# Futures track boxes **URL:** \ **Category:** Foils and Boards - Gear Talk\ **Created:** [January 26, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474 "2025-01-26T19:51:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocicraptor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Velocicraptor](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Velocicraptor)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/1 "2025-01-26T19:51:23Z")
Anybody have experience with futures boxes? I’m looking at a custom board that uses futures and want some reassurance as to whether they are solid (or knowledge if they are not). Builder tells me there haven’t been any issues. I can probably have them switched out for Chinook if it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![FSM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FSM](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/FSM)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/2 "2025-01-26T20:14:28Z")
Chinooks are tougher. A Futures box sands like cheap plastic. A Chinook box is a bitch to sand. Better plastic. ---
**Author:** ![hwy1north](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@hwy1north](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/hwy1north)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/3 "2025-01-26T22:21:26Z")
Assembly is probably a much bigger factor… The old Chinook 10" boxes are bomber, but I had a made in China Amundson that had Futures and held up great at the boxes. If it were me, I’d either ask for Chinook 16" (based on brand quality only) or Foiltec’s (based on what is in my new Amos board ) > **[High density foam insert with Hydrofoil Foilboard Track 11.81"/ 300MM](https://foil-tec.com/products/high-density-foam-insert-with-hydrofoil-foilboard-track-11-81-300mm)** > > Foil Tec's hydrofoil board high density foam insert for 330mm track/ box  has been specifically designed for hydrofoil board manufacturing and offers superior performance for the foil industry. This high density insert has been designed to... ---
**Author:** ![Dontsink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Dontsink](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Dontsink)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/4 "2025-01-26T23:12:43Z")
They work very well in my experience. I cracked the foil box lam loose on my wingfoil board recently but the tracks(Futures) were fine. I cleaned them up and reinstalled, no problem. They are lighter than Chinooks for same 10in lenght (256gr Futures vs 370gr Chinooks). IMHO 10in Chinooks were designed for fin tracks in windsurf boards with same brutal specs as the windsurf mast tracks (but center cutout) * * * EDITED: The 15in Chinooks were specific for wingfoil and have a more slender structure ,they weigh 465grams.(I previously posted they weighed 370gr like the 10inch…this was wrong,sorry!) * * * ---
**Author:** ![Matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 8:52am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/5 "2025-01-27T08:52:43Z")
> [@hwy1north](#): > > Assembly is probably a much bigger factor… 100% agree with this, if someone hasn’t made and destroyed quite a few boards then I’d pass, they should last one season before fatigue becomes super obvious More important is how they are inserting the tracks into the foam. If it’s not a very big HD foam cassette then I’d avoid. Ideally, the cassette has a pointed front end to reduce the strain point that the flat edge creates (check the board builders group on facebook for discussion). If they are inserting the tracks [directly into the board](https://www.boardcave.com.au/mister-bennetts-signature#:~:text=Construction%20layers%20diagram) then I’d pass. Take one of their used demo boards, attach a foil to it, stand with a foot either side of the foil boxes, and yank that thing around. You should not feel anything through your feet (paging @TooMuchEpoxy for the idea for this, great idea!!!) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/progressionproject/original/2X/e/edfa7ca6f047b6ad58c0049f35f259c304ac14fe.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![tommy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@tommy](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/tommy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/6 "2025-01-27T19:30:19Z")
I’ve had issues with with Futures boxes. I may have tightened the screws a little too tight, but I got distortion/crushing in the boxes. They’re not specifically made for the job, so not dissing futures. I think there’s a reason KT moved away from using them. ---
**Author:** ![Dontsink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Dontsink](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Dontsink)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/7 "2025-01-27T21:26:22Z")
IMHO the future is neither Futures nor Chinooks. Many brands are moving to 100% laminated boxes,finally. Much better bonding than plastic,less chance of leaks and way easier to connect to deck and some sort of stringers. They have been working nicely with inflatables for years now. ---
**Author:** ![hwy1north](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@hwy1north](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/hwy1north)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/8 "2025-01-27T23:12:47Z")
Please elaborate? Inflatables use injection molded plastic boxes. Laminated as in pressure molded carbon fiber? -is that what Armstrong use? ---
**Author:** ![Dontsink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Dontsink](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Dontsink)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/9 "2025-01-27T23:29:57Z")
Inflatables use a carbon (or carbon and glass,not sure) plate ,about 5mm thick.That should be about 30/40 layers if 5oz/150gr cloth i guess… With routed grooves to take the inserts. Some brands are starting to use the same idea on rigid boards.A lighter version because the plate does not need to cover so much area. I think Takoon and Armstrong are doing this. I fitted one i bought from a small workshop to a SupFoil board i botched together,it is working OK ![1000003450](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/progressionproject/original/2X/7/77a8f2952848a94d2286ecba1aab4581f674418b.jpeg) ![1000003449](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/progressionproject/original/2X/6/646bb95914fd3a75194447a1435ca45084e11230.jpeg) ![1000003451](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/progressionproject/original/2X/f/f2b6cd83e77742e1e8df939cc9bd79a4c0871565.jpeg) so far.Lighter overall. ---
**Author:** ![Dontsink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Dontsink](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Dontsink)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/10 "2025-01-27T23:35:47Z")
This is the plate of a Gong inflatable i just sold.Massive Carbon plate. ![1000024585](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/progressionproject/original/2X/c/c3ecfdc212cdaa757c20d601bcaaee8bd8a32926.jpeg) ![1000024593](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/progressionproject/original/2X/e/eaf7b84cb19c07edb7c0daa0e82bcbee01f85c01.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Atomic-chomik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@Atomic-chomik](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Atomic-chomik)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/11 "2025-01-29T02:48:28Z")
Fabricators move away from Futures do to the increased effort and cost it takes to install them. They are great as foil mast track boxes. Ive installed over 50 foil boxes and have never had one fail. ---
**Author:** ![Dontsink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Dontsink](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Dontsink)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 3:31pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/12 "2025-02-01T15:31:15Z")
I previously posted a mistake,i have edited the guilty post, my bad… ☹ EDITED: The 15in Chinooks were specific for wingfoil and have a more slender structure ,they weigh 465grams.(I previously posted they weighed 370gr like the 10inch…this was wrong,sorry ---
**Author:** ![Velocicraptor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Velocicraptor](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Velocicraptor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/13 "2025-04-21T14:24:19Z")
What length baseplate bolts are people using with Futures boxes? They seem a lot shallower (shorter bolts) than all my other boards. God forbid I use too long a bolt and damage them. ---
**Author:** ![sethstaff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@sethstaff](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/sethstaff)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/14 "2025-04-22T00:09:49Z")
I have an Amos bullet and I’ve been using the unifoil hardware ( I think M8 x 25 ) I just realized they are slightly too long and putting circle dents in the tracks ---
**Author:** ![Steve](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.progressionproject.com/steve/32/6617_2.png) [@Steve](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Steve)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/15 "2025-04-22T00:39:57Z")
all my boards have future boxes and have those little screw indents, never seemed bad enough to worry about. I’ve foiled more times than I can count into low tide sand bars, no issues. standard uni hardware with mine. ---
**Author:** ![TooMuchEpoxy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@TooMuchEpoxy](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/TooMuchEpoxy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/futures-track-boxes/8474/16 "2025-04-22T10:00:31Z")
I just did a track rebuild on a custom from a reputable surf shaper/glasser - not a shop that pumps out foil boards but someone you’d expect to know their business. It had that standard HD foam reinforcement in the back and futures boxes sunk in that. Turns out when the HD foam was glued in the epoxy got to hot and cooked a 1/2” void between the HD foam and the eps. Trust nobody. Assess your boards for stiffness and weight from day 1.