Select to expand quotecolas said..
What I was trying to say is not trusting the final rating, but rather look for clues in the test text to look for things important to you (or not).
It helps a lot if you can test some gear yourself, and then compare your feelings with the test reviews to try to "calibrate" them to your tastes.
Disclaimer: I did not see this Wing test, but I was a subscriber to Wing mag from its first issue in 1981, and I learnt to decode their windsurfing gear tests. But I stopped reading them 10 years ago, I am speaking from this past experience.
Totally agree Colas !
I think Wings are a very personal choice and you can't go on somebody's elses opinion. An example I was lucky enough to test Rrd 5m pre production wing. I'm fairly short, light and a piss poor winger but learning! I had a whirl on the wing and didn't particularly take to it as the handles were in the wrong place. The shop I borrowed it from one of the guys there a very good all round waterman loved the wing. He's a big lad and it's his favourite wing so far. I have tested the wasp, swing, gong v1, duotone and I own the Swing. If I gave a review of these it would only be relavant to equally incompetent wingers of the same build..
Testing gear yourself is the way forward.. In saying that I love listening to what other people say.. as Colas says I take everything with a pinch of salt..
Select to expand quoteIanInca said..
I have tested the wasp, swing, gong v1, duotone and I own the Swing. If I gave a review of these it would only be relavant to equally incompetent wingers of the same build..
Testing gear yourself is the way forward.. In saying that I love listening to what other people say.. as Colas says I take everything with a pinch of salt..
Your report would be very valuable on these wings. With how new wings are, it's still pretty rare for regular joe reviews of multiple brands/styles. The single brand review is useless -- as stoked riders will inevitably adapt to their ride and "love the one they're with". Also useless is the "tried it once hated it" review from people who are just barely learning and don't yet know what they don't know. Also useless is the brand ambassador pimp, pushing the product to keep their sponsorship alive. And worst of all is the magazines: a review ghostwritten by the brand, based on their promo materials...super lame.
As you say, all reviews must be taken with a grain of salt though -- everything online should be read with critical thinking, sadly that is all too rare these days.
[and speaking of lame, i was surprised and disappointed to see Gunnar B's FB post regarding not being able to review the Gong 9m]
It should go without saying that reviews are subjective... Regardless there is still value in reading 90% of them. For some of us reviews are the only info we can get, Wingdings are wanted in area that don't have access to trying them out.
It sucks that Gong makes legal efforts to stop Gunnar from reviewing their wings. I was looking forward to hearing his opinion of the SuperPower 9m, but Gong shut him down.
Unless we are talking about build short-cuts or defects.... attributes whether + or - regarding gear are often merely personal preference. The nature of board design, wing design etc is that rarely does a piece of equipment do everything well. With each choice made- advantage gained often means a compromise elsewhere. A review can help a buyer determine what that particular piece of gear emphasizes vs what is compromises. Also helps to know/consider a reviewers size/weight, conditions they are using it in, style of riding etc.
Anyhow.... I wouldn't rule out anything from a single bad review. No matter how good you make something- there will be individuals who don't care for it.
