I tested the Flite Lab AMP Board twice last week, and the conclusion is simple: this is not a true foil assist system — it’s basically a prone assistant.
What it actually does is give you a small boost during the paddle-in. It helps you get into the wave a bit easier, but that’s about it.
It doesn’t change your range or what you can surf. You’re not able to:
catch waves earlier or further outside
get into fatter or weaker waves
ride in marginal or flat conditions
And that’s where it falls short.
Compared to real assist systems like Duotone Foil Assist, Foil Drive, or even setups like the Towboggie, those actually expand what’s possible — they give you access, range, and versatility. You can go outside, pick your waves, and ride conditions that would otherwise be impossible.
The AMP Board doesn’t do that. It just makes paddling slightly easier.
At nearly $8,000, it’s hard to justify. Based on performance alone, a fair value would be no more than $3,000.
Bottom line:
This isn’t a real foil assist — it’s a limited prone aid, and at its current price, it’s simply disappointing.
We’ve already seen quite a few videos of downwind starts. Considering how many people struggle even with an 8-foot board, I think it’s fair to say this opens up new possibilities.
That said, it’s still just assistance for the take-off. I’m actually a bit surprised to see some people disappointed compared to the Foil Drive, because it’s a completely different concept and not really comparable.
On my side, I’m using a tow boogie, and I think many of us would agree it’s the best forms of assistance.
Listening to numerous podcasts makes it clear. There is a definite learning curve with the board. The more you use it, the better you will be at using it. Just like any other tool. It was never meant to be anything but what you described though.
As long as someone buys it with the proper frame of reference they should be happy with what they got. When AMPMast comes out we shall see how that fits into the ecosystem and will allow you to power around on flat water.
We have a lot of customers who would disagree. It sounds like you were either running one battery or the settings weren’t right. You can definitely catch waves with the AMP that you would even stand a chance of catching with a midlength. A completely non-breaking wave.
Not that I can, as I am not fast enough to my feet but guys are flat water starting the 4’6. Sitting wide of the break or using it in conditions where surfers can’t even catch a wave is it’s whole point. Also light wind winging and parrawinging. I have only just started to parrawing and really struggle to get going even on an 85L with the parra wing but get up easy with the Jet. Then there is downwinding which definitly takes some time to learn with the AMPJet but once you do it’s pretty epic. I started downwinding on the 5’8 then moved to the 5’0 and now I can catch even smaller bumps on the 4’6 that I could on the 5’8 when I started. It’s all about timing and technique.
It’s never going to jet you back out the back whilst on foil it was never designed for that. That is what the AMPMast will be for. But for fat waves, sitting wide, Big waves, light wind winging/para and downwind is where it shines. No drag on the mast and a closer feeling to a non assist board.
Having been stuck next to both an AMP and FD, I know which one of them causes less disturbance to the other users in the water!
Personally not a huge fan of either but having tested one briefly and watched another already very decent proner test an ampjet. They definitely DO help with the initial chip in but then the rest is on you (popping up, surfing, pumping)
It’s a small demographic needing to already be decent enough to prone yet want help chipping in at the cost of riding a heavy setup
In practice most people relying on “assists” are simply buzzing around doing laps as if it was an efoil which I personally feel is a pretty poor use of them.
Build quality/appearance of the FL also impressed me vs the alternatives.
Disagree. It 100% does help you catch waves further out, allows you to surf fat/weak waves and ride in marginal conditions. And it’s much much nicer to ride than a foil drive.
Never been on either… I’ve never even been on efoil.
Seems like a lightweight trench board setup, with a ZipPod for FD would be way nicer… especially for people that can’t pump. What do you mean by “nicer to ride”. I’m curious, I don’t have a dog in the fight.
I’m also curious if anyone commenting has a brand affiliation
No affiliation here—just rode it twice and that was my honest take.
And honestly, having to buy it first just to test and maybe return it makes no sense—especially at ~$8K. Way better to try before committing to something that expensive.
I can see where the AMP board would shine. I really was considering getting one, but at 8K I would have to demo it first. I reached out to many dealers, but could not get a demo. I currently have been on FD for over 2 years, and really do use it as an assist. I sit and wait for sets. When conditions are right I try to pump and connect waves. I have gotten a 2hr session on the sport battery in good conditions. FD will outshine the AMP in onshore, choppy conditions, but when clean and offshore I think the AMP would be great, just want to try it first.
I think that could be a bit of the problem, just using it twice. From most of the feedback and podcasts with Chris you need to dedicate quite a few sessions to dial it in. Same with parawings. I would image feedback from parawings would be the same after 2 sessions and now most people say they are the best thing ever!
Riding something new in foiling twice and writing it off is calling it too early. Especially for those who can’t foil proficiently. I’ve got no idea of how well you can foil. Learning takes time and is part of the fun and struggle.
You are right the Amp does give you an assist into waves. That’s what it’s designed to do.
You’ve got it wrong with your claims or can’t
catch waves earlier or further outside
get into fatter or weaker waves
ride in marginal or flat conditions
They are exactly what I use it for. If it’s bigger or crowded I sit further out the back to get in early or wider to avoid crowds. The other times I ride the amp are when it’s tiny and there’s very little time to catch a wave before it loses power. Also when it’s windy I like the amp as the weight helps the board cut through the wind.
I ride a 4’2" on the 707 and manage to do all that.
I reckon you get back on it, give it some more time.
I tested a 4’2" and 4’6". What I could catch initially on the 4’6" I couldn’t on the 4’2". Now having ridden the 4’2" for a few months I can ride in way more marginal conditions than when I started. Practice and time are worth the effort and yes worth the money
If you need several days to decide, that usually means:
it’s not intuitive enough
or it doesn’t deliver clear value right away
And that matches exactly what I felt.
With something like a foil assist (e.g. Foil Drive), by the 2nd or 3rd ride you already understand the possibilities—even if it still takes more time to really dial in balance because of the extra weight.
Also, let’s be honest—most demos are 1–2 days max. So you probably didn’t have much more time on it than I did.
And there’s another factor people don’t like to admit:
if I had paid that much, I’d probably defend it hard too.
Now, to be fair—I actually loved the 707 setup (short fuse, 82 mast, 140 stab). That felt like a different level compared to my Armstrong PM 79 mast + 60 fuse + Armstrong MA Mk II 690 + Armstrong Speed Tail Mk II 130. I’m seriously considering switching because that setup is legit.
But the AMP Jet board itself?
For me, it’s still just a prone assist—not a full game-changer.
You are right it’s not a foil assist. Hopefully Flite Lab will launch their own assist before years end? As a Foil Drive user on the aging Max platform I am really hungry for some performance gains. Surely Flite Lab will deliver on that?
What’s the game change you were hoping the Amp would provide?
For me I had already decided I was in and going to buy before trying. This was because I wanted exactly what you close out with a prone assist. Mostly I ride without the jet in. However in summer when it’s busy I put it in to get away from crowds or as per previous post when it’s tiny or bigger.
With testing I was fortunate to have multiple test days on a variety of equipment beyond just the 4’2” & 4’6” and had good conditions. Demo duration I guess are set by the stores selling them. Bummer you didn’t gel with it immediately. For me the Amp was very intuitive from session one. Of course a few times I mistimed pushing the boost, too early or too late. There was no long learning curve for me (prone foiling is what I do most of). I was trying to say that discovering what is possible on a particular size took me more than 2 sessions to figure out. I have found with the 4’2” it is much more capable than what I thought possible after my first few foils on it.
For me the benefit of time has been finding the edges of what is possible on the 4’2” Amp.
Like you I really dig the foils. I have same setup as you rode except went the 125 tail. The 125 felt freer and a bit less draggy than the 140. I initially thought flitelab was going to be all about the Amp not so much the foils. Initially around here people bought an Amp and stayed with the foils they had. However more and more people (prone & wing foilers) are switching to the flux foils without buying amp board. Or buying foils first & saving up to buy an Amp.
