As an intermediate rider, 75kg, who likes fast cruising and doesn’t jump, when I got the opportunity to try a hollow board (Duotone 90L), I bolted my foil under and demoed it. 40km in 12-18kts and messy bay chop and I took it back to the shop and immediately purchased one.
It was replacing my solid Duotone Skybrid 85, which I honestly could not fault.
The Skybrid DLab 90 is easier to get going, partially because it feels more buoyant in the nose section and is more lightweight; 4.0kg compared to 6.3kg for my old board (strapless).
Where I really feel that the difference the weight makes is in the board’s reaction time to my input and the water condition’s input. Every small change in the board’s pitch or directional movement happens a bit faster, but so does the board’s reaction to my inputs. The swing weight in the pitch axis just seems to allow me to react to and control pitch more instantly and therefore more easily. It just feels ‘crisper’ to ride.
I was lucky to be able to afford this board, and as others have expressed, I won’t go back to solid.
And yes, I did once unclip the orange ‘warning’ tag on the bung plug and then forgot to screw the bung in. On the water I noticed and returned to shore- luckily no water came out. (I now have a couple of short lengths of orange ribbon permanently attached to the plug- great visual reminder!! )The bung is open whenever the board is not on the water- this appears imperative.

There is actually a video showing how the KT board is manufactured, presumably at the Cobra factory. The construction is slightly different from Sonic’s SCC, but the basic idea is similar: a hollow construction without honeycomb.

I have a Skybrid DLAB from the first batch so almost a year now. Switched from Skybrid SLS so have direct comparison. If you have a hollow board you will probably not go back to foam.

Have also the Takoon Slide Hollow as my wife tested the Skybrid DLAB and now it’s hers 😂 The shape of the Takoon Slide has some small flaws but you can get used to it and now I enjoy it as well. Skybrid shape is better but overpriced IMO.

The Skybrid holds well. No problems with water intake, damage, whatever. We ride only strapless, no jumps.

Gong hollow is on order…

NikOnFoil said..If you have a hollow board you will probably not go back to foam.

Welllll defends on what construction they both were to be fair. If u had a cheaply made foam cored board, maybe. If you got a cheaply made hollow board, prob not, like mentioned on page 1