The Best Foils of 2025

Jesse Faen takes to the sky on his Slingshot setup. Photo: James Ferrell//The Inertia

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Hydrofoils, or just “foils,” are an amazing thing, allowing us to go faster and farther with less effort. While they’ve been around for many years, most of the growth in foiling has happened very recently. Even just ten years ago, most surfers, kiters, and sailors still hadn’t seen a hydrofoil. 

Now, just about every kind of watercraft is flying instead of pushing water, from efoils to ocean racing trimarans. And within action sports, foiling has gone from being a niche activity to an overarching super-category itself, with equipment, skills, and riders spanning a huge range of foiling disciplines. Foiling is truly addictive – in the best way – and we’re stoked to help find your way to flying across the water.

This guide will give you an in-depth introduction to foil sports, gear, design, and manufacturers. We also take a look at some of the top foiling brands on the market, with a focus on brands available here in the U.S.. Brand loyalty is a huge part of foiling, as brands have almost zero cross-compatibility between foil components. With that in mind, once you’re past the beginner foiling stage, you’ll be best served choosing a brand that offers a range of foils that suit your riding style and will provide you with the gear you need to progress. Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

“Best For” Awards

Brand Guide

Comparison Table

Buyer’s Guide

More Info About Foils

The Future of Foiling

Related: Best Wings for Wing Foiling | Best Wing Foil Boards | Beginner Wing Foil Gear Guide

From beginner to expert, we’re here to help you choose the right foil for your needs. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Best Foils of 2025

In this guide, we stayed away from our usual “best for” callouts for various brands/products as there are a ton of different foil brands on the market, and currently, no definitive answer for most, if not all, of the awards we’d like to give. Best Foil for Winging? I wish we could name just one, but truth be told, there are a ton of awesome foils for winging, and the “best” really depends on personal factors like your riding style, budget, location, and so much more.

That said, below, we call out some brands that have proven themselves to be standouts in the disciplines listed. And for some useful gear-selecting strategies, check out our Buyer’s Guide.

Best All-Inclusive Foil Systems

If you’re looking to get into a comprehensive foil system that covers a wide range of disciplines, you’ll want to look at the big names like North, AXIS, Armstrong, Duotone, F-One, and Gong (if you’re in Europe). 

Unifoil, Lift, and Code deserve special mention as independent brands that offer very highly-regarded foils, and for you gearheads, AXIS probably offers the widest selection of tails, fuselages, masts, along with outstanding foils for every discipline including the new ultra-high aspect Fireball foils, and dedicated gear for pumping, Foil Drive, winging, surf – you name it, they have it! 

Foiling has opened up boat wakes as an awesome new frontier of wave-riding. Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice//The Inertia

Best Foils for Winging 

As the most widely practiced foil discipline, winging also has the broadest selection of foils, so it’s not really possible to call out a single brand as the best for everyone. Check the comparison chart below – just about everyone makes foils for winging. Here, we’d recommend you take stock of your own priorities and tendencies as a user. Do you want a simple foil that just works? One that you can fiddle around with and adjust to your liking? How important is it to you to be riding what everyone else is (or isn’t) riding? Check out our “Choosing Equipment” and “Strategies for Selecting Gear” sections in the Buyer’s Guide below for more advice on this subject.

The high-aspect Florence Collection by Lift has been gaining attention for fun and efficiency, a winning combo for downwind foiling. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Best Foils for Downwinding and Parawing

As with winging, there are a ton of amazing foils out there for downwinding – and at least so far, those are also the foils people are using to push into the new world of parawing foiling. We hear a lot of people loving Code, Unifoil, AXIS, Armstrong, F-One, and the Lift Florence foils in particular. As always, tune into what your friends are riding and start there. 

Best Foils for Pumping

Responding to the growing popularity of pump foiling, quite a few brands now offer dedicated foils for pumping and free foiling, including F-One, AXIS, Gong, Armstrong, Beta, North, and Sabfoil – and I’m sure there are others. The classic pump foils that we hear mentioned most are the original AXIS PNG 1150 and 1300, so you certainly can’t go wrong starting there. See below for a special mention of Beta’s Freefoil at the ultra high end of the pump-foil market. 

AXIS is a brand that’s wholly embraced the Foil Drive movement. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Best Foils For E-Assist & Foil Drive

Electric foil-assist has totally exploded recently with the release of the Foil Drive Gen 2 products, and while there will no doubt soon be foils brought to market that are designed specifically for e-assist foiling, at the moment you’re best advised to select foils based on what you’re doing with your FD – wave-riding, downwind, wing, pump, etc. Definitely consider brands that have close relationships with Foil Drive, such as AXIS, Unifoil, and F-One, and check out MacKite’s Foil Drive section for further guidance. If you are looking for efoil/classic foil compatibility, check out Lift, whose top-tier line of efoils use the same front and back wings as their surf/wing/downwind foils. 

Best “Value” Foil System 

If you’re looking to get into foiling on the cheap, you can cobble together your kit from used gear – or you could consider a kit or package that comes with everything you need. This route is usually most appropriate for beginners who are starting fresh – check out these complete foil sets and wingfoil packages as possible starting points.

If, instead of the lowest possible price point, you’re looking for a solid but cost-effective brand to buy into and build your allegiance with, Gong is, without a doubt, a leader in that space. Although we have yet to test their foils, we’ve heard plenty of good things. Other brands with more of a bang-for-buck bent include Slingshot and Gofoil. Most larger brands also offer entry-level options, often with aluminum masts/fuselages, that provide great value and will allow you to upgrade pieces of the foil incrementally as you progress.

F-One’s FCT construction foils offer a great bang for buck as you get started, but they don’t offer the best upward compatibility. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Notable mentions we’ve tested include AXIS, Armstrong, and North, which all offer an entry-level aluminum-construction foil that costs a significant amount less. F-One is another brand worth mentioning, with its FCT fiberglass construction beginner wings and aluminum pack mast/fuselage, which can be found online for around $1,000.

However, you’ll find that this system is not super compatible with F-One’s higher-end offerings – when you are ready to upgrade to a carbon foil, an adapter is required to keep using the aluminum mast, and the aluminum fuselage will no longer be usable. New riders may find it will pay off a bit more in the long run to go with a brand like AXIS, Armstrong, or North, which have full aluminum-based foil sets available for around $1,300 with better upwards compatibility. 

Armstrong has consistently been at the forefront of foil evolution, whether that’s wave-riding or downwinding. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Best High-End, Ultra-Performance Foils

If price is no object and you’re looking at the best of the best, of course it still depends on what kind of foiling you’re doing. For winging and kite-foiling, many experts consider Mikeslab to be the best on the market. The year-long waiting list for Mike’s gear backs up the consensus, and in fact the price point isn’t all that much higher than many mainstream brands at this point. If you’re into pump foiling, there’s no doubt that the Beta Freefoil has defined a new standard at the high end of that discipline with its dedicated, ultra-endurance freefoil.

If you’re not ready to take the plunge on a boutique brand, and would rather stick with a large brand that has a wider array of options, both Armstrong and F-One are considered to be some of the best production foils on the market for the past few years, and both brands have a strong global presence. AXIS has been churning out some top-tier foils as well in the past couple of years, as has Lift. Smaller/rising brands that have gained some recognition recently for well-tuned and top-tier foil wings include Code, Unifoil, AFS, and KT. 

The CORE Vert is an aptly named foil, and loves to get vertical. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Foil Brand Guide

Below, we take a quick look at some of the most highly regarded foil brands/systems in the world, with a focus on brands that are available in the U.S. market. As newer brands emerge or become known here in the U.S., we’ll continue to add to this list. We’ve organized the list below in alphabetical order.

Alien Foiling System

Disciplines: Wing, SUP, downwind, windsurf, prone
Based In: France
Price Point: Mid-High
Key Differentiators: Semi-monocoque construction, Fuselink mast-foil connection, Biomorphic tubercles

One of several brands headquartered and with manufacturing in France, Alien Foiling System, or AFS, incorporates biomorphic “tubercules” on the leading edge of many of its foils and seeks to deliver the “carviest” ride possible, according to AFS designer Benoit Rochard. Most AFS foils use a semi-monocoque design that integrates the front wing and fuselage with a ‘saddle’ mast-foil connection similar to (but not compatible with) Mikeslab.

AFS has distribution and representation in the U.S. and makes foils for winging, windfoil, surf, downind, and prone. It will be adding both smaller and larger foil sizes in the coming year with an increased focus on the use of UHM carbon as well. AFS is on point with modern ultra-AR shapes. The brand also makes excellent boards and seems to be on the rise, so be sure to give it a look! 

Armstrong

Disciplines: Full System. Wing, SUP, prone, tow, downwind, pump
Based In: New Zealand
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: One of the leaders in the prone and downwind foil revolution, lots of foil tuning and customization options

One of the leaders in the prone and downwind foil revolution and also an OG in the wingfoil market, Armstrong Foils is based in New Zealand and has a strong worldwide presence. Armstrong hasn’t been afraid to take risks and lead the market with boards, wingfoil wings, and foils for winging, downwind, surf, tow, and pumping. Its latest ultra-high-aspect foils are certainly on par with the other innovators. Armstrong does land a bit on the techy side in terms of connectors and shims, so as long as that’s your thing, rest assured, Armstrong is top gear – team rider Cash Berzolla proves it! 

AXIS 

Disciplines: Full System. All sports + FoilDrive
Based In: San Francisco
Price Point: Low-Mid-High
Key Differentiators: One of the broadest selections of foils and customization options, ultra-high aspect Fireball and UHM masts, shims optional

Founded and headquartered in the sailing and wind-sport mecca of  San Francisco, AXIS Foils is a leader in foil design across all disciplines, with perhaps the broadest selection of foils on the market for kiting, winging, surf, downwind, pump, towing, and even FoilDrive, as well as a huge range of well-matched boards.

AXIS is also a proven innovator on the forefront of the ultra-high aspect ratio design wave with its latest Fireball foils, UHM masts, and designed-for-FoilDrive masts and boards. If you’re looking for a full system that will support your foiling from first days on the water to pro-level ripper as well as a super high level of stoke and support – basically, a big-brand offering with a small–brand vibe, you can’t go wrong with AXIS. 

Beta Foils

Disciplines: Pump, Freefoil
Based In: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Price Point: High
Key Differentiators: Most efficient pump foil on the market

For pump foiling, there’s no doubt that the Beta Freefoil holds the top spot with world record endurance times and a price point that reflects the unusually large and ultra-efficient design. If you’re fascinated with the idea of pumping as far and for as long as possible, check out this dedicated long-distance pump machine with a 2.1 meter wing span, 2100 sq cm and an incredible 21 aspect ratio!

Beta’s founder, Todd Reichert, is looking to attract athletes and “people who like to learn hard things” to pioneer the sport of endurance free foiling. Currently a more emerging, boutique brand, we’ve got our eyes on Beta Foils, and are stoked to see where they take things next. 

Cabrinha

Disciplines: Wing, kite
Based In: Maui
Price Point: Low-Mid
Key Differentiators: OG windsports brand

One of the original names in kitesurfing and still HQ’d in Maui, Cabrinha was acquired in 2020 by pro athlete Jon Modica. While Cabrinha remains a competitive contender in the current market for kite and wing foils (as well as kites, wings, and boards) as represented by team rider Titouan Galea, Modica is busy tooling up for some major innovations on the horizon that will bring “simplicity and the highest performance, at scale.” We’re stoked to see what Cabrinha has up its sleeve when the time comes. 

Cabrinha has also been a premiere sponsor of the Cabrinha Quest, one of the pioneers in yacht-based kite and wing remote destination travel. 

Cloud IX

Disciplines: Prone, downwind, wing, pump, kite, tow
Based In: Southern California
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: Unique forward-swept foil design, Anchorman sea anchor wing leash

A smaller brand based in Southern California and Australia, Cloud IX aims to take you to “cloud nine” with its distinctive forward-swept foil design that’s working really well for pro riders like Kai Thompson and anyone else who loves aggressive carving along with speed, pump, and glide.

The Cloud IX foils are more geared towards surf foiling, and they have only one line of foils so far as we are aware of being the FS (Forward Swept) design, but for those who want to keep it simple, this is a great choice. 

Cloud IX is also the brand that pioneered the interesting wing-anchor leash concept, allowing a rider to drop their wing while foiling and retrieve it from the water without it flying away.

Code

Disciplines: Downwind, prone, wing
Based In: Australia
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: Highly regarded for wing, downwind and prone

One of the new-school foil leaders out of Australia, Code is killing it with its rider-friendly and top-performing foils for surf, downwind, and winging. Known for simple, solid, stiff construction, Code foils are highly regarded for downwind and prone in particular, and they already have a strong presence all over the world, with a well-recognized rider team including the already-legendary Josh Ku. 

Code currently has two different series of foils: the S series, designed more for foil surfing but with a very wide application due to the foil’s efficiency and glide, and the R series, designed for downwinding and racing. We’ve spent a decent amount of time on the S series of wings (sizes: 720, 850, 980) and have found them to be a joy to ride. The 850 is an incredible all-rounder for medium-weight riders, with the 720 proving to be a great choice for high-powered conditions, and the 980 we found to work best for light wind winging and heavier riders. Overall, we were very impressed with the foils’ combination of a very low stall speed, awesome glide, and great maneuverability. For a dedicated surf-foiler, there are certainly more maneuverable foils out there, but Code has truly hit a balanced sweet spot here with its S series of foil wings.

CORE

Disciplines: Wing, kite
Based In: Germany
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: Makers of the super-popular Core Halo hand wing

A major player in the European kitesurfing market for years, German brand CORE Kitesurfing has entered the wing and foil market with a bang, bringing its top-notch German engineering and design to bear. The sister company of popular Slovenian ski brand, Elan, CORE’s Halo wing has become especially popular for wingers focused on speed and surfing in their foiling pursuits due to its upwind efficiency and stability while depowered for wave-riding.

The past year or so has also seen CORE bring a line of foils to the market. It’s still early days for the foil designs, so there aren’t a ton of options (yet), but we certainly enjoyed the couple of sessions we’ve had on the Vert foil (CORE’s more advanced foil design) both in Hood River as well as on the San Francisco Bay. Highly maneuverable and with tons of lift, our first impressions were that the Vert lives up to its name in wanting to take to the skies and would be a great choice for freestyle-focused riders. 

Duotone

Disciplines: Full System. All sports
Based In: Germany
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: Quickmount system, highly regarded hand wings and boards, latest foil lineup is super-comprehensive and has a few standout shapes like the Whizz. User-friendly, but lots of options.

A global brand based in Germany, Duotone is a market leader for kites, wings, and boards and now has a full line of foils for winging, kiting, windfoil, prone, downwind, wake, and pumping. Duotone foils and boards used to be manufactured under the Fanatic label and came together under the Duotone brand name in 2023/24. Duotone’s boards and hand wings have been consistent top choices in our wing foil reviews, with an emphasis on all-around and user-friendly design. 

Since the changeover from Fanatic to Duotone, it’s been evident that making its foils a top-tier contender is high on Duotone’s priority list. In the past year or so, they’ve come out with a variety of new foil designs like the Duotone Whizz, a higher-aspect surf foil aimed at marrying top-tier glide with top-tier maneuverability. After a couple of sessions on the design in Hood River, it’s easy to say that we are big fans of the playfulness of the foil and are excited to try more Duotone foils this spring. Duotone’s newly expanded foil range covers all foil disciplines, with tons of options and sizes, making this a great foil system to buy into as a newer rider and incrementally upgrade as you progress.

One can also choose between SLS and D/Lab construction, which is certainly worth keeping an eye on in terms of compatibility for various parts of the foil system. As with all Duotone products, the D/Lab construction will cost a pretty penny, but we’ve always been impressed with the step-up in performance that it provides. Other recent advancements from the brand include the innovative Quickmount system that allows you to leave your base plate on the board and attach the foil without tools. 

F-One

Disciplines: Full System, all sports
Based In: France 
Price Point: Mid-High
Key Differentiators: Monobloc semi-monocoque design, no shims, balanced, user-friendly, high-performance

Another major leading global brand with offerings across all foil sports and for all levels of riders, as well as kites, wings, and boards, as well as Manera gear, F-One is another full-system outfit that you can’t go wrong with. The F-One vibe is colorful, fun, fast, and versatile, with its design goals focused on simplicity, balance and quality, exemplified by the “Monobloc” design and no-shim policy.

Like its legendary Bandit kites, F-One aims to make gear that “just works, and works really well.” And we gotta say they’ve hit the nail on the head with that sentiment. From super high-aspect designs like the Eagle X to the legendary Sk8 foil, which led the revolution of higher-aspect surf wings, F-One’s foils are consistently some of the best on the market. 

The F-One family runs deep, led by the legend Mitu Monteiro, and including new-blood rippers like Chris Macdonald and Jack Ho. The brand is also well-known for rider-friendly customer service and beautifully produced videos. Make no mistake: we love F-One! 

GoFoil

Disciplines: Surf, wing, downwind, tow, pump
Based In: Maui
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: Integrated mast and fuselage

One of the early players in foiling and based in Maui like many other brands, GoFoil was initially known for big beginner foils that helped a lot of people get started in wing and SUP foiling, but now offers a full line of foils for wing, downwind, prone, tow, and even pumping, as well as boards. One of the founders is the “inventor of the modern hydrofoil,” Alex Aguera – respect! 

Gong

Disciplines: Full system, all sports
Based In: France
Price Point: Low
Key Differentiators: Massive range, great price-point, not much presence in the U.S. market

A major player in Europe, Gong has a full spread of offerings, which include foils for all sports as well as wings, kites, boards, wetsuits, and even a magazine. The brand has been known for its cost-effective designs and recently have been pushing things on the design side as well, with some of its more recent equipment (like the Droid series of hand wings) receiving high praise as top-tier equipment.

The price point for Gong gear is surprisingly low, with wings clocking in around 650 euros and top-tier foil sets retailing for around 1,300 euros. The low price is thanks in part to Gong’s direct-to-consumer model and in-house manufacturing, allowing them to provide high-quality foiling gear at a near-unmatched price. Foilers looking for the absolute best of the best performance might have better luck with other foil brands, but the recreational foiler who’s looking to save a few bucks won’t be disappointed by Gong. 

For us, Gong’s lack of presence in the U.S. market means that we don’t get to see much of its stuff, so unless you’re in Europe, you’ll probably find what you need elsewhere. We have yet to try any Gong gear, but we look forward to doing so as they expand more into the U.S..

KT

Disciplines: Wing, downwind, surf
Based In: Maui
Price Point: 
Key Differentiators: Lenny brothers’ endorsement, lots of buzz around the first line of foils that just landed in early 2025

KT has long been a name to know in the surf and windsports world, thanks to the shaping prowess of Keith Teboul, the founder and namesake of the brand who’s also renowned waterman Kai Lenny’s personal shaper. KT’s foil boards have been a top choice in nearly all foiling disciplines, with its latest boards proving themselves as some of our top picks for wing foil boards. The brand also makes wings, and in 2025 is launching its first line of foils, designed in conjunction with the Lenny brothers (Kai Lenny and his younger brother Ridge) and foil designer Kane de Wilde.

The first foils to come out of the KT workshop are the Nomad and Atlas series. The Nomad presents a more user-friendly mid-aspect surf design with plenty of speed and glide, while the Atlas series is more geared towards downwinding and pumping with a higher aspect ratio for maximum glide. We have yet to get our hands on these foils to try them for ourselves, but there’s been plenty of buzz around KT’s foil designs from well-reputed sources, so we doubt we’ll be disappointed when the time comes to give them a go. 

Lift

Disciplines: Surf, downwind, winging
Based In: Puerto Rico
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: One of the OGs in foiling, now leading again with the Florence downwind collaboration, leading eFoil brand

Lift is one of the OGs in the foiling game, with its history in the foiling market dating back to 2010 when the sport was still in its infancy. One of (if not the) first brands to bring an electric hydrofoil to market, Lift also makes traditional non-electric foils and boards, and it’s worth mentioning that its efoils use the same foil wings as its regular foil setups, allowing for cross-discipline compatibility. Lift’s traditional foil line has traditionally been focused on prone/surf foiling but has proven itself in winging and downwinding as well with the HA (High Aspect) series of foils.

Of particular note is Lift’s recent collaboration with the Florence brothers (John John and Nathan Florence), resulting in the Lift Florence Collection, which has revived Lift’s presence in the foil market. Lift got left behind for a little as winging took over foiling, but downwind foilers are loving the Florence 110X and 130X, and we’re psyched to see what else Lift has up its sleeve in the coming year. After a couple of recent sessions on the Florence collection in the SF Bay chasing cargo ship wakes, we can confidently say that the hype is real, with both foils delivering an awesome balance between efficient glide and carve-ability. 

Mikeslab

Disciplines: Kite, wing, windsurf, downwind coming soon
Based In: San Francisco, California
Price Point: High
Key Differentiators: Hand-made, top-tier performance, monocoque (one piece) foil plane, uses non-standard deep Tuttle mast-board connection

Regarded by many riders as the best of the best for windsports, Mikeslab foils are made by hand and only available by getting on a waiting list and…waiting, often for several months to a year. Hand building allows Mike to get closer tolerances than can be achieved with factory production, which in turn means that he can build thinner and lighter than almost anyone else. 

When I spoke with him, Mike Z, the foil-building garagiste himself, said that he designs for the “least drag and most slippery” ride, and for high-speed controllability and fun in the fast freeride conditions that we experience most often in the San Francisco Bay. Part of the reason that Mikeslab enjoys such a wide reputation for excellence is that the foils are built in a single piece that incorporates the front wing, fuselage, and back wing. Not only does this unified “monocoque” wing eliminate the drag caused by fasteners and joints, but it also makes the entire foil assembly stronger and stiffer. Of course, the downside is that ML foils don’t come apart for travel, and you can’t swap out different wings and tails – but that disadvantage has its own advantage in that the foil just works and doesn’t require messing around with mast position, tails, or shims. 

Mikeslab also uses a “deep Tuttle” mast head as opposed to the 4-bolt plate that almost every other foil (and most foil boards) use. The Tuttle is said to be stronger and simpler, but the lack of compatibility with most foil boards on the market means you’re likely looking into getting a custom foil board with a deep Tuttle connection to ride these foils. 

Naish

Disciplines: Kite, wing, windsurf, SUP, downwind
Based In: Maui
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: 

Carrying the legendary name of multi-sport boardriding pioneer Robby Naish, Naish offers a range of foils for winging, surf, downwind, and kitefoiling, as well as wings, kites, and boards. 

We’re huge fans of Naish’s board designs, particularly the Naish Hover Wing foil board, one of our top picks for wing foil boards. We’re hearing great things about the latest Naish handwings as well. And the Naish foils have really come into their own over the past couple of years. There’s a definite focus on wind-powered sports like winging, kiting, and windsurfing, as well as wave-riding, but with a solid range of four front foil wings to choose from, there are options for every rider and every discipline.

We were able to squeeze in a session on the Jet HA 840 front wing with the 160 2D stabilizer and were very impressed with the surfiness of the design, which surprised us given the front wing’s 9.8 aspect ratio. If you’re a surf-oriented foiler, you certainly won’t be disappointed in going with Naish.

North 

Disciplines: Full system. Kite, wing, SUP, prone, tow, downwind, pump
Based In: Global
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: Huge line of foils, similar to Axis and Armstrong with a bit more baked-in user-friendliness

A global brand based in New Zealand, North carries a long legacy of sail design going all the way back to the 1950s and offers a full system of foils for every discipline in the sport. North’s massive line of Sonar foils covers the full spectrum from tiny tow foils to huge pump foils, and its super-detailed rider guide is a gem that will be helpful to foil riders of all stripes. 

We got out for a couple of sessions on the SF series, a high-aspect surf foil designed for glide and maneuverability, and were big fans of the design. The foil, geared more towards low-end lift and glide, isn’t the fastest, but the predictable turning and ability to glide at low speeds had us seriously enjoying the ride that this front wing has to offer. Overall, North foils are a great bang-for-buck option, providing top-tier quality for a reasonable price. And with so many options to choose from, and full cross-compatibility between different wings, masts, and fuselages, we wouldn’t hesitate for a second to recommend North as a solid choice for an advancing foiler who wants a system that will keep up with them as they progress, and allow them to expand into more foiling disciplines.

Sabfoil

Disciplines: Full System, kite, wing, windsurf, SUP, prone, tow, downwind, pump
Based In: Italy
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: Huge range, Kraken modular quick-release mast system

Formerly known as Moses, Sabfoil is a full system global brand based in Italy with a wide spectrum of foils for every discipline, along with boards and even wings. Known for high-quality construction, slick Italian design, and its unique Kraken modular mast system with quick release that allows you to swap foils between boards without tools, and even swap between plate and deep Tuttle mount.

The Sabfoil Leviathan is one of the more highly regarded pump-foiling front wings on the market, with a wide range of sizes to suit a variety of rider weights and abilities. The new Leviathan Pro downwind foil wing has also been generating some buzz, and we’ll be stoked to test these wings when the time comes. 

Slingshot 

Disciplines: Kite, wing, wake, moving into downwind
Based In: Hood River, Oregon 
Price Point: Low-Mid
Key Differentiators: One-Lock screwless assembly (2025)

Another OG kite brand that’s made the full-on turn into foiling, Slingshot has engineered their approach into foiling from the bottom up, building out a full suite of beginner to intermediate foiling equipment over the past couple of years, and in 2025 look to incorporate higher-performance designs into the lineup, as well as the introduction of their revolutionary One-Lock system. 

One of Slingshot’s main reps is style points leader Fred Hope, who briefed us in person on the brand’s forthcoming One-Lock system. One-Lock is designed for “ease of use and feel on the water, along with longevity over time,” and of course to eliminate the risk of losing or stripping hardware, by replacing screws and bolts with a proprietary press-fit and tension cable/cam assembly system. With so many foils on the market, innovations like One-Lock are one of the few true differentiators amidst hundreds of well-performing foils. We’ve been testing the new system and are stoked on the ease of use the setup provides, with just as much stiffness and performance as many full-carbon setups on the market. 

Starboard

Disciplines: Wing, prone, windsurf
Based In: Global
Price Point: Mid
Key Differentiators: New foils look sick, QuickLock connection system, not a huge U.S. presence (yet)

A big windsurf brand that’s jumping into foiling, Starboard pro riders like Clement Colmas are proving Starboard’s gear to be a top-notch competitor in downwind, surf, and winging. Historically with more of a race-oriented design philosophy, Starboard has done a lot to expand their offerings. The latest foils look pretty sick, as does Starboard’s QuickLock II connection system. While not as fast as Slingshot’s One-Lock, and still requiring tools, it is a significantly more streamlined process for mounting your foil than most brands on the market.

Starboard has a much bigger global presence than its U.S. one but has recently been making more of an effort to expand here in the U.S., as well as expanding its foil offerings to suit a wider range of disciplines. 

Unifoil

Disciplines: Prone, downwind, wing 
Based In: South Africa
Price Point: Mid, $750-$1,000 per front wing
Key Differentiators: Semi-monocoque, highly regarded for surf & downwind as well as Foil Drive, new Evolution foils coming in 2025

Highly regarded for surf and downwind as well as Foil Drive, Unifoil is a foil-first brand based in storied surf ultra-destination J-Bay, South Africa. Designer Clifford Coetzer filled us in on the brand’s story and his design philosophy. “Efficiency is number one” – and he also believes in a foil system that you can tweak in various ways to set up exactly as you prefer.

We’ve seen a lot of stoked surf and downwind riders on Unifoil gear, and a lot of Foil Drive rigs too – and a new line of higher aspect Evolution foils is coming in 2025. 

Honorable Mentions

There are a lot of awesome foil brands on the market, and we simply couldn’t include them all in this article, so we focused on the ones that best serve our U.S.-based audience of recreational foilers. Here are a few others that we’d like to give some props to:

F4

F4 makes fast foils, but they’re a niche player focused mostly on wind-foil and wing racing. 

AlpineFoil

Also based in France but currently without U.S. distribution, AlpineFoil makes outstanding foils and boards for winging, kiting, windfoil, and pumping – but you may struggle to find them outside of France.

Ketos

A smaller outfit based in France, Ketos got a name early on for its radical kitefoil videos. Ketos remains a player in foils for winging, pumping, and kiting – but without any real distribution in the U.S.

Levitaz

An Austrian brand offering race-winning foils for kiting and winging, Levitaz is a player in the course-racing scene in Europe in particular, but not so much for recreational riders and in other foiling disciplines.  

Omen

A newer indie foil maker out of British Colombia, Omen focuses on surfy foils for winging and prone as well as matching boards. They’ve licensed the outstanding and super-light Nolimitz mast and Appletree board tech to integrate with its foils, resulting in a very put-together package for riders interested in shaving as much weight as possible. 

Best Foils Comparison Table

Bowen at his happy place: Crissy Field in San Franciso. Photo: Bowen Dwelle//The Inertia

How We Wrote This Guide

Because of the wide range of foil sports and the vast number and diversity of foils on the market, this buyers guide is not based on direct comparison testing. Our lead writer for this guide is Bowen Dwelle, a San Francisco native and lifelong sailor, windsurfer, kitesurfer, kitefoiler and wingfoiler, adventure guide, and writer. Dwelle has logged thousands of miles of high-wind foiling in San Francisco, Brazil, the Philippines, Mexico, and elsewhere over the years.

Dwelle brings all of his experience to bear along with hands-on experience, meticulous research, and many conversations not just with other riders, but with as many foil designers and product experts as possible, including Greg Falck at Omen, Fred Hope from Slingshot, Mike Zajicek of Mikeslab Foils, Todd Reichert of Beta Foils, Benoit Rochard at AFS, Clifford Coetzer from Unifoil, Jon Modica at Cabrinha, and Charles Bertrand for F-One. 

Sileo is also a Crissy Field regular. That’s the infamous Alcatraz Island pictured in the background. Photo: Ken Cox//The Inertia

Senior Gear Editor Will Sileo contributed some of his own testing experience of various foil systems, a lengthy list including the likes of F-One, Armstrong, Code Foils, Slingshot, and others. A two-time AWSI Expo attendee, Sileo has had the opportunity to try a lot of different foiling gear in his time practicing the sport.

We plan on conducting rigorous testing of the latest and greatest foils on the market, including direct comparisons, multiple-rider feedback, and more. Stay tuned for an update to this article as we get this testing under our belts.

Slingshot rider Jesse Faen shows us that “beginner gear” and “absolutely ripping” are not mutually exclusive. Photo: James Ferrell//The Inertia

Buyers Guide

Below is our buyer’s guide, aimed at helping you make an informed choice about your foiling equipment. The first section covers advice for choosing equipment based on skill level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and some strategies for selecting gear.

Choosing Equipment  

Because foils are part of so many different sports, it’s not possible for us to cite a single “best foil” overall or even for any particular discipline. That said, we’re here to help you make finding the equipment that fits your style an enjoyable and stress-free part of your foiling journey. The most important variables in determining which foil setup is going to work best for you are: 

1. The foil discipline you’re interested in.
2. Your skill level and previous experience in foiling, sailing, surfing, and other related sports. 
3. Your weight (don’t forget to include wetsuit & equipment).
4. The conditions that you expect to ride in.
5. Which aspect of performance is most important to you in your equipment – speed, versatility, glide, ease of use, maneuverability? 
6. What’s your personality as a rider – racer, gearhead, ‘keep it simple’ kind of rider, or somewhere in between?
7. Your budget
8. Where you live and ride most often

Beginner gear, like the Slingshot LTF board, above, will help you through the beginner stages, but after that, you’ll likely be wanting to upgrade. Photo: James Ferrell//The Inertia

Beginners 

While it’s easy to get excited about all the slick gear that you see online and in magazines, if you’re a newcomer to foiling, you won’t really know what you want until you’ve gotten to the intermediate stage. 

As a beginner, you’re going to want a larger foil and lower aspect ratio for most foil disciplines, but it really depends on the factors mentioned above. Someone coming to foiling with a lot of sailing, windsurfing, kiting, or surfing experience is going to end up being able to start with much more “advanced” gear than someone getting into foiling as their first water sport.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that for most foiling disciplines, the gear you start on is gear you’ll hope to quickly outgrow. Buying used, without too much concern for choosing the right brand, and upgrading within a year or so is the way to go for many beginners because your preferences will emerge and evolve as you progress and are ready to start thinking about what foil system will be best for your particular use case.

And be sure to check out The Best Wing Foil Gear for Beginners right here on The Inertia. 

Once you’re really starting to nail your jybes (downwind turns), then you’re solidly in the intermediate stage. Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice//The Inertia

Intermediate Riders 

Regardless of which foil sports you’re pursuing, at the intermediate stage you’ll start to get a feel for what you like and how your gear might help you progress – and you may well start to feel overwhelmed with the huge range of options on the market. With so many manufacturers and design variables, it’s easy to get caught up in endless comparisons of detailed specs – all of which can get in the way of the joy of riding. Have a real think about what’s actually important to you – speed, agility, stability, versatility – or just how you vibe with the brand, and keep that in mind as you’re bombarded by ads, Instagram stories and Youtube clips of a zillion riders on a kajillion different setups, all of which, of course, are so freaking awesome. 

It’s also usually not very easy to demo or test much foil gear before buying. In most cases, you’re going to make choices based on what you read, hear, and see – and on your intuitive sense of how some particular gear will work for you. In general, as an intermediate: try a few different rigs if you can, ask a lot of questions, and mix it up a bit.

Don’t get too hung up on specs or testing, don’t get too attached, and relax – there are tons of good foils out there, and again, you probably can’t go wrong with what your buddies are riding – although I understand the appeal of wanting to try something different. Along with this guide, the detailed brochures and foil configurators from bigger manufacturers can be super helpful in familiarizing yourself with the huge variety of options out there. 

Advanced riders like Jesse Faen can ride just about anything, but will have more fun on higher-end equipment. Photo: James Ferrell//The Inertia

Advanced and Expert Riders 

It’s only really at this stage, after two, three, or four years of riding, that you’ll really have a deeper first-hand feel for your own riding style and how different gear works for you. Even so, you still may not have had the chance to test all that much aside from your own personal equipment, and so you’ll still have to choose based mostly on your feelings about what you’ve seen and heard unless you make a concerted effort to test gear whenever you can – which we certainly do recommend! 

Your relationship with your equipment is a subtle, personal thing, and if you find yourself feeling uncertain or even vaguely dissatisfied with something you’re using, don’t hesitate to ditch it and find something you’re more stoked about.

With some significant experience under your belt, our overall advice at this stage is that now is really the time to experiment with what looks interesting and what supports your further progression – and most of all, simply to choose the tools that get used – that is, that feel the best in your hands and under your feet, because they match your personal style of riding. 

Your first foil and first board should look relatively the same – big and with plenty of surface area/volume. Photo: James Ferrell//The Inertia

Strategies for Selecting Gear 

Our experience has been that there is a gigaton of information out there on equipment, specs, and reviews trying to digest it all. So, coming up with a definitive answer on what works best is often overwhelming. Every brand wants to say they have the best solution for every riding situation and that its designs have specific innovations that work better than anyone else’s – and yet we all know this just can’t be possible. 

If your eyeballs glaze over trying to decipher charts and magazine reviews printed in five-point type, another way to approach the gear question is to consider which of these feels most like you: 

Team Up: If two-thirds of the people at your local spot are using a particular brand of foil, hey, just choose that – it obviously works, and it’ll be easy to swap and resell gear with your local friends. There are so many good foils out there that you won’t go wrong with the wisdom of the crowd, and having the support of friends with the same gear is a huge advantage.  

North’s expansive line of foils have been well-tuned to work seamlessly together. Photo: North

Pick a System: You also can’t really go wrong with choosing one of the foil systems that offer something for all skill levels and foil disciplines. AXIS, Armstrong North, Naish, Duotone, F-One, and so many other brands cover all of the bases, and if you invest in one of these comprehensive systems you’ll get to know it well enough to make the most of its unique features and advantages over time, as well as the community around that brand. Be sure to search Facebook for the brand-specific rider group – these are almost always super useful. 

Go Your Own Way: Sort of the opposite of the system approach is to build your own system around gear that you just can’t resist because of something that strikes you about the designer, the brand’s approach, or what they’re making. I’ve always been drawn to independent genius designers like Greg Drexler of Boardriding Maui, Mike Zajicek of Mikeslab, and Todd Reichert of Beta Foils – all of whom have carved their own path by designing to suit their own unique riding styles, creating innovative designs that differ radically from the mainstream, which could also describe brands like AFS with its whale-fin tubercules and the unique forward-swept Cloud IX foils. The fact is, I’ve chosen most of the gear that’s worked best for me over the years on sight alone, simply based on my reaction to seeing the product. It’s a little hard to explain, and it doesn’t always work – but usually it does. 

If you love adjusting your own gear, AXIS should be one of your top brand considerations. Photo: AXIS

Nerd Out: If you’re the knob-twiddling type of person who loves changing your own spark plugs, reads parts catalogs at night, and keeps a set of drawers with a zillion little tiny screws on your work table – or just appreciates a wide selection of gear with the maximum possibility for options, configuration, tuning and tweaking, you’ll be drawn to one of the more comprehensive and tech-oriented systems like Armstrong, AXIS, or Sabfoil. 

Keep It Simple: Foils don’t have to be complicated, and it’s possible to do a lot with very little in the way of gear, especially if you’re focused on one primary foil sport. One key advantage of the Mikeslab system in particular is that there are no adjustments to make at all – no mast track, no swapping out different rear wings, no shimming – it’s beautifully simple and incredibly effective. Keep-it-simple riders should also check out  Cloud IX, Code, Lift, Slingshot, and Unifoil in particular – or just get one setup that you love and explore the true expanse of its range. You might well be surprised how much you can do with one foil. 

Stay Local: Part of the reason there are so many foil manufacturers out there is all the shops that were started in specific places by people who loved foiling and began to build gear for their home spots. If you’re right there with one of these local outfits, why not stay loyal to your hometown builders and make the most of the direct connection? Just to name a few, I’m talking about Unifoil in South Africa, Mikeslab in San Francisco, Alpinefoil in the lakes of France, Armstrong in New Zealand, Lift in Puerto Rico, and SabFoil in Italy. 

One of Bowen’s kite foils from the early days of the sport. The definition of a “beater.” Photo: Bowen Dwelle//The Inertia

Shred a Beater: People tend to think of foils as expensive, but if you’re strapped for cash, no worries! You can get into foiling for far less than it costs to buy the latest equipment, if you’re willing to live with some scratches and figure out how to match up last year’s foil X with slightly beat-up board Z. There is always a ton of used gear on the market – just have a look on Facebook for buy/sell groups in your area. Don’t hesitate to reach out to local riders for advice! 

Pay For The Best: On the other hand, if you’re flush, hey, the best use for money is art – or great equipment! What better way to spend your coin than to pass it along to someone working hard to make the absolute best gear they can offer? It’s often said that we’re better off spending money on experiences than possessions – and our foils are tools that enable amazing experiences – so if you can afford the best and latest, go for it! 

If KT’s new line of foils is anything like its boards, riders are in for a real treat. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

More Buying Advice

Cost and Resale Value 

Low-end, entry-level beginner foils can be had for as little as several hundred dollars, while high-end handmade foils will run you nearly $4,000 (if you can even get one), so there’s a wide range of price and performance. At this time of this writing, good entry-level foil packages with aluminum masts are available for under $1,000, intermediate/advanced setups will run $1,500-$2,000, and the highest performance foils are in the $3,000-$4,000 range. 

You get what you pay for, and our recommendation is to start with a full setup designed for the foil sport that you’re pursuing at the highest price point that you can afford. If you can swing it, get a full carbon setup right from the start. Don’t skimp on foil quality – good gear will make your journey of progression much easier. 

Over time, you’ll probably want to experiment with different front wings (and perhaps back wings, too), so get into a system that has a wide range of interchangeable components. Front wings run from $500 at the low end to more than $1,000 at the high end. 

As for resale value, foils and foil components can hold their value relatively well, at least for a couple of years. If you’re intending to upgrade and sell your older foil gear, our advice is: don’t delay. The value of that gear sitting in your garage while you decide if you’re going to use it again someday will decline rapidly as new gear comes out, so keep it moving unless you want to end up with a museum! 

Foils from different manufacturers have different ways of connecting to the fuselage or mast and are not cross-compatible. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Modularity, Interchangeability, Hardware, Assembly 

All foil systems offer some degree of modularity and interchangeability, allowing you to swap out various hydrofoil wings, masts, and fuselages from the same manufacturer to configure your foil for different conditions or as your skill improves. Due to the proprietary designs of hydrofoil wings, masts, and fuselages, for the most part, you cannot mix and match those components from different manufacturers. Thanks to the near-universal four-bolt mast foot that attaches to a track system on the bottom of most foil boards, you can attach most any brand of foil to most any brand of board. 

Getting after it in the foiling mecca of Hood River, Oregon. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

General Information About Foiling

Different Foil Sports and Disciplines

There are already a wide variety of hydrofoil board sports, including:

Kite Foiling

Kite foiling means riding a hydrofoil board powered by a leading-edge inflatable or parafoil kitesurfing kite. Free-ride, freestyle, and course racing are some of the sub-disciplines of kite foiling, which made it into the Summer Olympic games in 2024. Foils for kiting tend to be the smallest of all – in the range of 500–1000 sq cm – because of the power and upward lift component kites provide. 

Winging has truly catapulted foiling into the mainstream. Here, editor Will Sileo rides a cargo ship wake in the SF Bay. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Wing Foiling or “Winging”

Winging combines inflated-leading-edge sail technology from kitesurfing with the stance and sail position from windsurfing and the efficiency of a hydrofoil to create a new, foil-native wind sport that many people find easier and faster then windsurfing, and a bit less complicated than kiting. Foils used for winging come in a wide range of sizes and are getting ever smaller, with race foils now going down to 300 sq cm and less, and beginner wing foils all the way up to the 2,000 sq cm range. 

Wind Foiling (a.k.a. Windsurf Foiling) 

Wind foiling adds a foil to a traditional windsurfing rig. Compared to the popularity of wing-foiling, windsurf foiling remains a smaller niche that mostly appeals to die-hard windsurfers who just can’t give up the spars. 

SUP Foiling 

Stand-up paddle or SUP foiling is an evolution of stand-up paddle surfing, with the addition of a foil to the stand-up board, and is popular for riding waves. SUP foils range from massive beginner foils up to 1500 sq cm down to around 800 sq cm. 

Style-master Adam Bennetts shows you don’t need a breaking wave to surf, if you’re foil surfing, that is. Photo: Adam Bennetts

Prone or Surf Foiling 

Prone foiling is an evolution of traditional paddle-on-your-belly (“prone”) surfing, with the addition of a foil to the surfboard, and is another way to get into the waves on a foil. Prone foils run a bit smaller than SUP foils overall, although they overlap entirely at the smaller end of the spectrum. 

Downwind Foiling

Downwind foiling evolved from SUP foiling and uses longer, narrower boards and high-aspect foils optimized for glide to cover long distances on foil, almost always going downwind. You may also hear people refer to “packdown” or “deflate downwind” foiling which refers to using a small inflatable wing to ride upwind on a downwind foil setup, stop in the water, deflate the wing and put it in a backpack, and then use a paddle to get back on foil and ride back downwind. Downwind foils range from massive 2000 sq cm wings all the way down to ultra-high-performance race foils in the 500-700 sq cm range. 

Parawing Foiling

The prospect of upwind/downwind runs has been made even more attractive with the recent introduction of the parawing, which collapses to a much more compact size than an inflatable wing, and (conditions permitting) can take the place of the inflatable wing and the paddle, providing a way both to get upwind and to get (or stay) on foil for the downwind run. We’re still figuring out what sort of gear parawinging wants, but to begin with, most people are using foils in the range of 800–1200 sq cm. 

Pump foiling can be done either with a larger board and a paddle or with a small board and a running start. Both require a very large foil and a lot of effort. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Pump Foiling

In pump foiling, riders use a small board and an extra-large foil specifically designed for pumping and gliding using muscle power alone. While prone and SUP foil riders often pump to get back out through the lineup (and even wingers pump through lulls), ‘pure’ pump foiling is done on flat water and doesn’t involve riding waves – the rider has to pump continuously for the entire ride. Although it’s also possible to start in other ways, pump foiling usually involves starting from a dock, and so it’s also often known as “dock start.” “Free foiling” refers to pump foiling with a specific focus on traveling longer distances and maximizing riding time – therefore using even larger and more efficient foils, some spanning up to more than 2 meters and 2000 sq cm in area! 

Tow Foiling

Tow foiling is where the rider is towed by some sort of motorized watercraft – most often a jet-ski – onto a wave and then releases the rope to ride. Another relatively small niche, tow foils tend to run very small. 

Wake Foiling

With wake foiling, on the other hand, the rider is towed in otherwise flat water by a boat that is designed to produce a rideable wake. 

Efoils are a great way to get into the sport of foiling due to their ease of access. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Efoiling

Efoiling (often stylized as e-foiling) uses a foil board equipped with an electric motor for propulsion, creating an electric personal watercraft that can be used for everything from cruising flat water to catching and riding ocean swells. For more on efoils see our eFoils Buyer’s Guide. 

E-Assist

Finally, e-assist or foil-assist covers setups like Foil Drive where the electric propulsion isn’t intended to be used continuously, but only for getting onto foil, and then riding with the energy of the waves or windswell. 

This ultra high-aspect ride from Duotone is aptly named the “Hyperglide.” Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

How Hydrofoils Work

Hydrofoils function like airplane wings, lifting watercraft out of the water, reducing drag, and allowing for greater speed and efficiency. The foil beneath the surface generates lift by redirecting water downward, creating an upward force that raises the board above the water’s surface. By vastly reducing the surface area in contact with water, hydrofoils significantly decrease friction and enable watercraft to move more efficiently, even at lower speeds, which is why hydrofoils have taken over all sorts of water sport disciplines from windsurfing to stand-up paddleboarding – and created several new sports, no doubt with more to come! 

Components

All of the foils that we use for board sports are “T” foils because of how the mast and foil wings form an inverted T shape. If you’re familiar with foils used on sailboats, you may have heard of “C,” “J,” or “L” foils – also named for their overall shape – but none of these are currently used for hydrofoil board sports. 

A hydrofoil, or “foil,” usually refers to a fully assembled combination of mast, fuselage, front, and back wing, although “foil” is also sometimes used to refer just to the front hydrofoil wing. 

The mast is the vertical component that connects the board to the fuselage (and thereby to the front and back wings). Where the mast meets the board is either the plate, or “base,” for almost all foils using the four-bolt plate and track mounting system, or a Tuttle “head” which plugs into the matching socket in the bottom of the board. 

The silver part is this foil’s aluminum fuselage. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

The fuselage, aka “fuse,” is what the front and back wings are attached to and provides a place to connect the mast. With most systems, you bolt the front and back wings to the fuse, but the wing(s) can also be permanently attached. 

The front and back “wings” are the real guts of the foil. The front wing creates the lifting force that levitates the board out of the water, and the back wing creates downforce to counterbalance the lift created by the front wing and make the foil more stable. The back or rear wing is also known as the “stabilizer” or “stab.” While it is possible to build a rideable foil with no rear wing (known as a monofoil), the vast majority of foil systems use a front-and-back wing setup. 

Rather confusingly, the most popular wind-and-foil discipline ended up being called “winging” or “wing foiling” because the sail looks like a wing. The problem is that those of us who wing call our sails “wings” and also often refer to our hydrofoil front wings as “wings.” In an attempt to reduce confusion that often results in further confusion, I often refer to my wing (sail) as a “sail” and my hydrofoil as a “foil,” but even I forget sometimes! Which wing is which? 

Foil shape matters a lot. Aspect Ratio doesn’t tell you everything about a foil, but it’s a good rule of thumb to start with. Photo: F-One.

Foil Design and Characteristics

Foils vary widely in all dimensions, and many vendors offer a wide variety of foil sizes and shapes, and manufacturers name their foil models in different ways. Even a basic term like “size” can be applied to either or both the surface area or the width. Most brands use a naming system based on the surface area (e.g., an Armstrong HA 980 is 980 cm2 in area), while some others name their foils based on the width or wingspan (an AXIS Art 999 is 999 mm wide, but the area is 1038 cm2).

Worth noting: Lift foil measurements are in inches, not meters, so don’t get caught thinking their 130 X wing is 1300 cm2. Being 130 inches squared, the foil is 839 cm2 – a confusing conversion. 

That’s one fast-looking boat… Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

F-One designer Charles Bertrand summed it up by sharing the designers’ rule of thumb that “a good looking boat is a fast boat,” and that’s what designers do – they make good looking, fast “boats” – or in our case, foils. The thing is, just as with boats, people have different ideas about what’s good looking! Regardless of how they get there, as Cliff Coetzer of Unifoil put it, “efficiency is number one” – which means that as a buyer, you don’t have to concern yourself all that much with details like chord, thickness or even width – just buy the right area and aspect ratio for your sport and skill level, and let the experts do their thing with the rest. 

However, in case you’re interested in all the details, there are several key foil design characteristics and variables that influence performance, including: 

Three Armstrong foils, all with relatively the same surface area, but vastly different spans and shapes for vastly different riding styles. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Surface Area (Size)

The total surface area of the hydrofoil wing is typically measured in square centimeters (cm2 or sq cm). Larger surface areas provide more lift at lower speeds, making it easier to rise onto the foil. Smaller wings with less surface area reduce drag, allowing for higher speeds and sharper turning. Beginners often prefer larger surface area wings for more lift and stability, while advanced riders usually size down to smaller wings for performance in high-speed riding. 

Span (Width)

The distance from tip to tip of the hydrofoil wing is usually measured in millimeters (mm). In general, wider wings have more lift and stability but are less maneuverable. Wider wings are typically used for pumping, downwind foiling, and slower speeds, while narrower wings excel in high-speed and more agile applications like kite foiling, surfing, and winging. 

Despite having similar wingspans, the Slingshot PFI 835 (top) makes a great beginner foil with a ton of surface area for lots of lift, whereas the Slingshot 926 PTM (bottom) has less surface area and a glidier outline for high-efficiency (and more advanced) riding. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Aspect Ratio (AR)

The ratio of the wing’s span to its surface area. Because foils are complex shapes, we use the following formula to calculate AR: AR = (span²) / (area). For example, a front wing like the Axis ART v2 939 has a wingspan of 94cm and a total surface area of 900 cm2 and has an AR of 94² / 900 = 9.8. 

Visually, lower AR wings are fatter and more shovel-shaped, while higher AR wings are skinnier and pointier. In general, higher-aspect wings (of all kinds) fly faster and more efficiently and glide better but are harder to turn and stall more readily at lower speeds, while lower-aspect foils take off and stay flying at slower speeds and turn more easily but are less efficient. 

The range of aspect ratios for foils goes from about 5 to 13. In general, beginners will want to start with a lower AR (and larger) foil and progress to faster, higher-AR foils over time. 

Chord and Span. Photo: AXIS Foils

Chord

The straight-line distance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the hydrofoil wing. 

Taper

The change in width (chord) of the wing from the root (closest to the fuselage) to the tip.

Thickness and Thickness Distribution

The maximum thickness of the wing and where it is positioned along the chord. Thicker wings generate more lift but also more drag, and are typically more stable at lower speeds. Thinner wings are faster, as they create less drag, but may be less stable and harder to control at lower speeds. 

As foils get more advanced over time, foil manufacturers are playing with more advanced characteristics such as the camber of the foil. Photo: AXIS Foils

Camber

The camber line is an imaginary line that runs exactly halfway between the top and bottom surfaces of the wing, showing the curve of the wing’s cross-sectional shape. Less cambered or flat wings are better for high-speed performance and advanced riders who want less drag and higher responsiveness. Highly cambered wings are more forgiving at slower speeds and generate lift more easily, which is beneficial for beginners. Recent innovations have resulted in wings with increased camber but also with ultra-high aspect ratio, which reduces drag and improves overall glide performance, helping to maintain a high top speed even with the added camber.

Sweep

The angle at which the leading edge of the wing is swept back (or forward). Back-swept wings often provide smoother performance at higher speeds and can help delay stalling, making them more effective in dynamic conditions. However, they may also reduce maneuverability compared to straighter wings. Forward-swept wings like the Cloud IX foils are less common but do exist and also seem to work well. 

Dihedral

Dihedral refers to a V-shaped upward angle of the wings relative to the fuselage, while anhedral is an inverted V-shape with the wings angling downward relative to the fuse. 

Longer masts tend to be reserved for kite foiling and wingfoil racing. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Mast Length

Most manufacturers offer a range of mast lengths, from about 72cm up to about 110cm. Typical mast length varies by sport. Most wingfoil riders end up with an 85-95cm mast, for example, whereas for downwind, it’s more often 80-85cm and sometimes even shorter for pumping and surf foiling. The longest masts are mainly for wingfoil and kite racing. 

In any foil sport, a longer mast allows you to navigate over chop and waves more easily and also to heel the foil over farther while turning without breaching the tips of the foil. A shorter mast provides greater sensitivity and reactivity of the foil. 

Fuselage Length

Most manufacturers also offer a range of fuselage lengths. Generally, a longer fuse is going to be more stable, especially in terms of pitch (forward and backward movement), and will have a wider turning radius, while a shorter fuse is going to be less pitch stable and offer a shorter turning radius. 

Two masts from F-One, carbon (top) and aluminum (bottom). Once you’ve ridden with a carbon mast, it’s hard to go back to aluminum. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Materials

Foil masts and fuselages are generally made of either carbon or aluminum, with some rare examples of titanium for the fuselage. Hydrofoil wings are almost always carbon, with some manufacturers offering lower-end wings made of fiberglass. Some manufacturers also now use high- or ultra-high modulus carbon for masts in particular, which is even stronger and stiffer – and more expensive. Basically, aluminum is cheaper, and carbon is better because carbon is stiffer, lighter, and less subject to corrosion. 

Weight 

As with most other pieces of sports equipment, lighter is better. With a component that moves around as much as your foil does when you’re riding it, you feel every ounce of swing weight as you carve turns and make transitions – especially if you’re doing tricks and jumps. Of course, lighter weight can come at the expense of durability and rigidity (see below), but overall, you want the lightest setup you can afford.

Slingshot’s new One-Lock system uses no screws but is super rigid with an all-carbon construction. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Stiffness & Rigidity

A key performance factor for foils that derives from the design and materials of the foil is how stiff the overall structure of the foil is when assembled and mounted to the board. In general, carbon foils – and masts in particular – are stiffer and more resistant to twisting forces than aluminum. Mast and fuselage adapters give you more options, but they also create another point of interface between components, adding weight and reducing overall rigidity. 

Duotone uses a triple-overlapping fuselage system for better rigidity. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Mast Position and Foot Pressure

Almost all foils and foil boards these days use a standard four-bolt plate and track mounting system, which allows you to slide the mast forward and back to find the optimal position. Along with mast position, your choice of front and back wings (or, choice of back wing for a given front wing), fuselage length, as well as any shims will determine not only how the foil feels in terms of front-to-back balance (or “trim”) and other finer aspects of how the foil performs. The overall goal is to set things up so that the board flies level with relatively even pressure under both feet when you are standing with your feet in the straps (or where the straps would be). 

If you find yourself having to put a ton of weight forwards on the board when you’re up on foil, then you are feeling too much “front-foot pressure,” that is, lift from the front wing pushing the front of the board upwards. In this case, you should try moving the mast backward to move the center of lift. If, on the other hand, you find the nose of the board pointing or diving downwards, move your mast forward to move the center of lift forward. Similarly, depending on how your foil system works, if you were to swap to a larger front wing, you might well need to move your mast backward to compensate for the increased lift, and vice versa. 

The use of shims has been a part of the Armstrong foil system for years now. Photo: Armstrong Foils

Shims

Many foil systems provide yet another way to fine-tune how your foil system feels by adjusting the angle between the front and rear wing with small plastic shims applied to the rear wing. What’s most important to know is that – as stated in the AXIS brochure – “Most riders with a weight of around 85kg riding in normal conditions don’t really need or benefit from shimming the rear wing. The foils should ride fine out of the box bolted straight onto the fuselage.”

Positive shimming increases the angle between the front and back wing by jacking up the trailing edge of the rear wing, while negative shimming decreases the angle between the front and back wing by jacking up the leading edge of the rear wing. Per the AXIS brochure, “Positive shimming is useful for heavier riders to provide more front foot pressure, and negative shimming is useful for lighter riders as it reduces the front foot pressure and is faster.”

Another, more unusual sort of shim would be a baseplate shim used to adjust the angle at which the mast attaches to the bottom of the board. If you’re using a board and a foil system from the same brand, this should never be an issue, but if you are mixing things up, you will want to figure out if the foil and/or base of the board are made to mate up at 90° or not, and adjust accordingly. Again, from AXIS, “The board should feel balanced and ride relatively flat between front and back foot pressure… If you feel or can see by watching a video that you are riding nose down or nose up most of the time, a baseplate shim is required to correct the angle that the board flies at.”

Three pieces, no tools. Slingshot is leading the way when it comes to more convenient and user-friendly foil assembly. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

The Future of Foiling – What’s Coming 

Being smart about selecting gear is also about understanding the context and evolution over time. Some design trends end up proving themselves as real innovations, and others fade away quickly as evolutionary dead ends. 

One way to look at the history of foiling is that there was a first generation of relatively primitive production foils mostly designed for kiting, followed by a much larger second generation of higher-performing foil systems designed for an expanding range of foil sports – and that we’re now starting to move into a third generation of foils designed and optimized for specific foil disciplines. 

This past year has brought a ton of innovation in foil sports with the introduction of ultra-high-aspect foils, mega-wide foils, more inflatable wings made with Aluula and other high-tech fabrics, the Maliko Parawing from Boardriding Maui, the second-generation Foil Drive Assist product, kitefoiling in the 2024 summer Olympics, and new records for long distance downwind foiling, among other things. The stoke for foiling is already at an all-time high, and we see that continuing to increase in the coming year. As for specific sport and product innovations, we see several things happening:

• More great foils than ever! 
• More ultra-high aspect ratio foils like the AXIS Fireball, Lift Florence, Unifoil Evolution, AFS Ultra, North Sonar DW, Armstrong Downwind Performance, F-One Eagle X, Duotone Hyperglide, and SabFoil Leviathan Pr, all of which are in the 12-14 AR range for greater downwind glide efficiency and speed. 
• More higher-camber foils, which offer a lower stall speed and therefore, greater range. Especially for high-aspect foils. 
• Continued growth of downwind foiling 
• All the designers I spoke with, including Jon Modica at Cabrinha, agreed that there will be an explosion in parawing foiling
• More specialized foils for different disciplines (parawing, free foiling, e-assist, etc.)
• Front wings will continue to get smaller for kiting, winging, downwinding & prone foiling and larger for pumping and free foiling. 
• Ever-stiffer and thinner masts, making for more efficient riding. 
• More use of high- and ultra-high-modulus (UHM) carbon. 
• More foil systems that use semi- or full-monocoque construction with the front wing integrated with the fuselage, and fewer joints and fasteners. 

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Duotone’s version of convenience is a no-tools-required base plate. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia

Editor’s Note: Looking to get into wing-foiling? Check out The Best Wing Foil Boards and The Best Wings for Wing Foiling. If you’re interested in purchasing it all together as a package, here’s our article on The Best Wing Foil Packages. You can also check out our full efoil buyers guide and our recent Foil Drive review if you want more info on that. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.