F-One Strike V4

Found some info on the strike, interchangeable handles amongst other changes.

surfskolan.se/produkt/strikev4/

What's this? A slomo capture of the LE exploding?

So is it going to be like the v3 where every single reviewer on the internet says it's the best wing they've ever tried, while every end user who paid for one at the beach says they don't like it? (Semi unhappy v3 owner)

I really like the v3 , I hope they haven't gone to grunty in low the end as I think that makes wings less stable (certainly the grunty wings I've used anyway).
also I'm a bit concerned about going back to a straight strut as the contour really feels comfortable for the back hand especially when riding switch.

They say the more dihedral increase stability

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MrPieMan said..

miamiwngr said..
So is it going to be like the v3 where every single reviewer on the internet says it's the best wing they've ever tried, while every end user who paid for one at the beach says they don't like it? (Semi unhappy v3 owner)

I'm quite happy with my V3 and have been quite surprised by some of the negativity I've seen. Supposedly the V4 improves low end which is one area people complained about, though again my personal experience I've had no problems with it.

I bought the V3's blindly and really am disappointed in the lowend. There's just no grunt to get going initially and build boardspeed, even with the "new technique" method that some of the youtube-shillers claimed to be the key to unlock the power. The wing only starts pulling once there is some decent forward boardspeed, so in the choppy conditions I have to deal with I need a solid 18 knots to get going comfortably on my 5m Strike V3. The CWC 7m needs at least 12-13 kts constant wind. So in the lower end of the range they are just annoyingly weak, and nowhere near the claimed "low end" as advertised by F-One on the website. I recently rode them both back to back with my old Airush Freewing 5m and that thing almost pulls as hard as the 7, and is just way gruntier and easier to get going.

Top end on both is impressive though - the 5m I have taken out comfortably in 25+ knots and once up on foil and flying in the right conditions the 5m is a great wing - quick, maneuvrable, and very stable flagged out. Just needs wind to get going.

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BritWinger said..
I still have the v2's. I love the ability to get going by being able to pull yourself forward up onto the foil.

Are the newer Swing's meant to be more like the v2 Strikes in this regard?

Hi, there is a new model called Origin that will be closer to V2 Strike / old swing with a freeride positionning. they are about 150? less that Strike v4. Some shops have already them available for testing here is France.

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wingedsurfer said..
They say the more dihedral increase stability

This is what I liked with the V3 vs the V2...while surfing you could drive more the wing where you wanted with the front handle...the v2 the wing is quite locked in position. I really like the V3, if you adapt to the pumping technique, remarquable wing!

Tried the soft handles and the hybrid. Definitely I prefer the hybrid ones, they are stiffer than the v3 handles. the stock soft are more wobbling at the base. the v4 has some double layer inside the 2/4 of the leading edge that makes the v4 stiffer than the v3. That is something I've not seen mentioned anywhere.
They feel really compact a 5m feels like a 4,5m not only in feeling but is 15cm shorter in span.

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miamiwngr said..
So is it going to be like the v3 where every single reviewer on the internet says it's the best wing they've ever tried, while every end user who paid for one at the beach says they don't like it? (Semi unhappy v3 owner)

Yeah I fall into the category of people who were finally convinced to buy f-one. Then horribly disappointed once it was in my hand (v3).

How have you V3 owners found Strike's durability? After my experience with the V1 and V2 (seven wings in total over two seasons), it will take a lot for me to consider a Strike again. Durability was pitiful. I'm now seven months into a new set from a different manufacturer and the wings are holding up remarkably well.

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patronus said..
10 Strike users here and most think OK at best some changed out or about to. Takes 20 sessions to bag out compared to 10 on V2, and seem to be better once they bag out. Reducing LE pressure by 1psi also helps and doesn't have a downside. Only real dislike I have personally is freeriuding in gusty winds, or turbulent winds in choppy waves the wing is unstable (4m OK 5m bad). Makes you wonder where they tested the V3, certainly not in the real world most of us live in.

Thank you - that's very honest.

V4 vs V3 comparison and details
activate auto translate subtitles in YouTube app

?si=0CFpUPD8cVf4b1mc

The V4 is a game changer. I'm another F-One customer who blindly purchased a whole slew of V3s who was extremely frustrated. Low end was garbage, and I didn't think it even handled super well on the high end. Was almost ready to give up on F-One but decided to buy 1 V4 before moving to a new brand. I'm glad I stuck around.

I met some F-One riders, and am friends with a shop who mainly sells F-One. Here's the gist of what I've learned:

- V2 was a great wing, but lame handles and was not a durable wing.

- V3 was a garbage wing. Even the F-One riders said it. Bad low end and heavy. Only upside was incredible upwind capability + durability. These also just looked cool IMO.

- V4: great wing, lighter than V3, but still durable. Pumps like the V2 but better handles and more performance-oriented. The V4 sacrifices slight upwind ability vs. V3, but the improved low wind more than makes up for it. And still better upwind than any other wing I've tried (beyond the V3). Also way smoother w/ high end than the V3. And if you're into waves, the new swing is fckin awesome.

Bought a v4 4, 4.5, 5 Strike and a 3.5 Swing. Back to being an F-One loyalist!

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choosywinger said..
This thread is illuminating. I'm fairly new to the sport and a bit naive about year to year design/performance changes. I bought V2 Strikes in 5, 6, and 8m (the 6 & 8 were CWC) and loved them. They feel like they scoop the wind so easily.

So the next year I bought a 4m V3 but compared to the V2s, it no longer feels "scoopy." In fact, it feels very much like a V2 Armstrong 3.5 m wing I owned and didn't particularly like. Prior to reading this thread, I chalked the lack of "scoopyness" to the smaller size of both the V3 strike and the V2 Armstrong but I need to rethink this now.

Planning to hold onto my V2 strikes until they are shredded but if I want to make new purchases in the 3-4.5 m range this year, seems like the Strike V4 is a good option and may provide requisite"scoopyness"in a smaller wing.

I don't do any wave riding. I don't need/want booms or hard handles. Are there any makers' wings other than F-one I should consider?

Your observations are more or less spot on. The V2 being a refined V1 with great low end, The V3 being an acquired taste, really great upwind, tricky to pump. The V4 seems to have brought it all together. Yet here we are after the first week of June and no boom has yet been mentioned. The 2.5 I ordered months ago is supposed to show up finally next week halfway through the season. Certainly looks like the OR boom would work just fine on the V4, anyone done any experimentation?
www.jupiterkiteboarding.com/store/ocean-rodeo-carbon-matrix-wing-bar-p-10114.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwvIWzBhAlEiwAHHWgvQq99UbxIJjwpJIQ-pPfOe6HfNiUCwX7TLOnBMN72I_Iv-YkqJ1j9hoC9kcQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&utm_campaign=pmax-allproducts&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

Seems perfectly stable to me. That said it's no V1 in that both the V3 and V4 are heavier wings than the original and need more wind for perfect flagging.