Code vs. KT?
In 2024 Code was the rage at the hatchery in Hood River, but in 2025, it seemed many Code riders had switched to KT. I could be wrong, but for those that did switch or have ridden both company foils, how do they compare?
If you did switch from Code to KT, why did you do it? Or, if you’ve switched from KT to Code … why?
Thanks in advance.
I demo’d the 810x a few weeks ago and am wrapping up my demo on the Nomad 830 right now. Both are fun foils but I’d go Nomad. The low end is great for parawing, the feel on foil and in carving is more of what I like. I prefer the design of the KT stuff. The slim fuse and triple M8 connection seems like it is well positioned for the future.
Not to change directions on the thread but @Wouzel how does the Nomad and 810X compare to Enduro for feel, ride and glide? 
Really? I doubt that code riders would switch from monobloc to non monobloc. Maybe the question should be are code riders switching to f4?
Hmm, hard to compare. I like the 810x and Nomad 830 on the small (Code) and 56cm (KT) fuses which shortens the tail and gives them shortboard, attack/pivot style riding feelings. They both seemed to excel at shredding at slow speeds in weak conditions for me.
Enduro (or AFS in general) doesn’t do the short tail fuse. They seem very dedicated to building the perfect roll and maneuverability into the design with fewer options for users to tweak the structure. These foils also excel when powered up. Kind of the opposite end of the spectrum.
In talking with Tyson from KT today he mentioned that each designer is going for something very specific. I’d say I see similarities in Marcus Tardrews and Kane De Wildes designs in the way I can ride them. So the OP about people changing between those two brands makes sense. Laurent Borgnas designs and the way I ride them are different, not as directly comparable.
I have switched from KT to Code actually last month.
I really did love the KT foils (Atlas 1130, 790 and 680) for winging and parawinging. Granted there were few things I disliked such as the very heavy alloy fuse and the stabilizer bolts but overall the Atlas was a dream to ride.
Then one day I tried my pal’s R series for parawiging and I was sold instantly.
I was very keen in getting a similar high AR front from KT (they showcased the new Solus at AWSI but when reached out, KT was quite evasive as to sizes and availability..probably Q2 2026 is my guess). I have to be honest, I have serious doubts that wider span fronts will find a platform stiff enough given the current KT mast/fuse connection point.
Now that I have been riding many Code Foils (850S, 1130S, 860R, 770R, 1250R) I would not go back to KT. The whole system is way stiffer and solid and, particularly for the R series, they managed to make a high AR front accessibile to masses.
I tried in the past the Armstrong DWP 755 and DWP 930 and it was very meh. Turning was mediocre and stall speed too high for my taste.
Instead, the Code 770R and 860R turns as good as an Armstrong HA/KT Atlas and they have a glide which still gives me goosebumps.
That is, at lease for me, the main reason to switch to Code. Nobody in the market was able to to make a AR13 front this accessible and playful to use.
What code foils would you say are most similar to each of these in terms of range turning and glide?
Atlas 1130 → Code 1130S. The Code is a bit more sporty and you an push it harder when carving.
Atlas 790 → Code 850S. Same as above, the 850S is faster and more technical. Stall speed higher by about 1kt. It’s in between the atlas and nomad range.
Atlas 680 → Code 720S although I recommend to switch to the 680R. it turns incredibly well despite the high AR and has more glide and lift than the 720S. the 720S is faster by 1-2kts in top speed.
What’s the difference of Code and KT stabiliser bolts? Both are M6, right?
True, but as you might have read elsewhere, the stab bolts in the KT system do get stuck.
Nothing has happened (yet) in the code system.
Yes the KT foil feel of the atlas is pretty fun!
The Code system is so stiff, and robust. I have never had an issue with any of their stuff. The R paired with the right tail for the day is pretty epic, I was on the 770R pretty exclusively.
they don’t have as much low end in them as the atlas, but close due to the higher AR. so you are sized up, but they still have more speed and glide vs a sized down atlas is my feel.
The R don’t turn the same as Atlas, but I would not think they should with the higher AR. Over all I like the feel of the Code much more for my style and I don’t have an issue surfing them or turning them when I want. I recently went for 4 Foildrive sessions on the 680R and I was surprised at how hard I was able to push it in the surf. im always on a short fuse.
I’m on another brand now that has the same feels I love from the R but with more surf and turn in them. But that was not the question so won’t hijack this thread.
Nope. First that I have heard of it happening. And I don’t see why they should get stuck. But our sea is not that salty.
I have seen some threads where people are saying they tried using KT stabiliser without a shim. The problem with not using a shim with the KT foil is that the stabiliser bolt would bottom out (at least with the smaller stabilisers). Hence why the KT shim guide is pretty clear about always having to use a shim.
Could it be that not using a shim and the screw bottoming out, and people then overtightening the stabiliser screw, has caused the problems you were referring to?
Plenty of evidence in the KT Foiling group in FB. You can read about it there.
I did use shim every time even when the sum of mast + front equaled 0. Let me tell you that even at hands tight, sometime the stab bolts were hard to unlock.
I am not saying Code is idiot-proof. Plenty of problems there too when people did not read instruction and used the shorter 25mm bolts for front to fuse connection
No please - hijack the thread!! What brand? F4?
I can only really compare 1250R to Atlas 1340/960 but they ride very differently. The 1250R rides like a high span foil, gets locked in to turns and glides very well, it likes a lot of speed but probably has a great top end (I didn’t test the top end). The Atlas is way more surfier, has way better low end, likes to go slower and less glide.
Never had any issues with my Atlas bolts.
Yes I’m riding Both Code and F4
The F4 Orca is like a tuned up R. More loose feel, speeds and frictionless glide. They project speed in every pump you give it effortlessly.
I have tested the atlas and F4 in the same days, but never back to back session to session. But the f4 has way more glide, speeds, and impressive low end without the speed sacrificed. And turns and surfs as well as the atlas.
Their fuse and set up is so thin. I thought it was mainly due to the 11mm AX UHM mast. But since I’m sold out have been riding the TE 13mm UHM. And getting the same feel. Maybe a little less loose in its turns, but very little. have not been able to test them back to back.
Strange, I did not find any, yet you made it sound like a common problem (saying “plenty of evidence”). And how come I have never experienced it, although riding with KT awful lot.
I have zero interest in spreading non existing problems. if I mentioned the bolt issue is because KT riders have experienced problems as such. more than pointing you to the relevant source, there’s little I can do. happy wind!
It’s literally just one guy saying it over and over, hence why it seems like a widespread issue. I have no issue with my stab either.
Been riding KT here in the Gorge since the first protos came out. Lots of us on KT. Never heard of any bolt issues.
I have extensively demoed KT, Armstrong HAv2 and Code. Here in the gorge KT and Armstrong (HAv2) win for DW. Code (R or S) is super fun but lack the low end of the other two but are super easy and fun to ride with a very intuitive feel. KT (atlas and nomad) are more of a medium speed foil because of the extensive camber/reflex. I tend to ride the atlas more for the pump and glide. I use only nomad tails. My tuning looks like this:
A1130/N190- 1/2 degree above recommended shim
A960/N155- 1/2 degree above recommended shim
A790/N155- recommended shim
This is for DW sup and DW para with the short fuse and 85cm mast.
Cheers!