This question has probably been asked 100x times already, but what's there to concider between picking a boxy low aspect wing (duotone slick, gong droid) and a more conventional higher aspect wing (unit, neutra)?
Does one has a better low end than the other?
I'm new to the sport with a lot of experience in windfoil. My homespot (where I surf +-60% of the time) is pretty small and gusty, waves will probably only be 10% of the time, the other 30% is for bigger and better lakes. Looking for a quiver that allows me (80kg) to get into freestyle wing in +-14 to 28 knots.
Feel free to recommend me some!
Select to expand quotemcrt said..
3.5m and 5m Takoon...if there are any left.They sellout quick :)
I'm seriously concidering the 5.5! Over time maybe a 4.0 and or 7.0.
Do you have their foil as well?
Would love to hear your feedback on their products
This is comparing a Gong Superpower 6 and a few other designs of comparable size. The Gong is very low aspect and very thiccccc.
I settled on the Cabrinha x2 and I've been stoked with it. The Gong and Cab are built differently, the Gong was prohibitively heavy which probably moved its bottom end up a bit. I end up with basically the same bottom end because the Cab can float on lighter breezes and I don't have to hold its weight above me waiting for a gust.
The boxy low aspect designs have more power at the low end, and are much less agreeable at the top end......basically they have a narrower window. They don't go upwind as well and have a lower top speed. That sucks if you have some nice long reaches and want to make ground.
Im 85kg and I find that a 4 and 6 are pretty much perfect. Maybe you can go down a bit but I'm assuming you're in fresh water and without addressing boards, maybe you'll need a little extra sail.
Select to expand quoteNicoDC said..
I'm seriously concidering the 5.5! Over time maybe a 4.0 and or 7.0.
Do you have their foil as well?
Would love to hear your feedback on their products
Only have the Wings.
I have ridden Starboards sails previously.
The Takoons are a fully different beast.Not as much low end,flatter,tighter canopy design.
But so lightweight and fun,they have enough low end and really high top end.
They are way easier to handle in maneuvers,they barely flap or slow you down in tacks and in jibes&surfing the low inertia is a big difference.
I only have a couple sessions on each (3.5 and 5),i had to wait for months to get them due to Covid and the floodings in Belgium but they were well worth the wait.
IMHO 5.5 ok,but no bigger.Big wings suck as soon as you learn to pump wing&foil a bit.
Select to expand quoteClamsmasha said..
This is comparing a Gong Superpower 6 and a few other designs of comparable size. The Gong is very low aspect and very thiccccc.
I settled on the Cabrinha x2 and I've been stoked with it. The Gong and Cab are built differently, the Gong was prohibitively heavy which probably moved its bottom end up a bit. I end up with basically the same bottom end because the Cab can float on lighter breezes and I don't have to hold its weight above me waiting for a gust.
The boxy low aspect designs have more power at the low end, and are much less agreeable at the top end......basically they have a narrower window. They don't go upwind as well and have a lower top speed. That sucks if you have some nice long reaches and want to make ground.
Im 85kg and I find that a 4 and 6 are pretty much perfect. Maybe you can go down a bit but I'm assuming you're in fresh water and without addressing boards, maybe you'll need a little extra sail.
Thanks for sharing. I feel the same about using all your energy to hold the wing above your head waiting for wind.
Yes 60% fresh water so shouldn't try to go to small.
I build my own boards. I already have a bigger and longer one for low wind, starting on a shorter one soon.
Select to expand quotemcrt said..NicoDC said..
I'm seriously concidering the 5.5! Over time maybe a 4.0 and or 7.0.
Do you have their foil as well?
Would love to hear your feedback on their products
Only have the Wings.
I have ridden Starboards sails previously.
The Takoons are a fully different beast.Not as much low end,flatter,tighter canopy design.
But so lightweight and fun,they have enough low end and really high top end.
They are way easier to handle in maneuvers,they barely flap or slow you down in tacks and in jibes&surfing the low inertia is a big difference.
I only have a couple sessions on each (3.5 and 5),i had to wait for months to get them due to Covid and the floodings in Belgium but they were well worth the wait.
IMHO 5.5 ok,but no bigger.Big wings suck as soon as you learn to pump wing&foil a bit.
Are you Belgian as well?
Yeah don't really want to go bigger than 5.5. The whole reason for me to get into winging is to get playful asap. Freestyle windsurf is +18/20 knots and wave +25 for me, sub 10 I think I'll prefer the speed of windfoil.
Mind sharing your weight and foil? Trying to get my head around on what to expect from different sizes of wings and foils
Select to expand quoteNicoDC said..mcrt said..NicoDC said..
I'm seriously concidering the 5.5! Over time maybe a 4.0 and or 7.0.
Do you have their foil as well?
Would love to hear your feedback on their products
Only have the Wings.
I have ridden Starboards sails previously.
The Takoons are a fully different beast.Not as much low end,flatter,tighter canopy design.
But so lightweight and fun,they have enough low end and really high top end.
They are way easier to handle in maneuvers,they barely flap or slow you down in tacks and in jibes&surfing the low inertia is a big difference.
I only have a couple sessions on each (3.5 and 5),i had to wait for months to get them due to Covid and the floodings in Belgium but they were well worth the wait.
IMHO 5.5 ok,but no bigger.Big wings suck as soon as you learn to pump wing&foil a bit.
Are you Belgian as well?
Yeah don't really want to go bigger than 5.5. The whole reason for me to get into winging is to get playful asap. Freestyle windsurf is +18/20 knots and wave +25 for me, sub 10 I think I'll prefer the speed of windfoil.
Mind sharing your weight and foil? Trying to get my head around on what to expect from different sizes of wings and foils
Not belgian,but wings came through Belgium by train.
75 kg wet and suited up.
Main board 85l Naish UltraHover S25
Main foil Takuma Kujira 1210cm2 75cm carbon mast
Wings 5m and 3.5m Takoon and 4m Starboard.
Can get going in 10kt if steady and water is not cross choppy.
About a year and half winging,no previous foil experience.
If you like the feeling of the windsurfing sails on the foil I can seriously advice the F-One Strike. Most wings are relatively soft, the Strike is quite a lot stiffer.
In terms of foils, since you have the F-One foil for windsurfing, you can use the Levo for winging, I tried and its quite good if its windy, maybe a little too blocked for winging, but very usable. I'd add a Phantom 1480 plane to it if you like the Levo's feeling. Wouldnt go much larger, 5.0 Strike and 1480 Phantom is enough for me to get going in 12-14 knots with 95Kg. I ride exactly the same kit in over 25 knots. Its all the kit I have, and all I need. (My top-end is same wind I could be using using 4.9/82L quad to windsurf)
In terms of boards, I have a 5'10 110L and a 5'4 75L RocketWing boards. I pretty much solely use the second in winds above 12 knots (the 5'10 pretty much only in 10ish to 12 knots decreasing; if I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to fly back). My 2 mates are around your weight (85Kg/75Kg) and ride the 5'0/60L in all conditions.
Select to expand quoteWhiteofHeart said..
If you like the feeling of the windsurfing sails on the foil I can seriously advice the F-One Strike. Most wings are relatively soft, the Strike is quite a lot stiffer.
In terms of foils, since you have the F-One foil for windsurfing, you can use the Levo for winging, I tried and its quite good if its windy, maybe a little too blocked for winging, but very usable. I'd add a Phantom 1480 plane to it if you like the Levo's feeling. Wouldnt go much larger, 5.0 Strike and 1480 Phantom is enough for me to get going in 12-14 knots with 95Kg. I ride exactly the same kit in over 25 knots. Its all the kit I have, and all I need. (My top-end is same wind I could be using using 4.9/82L quad to windsurf)
In terms of boards, I have a 5'10 110L and a 5'4 75L RocketWing boards. I pretty much solely use the second in winds above 12 knots (the 5'10 pretty much only in 10ish to 12 knots decreasing; if I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to fly back). My 2 mates are around your weight (85Kg/75Kg) and ride the 5'0/60L in all conditions.
I do like the f-one levo for windfoiling but there are two downsides: 1. It has less low end than I'm used to (but that's in comparison to a race foil so not really fair in comparison) and 2. It's expensive.
I was strongly concidering the strike 5.0 and 1480 or 1780 phantom but the foil plane and a new mast-board twin track conncetion alone are +-1500 euro, hence more than I'm prepared to spend at this point.
Surely it's good stuff and I know people that are very positive about it, but at this point it's not worth the extra money compared to a gong curve set (600 euro) or takoon foil (750 euro). Even the FCT wings remain relatively expensive. My local dealer can hook me up with takuma, ensis, duotone,... At a nice discount but doesn't deal in f-one so it would be at the full price.
I'm in love with the levo, even more if the front wing was placed more forward, and even more if I'm good enough to use it for winging. I'd love to stick with f-one but at least for now there are more suited options imo
Being a windfoiler you will progress very quickly.
It is a bit of a dilemma because the first sessions can be very frustrating for everyone unless they have a big board,big sail and big foil.
Wings deliver little power and they pump different than a windsurf sail.
But after 5-10 sessions max on the big gear you will want smaller everything,guaranteed.And it is a PITA and expensive to sell and buy again.I know because i did it :(
With your foiling experience i would recommend 5m wing,1500 foil and weight+10l board.
Go out only in +15kt days to learn,watch every pump on foil tutorial vid you can find,you may suffer a bit but it is very doable.
Select to expand quotemcrt said..
Being a windfoiler you will progress very quickly.
It is a bit of a dilemma because the first sessions can be very frustrating for everyone unless they have a big board,big sail and big foil.
Wings deliver little power and they pump different than a windsurf sail.
But after 5-10 sessions max on the big gear you will want smaller everything,guaranteed.And it is a PITA and expensive to sell and buy again.I know because i did it :(
With your foiling experience i would recommend 5m wing,1500 foil and weight+10l board.
Go out only in +15kt days to learn,watch every pump on foil tutorial vid you can find,you may suffer a bit but it is very doable.
Sounds good!
For learning I have a bigger board and I'll start shaping a smaller one soon. So yes, lots of wind in the beginning so I can work my way down without without having to scale down.
If you go Gong, go Veloce, it will be closer to whwhayou're used to with the Levo. My experience with the huge / thick wings is that they're a lot harder to manouvre if you're used to a wing which just keeps on gliding effortlessly.
