Jeff, probably the most important thing that I did not hear you mentioned was that inflatables are super forgiving to the knees. Especially for the beginner.😂
Thanx a lot for your exhaustive review. I already bought a naish cross hover but I need a little one right now , I’m 165 lbs and not a beginner , I think I ‘ll get the 100lt asap …
In terms of initially learning to get on foil, I felt that a longer hard board taxi'd better and got up to speed smoother for those initial controlled flights. Side by side the long hard board was better. I can see this advantage disappearing very quickly after attaining some skills and that the weightlessness up front will feel great for easy control. Obviously, for optimal performance, the hard boards are going to be better, how can they not be if you can manipulate every aspect of the shape.
The inflatables are a bit more difficult to initially get up on foil when you are brand new to foiling. Super flat water and strong wind helps. A beginner hard board with shaped bottom seemed to get up to foiling speed faster and smoother, but then you are stuck with a big beginner board.
Thanks for this video. The question about inflatable Boats is popping up very often in different forums. One thing I still miss is small inflatable Board. Like 4'5" for example.
Hi I’m looking for a new board but I can’t decide between a 78lts inflatable or a 98lts rigid one. My actual board is 110lts inflatable, I would say my skills level right now is intermediate and my weight it’s around 85kg. What advice could you give me?
Hi… Great Service! I’m 100 kg and old windsurfer. How many Liter do you suggest me. Are 140/150 right? Wich ist the stable inflatable in this segment? What about water rail on the back?
You started to talk about rocker and water tension, but then only talked about water tension. How about rocker? How are inflatables on touchdowns vs. hardboards? Thanks!
Very Nice! But I think Gong definitely has the lead with its new HIPE pro line up, and they ship them everywhere. A hipe pro 4’8”/80l shipped to my door for $650 USD. They doing some intense freestyle jumps with these board now. Great to have dealers but also nice to have direct sale options as we plow our money into this sport🤪
To be honest, we have not seen one need repair at all so this is not something we have tested. That said, this type of material has been around for a while in the SUP and Rafting worlds and has proven to be very resilient and repairable.
Oh god yes! no bruising! ;0) and as he says, much more stable for a given liter rating. My composite gets nicks and marks from every impact however small. I have 5 year old inflatables that look like new that i ride mostly in a very rocky reservoir where it hits rocks every time out. They are amazing.
Awsome video, the one I was looking for. I am a beginner, and I have a question for you. Shuould I get a 80 lts or 110 lts if my height is 1, 90 mts and wing 5 meters ? I know that the smaller the better for transport, do you think I am risking it too much if I go with 80 lts ? I really dont want to get stuck with a 110 lts board if then I have to change it.... I would appreciate your comments, thank you!
At your size, the floatiness of 110 L board will help a lot with the early stages, and unless you learn really fast you will not outgrow the board for quite a while. Much of the volume in an inflatable is due to the thickness of the board, the outline of the board is similar to hard boards 10-20 Liters smaller. A large board can be a keeper even if you downsize later on for fluky or light winds, better than swimming. There is no difference transporting different size inflatables when they are deflated.
I have the Naish 110 l hardboard 5'10"..also the 100l inflatable at 5'..the small size and lightness feels like a much smaller board but floatation and stability are high...It is my travel board..fits in my old kitesurfing travel golf bags....with 2 wings and a pump and 2 Armstrong foils...
Old windsurfer new wingfoiler here, I have slingshot 120, there seems to be no weight up front, weight is definitely concentrated in the back. The board is very short, I think whatever extra volume is up front might help with bow-stern stability for a beginner (me).
I assume you leave these pumped up unless need to deflate for travel? How is that going to be in Utah where our temps swing so wildly? If I'm pumped ok for a day 60 degrees on the water, is it going to be damaged at 100? I am assuming yes. If so, then how much time am I going to spend pumping these beasts? (want one, but it may only be for travel...)
I've bought a Gong Hipe 4'8" (48L) for winging but used it with my kite a couple of times and I can tell you it is fine! Obviously, it won't be as light and small as a tray-style board, but great to have a board that I can use with the wing and the kite. I'd highly recommend it as a freeride kiteboard as well!
HI! I vill try the sink/ water start on a smaller volume inflatable board. Do you think it is a good idea? I think i need footstraps also. What do you think? I ride on a 110L hardboard at this moment.
Avoid any gong inflatables... Terrible. 2022 and 2023 boards seams split in very little time. Also air valves break. I've had a nightmare. Gong customer care don't care at all
Thanks! Saved me buying a Hard board. My failure to get unstuck from the water was rider error not the board!
You answered all the questions in my head. Thanks!
Jeff, probably the most important thing that I did not hear you mentioned was that inflatables are super forgiving to the knees. Especially for the beginner.😂
you mean while riding - or do you mean when straddling the board?
Ok. So one of the most clear infornational videos ever! 👏
Thanx a lot for your exhaustive review. I already bought a naish cross hover but I need a little one right now , I’m 165 lbs and not a beginner , I think I ‘ll get the 100lt asap …
In terms of initially learning to get on foil, I felt that a longer hard board taxi'd better and got up to speed smoother for those initial controlled flights. Side by side the long hard board was better. I can see this advantage disappearing very quickly after attaining some skills and that the weightlessness up front will feel great for easy control. Obviously, for optimal performance, the hard boards are going to be better, how can they not be if you can manipulate every aspect of the shape.
Interested in getting into the sport. Very informative videos. I think you convince me to go inflatable.
The inflatables are a bit more difficult to initially get up on foil when you are brand new to foiling. Super flat water and strong wind helps. A beginner hard board with shaped bottom seemed to get up to foiling speed faster and smoother, but then you are stuck with a big beginner board.
Great video Jeff!
Thanks for making the video - new subscriber from ketchikan Alaska.
Thanks for this video. The question about inflatable Boats is popping up very often in different forums. One thing I still miss is small inflatable Board. Like 4'5" for example.
Look at gong wing boards, they may even have a cheap v1 in a smaller size.
Numerous brands with boards that size.
Hi I’m looking for a new board but I can’t decide between a 78lts inflatable or a 98lts rigid one. My actual board is 110lts inflatable, I would say my skills level right now is intermediate and my weight it’s around 85kg. What advice could you give me?
Hi… Great Service! I’m 100 kg and old windsurfer. How many Liter do you suggest me. Are 140/150 right? Wich ist the stable inflatable in this segment? What about water rail on the back?
definitely this season
Is the shorter board more difficult initially
What are the downsides of an inflatable wing board?
What would you say are the top 3 ?
You started to talk about rocker and water tension, but then only talked about water tension. How about rocker? How are inflatables on touchdowns vs. hardboards? Thanks!
Very Nice! But I think Gong definitely has the lead with its new HIPE pro line up, and they ship them everywhere. A hipe pro 4’8”/80l shipped to my door for $650 USD. They doing some intense freestyle jumps with these board now. Great to have dealers but also nice to have direct sale options as we plow our money into this sport🤪
Biggest question i have: are they servicable? Can small puncture or leak be effectively repaired or is the board trash?
To be honest, we have not seen one need repair at all so this is not something we have tested. That said, this type of material has been around for a while in the SUP and Rafting worlds and has proven to be very resilient and repairable.
Would you recommend an inflatable over a composite as your first board to learn on?
Oh god yes! no bruising! ;0) and as he says, much more stable for a given liter rating. My composite gets nicks and marks from every impact however small. I have 5 year old inflatables that look like new that i ride mostly in a very rocky reservoir where it hits rocks every time out. They are amazing.
great video - thanks! Would you say the slingshot is more beginner friendly because much more volume in the nose of the board?!
I would say that they are both good for a beginner.
@@kiteboardingcomist it possible to a beginner with 75 kgs to start with a 105 Liter inflatable other is better to go bigger?
Hi... If i learned on a 100L and I am a 80l is the 105 good formme or best the 90?
How hard are they to pump up?
Awsome video, the one I was looking for. I am a beginner, and I have a question for you. Shuould I get a 80 lts or 110 lts if my height is 1, 90 mts and wing 5 meters ? I know that the smaller the better for transport, do you think I am risking it too much if I go with 80 lts ? I really dont want to get stuck with a 110 lts board if then I have to change it.... I would appreciate your comments, thank you!
At your size, the floatiness of 110 L board will help a lot with the early stages, and unless you learn really fast you will not outgrow the board for quite a while. Much of the volume in an inflatable is due to the thickness of the board, the outline of the board is similar to hard boards 10-20 Liters smaller. A large board can be a keeper even if you downsize later on for fluky or light winds, better than swimming. There is no difference transporting different size inflatables when they are deflated.
@@davidhmws thank you this really helps a los. Knowing I could just keep it If I go with a smaller one in the future.
Anyone think I can use as standu up Paddle board without foil in flat days? Or at least my 10 years old son?
You will most likely go straight down wind.
Can you kitefoil on them? I guess if you put a small front wing? Thanks
Great!
Can you ship to the Philippines?
Which one and size do you recommend for a beginner $165 lb? Do you have a package including the foil?
The 100L would be good for your weight. The
Where are they actually made though?
Thanks for the video. Question: i have a 110 L Naish hard board… so do you think i should go smaller on the inflatable, let's say 90 L?
I have the Naish 110 l hardboard 5'10"..also the 100l inflatable at 5'..the small size and lightness feels like a much smaller board but floatation and stability are high...It is my travel board..fits in my old kitesurfing travel golf bags....with 2 wings and a pump and 2 Armstrong foils...
Seems like the naish would have a lighter feeling front end.
Old windsurfer new wingfoiler here, I have slingshot 120, there seems to be no weight up front, weight is definitely concentrated in the back. The board is very short, I think whatever extra volume is up front might help with bow-stern stability for a beginner (me).
I assume you leave these pumped up unless need to deflate for travel? How is that going to be in Utah where our temps swing so wildly? If I'm pumped ok for a day 60 degrees on the water, is it going to be damaged at 100? I am assuming yes. If so, then how much time am I going to spend pumping these beasts? (want one, but it may only be for travel...)
If I am not using mine for a day or two, I will generally let a bit of air out and keep it inflated, just not at max pressure.
Have you kitefoiled with this type of board?
No, while you probably could, I do not think it is a good match for a Kite.
There is a video with a guy who kitefoils withan inflatable fanatic air premium. He is enthousiastic about it
Video kitefoiling: ua-cam.com/video/v2KmuacQ60E/v-deo.html
I've bought a Gong Hipe 4'8" (48L) for winging but used it with my kite a couple of times and I can tell you it is fine! Obviously, it won't be as light and small as a tray-style board, but great to have a board that I can use with the wing and the kite. I'd highly recommend it as a freeride kiteboard as well!
HI!
I vill try the sink/ water start on a smaller volume inflatable board. Do you think it is a good idea? I think i need footstraps also. What do you think? I ride on a 110L hardboard at this moment.
I gotta tell you.,.
Avoid any gong inflatables... Terrible. 2022 and 2023 boards seams split in very little time. Also air valves break. I've had a nightmare. Gong customer care don't care at all