The topic’s title says it all. Which one do you prefer for parawinging?
I would go for the nomad so you can actually turn on the wave and such. Unless you live somewhere with such tiny bumps that you need the downwind super glide wings? Or you’re so talented that you can ride a very small high aspect wing but…
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Agree with MrJohnson. MA is just more fun for me. I don’t ride KT but I choose the Silk over the Enduro whenever possible.
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I’m an 85kg intermediate foiler and i’ve been parawinging for a season. My spot are in an enclosed sea.
I have a 790 atlas+155 nomad and a 1160 nomad+190 nomad both with the 63cm fuse. I used to also own an Atlas 1130.
On the bigger size the Atlas, while great for gliding and pumping, was lacking turnability for my taste. I prefer the nomad and trading a bit of glide for a bit of carve.
I havent rode the nomad 830 but i enjoy my Atlas 790 very much.
For my spots, where wave are slow, I feel the nomad tail are spot on. Giving me carvibility and control.
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That’s a decision based on your riding style and conditions. I’m not sure it changes at all based on the fact you’re using a trash bag.
The KT foils are shaped quite different than most of the other foils on the market. So to have people chime in with their opinions who have never rode anything KT is somewhat useless.
I’ve got the atlas, 960 and 680… they are for sale 
. I don’t think they compare at all to other brands high aspects. These are extremely easy to turn foils.
So I guess the question is, are you riding super powered up in breaking or near breaking waves. Cranking out high power turns? Or are you downwinding or doing some variation of downwind type activity. If you’re downwinding the Atlas is probably for you. If you’re primarily in surf, then perhaps the nomad is for you.
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Atlas 960 in small/lighter conditions requiring more glide, Nomad 830 in higher wind, bigger bumps requiring more turning performance for me as an intermediate, 93 kg parawinger. Much of the KT pro team seems to like the Atlas 790 in Hood River FWIW.
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I completely agree with this.
The Atlas feels like a more relaxed, low-effort surf wing—great for cruising. The Nomad, on the other hand, is what you want if you’re looking to really rip turns.
KT foils are just different—and in my opinion, better—than anything else out there. Even the Atlas, which is marketed as the more mellow option, still turns extremely well. For comparison, I’d say the Atlas actually turns better than the Progression wings—if you’re on the right KT foil for the conditions.
The turning performance of the Atlas is right up there with most other brands’ dedicated “surf” wings. You’re not going to be disappointed. I ride my 960 Atlas in the same conditions I used to ride my Progression 200, and the difference is huge. The Atlas has the same low-end but glides way better and turns way better than the 200. It’s also super fun for linking swells and gliding back over the bumps behind you.
Now the Nomad is on another level entirely. It’s easily the best turning foil on the market right now. The 980 Nomadfeels remarkably similar to the Progression 200—which has over 300 cm² more area—in every way except turning. The 980 turns more like the Progression 140, so you get the benefits of both wings in one. It’s an unreal feeling to ride.
Whatever you choose, size down. That makes all the difference.
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So many factors here and I have had the chance to ride them all in light and high winds. They all offer such unique charateristics.
As I have mentioned before, the low end on both lines are remarkable, which allows to ride 20-25% less than most standard foil sizes on any brand.
For light wind conditions, the Atlas takes the cake for that early lift. Don’t ever discount the Nomad though, the low end is competitive, especially if you understand the shimming, which many don’t
I have been experimenting with negative -.5 to -.1 below the standard stock setting for that foil front wing/mast combo…i.e. if it is 0.5, I go 0 or -.5, etc.
It opens up another range of surfability/carves/speed top end and I encourage everyone to try.
I feel I am a solid test dummy for the low end as most guys are not 230-240 lbs and tall. But given I am these dimensions lol, I can get up on the 980 nomad in San Diego crap wind under 10 mph with a 5M wing. I need about 12-15 ish for a parawing in a 4.3 size…but then I change it up to the Atlas 960 or 1130. It just offers that low end get up needed.
I agree with Zach above. KT foils are in their own league, and its dificult to compare them to anything else, beause frankly, no foil on the market has a low end stall speed like KT has period. No foil can come to a virtual stop and allow you to dig out of a hole.
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+1 for such tail shim setup. I am also using -0.5 degrees (relative to the suggested/calculated value) with most KT foil setups, and the low end is indeed phenomenal. Atlas 570/145 here on this pic, in very very little wind and small waves - the thing just keeps going if you keep the speed up by making lots of turns on a wave.
For parawinging the choice is no different than selecting a foil for winging. Just choose the model by the steepness, size, and speed of your waves. The steeper and slower the wave is, the more Nomad would start making sense. In smaller and/or faster waves, when the most efficient glide is needed, look towards Atlas. And size down the foil and also the stabiliser, and instead of pumping up and down, make the turns.
Did not make a video this time, but there are some more pictures here. Light offshore wind, too light close to the shore, protected by the trees and a higher cliff. https://www.instagram.com/p/DPlIL7pjXYC/?img_index=3