Tested a fresh new Duotone Unit 5.0 at the river yesterday. Do away with the 'cons' first .. no leash, needs a Duotone valve adaptor and has a 'window' .. then again, these may not be cons depending on your situation/likings.

Easy to pump up, just many quick light pumps to 6psi (I usually turn a little purple with my old Naish's 11psi). Very light to handle on the beach.



Light 10-12knts, gusting 14knts, only a wingfoiler on and off the foil. So off I go (64kg,1 65m) on my 5'3" 91L + Armstrong cf1600 (just got it off Trav 'well used' the same morning on SB)... no issue handling the 5M kneeling, flipping was easy also. The unit felt nicely filled in with nice tensioned canopy, handles very balanced, I used the 2nd from front and back exclusively. The feel of both handles (nice EVA tubes) very comfy + balanced. The canopy tautness and 'sound' very satisfying in use.

I feel the board goes up on the foil in 11-12 knots with 2-3 light pumps and a nice board 'kick' (I used to wsf a lot, technique is similar). The wing felt well balanced both barely filled in (sailing upwind almost on 'apparent wind') and also when nicely powered (13-14knts+).


Altogether a nice session (still working on getting around on my jibes) when there is barely anyone out on a super nice 19c and sunny Saturday arvo.

Thanks Sylvia and Chad at the StandUpSurfShop Freo for sorting me out (bought 'wrong' gear, store credit .. my bad) with this nice wing.

Hope review helps.

My thoughts on my Unit 5m

Pros:
- solid construction quality
- quick deflation of the centre strut
- handles are well placed, reduces back arm bend fatigue
- reasonably well balanced
- well priced vs other brands
- cool colours/graphics

Cons:
- the front handle is way too small and bendy, I got my fingers twisted when I was holding it and a gust swung it around, ouch. I'll take a large stiff handle anytime (even without the neoprene to protect the knuckles)
- the angle of attack (or sweet spot) is much narrower, compared to other wings I own. I think it's due to the big thick leading edge, if I get a header, it blows the wing hard back onto me flapping hard and I have to push it away hard to get the air flowing over the wing the optimum way. (it needs a tighter canopy/airflow around the leading edge)
- the handles aren't quite stiff enough for my liking
- I have an issue with a large crease on one side of the canopy, haven't yet worked out how to fix it
- no clip on the tube between the 2 chambers
- graphics over the window, what were they thinking?!

Alysum said..
My thoughts on my Unit 5m

Pros:
- solid construction quality
- quick deflation of the centre strut
- handles are well placed, reduces back arm bend fatigue
- reasonably well balanced
- well priced vs other brands
- cool colours/graphics

Cons:
- the front handle is way too small and bendy, I got my fingers twisted when I was holding it and a gust swung it around, ouch. I'll take a large stiff handle anytime (even without the neoprene to protect the knuckles)
- the angle of attack (or sweet spot) is much narrower, compared to other wings I own. I think it's due to the big thick leading edge, if I get a header, it blows the wing hard back onto me flapping hard and I have to push it away hard to get the air flowing over the wing the optimum way. (it needs a tighter canopy/airflow around the leading edge)
- the handles aren't quite stiff enough for my liking
- I have an issue with a large crease on one side of the canopy, haven't yet worked out how to fix it
- no clip on the tube between the 2 chambers
- graphics over the window, what were they thinking?!

yes .. was hitting up to 26knt gusts yesterday and did get that blow back you felt and had to reset the wing AOA and ease off the gas. So its due to shape/design and anything we can do technique wise?

ibid said..



I am guessing KTN is knots, so 26kts is above what the Unit 5m is designed for - there is a trade off getting all that low end power means not as forgiving as some other brands when overpowered

You cannot control the wind so I ended up with all sizes

yes I believe it was out of the 5.0's range yesterday .. back to the Naish 4.0 this arvo

Watched Jason (WA surf) and few others in exmouth a couple of weeks ago just kill it on the new unit wing (well I have watched him for a while now at close range whilst kite foiling at home, Jason on the wasp) so figured I couldn't put it off any longer and got myself a 5.0 unit.

Anyhow 3 decent sessions on the flat trying to get my head around this weird ass wing thing, had my first ocean wave session the other day.

Those 3 sessions did my head in! I swear I nearly threw the damn thing in the bin after the first one! But learning something new is never easy is it! I reckon guys who have done some wind surfing in the past and can foil would really pick it up quicker.

Just mind blowing and I now see what all the hype is about. Man once you get on that wave and flag it out, it just sits there happily and all you do is go about your business like you do on a SUP/Prone. Cranks upwind, then rinse and repeat. My buddy whose somehow has taken to this with ease (he was up and running in bloody 15 minutes the prick) was just catching wave after bloody wave.

So I can't compare and contrast (only ever had one disastrous downwind swim with the original echo wing a year ago then said "fark this").

But the unit works I suppose... Seems easy to get you on the foil easy enough given enough wind, it feels really balanced and doesn't flap one bit when I got on a wave.

It did get to 20 ish...maybe gusting to the mid 20's near the end, but it wasn't uncontrollable, but again what would I know. Got nothing esle to compare it with.

But it works and seems a solid product.

Nice bumping into you stroppo! and all the best on that 30knt wing PB project

My 5M unit still going strong, jibes like a dream and boosts and flies so well even for 50yr old mere mortal ..

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