Besides the obvious (c’mon Slingshot!), and maybe I just missed it my 1st time watching; Is there a real difference between the wings concerning the width of the windrange? Seems there’s a small difference in lower end (either more power of better pumpability), but are the top ends comparable or do some wings have noticably broarder ranges? What would your real world guess for the windrange of the 5m wings be? Funny thing about this new sport is that after one answer mulptiple new questions arise, but would… Read more »
Hey Peter Good question. I would say that a 5m wind range for me would be 9-25knts. But Im quite happy to use many wings powered right up…bigger jumps! When it comes to keeping control in the high winds just have a look at our De power category. It incorporates a few other things like going into manoeuvers but it gives you a pretty good idea about how we felt the wings handled the higher winds. Most of the wings were pretty comfortable. But the Duotone is the one wing that can get a little bit awkward in the high… Read more »
Thanks for your reply.
I currently own a WASP 4m, but that limits my riding chances significantly because I need around 16 knots to get going, 20 to have fun. On inland lakes that windstrength is rare, at our North Sea coast it usualy means you have to deal with breaking waves/shorebreak (in knee tot bellydeep water) and currents. Not ideal to get the hang of it… :-).
Keep up the good work!
Hey Peter I agree launching in surf in marginal conditions can be really hard work.
Congrats, you Kernow testers knock it out of the park!!! Great review and a really great insight into wings. I own 3 wings by 3 different brands to use in very different circumstances. I think as you correctly point out what’s good for one person isn’t necessarily going to be best fit for someone else. Beginner, wave rider, freeriding etc.. I don’t know how you test this but I’d like to know if a 5m or a 5.4m is actually the correct area. I feel some brands maybe passing off a slightly larger wings as a smaller wing and thus… Read more »
He he, only got through about 4 Pasties if I remember rightly. Glad you enjoyed the test. Thanks for your kind words. Like you said riders are all so different and trying to match them to the right wing isn’t always easy. Having more awards is easier to do this. But after last years feedback from readers wanting less awards. We kept it at 3 this year. Reg area. We did talk about this, but decided not to include it in this test, also hard to manage accurately. I think you are right though and thats why the feel of… Read more »
I was lucky enough to test a few wings before buying. The 3 I settled on..
6.4m Slingshot slingwing v2. This is for very light wind. Its fantastic and really powerful low end.
A takoon 4m which is very light but most importantly has the smallest wingspan of any 4m wing. This is for strong wind and for teaching my kids.
The 5m Fone is my general use wing and learning to go in waves and using depowered downwind.
I’d definitely test before buying as it’s a very personal preference.. In saying that I could have fun with any wing!!!
Thanks Ian. You have a good selection of wings there. Let us know how your kids are getting on with it. I’m sure others would like to find out about that.
Great test guys. The range of experience within the team and local conditions mean each wing is put through a series of useful tests.
I have an air rush/ starboard wing and agree your assessment.
Probably a good thing to not discuss price… so many variables there depending on country, time of year and, for the UK, post Brexit currency rates!
Loved the outtakes BTW.
Thanks again and all the best for 2021.
Thanks for your positive comments Rob. Price wise it’s always a hard thing. Because like you say. Prices can be so different.
I’m dizzy, and that’s a huge plus 🙂 excellent job!!!
How about GONG wings?
What about Wings for lakes with changing directions plus low wind?
Hey Gerhard Thanks for the comments. Gong didn’t want to to be involved with the test. We have heard mix things about the GONG wing. Most seam to find it ok and good value but we have heard of some breaking early in use. I will try and get some more feedback from Gong owners here… TBH When it came to using your wings in gusty and lighter wind conditions we tested all the wings in a few locations and one of the locations is directly off the front of where we are based which gives us gusty conditions, so… Read more »
Great review, well structured and a lot of info packed in. I started on an Echo and have just gone to the Ensis 5.2 thinking of the Unit 4m as a quiver partner. The Echo was great, a bit of a flip flopper in bigger wind and heavy/sinky when maneuvering in/close to the water. But it was so good to use as as an ex windsurfer – totally boomTastic. Ensis? not sure yet but it has the long handle design so close to the Echo but not as grabbable, super easy close to the water when reloading and good power.… Read more »
Thanks for your feedback Julian. Glad you are loving the winging.
great test, shame the gong guys didn’t send anything over… one question I had is how these wings stack up compared to last years? by the looks of it some havent changed – the ozone and fone? but others are different – duotone naish etc. has there been much development, and how does for instance a 2019 duotone wing stack up against all of these ones? thanks!
Good question. I still personally really like the original duotone. But the newer wing definitely has had some big improvements and it feels more comfortable in a wider range of wind conditions. Talking about the F-one it just goes to show how well designed that wing was in the first place. I feel if it had a few extra handles it would’ve taken the top spot in the surf this year. Unfortunately the new ozone wasn’t available for our test because it’s out in March. And Gong were a no show! As a summary of the new wings compare to… Read more »
Well done, good read.
Be interesting if the review contrasted the likely more comparable Armstrong 4.5m (rather than 5.5m), as I think an oversize wing is a liability most most other categories.
Hey David, Thanks for your comment. We did discuss this at length. We decided the 5.5 would fit better as many of the other wings in the test where 5.2 /5.3m so plus 5m in size and only had one PPC wing smaller than 5m.
But we have a 4.5 Armstrong here now so we will give it a go and answer any questions about it. Thanks again for the feedback, please keep it coming.
Hey Reuben, great video! How did the 4.5m Armstrong go? Any big differences from the 5.5
Thanks
Yeah, Im About to put and Armstrong overview video out next week. But I have use the 4.5 a lot more over the last month and think it’s a much more balanced wing, the window works on this one.. and I do think this is the wing that Armstrong have designed their range around. Seams like a nice balance of control and power. Still don’t think it’s the best wing out there and the top 3 test results wouldn’t change. But its a better wing for sure and I have been happy riding it.
So dare I say it! I dare! When do you plan on doing a wing board review?Bottom designs are all over the board.
Literally 😉
Yeah I think we need too. So many different shapes going on at the moment.
I’ve done some testing of three boards w very different shapes using the same foil and wing on a given day. I looked at obviously what we all desire “earliest lift off”. Then I did the intentional nose touch or ability to bounce off the water. Thirdly, for those of us who live in the real world, “shlogging” how stable and easy was it to wing in less than planing conditions, waiting for a gust.
Obviously there’s other factors like strap placement, construction, pad, and a few other nitpicks.
Look forward to your review.
I look forward to see yours, its sounds great.
Good overview – very nice testing and information – many thanks for that.
I´m on a slingwing V2 6,4 at the moment (shame it is not in the test this time) and I´m looking for a smaller wing to have a complete quiver.
Any recommendations for a – lets say 4,5 wing – as a higher wind wing that is a good supplement to the Slingwing V2
Best regards
Cord
Hey Cord, Yeah it was a shame we didn’t get on the V2. When its comes to getting a 2 wing quiver, keeping with the same brand wing is sometimes a good thing. It was the same in windsurfing and kitesurfing as well, if the wind picked up you could drop down a size and still feel very comfortable because the characteristics of the sail or kite would feel the same so you could transition during a session quickly and efficiently. But apart from that it really depends on what sort of feel you would want when it gets windy.… Read more »
Good morning Reuben, thx for Your kind respond. I like the V2 for its lightness. I use it for super light conditions on a inland lake. For its powerfulness I have no comparison because I have never ridden someting else. Could you give me a hint regarding the V2 6.4th power compared to your test candidates? I aggree with your tip to stay with one brand in the quiver – always did that with windsurf and kite gear. I just dont know if the step down to a V2 4.4 is to big. The 5.4 seems to close on the… Read more »
Unfortunately I cannot judge or tell you how much power the V2 has because I just haven’t even had one go on it. But I think there’s been some big improvements since the V1. I would generally say that dropping down for you for a 4.4 would be a good choice. 2 m in size is generally a good drop and what most of our readers are telling us that they are comfortable with so I see there be no reason why you wouldn’t feel the same with your V2 quiver. Generally smaller wings should always feel the best and… Read more »
I can only access the 1 minute promo video. How come I cannot find the full test? Was it taken down?
Hi Robb, you are seeing the teaser clip – you need to clear your browser cache or refresh the page a few times to see the full video. Your browser does this to make things faster…. but causes this annoyance
Very good review, I now know everything about wings.
Good Job!
Great to hear that. Thanks
Where is the actual comparison. This is just a short into. I am logged into pro and can not find it
Hi Robert.
Sometimes it’s usually just to do with your computers cache which is the way it updates and refreshes its memory (or the way I understand it as a non-techy person :-). Try and log into a new browser and sign in to pro and the video should be there. Or delete your browser history and cache and try again. Failing that if it’s still a problem please let us know and I’ll get the team to look into it.
My membership had not processed properly due to a glitch. It is fixed and I can view the full pro content now. Awesome head to head wing comparison
Amazing test, bought the airush off the back of it, looking at getting a smaller one for the gf to use, any thoughts on the v2, very little info about it? https://www.24-7boardsports.com/airush-starboard-freewing-v2-for-wingfoiling/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9MuCBhBUEiwAbDZ-7nSciJzZy14Ve95JWoES1njk9GJCpDOoVitulWIxTBalzM7hq38IlBoCfhwQAvD_BwE
Hey Alex. I think we are meant to be getting one to play with. It could be a nice wing and good for your girlfriend. The only thing I would be cautious of is the words they use here ‘More forward pull and increased speed’. If she is a lighter winger she may not need that?! And it might more too much power?? Makes sense? What size do you think she would need?
I’ll be cautious, she’s 55kg (vs my 85k) I’m leaning towards a 4m so i can use it in stronger wind (in conjunction with my 6m airush for lighter wind) I watched the blueplanetsurf with Rob Whittall from ozone, what he said about minimising different material across panels to maintain the integrity of the sail over time seems to make sense, have u tried the ozone v2 yet?
No it missed to test because it wasn’t out yet. But those guys really know what they are doing wing wise I feel.
I see there’s a fair weight difference between you two.
Test
How do I access the 2021 Wing test.
Hey Henry – sign up for a PRO account an you should have access – In some instances you will need to clear your browser cache to see the test video rather than the preview video – this can sometimes be a problem with new sign ups as browsers dont reload the page after you have signed up.
Thanks I’ll try to clear my browser
Ok got it 56 min
What are your thoughts for the new Duotone Slick?
How do you think it will compare now to the Freewing V2 / V1 as a beginner allrounder wing?
I mean, they lowered the weight by more than a kilo (even with the alloy boom) and to me with zero experience in this sport or any wind sport it seems like a boom is much easier to handle than those straps.
I wonder which one would you suggest to purchase as the first ever wing?
Hey Eran. TBH we need to get on a Slick to give it a real go. I think we may have one on order though! When it comes to the boom I believe you are right and it is easier than using handles, but having said that when we have taken beginners out many find that using wings with lots of handles not too much of a problem either. As long as they are big and easy to get hold of. But lucy learnt with an original Duotone and she found the boom really a great help to help her… Read more »
Classic… it has just arrived in the post just now… I will try and get out asap and let you know the feedback.
I really should have subscribed before I bought my wing. 😀 I got a takuma 5m after taking a lesson. I’ve been happy with it overall but it can be squirrelly at times and it is indeed prone to smothering you when tacking. I find I have to make sure I tilt it up a bit as I cross over. I’ve only practiced on windsurfing boards so far, so perhaps it will be a somewhat different experience on foil. Any plans for a follow-up video for high-wind condition wings and sizes? That’s a ways off for me yet, but it… Read more »
Thanks for your positive words Chuck. The Takuma is a pretty good wing and hits a good price, so you haven’t got a dog by any means! You will get the hang of the tacking, trying to keep your front hand as far forwards (to the front leading tube) will always help if you are getting back winded!
We would love to do some high wind testing for sure. Let see what happens this autumn, I will put it to the team
Super testing Reuben and team, comprehensive and as always so informative and objective.
Hi guys, nice review. Have you got a review for the 2022 models coming out soon?
Hi, We are going to be putting our focus onto foils this year instead, with a foils buyers guide. But we are bound to have stand alone wing reviews coming out on the site also.. Thanks Reuben
Nice, thank you Reuben