Select to expand quotewarwickl said..
Anyone done a back to back comparison?
Have a 4.0 Dlab and tried a 5.0m SLS the other day. If they put handles on the SLS instead of the boom I'd swap. Smoother power delivery, flags as good as the Dlab. The 5m SLS felt easier to pump, tips didn't seem to catch as much as the 4.0 Dlab but..boom made it feel heavier, couldn't throw it around as easily as the Dlab on a wave. Not terrible but Dlab has the edge for me. Not sure how much lighter the new carbon boom is but that might help
The carbon boom "feels" considerably lighter than the aluminium -- I have both. At the time I purchased the Slick I could only get the aluminium boom. When I bought the SLS the carbon boom was available so I purchased it.
I have the 3.0 sls and 4.0 dlab. Input isn't the thing you think about honestly. The boom is great to have, makes everything easier. I gave up on booms after my echo and my OG slick (that I hate now) when I got the dlabs. But I was forced to buy a new sls for a trip and it's awesome, you can spin the wing like a pizza, and grab the wing and power up even in the funkiest of transitions before stalling. The Carbon boom is nice and light.
The sls wing feels like a member of the same family but just more forgiving and a shorter wingspan. I still have a sort of stalling issue at tighter angles with them all but nobody else seems to. Shrug.
I used my friends Unit V2 (not Dlab) and really enjoyed it, the stiff handles felt much more direct than my Slingwing V3 straps.
Was debating going to the Unit as all my friends have and love them but just to be different I got the SLS Slick. WOW! That boom is amazing. My jibe count rocketed up and everything felt so much easier, at one point I told my friends it felt like I was cheating!
Really love the boom and I don't think there's any going back for me.
DC
I have the 3.5 D/LAB and the 3.5 SLS. Both are great wings and fly similarly.... both flag out great. I find when riding swells when the apparent wind approaches zero, the SLS tail drops sooner but having the boom makes it easier to manage. I ride both wings interchangeably and not actually sure which one I prefer. The SLS has a more forgiving feel which I like.... it's pretty windy out here. I also feel like the SLS has more sheet in and go power. SLS also has a very forgiving tip drag.
That said, for traveling or launching off boats, I take the Units.
I also have a custom DIY carbon boom that is super light, has a smaller tube diameter, and has and egg shaped grip thanks to EVA deck pad foam on the inside edge that feels nice on the fingers... considering adding this to my Unit handles for a comfier feel.
