Armstrong HS1550 V2

Thanks Hilly, eppo, baldy & Pacey

Wish I could demo the 1550v2, bit hard getting any demos, especially since stocks are depleted as is.
ive got the Flying V wing coming, so will ride and see what I like.
ive also heard more HA coming. if I was a guessing man I'd say something larger around 1800 and another perhaps 2000. That'd cover a broad sector of wingers

I have had 1 session on it so far (tow in prone), a day prior to lockdown. I think it's a fast wing with great glide. I find it's pumping cadence to be lighter and faster than the 1850 which is something I prefer. Happy days

I have been following this topic and wanted to ask for some input if possible. At 150 lbs/68 kgs, I am riding the 1210 Takuma Kujira on the 75 cm carbon mast below a 95L board and a 5m wing. I ride bays with 1-4 foot wind swell in 12-30 knts. I am interested in the Armstrong HS1550v2 as a replacement foil due to the very sharp and dangerous wing on the Takuma Kujira. Some riders are sanding down their Kujiras, but I like the what I see in the Armstrong build quality online, and the wing looks a lot more reasonably shaped in terms of safety without having to modify the kit. Does anyone have input comparing the two foils? If so, is the Kujira have performance virtues over Armstrong that would make it worthwhile detuning those sharp edges? Also, for my weight, is the HS1550v2 a good size for light (>12 kt) to moderate winds (20-30 kt)? Thank you for your advice.

Hi All
I used to ride a 1550 V1 with a 232 tail I have changed to the new A+ system with 1550 V2 and also the new V tail. I am 93 kgs and only foil prone. I have been riding the 1550 V2 for 15 hours in all different conditions and sizes currently I have a love-hate opinion of it at the moment. It definitely pumps better than the V1 but does not carve a wave nowhere near as good as the V1. I am not a fan of the V tail as well. At the moment I'd prefer my old set up.

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Mr Soft Serve said..
Hi All
I used to ride a 1550 V1 with a 232 tail I have changed to the new A+ system with 1550 V2 and also the new V tail. I am 93 kgs and only foil prone. I have been riding the 1550 V2 for 15 hours in all different conditions and sizes currently I have a love-hate opinion of it at the moment. It definitely pumps better than the V1 but does not carve a wave nowhere near as good as the V1. I am not a fan of the V tail as well. At the moment I'd prefer my old set up.

Have you tried your V1 with just the tail change ?

I have now paired the V tail with the HS1550 V2 and it has definitely loosened it up with no obvious downsides. The next couple of days are forecast strong winds so it will be interesting to see how it performs.

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eppo said..

Mr Soft Serve said..

eppo said..

Mr Soft Serve said..
Hi All
I used to ride a 1550 V1 with a 232 tail I have changed to the new A+ system with 1550 V2 and also the new V tail. I am 93 kgs and only foil prone. I have been riding the 1550 V2 for 15 hours in all different conditions and sizes currently I have a love-hate opinion of it at the moment. It definitely pumps better than the V1 but does not carve a wave nowhere near as good as the V1. I am not a fan of the V tail as well. At the moment I'd prefer my old set up.

Have you tried your V1 with just the tail change ?

No I haven't tried the V1 with V tail. But I have tried it with my CF 1200 and I didn't like it on bigger swell compared to my 232 tail. I have also tried the V2 with the 232 tail but wasn't as good as with the V1 in carving into waves. Maybe I need to stop watching YouTube ??reviews .Maybe it might be better for winging ??

So when on the 1200 what didn't you like about the tail in the swell? Too loose ? Not enough tracking ?


as far as carving on the V1 versus V2 ... makes sense. It's like when I chopped my 1250. Carves significantly better but it lost its glide and pump somewhat. Although I did adjust and it got
somewhat better. Even better with the new tail.


ps if we can find a buyer for my 1850 I will take your V2 1550.

I found when the V tail was on the 1200 in swell it didn't seem as stable or as loose. I know that doesn't seem to make any sense but the 232 could definitely turns so much better plus carve harder with bigger lean angles than the V tail. I have also tried 0 and 1? shims and the 1? is a little more stable.Plus tried moving the base plate around. I don't think I could grind a $1100 wing down I definitely would have to demo one first before doing it. As far as selling it yet Eppo I will hang in a little longer with it for now thanks.

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stroppo said..
I tried the v200 tail with the v2 1550 and it changed the handling a lot more than I thought it would my first impressions of the 1550v2 was pretty average
but with the 200 tail totally different quite remarkable really the difference in carving

This is with the HS 1550 V1 and 232 tail. Love this set up at 93kgs.

Yeh I heard that 15 inch Maui tail is the bomb.

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hilly said..I tried the 1550 V2 and was really underwhelmed so stayed with 1250. I was really hoping it was the one for small waves and light wind. Hopefully I can try it cutdown with the 200 tail soon. Just need someone to chop theirs over here.

A lot can happen in a month.

Got 1125 and found the glide unreal, not so good turning. Had the V tail and new fuse. So tried the 1550 V2 again and liked it for wind ding. Still felt a bit stiff and glide was ok. Second hand one came up, so I bought it.

Still underwhelmed with it after the 1250 for Sup foil. Then I used the 1250 this morning and that felt slow and no glide, WTF??? Then the penny dropped! I was using a new A+ fuse with the stock -1 setting in the tail, I hated the -1 shim on the old fuse.

Went home and butchered a 1-degree shim, put in backwards and trimmed it down, voila a -2-shim. Went back out and all the issues gone, heaps of glide, playful in turns and no heavy back foot pressure needed. Clipped the tips of the 1550 15mm as well which really helps turns.
So finally happy with it.

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Pat WA 1965 said..
Interesting to note the wingspan is 938mm, just 2 mm shy of the hs1850 at 940mm.
A totally different wing to the 1550v1.

Rode mine for the first time today sup foiling,60 fuse and 232 tail. Coming off axis 920 s on standard fuse and 500. Armstrong is faster,easier to turn, lighter and obviously less stable.

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stroppo said..

hilly said..

hilly said..I tried the 1550 V2 and was really underwhelmed so stayed with 1250. I was really hoping it was the one for small waves and light wind. Hopefully I can try it cutdown with the 200 tail soon. Just need someone to chop theirs over here.

A lot can happen in a month.

Got 1125 and found the glide unreal, not so good turning. Had the V tail and new fuse. So tried the 1550 V2 again and liked it for wind ding. Still felt a bit stiff and glide was ok. Second hand one came up, so I bought it.

Still underwhelmed with it after the 1250 for Sup foil. Then I used the 1250 this morning and that felt slow and no glide, WTF??? Then the penny dropped! I was using a new A+ fuse with the stock -1 setting in the tail, I hated the -1 shim on the old fuse.

Went home and butchered a 1-degree shim, put in backwards and trimmed it down, voila a -2-shim. Went back out and all the issues gone, heaps of glide, playful in turns and no heavy back foot pressure needed. Clipped the tips of the 1550 15mm as well which really helps turns.
So finally happy with it.

Yeah Hilly I did the same with my red shim and is much better I don't understand why they don't sell the setup with a -1 shim at least it's an easy fix

So I whacked on some else's A plus system the other day (chopped 1250 and V tail) with a plus 1 shim . so neutral. It was horrible to pump back out and link on my prone. On the back foot felt like I was pushing against a rigid dead spot. This person is also having issues getting back into his groove using the A plus setup

got back on my setup (same front and back wing) with a minus 2 shim, and it felt so much better again.
Something in that minus 2 setup if you cant move your mast plate any more forward. I like the extra front foot pressure as the army foils are so efficient they still won't buck up at you. Just means you level out so much quicker and provides and more balanced ride between feet, from what I've experienced. Hence you can control higher speeds during turns.

ps was saying to Hilly I shaped my sons back tail to a KD Maui type shape (as he's using a high aspect Konrad front foil prototype) and he loves it. Faster, turns better, pumps better (and this boy can pump and link well). Something in that tail shape.

Really growing into this foil. Chopped tips, mast right forward and 0 shim it has become my favourite foil. So much glide and really good turning.

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Pacey said..Which tail are you using?

KDmaui 15 inch

How do people find the low end on the 1550v2 compared to the 1850?

trying to work out wether need the 1850 to go with the 1250 or can get away with the 1550 for winging when it's light and patchy 10-12knts small weak or no waves? 85kg rider 75L board max 5.5 wing good pumper

thanks ??