2388 posts
Now that's looking REALLY good. I'll be curious to see the weight and pricing. Takuma had been on the heavier but cheaper side of things so far.
640 posts
Won't b available in US till April/May...
NSW
233 posts
why isn't it a one pump system?
182 posts
Like the handles. The dia on them seems on the smaller side which should reduce forearm fatigue. Looks similar to the BRM wings. Any idea on actual weights? Also this has a batton on the inside of the leading edge for stiffness. This looks to be installed then every time you inflate?
723 posts
The angle on the front handle is the same angle the new Unit has. The Unit bends the struts to provide the angle. I like these new angles much better than a straight boom. Both solutions avoid the hand pinch with the BRM handle angle.
60 posts
Do you think the connection between the hard carbon mini boom handles and the strut will be a weak point as the wing ages? Looks good. I have the Cabrinha wings with the short boomlets and think it's great to be able to adjust the hands so easily, but not to have a boom to install.
531 posts
wonder if the x-ply leech is a weight penalty in the wrong place? love the handle angles and the dual grab points of the front handle.
2388 posts
Hard handles and x-ply will take up a lot less water weight in theory.
825 posts
I think we're seeing a progression from the influence of the "kiting" design and materials over to windsurfing design and materials, which makes sense since these "wings" are hand held and our bodies act, to some extent, as the "mast". As "wing racing" becomes more popular I suspect we'll see a larger windsurfing and windsurf foil influence regarding both hand wings and the foils.
11 posts
I usually just lurk but here's my 2cents after using the 5 a couple of times now. It's the best wing I've used to date and I'm happy with purchase but it's not perfect.
Con's
A little harder to tack than a slick
Wrinkle from aft end of strut extends quite a ways into cannopy like a the mast joint of a laser, can't be optimal.
Why not just use the same valves as everyone else?
For a "premium" wing why does it come with agricultural fiberglass/g10 batten instead of lighter stiffer carbon tubes?
Between battens and handles it doesn't pack small.
Pros
Love the handles, especially quasi flagged using the front of the forward handle. For manuvers I'm not sure I prefer over boom yet.
Flys great and is intuitive which is the most important part and drifts/flags well.
Hope it's durable.
809 posts
Any ride reports? How is the quality? Will the handles hold up?
WA
51 posts
I'm also SUPER interested to hear from anyone who has put over 50 hours and multiple pack downs on this wing! Was winging with a local in Puerto Rico 2 weeks ago whos tried many brands and says he never tried a better wing. We didn't talk about packing it nor any part of it breaking down /stitching /handle connections etc.
I downloaded the pdf and SEEMS like if you're using the long bag for storage and fold it right MAYBE you dunt really need to remove the battens each time??
I liked that (from what I read in the pdf) you can also even unscrew and detach the handles for plane trips etc.
Would be much appreciated if any "long term users" could give us some feedback!
I also with everyone works stick with standard bayonet inflation valves... That being said, I pumped up a Reedin xply wing on that same trip and the huge inflate port DOES save quite a few strokes when pumping up. Who knows if that finger - push "cervix style" deflate port is more prone to failure or sand getting in there though...
2 posts
Here's my take on this wing...
Background: Been foiling for years and wing-foiling since almost the very beginning of the sport. So I'd say I'm an advanced level rider. I predominantly ride waves here on Oahu and use the wing to catch them. Not doing many tricks or too many airs because I like riding waves. Sampled FOnes, Reedins, Ensis, and Takumas. Ride Takuma foils mostly. This is in reference to a 4.3M that I've had since they were released used maybe 10-15 times. I don't use it lately.
It's a great wing, but it's not the best I've used for what I like. A main gripe is that it tends to dive when luffed. Not a huge deal but likes to pull down. Sometimes on waves when the wing is doing this it's annoying because you have to fight it a little. Compare that to an FOne which doesn't even move and can fly by itself. This is more powerful than an FOne of the same size, so...tradeoffs. The battens work great to add tension in the tips but upon popping my leading edge one day on a wave, I almost lost a batten that was falling out while I was getting smashed in whitewater. Having something extra to lose is not ideal. Another gripe is the handles. While they're great and all wings should have some version of a more rigid handle, after a few uses they started falling apart. There's a rubber grip wrapped around the carbon bar held with glue. It's pulling back at the edges, more so on the front handle. The fact that it happened so quickly means it will happen on all/most and deteriorate over time. Packing up is ok, there's a way to do it by using the battens and the rear handle to kind of roll and fold. Battens need not be removed. The bag you get is really small/narrow and quite a tight fit, especially with a pump in there.
That being said, it's probably a step up from many wings out there and has a lot of drive/power for its size. Easy to tack. Lightish for it's size. Decent wrist leash. The inward curving wing tips guarantee it's super hard to touch the water with this wing. It's a great wing but not perfect. IMO the Reedin Superwing V2 has this wing beat on mostly, if not all, levels. The 3.6 Reedin can easily handle the same wind I'd use the 4.3 Takuma in, say maybe 15ish mph.
182 posts
JoshLaw. Agreed on your comments
I have had my 5.1 out about 6 times including some wave riding. Lots of power and no slop. Handles feel great being fairly small dia and oval. I have not ridden any other solid handle wings so this was a real change for me. On jibes wing transition is a lot faster and power re-engagement way more immediate. It does have an earlier backwind than my Fone Strike but I really don't notice it that much. What's amazing is I can ride 2 hrs with not much time in the harness and feel no forearm fatigue.
Tear down and packing is a bit awkward but at least I can get it back in the bag. Wing is pricey but the handling performance is a real step up for me. Hope this wing holds together well over time.
272 posts
Had my first go on this wing yesterday. Rode a brand new 4.3 (red one) in 12-20kts wind. 88kg rider on 80L board with 925HA foil.
It was a not an ideal day for riding, but great for testing gear. Due to the wind being up and down it creates an "honest" testing condition because the wing was asked to do maximum work on short notice when the gusts rolled through, and again asked to help keep the glide going when the wind shuts off.
Overall, underwhelmed. If you are a fan of the earlier versions of this wing and just wanted solid handles, you'll be happy. But there are much better V2/V3 wings out there. The wing rode "true to size". I had a 4.3, was hoping for more power, but it had the same power as my v1 North 4.2. The v2 North 4.2 has heaps more power. The old Armstrong 4.5 had more power than this wing.
Handles were skinny, oval and tiny. My fingers wrapped all the way around to where I was digging into my palm like I was making a fist. I ended up having to hold it by hooking it on the second joint of my fingers. My wife with her small hands and gloves on, found the size just right. I wear size M gloves, so my hands aren't huge. I suspect people with larger hands will get tired fast holding this thing.
Performance: I was expecting power (no) and great upwind ability like many of the new generation wings I've tested. This wing was slightly worse than the Armstrong v1 , just ok upwind. Something like the Reeding speedwing X, would run circles around this thing.
I am glad takuma tried a bunch of new things on this wing, but the results were not impressive. The stiff inserts did not make the wind stiffer or perform any better. Wing tips were not less draggy. The x-ply and all the new panels did not make the wing ride better or more powerful. The carbon handles were very light, but too small.
Lastly, this thing cost about 30% more than regular wings in the market, which make it a solid pass for me. For ridged handled wings, I would rather have the North Nova 2, Cabrinah's offerings, or even the Duotone Unit 2.
To use a car analogy, this wing reminds me of the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 from the 90's. It had a bunch of innovative features (AWD, 4 wheel steering, active aero..) which all sounded good on paper, but in real life it was a mediocre sports car.
