www.duotonesports.com/foilwing/unit

Duotone seems to be covering all bases.
I saw a prototype on a thread here where they used a strut with a boom. That's the one I would have liked to see go into production.

Mate had one out here yesterday. He was very happy with it and looked really smooth on it in gusty conditions. Delta shape, small windows (with graphics over???), 3 handles with hard foam covering, lots of vents and a small front handle. Really light in the hand when I flew it on the beach. It was a 4 so I could not use it in the conditions we had yesterday.
Worth a look.

I got to test the 5m Unit few months back , can only release vision now . Extremely well behaved wing in 30 knot+ conditions, you can see in video when I got over powered easy to depower and I even throw it and reel back in without coming off the board . I've now used the 5m Unit and the 5m Echo in 8 to 10 knots and up to 30. The 5m in both versions is all I use now no need for multiple wings. I'm on the 6-3 Fanatic Sky Sup in the video just love this board so good for low wind release starts and epic on the downwind .

Is the final Unit with or without windows ? There's videos with both.

Only 3 handles on the boom like F1 is a strange move when they have the boom option.

The curved boom strut is interesting...

This was the early proto the production version will definitely have windows . I'm a boom fan but the 3 handles are fine and perfectly positioned I had no issues at all . You'll start seeing this more in other brands as well . The Unit is extremely light and like the Echo has an extremely tight sheet tension giving it heaps of grunt .

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Piros said..
I got to test the 5m Unit few months back , can only release vision now . Extremely well behaved wing in 30 knot+ conditions, you can see in video when I got over powered easy to depower and I even throw it and reel back in without coming off the board . I've now used the 5m Unit and the 5m Echo in 8 to 10 knots and up to 30. The 5m in both versions is all I use now no need for multiple wings. I'm on the 6-3 Fanatic Sky Sup in the video just love this board so good for low wind release starts and epic on the downwind .

Hi Piros
8-30 knots is an amazing range for a 5m. I have a 7m Echo and am really pleased with it. Am going to get a 5m as well but was wondering how you think the Echo and Unit compare in terms of performance and handling.

I've only ridden the Unit couple of times , it's way lighter and haven't used it in the surf but I think it would be better . Power wise they are an even match but I'm a boom guy and still prefer it , I ride a lot one handed and just find I have more control when you drop a hand with the boom . You can also alter the length of the boom on the water to increase and decrease power , plus you can grab the line running under the boom on the Echo which also gives you a temporary de power similar to a kite .

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Piros said..
I've only ridden the Unit couple of times , it's way lighter and haven't used it in the surf but I think it would be better . Power wise they are an even match but I'm a boom guy and still prefer it , I ride a lot one handed and just find I have more control when you drop a hand with the boom . You can also alter the length of the boom on the water to increase and decrease power , plus you can grab the line running under the boom on the Echo which also gives you a temporary de power similar to a kite .

Nice, thanks. Where do you get the narrow tube to fit over the depower rope?

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Piros said..
I got to test the 5m Unit few months back , can only release vision now . Extremely well behaved wing in 30 knot+ conditions, you can see in video when I got over powered easy to depower and I even throw it and reel back in without coming off the board . I've now used the 5m Unit and the 5m Echo in 8 to 10 knots and up to 30. The 5m in both versions is all I use now no need for multiple wings. I'm on the 6-3 Fanatic Sky Sup in the video just love this board so good for low wind release starts and epic on the downwind .

Ken Winner is on another winner.
Simplified,lighter,packable,wave type wing with grunt.

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Dommo49 said..

Piros said..
I've only ridden the Unit couple of times , it's way lighter and haven't used it in the surf but I think it would be better . Power wise they are an even match but I'm a boom guy and still prefer it , I ride a lot one handed and just find I have more control when you drop a hand with the boom . You can also alter the length of the boom on the water to increase and decrease power , plus you can grab the line running under the boom on the Echo which also gives you a temporary de power similar to a kite .

Nice, thanks. Where do you get the narrow tube to fit over the depower rope?

That's not my pic DWF on this site posted it . I don't have one .

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Dommo49 said..

Piros said..
I've only ridden the Unit couple of times , it's way lighter and haven't used it in the surf but I think it would be better . Power wise they are an even match but I'm a boom guy and still prefer it , I ride a lot one handed and just find I have more control when you drop a hand with the boom . You can also alter the length of the boom on the water to increase and decrease power , plus you can grab the line running under the boom on the Echo which also gives you a temporary de power similar to a kite .

Nice, thanks. Where do you get the narrow tube to fit over the depower rope?

I stole the tubing from an old windsurf harness line. Any tube from the hardware store works. It's there just to be more comfortable on your hand when you grab it. I was told the team guys add this tube. I used fishing line to pull the rope through the tubing.

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DWF said..

Dommo49 said..

Piros said..
I've only ridden the Unit couple of times , it's way lighter and haven't used it in the surf but I think it would be better . Power wise they are an even match but I'm a boom guy and still prefer it , I ride a lot one handed and just find I have more control when you drop a hand with the boom . You can also alter the length of the boom on the water to increase and decrease power , plus you can grab the line running under the boom on the Echo which also gives you a temporary de power similar to a kite .

Nice, thanks. Where do you get the narrow tube to fit over the depower rope?

I stole the tubing from an old windsurf harness line. Any tube from the hardware store works. It's there just to be more comfortable on your hand when you grab it. I was told the team guys add this tube. I used fishing line to pull the rope through the tubing.

Thanks

Any comparison to the ozone Wasp please?

Yes way more grunt than the wasp , tighter sheet but Wasp is still very good wing .

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Piros said..
Yes way more grunt than the wasp , tighter sheet but Wasp is still very good wing .

Hey Piros
Is the echo as grunty as the unit? I'm looking at getting a 5m down the track

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kobo said..

Piros said..
Yes way more grunt than the wasp , tighter sheet but Wasp is still very good wing .

Hey Piros
Is the echo as grunty as the unit? I'm looking at getting a 5m down the track

Just a little bit power for the same size from what I've felt. Designed to use a size down than you'd normally use to make the handling lighter and more responsive. Sam.

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Piros said..Yes way more grunt than the wasp

Not so sure about that. More refined yes but not more low end grunt.

Sadly I don't speak fluent French or German

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northy1 said..
Sadly I don't speak fluent French or German

Its not that much info, but this is the summary of the bottom one (german):
- it behaves more neutral than the Echo
- can be used in the surf
- bent strut makes it ergonomic to hold the wing
- it is lighter than the echo
- the handles have some sponge around, soft grip feeling
- the handles have a good size, easy to find/grab
- he likes how it flies, and the neutral position while using the front handle
- recommends for "downwind, surf cruising and waves"
- you can come and test the latest products (if you happen to be somewhere around Vienna - Neusiedlersee) :)

french video
first guy:
bent strut design makes for comfortable gripping position
handles covered with nice soft material
feels very powerful, he's using a 5m in 15 knots
when pumping the rear does not flap around, very direct response, wingtips don't touch the water
even in gusts it doesn't twitch at all when depowered and trailing it behind
overall very rigid feeling
window placement not ideal, bottom window is obstructed by strut

second guy:
was worried that its much softer than the echo, but no, very rigid structure
front hand position is very comfortable due to bent strut design
middle rear handle seems to work best for him
easy to neutralise
lots of power, softer delivery in gusts compared to the echo (if I understood him talking to first guy correctly, I'm not french)

Thanks knatti and lairdkilgour

Another here - French:
www.facebook.com/watch/?v=686683755602534

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hilly said..

Piros said..Yes way more grunt than the wasp

Not so sure about that. More refined yes but not more low end grunt.

Can't agree at all with that Hilly . The tighter sheet is the key to more down low power. Put the wing above your head and pull down standing on land . The Ozone feels like baggy undies compared to the Echo or Unit when you do this test .

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Piros said..

hilly said..

Piros said..Yes way more grunt than the wasp

Not so sure about that. More refined yes but not more low end grunt.

Can't agree at all with that Hilly . The tighter sheet is the key to more down low power. Put the wing above your head and pull down standing on land . The Ozone feels like baggy undies compared to the Echo or Unit when you do this test .

Will agree to disagree.

Some Units seem to have no windows??? Is there 2 models?

Early protos no windows , production wings will all have windows.

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Piros said..

hilly said..

Piros said..Yes way more grunt than the wasp

Not so sure about that. More refined yes but not more low end grunt.

Can't agree at all with that Hilly . The tighter sheet is the key to more down low power. Put the wing above your head and pull down standing on land . The Ozone feels like baggy undies compared to the Echo or Unit when you do this test .

I only have a 4m wasp and it definitely doesn't feel like baggy undies, it's very solid. I assume all wings depend on the stiffness of the leading edge.The more you tension the outhaul on the boom models the more it bends the leading edge tips inwards which makes the wing bag out, so the bigger the leading edge or the more psi you can put in it is the only control you have.

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Piros said..

hilly said..

Piros said..Yes way more grunt than the wasp

Not so sure about that. More refined yes but not more low end grunt.

Can't agree at all with that Hilly . The tighter sheet is the key to more down low power. Put the wing above your head and pull down standing on land . The Ozone feels like baggy undies compared to the Echo or Unit when you do this test .

Ah! Just like the good old days. Nothing's changed here.

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Piros said..
Early protos no windows , production wings will all have windows.

Can you explain why they put graphics over the windows

When will these be available in Australia please
thanks in advance

taking these off the web and cannot be 100% accurate in terms of scale - but gives you an idea of shape differences

Does anyone know the wingspan dimensions for the Unit? Specifically the 6m? I have a Fone 5m which I love but want something a bit bigger without increasing the wingspan..