Thanks for the review. It helped me to choose the carbon hihp as well. Not concerned if it gives a little bit of performance up in small waves, for the durability and hi performance in bigger surf. Got the board and I love it. Definitely super lively without the drawbacks of a tufflite chatterer. Love this board in all conditions. One board quiver for sure. Cheers from Central California
Awesome thanks for the feedback. It really is a game changing board that gets better once you get comfortable with it as well. Truely the best board on the market I’m sure.
Had my HIHP black for a month now surfed waves from 3 -8ft with a quad fin set up its fast but l find cut backs not that great ill try the thruster set up see if it makes a difference. cheers from Phillip island
Cheers for taking the time to post up this independent review. Hard to find real world detailed review beyond marketing or surf shop reviews. I'm looking at the carbon black construction, but torn between the HIHP, HI4, and TJ Pro. Replacing a Stewart Hydro Hull which was one of those magic boards, bit soft construction and ended up snapping with the way I surf. So big performance expectations on the replacement. The Stewart did pretty much everything well, narrow nose but chined rails made it plane on the nose. Narrow short board tail with double concave and vee, as well as continuous rocker fitted pocket surfing well. My only question with the HP is the nose area and ability to plane? Hence considering the HI4 or possibly the TJPro. Have you tried either of these?
Hi thanks. I haven’t seen the TJ in thunderbolt but the older TJ that we’re timbertek had a substantial amount of rocker compared to the HIHP. My board is a lot flatter with a continuous rocker which I prefer. It’s a very fast and manoeuvrable board. It also nose rides very well as I have also competed on it in State Title rounds achieving runner up. I also like less surface area up front to give a good swing weight when doing re-entries. Where as other LBs I’ve had have been top heavy when too focused on nose riding. Having said that if your intermediate or better surfer you will nose ride it fine. The Hi4 looks like the perfect middle ground between the two. 👍
This review led me to buy the HI4. Love it. Started off as 2+1 and now riding as single fin. Amazing board, works great in anything I've tried up to 8-10 feet.
Hi there thanks for the review , awesome . if you could would you get the Red or the carbon again ? thanks for you time , I am making my mine up between those two cheers
Hi Tom, I went the Carbon over the red because it has more carbon layers in the construction making it a bit stronger without stiffening the board. It does have a different flex rate but I believe it’s a little more lively. If you can afford it, go the Carbon. Thanks for your comments and thanks for watching I hope I helped!
Great review! I hope I can get one one day. Do you have an opinion about the back fin on the thruster set up, whether it could be the same size as the front two rather than bigger? Would you only use the Quad set up in bigger, hollow waves?
Yes I have both the same size fin set and the larger middle fin but I much prefer the same size as it has more performance and doesn’t seem to make enough difference when in bigger waves for me to like the bigger center. I haven’t tried it in quad as I like the release from the thruster set up where as quads seem to stay on arc in turns and cutbacks which is good for speed and hold but I think with longboards you need release from the tail not like short boards as much. But this is just what I feel and you may like the quad, I’ve surfed quad longboards before and never really liked them as much as the thruster set up. Cheers hope this helps and cheers for watching. 🤙
Great video, thanks! Do you think it could go even in smaller beach break waves? I'm from Italy, I want something really radical in smaller waves... thanks!
I put a longboard/ fish style pad as they’re a bit longer and for sure I prefer them not only for grip but they help you know where your back foot is as you move up and down the board I like to feel it under my back foot to know where the “sweet spot” for turns is which is over the back fins. Cheers . Hope this helps
He man! I just picked mine up tonight! Whilst setting it up I bloody realised they had given me a Future fin setup instead of FCS2 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ Now the painful wait until 9am tomo
that sucks. If the harley Fins are available in Futures, that won't be bad but I'm sure he's sponsored by FCS. otherwise i feel like Futures are a better system. good luck mate.
You mention board weight contributing to momentum in dead sections. But is that true? Momentum is a function of total mass x velocity. So rider weight makes a huge difference to how momentum works. But larger mass means more displacement means more drag. I suggest shape is much more of a 'momentum' driver than board mass which is why light boards can still carry really well as you also mention. No big deal but I'm still trying to get my head around the heavy board is a plus theory. Cheers
It’s heavier than a tufflite epoxy of the old days so it carries more momentum over flat dead sections than the old epoxy board that I’ve ridden of similar design. Same as a poly / glass board has more momentum. They are similar in feel. More drag would come into play if they were a flat or convex surface on the bottom. As they have concave, they create lift. An older light epoxy is more affected by wind and currents, and spilling white water in my experience.
@@nigehill Hi Nige, I'm not questioning the HI boards just the idea that board weight is helpful in dead sections. Totally agree there is an ideal weight that is less affected by wind, chop etc. Too heavy, slow to accelerate, too light, sensitive to other influences. I have a friend with an HIHp so I'll have to try for myself. Cheers
great review Nigel you approached every aspect of the board and answered all my queries in the end hey in an easy manner too, enjoyed it!
Great review, Nigel. About to buy a used one (not carbon though) for SW France.
Thanks for the review. It helped me to choose the carbon hihp as well. Not concerned if it gives a little bit of performance up in small waves, for the durability and hi performance in bigger surf.
Got the board and I love it. Definitely super lively without the drawbacks of a tufflite chatterer. Love this board in all conditions. One board quiver for sure. Cheers from Central California
Awesome thanks for the feedback. It really is a game changing board that gets better once you get comfortable with it as well. Truely the best board on the market I’m sure.
Nice explanation....I plan on getting the 9'4" Diamond Drive...
Awesome you won’t regret getting one, they’re such an amazing board! Happy shredding
Great review mate! I agree with everything you said. Mine is identical to yours colour & all. I love it!
Cheers Phil glad you sat though the whole long winded review ! Thanks for your feed back. It really is a game changing board! Stay safe!
Had my HIHP black for a month now surfed waves from 3 -8ft with a quad fin set up its fast but l find cut backs not that great ill try the thruster set up see if it makes a difference. cheers from Phillip island
Cheers for taking the time to post up this independent review. Hard to find real world detailed review beyond marketing or surf shop reviews.
I'm looking at the carbon black construction, but torn between the HIHP, HI4, and TJ Pro.
Replacing a Stewart Hydro Hull which was one of those magic boards, bit soft construction and ended up snapping with the way I surf. So big performance expectations on the replacement.
The Stewart did pretty much everything well, narrow nose but chined rails made it plane on the nose. Narrow short board tail with double concave and vee, as well as continuous rocker fitted pocket surfing well.
My only question with the HP is the nose area and ability to plane? Hence considering the HI4 or possibly the TJPro.
Have you tried either of these?
Hi thanks. I haven’t seen the TJ in thunderbolt but the older TJ that we’re timbertek had a substantial amount of rocker compared to the HIHP. My board is a lot flatter with a continuous rocker which I prefer. It’s a very fast and manoeuvrable board. It also nose rides very well as I have also competed on it in State Title rounds achieving runner up. I also like less surface area up front to give a good swing weight when doing re-entries. Where as other LBs I’ve had have been top heavy when too focused on nose riding. Having said that if your intermediate or better surfer you will nose ride it fine. The Hi4 looks like the perfect middle ground between the two. 👍
This review led me to buy the HI4. Love it. Started off as 2+1 and now riding as single fin. Amazing board, works great in anything I've tried up to 8-10 feet.
Awesome man they’re great boards! Glad you’re stoked
Hi there thanks for the review , awesome . if you could would you get the Red or the carbon again ? thanks for you time , I am making my mine up between those two cheers
Hi Tom, I went the Carbon over the red because it has more carbon layers in the construction making it a bit stronger without stiffening the board. It does have a different flex rate but I believe it’s a little more lively. If you can afford it, go the Carbon. Thanks for your comments and thanks for watching I hope I helped!
Great review! I hope I can get one one day. Do you have an opinion about the back fin on the thruster set up, whether it could be the same size as the front two rather than bigger? Would you only use the Quad set up in bigger, hollow waves?
Yes I have both the same size fin set and the larger middle fin but I much prefer the same size as it has more performance and doesn’t seem to make enough difference when in bigger waves for me to like the bigger center. I haven’t tried it in quad as I like the release from the thruster set up where as quads seem to stay on arc in turns and cutbacks which is good for speed and hold but I think with longboards you need release from the tail not like short boards as much. But this is just what I feel and you may like the quad, I’ve surfed quad longboards before and never really liked them as much as the thruster set up. Cheers hope this helps and cheers for watching. 🤙
@@nigehill Thanks for your fast and thorough reply! Much appreciated!
Great video, thanks! Do you think it could go even in smaller beach break waves? I'm from Italy, I want something really radical in smaller waves... thanks!
Awesome yes it paddles and catches waves really well in small surf and is light an manoeuvrable.
Man mine snapped had it for bout a year wasn't even solid waves wnt b buying another
I just kove surfboard reviews with no surfing 😂🤙
I really can’t be stuffed getting myself filmed and edit it in, it’s not about me, it’s about the board I guess
What sort of tail pad did you put on the board? Do you think they help?
I put a longboard/ fish style pad as they’re a bit longer and for sure I prefer them not only for grip but they help you know where your back foot is as you move up and down the board I like to feel it under my back foot to know where the “sweet spot” for turns is which is over the back fins. Cheers . Hope this helps
@@nigehill Thanks for another quick and helpful reply. Much appreciated ☺
@@nigehill If you are selling the larger centre fin I'd be interested in getting a price🤔
He man! I just picked mine up tonight! Whilst setting it up I bloody realised they had given me a Future fin setup instead of FCS2 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Now the painful wait until 9am tomo
that sucks. If the harley Fins are available in Futures, that won't be bad but I'm sure he's sponsored by FCS. otherwise i feel like Futures are a better system. good luck mate.
@@nigehill Which shape and size fins are you running on this board Nigel, thanks.
Oh you just covered that question, disregard my last . Great review bud.
@@tonyharrop6001 I’ve got the HI fcs fins but they are the smaller ones not the larger ones with the larger centre fin
You mention board weight contributing to momentum in dead sections. But is that true?
Momentum is a function of total mass x velocity. So rider weight makes a huge difference to how momentum works.
But larger mass means more displacement means more drag.
I suggest shape is much more of a 'momentum' driver than board mass which is why light boards can still carry really well as you also mention.
No big deal but I'm still trying to get my head around the heavy board is a plus theory. Cheers
It’s heavier than a tufflite epoxy of the old days so it carries more momentum over flat dead sections than the old epoxy board that I’ve ridden of similar design. Same as a poly / glass board has more momentum. They are similar in feel. More drag would come into play if they were a flat or convex surface on the bottom. As they have concave, they create lift. An older light epoxy is more affected by wind and currents, and spilling white water in my experience.
@@nigehill Hi Nige, I'm not questioning the HI boards just the idea that board weight is helpful in dead sections.
Totally agree there is an ideal weight that is less affected by wind, chop etc. Too heavy, slow to accelerate, too light, sensitive to other influences.
I have a friend with an HIHp so I'll have to try for myself. Cheers
@@paulsmith4220 if you e ridden a heavy log longboard with good concave you’d know what I mean.
@@nigehill so you agree it is more about shape than weight?
@@paulsmith4220 not really as I’ve ridden a tufflite In The Pink Takayama nose rider and it was terrible