Has anyone tried the Ali Express Axis ART999 knockoffs yet? The fuse and mast look suspect, but the wing and stab might be OK…
Here is just the V2 ART 999 wing. Very curious if the lay up is decent and if the wings will hold up. If you’ve ridden it, please comment.
With 19 available, I would guess these aren’t knockoffs at all, but genuine Axis QC rejects.
From one of the WhatsApp’s. Evan from AXIS says they are straight up frauds. {“Fake goods” were the words he used.
In another forum there is someone who bought it. He said the tolerance in thickness seem to be different. He also says that the aliexpresd 1201 pumps the same as the Ali 1401. plus the 1401 connection to mast is wobbly… i think they don’t use the original geometry…
Almost every foil flies…. It’s more a question on how good they fly
1 Like
I figured this might be the case. I figured that maybe the wings would be OK but I had no hope for the masts or fuses. Maybe someone else has had some experience with the smaller wings.
I think the mast and the fuselage is easier to produce than the complex wing geometry… given the amount of different sellers that offer „original“ axis stuff is a good indicator that it’s fake…
Shipping and taxes make them not as cheap.
It does seem tempting at first though
1 Like
1 Like
I guess it hard tell the actually difference without comparing the same model. The crooked weave on the video is not that important since that is just a aesthetic outside layer. The question is what kind and how many uni carbon layer they put and if they put fiberglass as a cheap filler layer.
If they were $100-200 I’d take a punt but they don’t seem that cheap to me as an obvious knockoff. Hmmm $200 knock off parawings might tempt me tho
These will be garbage. Top end foils are too sensitive for cheap manufacturing tolerances and materials.
1 Like
So I asked the vendor: “Hello, I am curious about the carbon lay up in the hydrofoil wings you have for sale. What type of Carbon is used in them?”
Here’s the reply:
I’m sure they are great…HAHAHAHA!!!
2 Likes
If you did decide to support knock-off manufacturing (you shouldn’t!), you’d always wonder if anything bad you felt was because of Axis design or the poor quality carbon dioxide build.
1 Like
Let’s not use the forum to promote this garbage. I understand foiling is an expensive hobby and people are trying to save money, but this is not the correct approach. Besides directly contributing to stealing the rightful designer’s livelihood it will also ruin the second hand market completely if knockoffs start proliferating
10 Likes
I disagree. Most foil manufacturers are copying each other & they certainly don’t tell you to wait for a few weeks before giving them your money because they are about to drop a new foil. The brand I am financially invested heavily into are happy to sell a set of screws you can buy for $5 for $50 in a branded box. I support them to a degree but don’t consider them friends. They are a business like everybody else & have to cope with knockoffs.
3 Likes
I think we should consider the bigger picture. Foiling is a young, innovative sport, and original brands drive the advancements we all benefit from. Knockoff sh*tco’s don’t invest in R&D, and by supporting them, we risk stifling the innovation that makes this sport so exciting.
There are affordable options from legitimate brands that contribute to the sport’s growth. Let’s support the companies shaping foiling’s future, not just imitating it.
Thoughts?
3 Likes
Those knock off prices seem pretty high, you could almost buy a proper Gong (fiberglass) foil for the same amount.
2 Likes
i would rather get gong stuff aswell! You know what you get, you get warranty and at least in europe, the usedgoods market for gong stuff is very active. Its easy to sell Gong usedor buy a new frontwing from the usedmarket
1 Like
Yes I agree to a degree. However I personally feel that R&D has pretty much reached the end of the line as far as foils go anyway. With the sophisticated computer modeling & experienced & talented rider feedback i don’t think in the near future we’ll see the gains that have been made in the last few years. I think it’s a big wheel to keep turning that will soon be powered by the FOMO than the actual benefits. Unless there is another fork in the road like Dwing was, I can’t see any need for anything better.
2 Likes