I'm sure I saw a thread on this a while back.

Anyway, given what I read on that thread I am pretty keen to get my hands on one to learn myself. Lessons aren't cheap and neither is buying second hand, so these foils seem to fill the gap quite well in my opinion.

Question is which is the best to buy? I will opt for a 70cm mast which i've read is good for beginners.

Here is the list of the ones with the best reviews on Ali Express. Could some one point out to me which one looks to be the best please?

I'll be using it to kite surf on and maybe stick on a surf board too.

Thanks!

21 reviews / 40 orders:

www.aliexpress.com/item/32832517441.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.1.530146c6f6G8Jl&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_5722815_10342_10343_10340_5722915_10341_5722615_10696_10084_10083_10618_10307_10306_10302_5722715_5711215_10059_308_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_5711315_5722515_10621_10620,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=4637c98a-ea85-47f5-8b58-c9e05733efb6-0&algo_pvid=4637c98a-ea85-47f5-8b58-c9e05733efb6&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

4 reviews / 9 orders:

www.aliexpress.com/item/32846913145.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.9.530146c6f6G8Jl&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_5722815_10342_10343_10340_5722915_10341_5722615_10696_10084_10083_10618_10307_10306_10302_5722715_5711215_10059_308_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_5711315_5722515_10621_10620,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=4637c98a-ea85-47f5-8b58-c9e05733efb6-1&algo_pvid=4637c98a-ea85-47f5-8b58-c9e05733efb6&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

2 reviews / 7 orders:

www.aliexpress.com/item/32839509152.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.23.530146c6f6G8Jl&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_5722815_10342_10343_10340_5722915_10341_5722615_10696_10084_10083_10618_10307_10306_10302_5722715_5711215_10059_308_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_5711315_5722515_10621_10620,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=4637c98a-ea85-47f5-8b58-c9e05733efb6-3&algo_pvid=4637c98a-ea85-47f5-8b58-c9e05733efb6&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

Unless you are very heavy the top 2 will probably have too much lift and drag to kite with. Those are seriously big front wings. Probably good for surfing as they would be slow enough to avoid outrunning the wave. Kamikuza can probably comment more accurately but given there is a SUP board in the background I'd guess it isn't ideal.

The 3rd one is high aspect. Will suit kitefoiling but would be tricky to learn on. I'd wager it would be useless for surfing as you'd never manage to get enough speed without outrunning the wave.

If the goal is to save money, have you looked at the clearwater foils? Cheaper and probably just as light as the Chinese ones above. They are also now producing a big surf/sup wing so you could have something that works for both surfing and kite foiling.

Where are you based. Second hand foils must be a lot cheaper in the UK than where you are as those prices aren't much cheaper than the foil and board combinations floating around. Do you have a board already?

The second one is the same design more or less as the takuma v100 which people use for kite and sup/surf foiling. I know someone that teaches with one so you'd be fine to learn on it. You can even get them to send you two masts so you could get a full length 90 and short learning 60cm mast to start with potentially.

First one wing is a bit too thin(16-18mm) to use with a sup from what i've heard so it's not as good as the takuma clone.

The advantage of kiting SUP foils is you can "surf" any kind of swell and you can use a teeny tiny kite. The disadvantage is the lift comes on early (ie. low board speed) so you get on the foil almost instantly which requires more skill or experience.

It would be interesting so see someone learn on one. For sure, get a small mast to learn with if you do -- I'd go shorter than 600mm at first too, just to avoid the big catapults and jack-knives...

Can't speak as to actual surf foiling at all, but I think that's a way off in your future. You first one will probably be a beater so I wouldn't get too fussed about it.

Clearwater seems to be a good option too.

Just my 2c to help

I bought the yellow and green one from this page
www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Kite-Surf-Hydrofoil-Full-Carbon-fiber_60661781745.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017005.45.bc1337acjv7jC5

It arrived a week later, all black (they had warned me), very nice product, all harware, exact replica (or knock off) of the slingshot foil.(even the packaging)
I used it for windfoiling (at that price it didn't matter), did fly very well but needed too much negative stab trim to be comfy
Sold it two weeks later to a kiter who just loves it.

I wouldn't be surpised those chineese guys bought the previous slingshot molds....

I got the aluminium one from ali baba, rides pretty well.

Here's a clip of my third sesh on it.
Got it for $550 aud delivered to my door.