Just my two cents of personal experience so far.
I have a pocket wing, find it very unstable to fly.
Got some BRMs after trying the pocket wing about twice. I have been riding Greg’s kites and wings for years, which helped me with trusting his product to order 2.9, 4 and 5m
For reference, my weight’s 68kg.
First tries were with the 5m on a F-One Downwind board 6’7 x 97l and Progression 200.
First time i got flying a couple times for some meters, but wind was around 10-13kts straight offshore in flat water and very very flukey, so far from ideal. Beautiful clear mediterranean water made up for it though.
Board felt a bit long, sometimes the nose and lines interfere when sitting on the board with the PW in the water, but a 8’0 would be way worse. Sometimes it was hard to lean against the pull of the PW in gusts and keep balance, sometimes the board would accelerate too much straightaway, but doable if getting used to i guess.
My coiled board knee leash likes to snag the PW lines, will try a custom XM longboard knee leash with the first straight bit longer to avoid this. Don’t like ankle leashes foiling or belt board leashes.
Second time again in the med, wind a bit stronger more like 12-15kts, still very gusty and offshore but managed some short flights, felt overpowered as soon as up though, could keep height but not go upwind much. Had fun though.
Third time on Lake Uri, Switzerland, the infamous Föhn did not show up, wind was too light, i couldn’t get up. But Michi Näf of Ensis showed me how it’s done pumping the hell out of my board board basically flatwater starting without paddle, just holding my 5m in the air, very impressive. Saw his 3m Roger prototype, looked very good, seemed very stable in the air.
Some Gin folks were testing smaller parawings as well with limited success, but wind was too light anyway, so not their fault i guess.
I afterwards updated all 3 PW’s bridles according to Greg’s video and mounted harness lines.
Put a manera hook on the BRM belt, that hook is nice. (Manera stuff is good imho, the X10D lobster gloves are excellent, no cramps, very grippy, warm enough and very flexible neoprene)
4th time it started clicking, Lake Walensee Switzerland, some Föhn at last, Wind 25-30kts, bigger lulls at first. Still progression 200 but this time with my AK Phazer 5’1 x 55l wingboard. Tried with the 4m first because of the lulls, wow, got up straightaway on my bad side, but realised i was way overpowered, although the bridle change made a massive difference in depower. Kept trying for 15min, could ride back and forth no big problem, harness made a big difference too. . Switched to 2.9m, again got up easy, still a lot of power…actually felt it was easier with the smaller board, more control…figured out that In gusts it helps to push sideways against the mast/lean and turn slightly upwind to slow down, similar as with a kite when you crank on the edge and fins of the kiteboard to move the wing fwd in the window…could go back and forth no problem, probably looking a bit wobbly but who cares for the 4th time…made some jibes straigtaway, managed to go upwind no problem, i’d say only slightly less than with a wing…Also managed to retract the PW once and rode some lake swell for some metres, fell off foil soon…but still very stoked.
Can’t wait to try again.
Not sure about the BRM belt though, maybe it’s a bit big for me, kept moving around, not much sliding space for the hook and packing the pw in there while flying seems complicated…will try sewing a kanga rashie like the Ensis boys.
Also i got a manera offshore vest to mount a 3 piece paddle to (black project do that with the foil X on request, very sturdy hexagonal connection, a bit heavier) in a small 3 piece paddle bag. I plan to use the PW to shuttle myself upwind to then struggle and swear working on my paddleups;)… but at least knowing i have a simple to use backup and not a deflated wing i would need to pump back up…
Hope that’s helpful to you guys out there…