said..
Smallest size is a 4.0?!

Very cool! BUT Imho, the vast majority of riders talented enough to truly benefit in their skill level from this wing are either already sponsored or can't come close to affording a quiver

This wing (or the V3 versus V2) really isn't going to affect the skill level or skill progression of the typical everyday rider who can afford it (most of us older types) compared to losing 15-30 pounds AND being willing to actually fall frequently constantly trying new things and pushing beyond the easy comfort zone. And yet we "typical" riders will all still fret about whether we should switch from V1 to V2 to V3 or Unit to Slick, or over to luly luly.(Coming from a dedicated Duotone boom wing user since Oct 2019)

Faff said..
Smallest size is a 4.0?!

That's because a D/lab any smaller is pointless. Tiny D/lab can behave funny. Too stiff. Draft moved forward in a gust. Felt weird. Wings need some ability to absorb a gust and do what they should. Aluula can make it act like a steel wing. They are doing the public right dropping the tiny sizes. I had a shop owner tell me he recommends his customers only buy the D/labs in the tiny sizes, they are not good in the big sizes. With shop owners that clueless, sometimes it's better the brands do right by the public because they know better than guys like that shop owner.


One big benefit to the D/Lab is flagged out behavior. Weight matters when flagged out. Less mass, less inertia, makes for less wagging.

DWF said..

Faff said..
Smallest size is a 4.0?!

That's because a D/lab any smaller is pointless. Tiny D/lab can behave funny. Too stiff. Draft moved forward in a gust. Felt weird. Wings need some ability to absorb a gust and do what they should. Aluula can make it act like a steel wing. They are doing the public right dropping the tiny sizes. I had a shop owner tell me he recommends his customers only buy the D/labs in the tiny sizes, they are not good in the big sizes. With shop owners that clueless, sometimes it's better the brands do right by the public because they know better than guys like that shop owner.


One big benefit to the D/Lab is flagged out behavior. Weight matters when flagged out. Less mass, less inertia, makes for less wagging.

my D/LAB 3.5 was my favorite wing last year. yes, the directness can be harsh in the gusts especially if you're not used to it, but the overall range is great and worth the tradeoff IMO. I had a 3.0 regular to complement, and the softer more forgiving feel was nice, but not when conditions were marginal or when I wanted to get going in dicey conditions. My 3.5 D/LAB almost felt like a 4.0.

we get good wind over here, and the 3.5 D/LAB was my daily driver last year. 185lbs on SAB W1000 or Fanatic Aero Free 1000, Sky Wing 60l.

While I do like the MOD3 canopy on the new wings, I don't feel like it gives the same amount of pop that the ALUULA frame does... i.e. if I had to choose just one, I would choose the ALUULA frame. My 3.5 has countless days on it and still performs great. Just lent it to a friend and he thought it was amazing.

YMMV

one downside... I do find the newer Duotone wings somewhat hard to flip over using the LE handle, so I've resorted to holding the leading edge about half way between the handle and tip... the D/LAB wings are slippery. Also the cost is way up there so it's not for everybody

But, if the cost were the same for both wings, I believe most people would choose the D/LAB for performance, so then it's just a matter of cost/benefit for many customers.

I did like the PentaTX material on the Slick SLS. Looks like Duotone is incorporating it in some windsurf race sails, and I saw something eerily similar on the leading edge of a Ozone Flux wing at the races this weekend.

I am really stoked after riding the wing for the first time.
What material is the leading-edge luff handle made of? After first using it, it feels like there is stiff plastic inside. When you bend the handle it sounds like that plastic breaks into pieces...Who else is experiencing this? Is this normal ?

turtlewinger said..
I am really stoked after riding the wing for the first time.
What material is the leading-edge luff handle made of? After first using it, it feels like there is stiff plastic inside. When you bend the handle it sounds like that plastic breaks into pieces...Who else is experiencing this? Is this normal ?

My handles felt stiff at first. Then I either got used to them, or they soften a bit. I'd prefer them rigid like a hard handle.

Good video and I agree completely with them (even though they sound like they are schilling for the company)

New video on YouTube of my 1st ride & thoughts on the Duotone Slick v3 using the Fanatic Glide 905.

Could someone that's tried both tell me if the 6.5m v3 will get going as early as the original Slick 7m?
Equal or better low end?
The 7m was probably my most used size in the light summer winds here (95kg onboard) and I have gone for a 7m SLS to replace the original.
Now wondering if the 6.5 V3 would replace my 6m and 7m SLS. Have now used the SLS 7m, 6m and 5m and like them. Quite a different feel to the original but so far so better. Curious about the 6.5 v3 though

leepasty said..
I would say yes the 6.5 has the power of 7 sls and definitely if you go for 6.5 dlab will replace both. Only problem is you will then want to replace your 5 with a dlab as well
it's a much lighter feel to the original Slick so some might think not as much power as not as much pull in arms but don't get confused with grunt and power. Pump these new tighter wings a bit faster more like a windsurf wave sail and they generate a lot of power

Thanks, for sure it won't be DLab as they are well out of my budget. Poor retired man budget at work.
Used the 6m SLS in very light winds yesterday for a pump n ride session. Couldn't get it going often on the way out but was able to use swell to pump on the wave. It was noticeable that I had to change the way I pumped the wing compared to the Slick v1.

leepasty said..
Yeah the new mod 3 is bit different technique again. The v3 4.5 east has as much power as the 5m sls I had

Is the wing span on the SLick V3 less than the unitV3?

turtlewinger said..
I am really stoked after riding the wing for the first time.
What material is the leading-edge luff handle made of? After first using it, it feels like there is stiff plastic inside. When you bend the handle it sounds like that plastic breaks into pieces...Who else is experiencing this? Is this normal ?

I also have the Slicks now and I experienced exactly the same. I don't think that something is really breaking there since the handle is still as rigid as before the cracking sound.

Foxi said..

max_ob said..

leepasty said..
Yeah the new mod 3 is bit different technique again. The v3 4.5 east has as much power as the 5m sls I had

Is the wing span on the SLick V3 less than the unitV3?

I?ve been out with my 6.5 now 3 times and if I would not know it being bigger than my 6.0 Unit V2 has been as predecessor, I would not feel it from the pure wingspan.
Pumping in **** low wind doesn?t lead to tip catches as it did with my Unit at times nevertheless it?s 0.5m bigger.
Holding forces are lower than Unit 2 even at its top end. You feel the power it generates when jibing, then there is significant lift in your steering hand Attached my low wind ride past Friday and yesterdays bad weather conditions for what I call top end.

Did Robin get one?

leepasty said..
New video on YouTube of my 1st ride & thoughts on the Duotone Slick v3 using the Fanatic Glide 905.

I need a new smaller wing to add to my 6.5 and 5.0, and was wondering if I should go for a Slick. I had been thinking about a 4.0 Unit V2 since that's what my others are, and they are now only half the price of the Slick with a boom. But then, I saw a winger on the water going switch holding the wing with just one hand on the boom, without having to twist his body at all. Similar to in the video, but without riding waves or pumping, so with more power in the wing.

So, with a limited budget and not so many high wind days - is the Slick V3 worth spending twice as much? Does it make sense to consider the SLS instead to save $230?

boardsurfr said..

leepasty said..
New video on YouTube of my 1st ride & thoughts on the Duotone Slick v3 using the Fanatic Glide 905.

I need a new smaller wing to add to my 6.5 and 5.0, and was wondering if I should go for a Slick. I had been thinking about a 4.0 Unit V2 since that's what my others are, and they are now only half the price of the Slick with a boom. But then, I saw a winger on the water going switch holding the wing with just one hand on the boom, without having to twist his body at all. Similar to in the video, but without riding waves or pumping, so with more power in the wing.

So, with a limited budget and not so many high wind days - is the Slick V3 worth spending twice as much? Does it make sense to consider the SLS instead to save $230?

Just been on the v3 4.5 for 1st time and it's amazing. Not sure how they got it to be better than the unit v3 4.5 which was my best wing ever but think the slick beats it. it's just super light in the hands has loads of power just by pumping. When gusts hit you don't feel them in your hands you simply speed up. and super stable off the front handle or you can simply hold the boom ??

sunsetsailboards said..
have a few days on the new 2023 Slick 4.0 now. first thing I noticed walking to the water was how well behaved it flies off the LE handle. It's a lot more stable now. the increased draft is also visibly noticeable.

On the water, the new wing feels great and is really well behaved surfing waves/swells flagged out. I'm really happy with this wing and I've also hit my PB 5sec 25.0kt with it. Can't wait to get my D/LAB 4.0 next!

The much anticipated original Slick to me did not meet my expectations for what I wanted in a wing. The Slick SLS ticked almost all the boxes for me and was really nice (but I still preferred the Unit), and now the 2023 v3 Slick I haven't found fault with yet.

Keen to know more about how the SLS and v3 compare.