Select to expand quotenorthy1 said..
im always curious how many people have actually compared a wing side by side rather than "blind" allegiance etc
FYI i have just had the 5.0m Aluula and standard Flux v2 in the garden - inflated next to my V4 Swing (my 5.5 and a mates 5m)
Some non water observations (some personal / some fact):
- Size for Size the flux is definitely bigger than the Swing - id say the 5.0m Flux v2 is the equivalent in size to my 5.5 Swing (perhaps bigger e.g 5.75)
FWIW, supposedly a Duotone Unit 3.5 is exactly the same size as an F-One Strike 4.0.
I Demo-ed last week both 5m Ultra and 4.3 normall Flux V2 at a demo day.My specs: 188x98kg 51y old. decent in the waves, can jibe and tack in any givven direction at any moment, but ride strapless so don,t jump and don,t use a harness. Focus: riding waves&bumps.Board: SuperK V1 92l: foil AFS Silk 1050
I,m coming from Flux V1 that I loved for there allroundness, owned Duotone Units 2025 normall and SLS in 3+4+5 that werent my cup of tea, and currently on Vayu Aura V3 3+4+5.
The Ultra 5m:
Looks awesome! The new handles feel good and are a bit more forward positioned as on the V1. Pistol grip is not really an option and the bumpers on the handles look clunky. Surfhandle...could be better imo too soft.Riding it is relative light, goes upwind at high speed and angles like nothing else I tried.
Powerfull and very stable but it is also litteraly what is written on the box: an freerace wing.
It surfs and tacks okayish but is in that department not as good as the V1 and not even close to my Vayus.
The 4.3 "normall"/non alula V2:
Pretty close to the the Ultra in performance and how it behaves but has rather heavy feel imo. also compared to other wings I tried. probably a great freeracer, but feels heavier compared to a V1.
Overall both pretty good wings, but the V1 was imo an high performance allrounder where the new ones are even better freeracers that give up a bit on the allroundness of the V1. Personally I was a bit dissapointed in that because I really really liked the V1 approach, but for freeriders the V2 is better as ever and you can,t keep everybody happy.It also made me realise that my current Vayu Aura,s3 suit my riding really well.
I was on V1s which i loved.
But compared to above post, my 4.3 and 3.6 aluula flux do everything better.
I use the pistol grip on the 6 wave sessions Ive had so far and I find the front handle stiff with a great shape. Its got more range, tacks and gybes as good or better than V1s.
Its also a lot lighter my 3.6 is only 1.8kg, flags out great.
I also had Strke V5 aluula for 2 months in between and find the aluula flux superior in every way. But thats just me.
Goes to show, everyone's tastes are different.
I come from the Flux V1 5.7 (4,3 and 3.6 also) and have two sessions on the 5.5 Ultra X V2 on flatwater now.
The Ultra X has definitely more power and is more direct than the V1, i felt like the V2 5.5 had a better lowend than the V1 5.7.
On the first session with the rec. 7 PSI in the Fronttube i found it almost too direct in the upper windrange (94 kg, no harness). With 6 PSI on the second session i liked it a lot more, there was more flex and forgivenes in it.
Handling is outstanding, the 5.5 weighs less than my 4.3 Flow. Tacking is the same like with the V1, at least for me.
Btw. for all the riders seeking a wavewing in the Flux V2 i'd highly recommend trying the Flow.
The V2 seems more freeride/freerace, as Jeroen mentioned above, i haven't tried it in the surf, but i guess the weight will help there a lot too.
The guys at MACkiteboarding also seemed to like the Flux Ultra X in the surf.
Everybody has its own prefferences and likings. One of my best friends loves his new Unit SLS that wasnt for me a real match either, so this could also be just me.
The positive outcome of the demo was for me that for now i,m really on the gear that suits me best and the GAS is tempered for now.
This one took a while and is a longer video as I go over both the Flux V2 dacron and the Ultra-X .....
Interesting, im about 20 wave sessions in to my 3.6m aluula x, canopy still tight and no flapping.
Mike
Select to expand quoteMeonAsh said..
This one took a while and is a longer video as I go over both the Flux V2 dacron and the Ultra-X .....
Awesome review Ash! Just watched it. I notice you mention you have the Nova Pro 2026 for review? I guess you mean the Nova Pro 2025, as there is no 2026 yet. How would you compare this dacron flux v2 with a nova pro 2025?
Select to expand quotelarsdegroot said..MeonAsh said..
This one took a while and is a longer video as I go over both the Flux V2 dacron and the Ultra-X .....
Awesome review Ash! Just watched it. I notice you mention you have the Nova Pro 2026 for review? I guess you mean the Nova Pro 2025, as there is no 2026 yet. How would you compare this dacron flux v2 with a nova pro 2025?
Whatever the latest Nova PRO is - I have that review coming. It's not a particularly positive review I'm afraid. I much preferred the Mode - that review will come first, really so that people don't call me a North hater because I actually quite like the Mode, The Nova PRO though - yeah, not great at all.
I know, its bad this year. We had a discussion over in that thread. I'm currently only using my '24 nova Pro's as its much better. You can clearly see on the socials that the teamriders use the regular nova instead of the Pro in almost everything they post. But still curious what your findings are exactly.
Select to expand quoteMikedubs said..
Interesting, im about 20 wave sessions in to my 3.6m aluula x, canopy still tight and no flapping.
Mike
As I said in the review - I think it was damaged, it just didn't look right from the day we inflated it, the problem is without a brand new one to compare against it just isn't possible to do anything but review what you have been given.
I've had an Ozone wing retailer contact me to say that their 5m Ultra-X is also loose canopied and flaps as per my review. So it would appear this is indeed part of the design.
Great review as ever Ash! I would also ask (in future) you measure wingspan and size - or at least hold up to a few other wings to get a broad comparison visually. I did this with the new Flux and would says its 0.5m bigger than the comparable F-one and Army wing - certainly the 5.0 flux v2 was bigger in all dims to my 5.5 Swing, and sat on top of a 5.3 xps it looked bigger also. Also span is a factor i think if you are less than 5'10 - even worse on a sinker?
Select to expand quotenorthy1 said..
Great review as ever Ash! I would also ask (in future) you measure wingspan and size - or at least hold up to a few other wings to get a broad comparison visually. I did this with the new Flux and would says its 0.5m bigger than the comparable F-one and Army wing - certainly the 5.0 flux v2 was bigger in all dims to my 5.5 Swing, and sat on top of a 5.3 xps it looked bigger also. Also span is a factor i think if you are less than 5'10 - even worse on a sinker?
No problem, I can do this for wings I have not filmed yet, I have some reviews already coming where I just didn't film something like this, so it will take time to roll into future reviews. Obviously I can state wing spans but it may not be useful without some comparison to another wing.
Select to expand quoteMikedubs said..
Interesting, im about 20 wave sessions in to my 3.6m aluula x, canopy still tight and no flapping.
Mike
Mine flaps like a bird, the x series has been very disappointing
Select to expand quoteVenomguy said..Mikedubs said..
Interesting, im about 20 wave sessions in to my 3.6m aluula x, canopy still tight and no flapping.
Mike
Mine flaps like a bird, the x series has been very disappointing
How do you compare it against the XPS (which it looks like you've ridden based on your profile pic)? These two wings are often compared. Maybe a loaded question given it doesn't sound like you like the Aluula X version.
Select to expand quoteVenomguy said..Mikedubs said..
Interesting, im about 20 wave sessions in to my 3.6m aluula x, canopy still tight and no flapping.
Mike
Mine flaps like a bird, the x series has been very disappointing
Very strange! Mines tight as. No flapping. Maybe a bad batch?
Select to expand quoteVenomguy said..Mikedubs said..
Interesting, im about 20 wave sessions in to my 3.6m aluula x, canopy still tight and no flapping.
Mike
Mine flaps like a bird, the x series has been very disappointing
which size do you have?
My 5.5 Ultra X doesn't flap too (now). But i found the recommended 7 PSI in the fronttube made it too stiff and unreactive in gusts. Sometimes i couldn't keep the Wing sheeted in which led to some flutter.
Now with 6PSI the tips have some flex and in gusts i can keep the Wing sheeted in and i think the flex in the tips also puts more tension in the trailing edge
Select to expand quotedieseagull said..Venomguy said..Mikedubs said..
Interesting, im about 20 wave sessions in to my 3.6m aluula x, canopy still tight and no flapping.
Mike
Mine flaps like a bird, the x series has been very disappointing
How do you compare it against the XPS (which it looks like you've ridden based on your profile pic)? These two wings are often compared. Maybe a loaded question given it doesn't sound like you like the Aluula X version.
Side by side the XPS was compared vs the X, this was comparing the XPS 4.6 vs the X3.6, in 20 to 24 knots.
Select to expand quoteKyleT said..Venomguy said..Mikedubs said..
Interesting, im about 20 wave sessions in to my 3.6m aluula x, canopy still tight and no flapping.
Mike
Mine flaps like a bird, the x series has been very disappointing
which size do you have?
4.3 and 3.6 aluula x and a V1 3.0m. I tell everyone theyre 10% bigger than stated size, as per V1s. My 4.3m is my biggest and is equivalent to a 5m in most other brands. Mine are tight, no flapping at all, even when maxed out.
