Wondering if anybody has a “rule of thumb” for optimal size increments in their quiver.
Looking to get a smaller foil to compliment my daily driver (1000cm2 - ratio 8.4) for better/bigger days.
Next size down is just 100cm2 smaller which to me seems like I could likely go down two sizes (200cm2) and still not create a “gap”.
But I am curious to know what some of you think about this.
For me here in socal
My dd is a 850cm² 8.0, 82cm sk8 from Fone
When its reaaaally tiny id do the 950cm²(87cm) sk8 from Fone.
I’ve been using the Lift 220 HAx and 150 HAx, and that has been working well for me at 140lbs with 60l board. Both foils get a lot of use, and I’m rarely unsure which one to pick: If the wind is at all decent, I’m taking the 150. I’m not sure exactly what the threshold is, maybe something like consistent gusts above 12 kts.
I’m considering downsizing both foils, but the gap in size seems about right.
armie 1080 and 780 with the dart/speed tails to mix match. 95kg
I have 1000 + 800 and really like this spread! Your intuition is correct, if you go down only 100 it might be to small a change
What’s your goals? What discipline? Where do you ride?
I have 6 wings from 600sq cm wings to 1800sqcm wings. I use the biggest ones way more often than the smaller ones. Florida surf, dock starts, wake foil, learning to wing, learning to DW foil…. My two wing quiver would be a giant wing and a 1000sqcm do it all wing
I have Code 980 daily driver for wing and foil drive, then a Uni 100 for larger days. That’s over a 300cm2 difference.
Depends on range of your conditions and skill level. I found i need smaller foils as my pumping improved. Also found that i need smaller gaps for larger conditions.
My 170 and 140 (200cm gap) gets equal use and covers 2-4 and 3-6 ft. For the occasional fast overhead point conditions when traveling a 130 or 125 is needed if i still want to pump (100cm2 gap)
I started with a rule of “nothing under 1200cm2.” Me at 180lbs and the slow mushy waves I mostly foil, any wing that size or larger would be enough for me to get a 2 for 1.
Then the Lift 120 came out and my rule was out the window. I could pump a sub 1,000 foil, but a lot depended on the foil design and the power of the surf.
Now I consider more of what i want to do on foil and the waves I want to surf when I’m shopping for a new foil (which is often with the used market these days).
I guess my threshold is to stick around 1000cm2 to be safe for everyday use. Bigger means easier but more drag/slow in turns. Smaller means faster but probably less use.
Currently on the Code 1300s with 175 AR stab for the everyday mush. Previously on the Progression 170 (1097cm2), so big size jump there. Very happy, as I’m surprised how well the 1300 carves and the pump is supercharged over the smaller progression.
Good wave and carving foil is an old reliable Vyper 150 (968cm2) which pumps better than what I was previously on, Sk8 1050. I bought into the F-one hype last year, great foils at speed but not enough low end for me to ride everyday like i can on the Vyper.
It depends on which wing you’re going to. If your keeping the same aspect ratio go to something about 200 sq cm smaller, higher AR(span stays the same smaller area) go 350 smaller. Lower AR (like getting a mid aspect surf wing for big days) get the same area your on now (it’ll feel smaller with the decreased span and speed)
Interesting. Have been pondering about this as well lately.
Obviously it depends on the use cases. Bear in mind that lift increases/decreases with Speed squared, so decrements/increments in surface area shouldnt be the same steps through the range. In other words, the bigger the foil/slower the speed, the bigger the step in area to feel a difference. Also consider not only area but also profile thickness and AR.
I am currently on the whole range of Progressions. Yes i know, kind of overkill, quiver kind of grew with my skill development and interest in other parts of foiling next to winging. I try not to have all of them in the van as i hate having to much choice…For reference my wings are 2.4/3.6/5.0/6.5, i kind of skipped every other size, which works well if the wings’ range is big enough…
At 68kgs with an ak phazer 5’1 x 55l my go to is the progression 140 for everyday winging/downwindwinging, the 200 for low fetch lake downwinging, and the 125 for bigger fetches… I choose them more according to bump size, the wind strength is more important for wing size obviously…The step from 140 to 125 isn’t very big, i can get both up in quite light winds but the step to the 100 feels a bit big as long as i am not at the ocean with more swell power… currently i like the slight overlap of 140 and 125 as our conditions are often changing, to have a bit of range in both feels better…still the profile and AR from 140 to 125 gets a bit slimmer/higher so this adds to the difference in pure area…whereas from 140 to 170 the step feels quite small when winging, 140 to 200 feels more like an actual gain. This might be different for proning or sup downwind foiling, not sure?
The sizes for reference:
