I spent the last 10 years gobbling up every new foil, hand wings(6years), masts and boards. This year I have bought a couple of used foils but its been over a year since I have seen anything that is way better than what I am currently using. Yes, incremental improvements have been made but not enough to justify buying for me.I also started building my own boards which has kept me out of the board market. I am really happy with my Axis ArtPro quiver(especially the 1051) and HM mast and skinny tails. The crazy amount of quality used stuff has made it hard to justify spending $$$ on new stuff. The only thing I have bought new recently are 2 Slingwing V5 wings which are totally tits. Anyone else slowed down? I still am just as frothy on foiling as ever.
What wings are you coming from? What sizes on the V5? How’s the low end?
Coming from slinwing v3’s. Got 4.5 and 4.0. Biggest notable difference is when overpowered, the v5 flys really stable sheeted out. Doesn’t feel like im taxing it like when overpowered on other wings. So, big range. Nice taught canopy. Uni handle is comfy. New halkey-roberts type valves are nice. Oh and finally they put a swivel on wrist cuff. Windows are well placed. Great backwind performance. Rigid luff handle works great to keep it from dancing. Compact wingtips are not dragging like v3 did. Stoked all around on these. Great job Slingshot!
I’ve landed on literally the cheapest gear available…and it’s FINE.
Albeit I did some witchcraft to get a stiff fast top of the line mast for nearly free but…
North SF front and stab - $500 Used is fine, wings are good.
North Aluminum Fuse $150 - better than the carbon.
Rescued NL mast $100 - repotted in the fuse and it’s phenomenal.
Hand wings - $200 Takuma WK wing. For how infrequently I wing it’s FINE. I can do all my normal maneuvers, I don’t give a shit about my speed or upwind, it does what I need it to for almost free.
I make my own boards - god I feel like the board market is so weak for prone. This is the one area if I had to live with production boards I’d spend more money here than foils and hand wings combined just to keep something stiff enough under my feet…
I am still using my v1 and v2 mantis wings from 3 and 4 years ago. They still work great, guys around me are on the latest and greatest wings, but I can still get up on foil earlier and use smaller wings than they do all while being much heavier than they are.
I was forced to purchase a new board this spring, my Naish had to many cracks to repair. So I replaced it with an Omen Flux 60 ltr, which I do feel improved my winging by leaps and bounds.
I am still using my v 1.5 Gofoil mast and RS foils and still don’t see an issue with them despite feeling bad after reading all these online forums with individuals saying they wouldn’t be caught dead on Gofoil.
Maybe I am missing large leaps in performance because I am not on the latest and greatest gear, but it still seems to work for me. I also live in an area where I can’t demo and try a bunch of different gear, so may be its best I don’t know what I am missing.
Scratch all that. Just bought a Fireball….
Which size? I’ve ridden the 1070 and 880 and are both phenomenal. I’m partial to the 1070 cause of out light winds.
I ordered the 1000. Mostly because I ride a artpro 1051 and per Axis’ recommendations the 1000 is roughly 200 sqcm smaller. I usually go with the middle of each range to start because i am pretty average weight 180 and tend to like similar wing sizes that Adrian Roper rides. Wind here in Reno is 15-25 often.
Phenomenal for what disciplines?
I only rode them winging, but it’s obvious that the 1070 for example is much more efficient than my usual light wind foil, the V1 999. If I weren’t riding a bunch of other stuff and was focused on just a few foils, I would totally replace my 999 with one. That said, I hear good things about it for DW as well.
Mostly for winging, connecting bumps and riding waves on Tahoe and Washoe lake.
I just got a ppc m-1x. Coming off a soft handle slinging v3 from 2021. There is no comparison between the two. Old slingshot is like using a trash bag to catch wind 
I also replaced beginner 125 liter Naish with an AFS whitebird. Again no comparison. Only add to foils stash but they really don’t wear or become to outdated.
I might pick up a fireball too (for winging on wind swell prone/dock and future DW?). Pretty frusturated I cant demo it because of supply and demand from people buying untested.
It is reassuring that you can resell second hand for a couple of hundred off if the product is still relevant. I am suprised people are willing to buy 2nd hand gear at 80pc of original price though, only a small saving, when they lose their right to a warranty , of which ive had many many claims with this brand (PNG, HPS, Pstab, ART, fuselage).
Most boards and all wings have a limited lifespan. I’d like to see a comparison between a new board and the same board that’s been ridden for 6-12 months. It would help damper the negative bias towards your old brand when switching to something new, but I really like the pressure it would create for companies/builders to dial in their track construction. And the sport’s already expensive, I think we’d all be happier if the MSRP of boards would stop creeping up once it was proven that their diminishing performance forced us to replace them after a year or two.
And while that sounds bad for companies, it might actually be a positive. We’d be less likely to switch brands because the benefits of a new board would be realized as old vs new instead of brand A vs brand B.
Your post captures a core dilemma in many sports and hobbies—balancing pure enjoyment with the drive for performance, often intensified by the social element.
I’ve got a stellar setup with the Fireball foils and PPC wings, which certainly helps me stay competitive and experience that thrill. And if I am right; the feeling of pride and camaraderie from pushing limits with friends is a huge part of the fun.
But it’s also fascinating how much the social dynamic can fuel that “need” for upgrades. When I’m surrounded by people who also keep improving and challenging each other, it’s easy to feel drawn toward new gear to keep up or edge out. This can be both motivating and a bit of a slippery slope in terms of consumerism. The real question is, do these upgrades bring me more joy because of the community and the shared sense of accomplishment, or would they feel just as rewarding if I were riding solo? It sounds like the answer is that the friends and friendly competition make the upgrades feel worth it.
—My basis to keep it sustainable is setting personal benchmarks before deciding to upgrade, like focusing on technique, skill, or speed goals rather than purely on equipment.
i.e. @FoilWays and I are still pushing to be at or over 30mph in weak so cal winds. The fireballs and PPC wings were part of that quest 
@Adan Heh, I just saw this. I seem to not get notifications from this forum. I plan to wait until a flat West wind day at Perris this summer and I expect to hit 30 on an simple ART 899 or maybe the Code 720S I have. I just need the right day. During the last few attempts I could tell I simply needed a bit more wind.
@FoilWays if you need an ART 899 I have one for sale
Axis / lift/ f-one / ppc / kt garage sale! - Buy and Sell Foil Gear - Progression Project Forum
@Adan What a coincidence! Me too!
Anyone have any idea if the new tariffs will affect foil gear pricing?
The second hand market is so bad right now (for me at least) I can’t seem to sell anything. I have more or less a one-in one-out mentality for years now buying the hottest new stuff and selling before the gear I have gets outdated. So yeah, I haven’t been buying much lately, but I would if I could