I am 5'1" and 53 kgs. I have a 4m Duotome Echo which I want to get rid of in lieu of something easier on my grip, more stable when luffing and more compact. So many of the 'charts' list the 4m as the standard for anyone under 70 kgs. Most manufacturers' also don't list the weight or the wingspan of their wings, so being able to choose something from 3.5 to 3.8, with good power and a small wingspan is difficult. Any suggestions? I looked at the Naish matador, it seems to have a lot of power but only comes in a 3 and 4 meter. The 3 might be a bit small...
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Some friends of mine rave about the 3.5 Amstrongs.
But laid atop an Echo, they almost the same size.
So if you believe you need a smaller wing, be sure it's actually smaller.
At my 72 kg., a 6 meter wing is used most often, in breezes of 7-17 knots. My 4.6 only comes out if the lowest lulls are 16, better at 18-25 knots.
Duotone Slick 4.0 may work for you. It's more stable than Echo and it has smaller wingspan due to squarish shape of wing.
BRM Cloud will possibly be the only one to meet your needs, it's light, very compact and powerful when needed.
My wife is almost exactly your size and is learning her gybes currently. The below wings have worked well from 12 knots (4m) up due to her pump up needing improving.
Ozone V2
4m 12 knots and up
3m 16 knots and up
Her ideal one wing quiver in the future will probably be around a 3.5m
In my opinion the best reviews for smaller people are the light brands, listed below, in their latest versions. You will be shocked at how much better these are than your echo. Ozone are compact wing span for their size. Fone are a little wider. Friends are very impressed with their latest smik.
Fone
Ozone
Smik
Duotone Unit.
Very good reviews also for PPC also but maybe slightly heavier than the above but they make a 3.8 and reports are very positive. The 2.8 PPC felt and looked bigger than the ozone 3m so maybe their 3.8 is a 4m anyway.
Our Armstrong 4.5 V1 felt way too heavy, both in weight and flying, for my wife to enjoy but worked in 10 knots.
Demo if you can because there are massive differences and personal preference plays a part.
PFC, I'm 70 kg and 175cm tall. My smallest is a 4m Echo as well. Have really enjoyed it. Also have a 5m Echo and 5.5 Slick. The Slicks are noticably more stable and grunty compared to the Echos.
I've found a 4m Echo will get me flying in 12 knots. A 5m Echo 10-12 knots.
Tried a mates 5m Smik (not Slick!!) recently and I found that had more grunt, bottom end and top end than the 5m Echo. I'm a boom lover, but the Smik has made me rethink that. The hand loops were great, and the canopy was really clean and taut. My mate has flown Echos and now the Smiks and reckons the Smiks are a better rig and after only 1 ride I'd be inclined to agree with him. They also feel much lighter in the hands than the Echos and have way more top end control.
On land, we compared the 5m Smik with the 5m Echo and the Smik has a narrower wingspan and seems slightly smaller in area.
My 2c.
My wife is 5'2" and she uses the North Nova 4.2 as her low-wind wing with no issues. My Armstrong 4.5 is a bit too big for her as it can catch an edge.
The new Go Foil wings have edges that taper in. They look well built, but I haven't ridden one.
WR, Takuma, Slingwing, Cabrina, Reedin all seem to be higher aspect and thus longer wing span for their size, likely a no go.
PPC is powerful for it's size and might work well for you as well.
At your light weight, the 3m Naish Matador would be a good choice for low end power, I think you would be overpowered quite soon on the 4m.
A better choice would be the 3.8 m Naish WIngsurfer, it has a softer power delivery, and a much wider wind range, also very stable, and easier on the arms. "Stuff that works !"
Smik 3.5 or PPC 2.8 (Feels like a 3.5) are exceptionally good wings. Both have massive range, go upwind super well and have awesome light handling characteristics.
PPC are notoriously powerful for there listed 'size'
Here is an example of why.
6mtr Smik on top of a 5.8mtr PPC
Don't always believe the listed size.
Yes, try to do a layover against your current wings, if possible.
My PPC 2.8 was exactly the same size as my F-one 3.5, and 3.8 PPC was very similar size to my F-one 4.2.
