Hi guys

Looking for a sub 10 knots wing and have decided to go for Duotone Unit. Unfortunately, I cannot try the Unit where I live, so need some advice from Unit owners.

I am 172 cm high (approx 5.6). Any owners of the similar hight? Is a 6.5 wing ok or should I get a smaller one to avoid hitting the water (too much) when pumping?

What's the lowest wind speed you can get with up your Units? Perhaps even 5.5 size should be ok for <10 knots.
Not sure how much D/LAB aluula adds to the performance.

Thanks

No way I'd recommend the Unit over the new v3 Slick. Get the Slick. Better for shorter riders, plus just better.

There's also this link too.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wing-Foiling/Wind-Wings/Windwing-dimensions?page=1

I've managed to get going in 9 knots before with a bucket load of effort pumping up a 5m Slick. This has been coupled with a BSC 1060 and I've pumped the back foot in unison to get flying. I've used bigger wings (5.5m slick and 6m matador) with no benefit over the 5m. In fact, the matador was completely incompatible with my technique and I couldn't pump it effectively at all. That may be due to the flimsy handles as well as the larger wingspan.
I've also used a 6m Allula Unit and it was super grunty, but again, pumping it was messy on technique. If you're going Allula, I'd suggest it will definitely give a performance improvement, but be sure it matches with your size and technique.

I also was considering DLAB Unit or Slick in a larger size but ended up purchasing a 7m Mode. My decision was based on wingspan. I wanted something large but narrow enough wingspan so I can still surf with it easily enough. Also wanted large range. My plan is to use 7m Mode until +15kts then switch to 3.5m V3 DLAB Unit.
Mode or Nova Light Wind are worth considering:

Slick SLS is known to be flat and have less power. New Slick is very powerful.

My wife at 165 tall finds the 5.5 Slick her best light wind wing ever. No tips hitting.

You can for sure ride the 6m Slick at your height.

Also, don't get caught up too much on wing span dimensions. Those wings with very wide tips also hit the water when held at the wrong angle. Heck, even the CWC has a wider span than you'd think. Lay one on top of another brand. It's shocking. The CWC is wide, but tip is cut angled. So span dimension is misleading. You almost have to try everything.



Also a lot of 5.5 wing use by my wife in this video.

I've been testing the new 2023 Slick back to back on the same conditions and same day as the new Unit 2023. Things that were true for the SLS and 2022 Unit are no longer the same for the 2023 wings.

The 2023 Unit definitely has a bit more low end grunt than the 2023 Slick which has changed to be a lighter flying wing than the SLS.

For me the new Slick is better upwind than the SLS, has a more stable pump attitude (the SLS tends to dip towards the water when pumping it in low wind, which the 2023 Slick does not). The 2023 Slick is also better on the top end and better going upwind, it also pulls less on the front arm and generally flies lighter than the SLS.

The 2023 Unit on the other hand definitely feels a bit heavier in the hands than the Slick but it easier to pump continuously and build power to get onto foil, it's a bit more of a grunty beast. It also is better upwind than the 2022 Unit and with the tighter canopy it is easier to tack and guide through moves like duck gybes and heineken gybes.

On the negative side it definitely lets you know that it's time to change down when things start to get very powered and becomes a bit more of a handful than the 2022 Unit. I think this is just the tighter and heavier mod 3 canopy material and stiffer leading edge just not venting the power as readily.

I feel like when I swap between the two that the Slick feels like a slightly smaller wing than the 2023 Unit for the same size.

Regarding the OP question - I can get a 6.0 DLab (of either) onto foil in around 10kts with a 1500 front foil.

Hi guys,

Thanks a lot for the details. Very much appreciated.

I managed to test 2023 Unit and Slick in May - both Dlab and Mod3 (so 4 wings in two decent 3-hour sessions at 7-11 and 12-16 knots).

Very impressed with Duotone in general. I bought a 6.0 Unit Dlab for easy cruising and a 5.0 Slick as my main wing for where I live (freestyle in 13+ knots / in disorganised chop).

Unit Dlab 6.0 is really great for the daily thermal winds in the Med. I can get up in 7 knots on Axis 1050 and in 10+ on HPS 930 (85 ltr board). Perfect setup for light wind days.

The 5.0 Mod3 Slick is now my best wing for 12..18 knots on a 60 ltr board (Axis 999, 899). Coming from windsurfing, I just love the platinum boom of the Slick. I found, going into tacks, Slick feels a tad lighter. Once you drop the backhand, the wing becomes almost weightless. When on a high-aspect foil (I love both Axis HPS and ART), it is almost impossible not to finish a tack.

As for size, I figured 6.0 is the smallest wing I should ever use. If it is not enough, I should just work on my technique, rather than buying a bigger wing.