January '23 is set to be the official date of the release of the new Strike. I've heard they have been playing a lot with the handles (but I would be surprised if they've decided to go for rigid handles) and also with new materials. do you have any news about them?

Radial panel layout, two weights of new material in luff and strut with low elongation and good durability.

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patronus said..
Radial panel layout, two weights of new material in luff and strut with low elongation and good durability.

Anything about the CWC?

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Fishdude said..

patronus said..
Radial panel layout, two weights of new material in luff and strut with low elongation and good durability.

Anything about the CWC?

+1 for any 2023 CWC info -- my 7m CWC has been awesome but is pretty bagged out from heavy use, Love to know any details and timing

CWC V3, 6, 7, 8m. Two weights of new material in luff and strut with low elongation and good durability. Canopy coated to increase longevity and less stretchy. 6m CWC same span as Strike (?) 5m.
Looks like wings are similar design to 2022 with maybe some radial cuts, main change being some new materials to improve longevity. Not seen change to handles mentioned.

Any chance to see some photos? i'm happy with my V2 quiver but I get weak at the knees when it comes to new gear.

I thought the release got pushed back to European Spring 2023.

Will be interesting to see if the CWC will keep the 3 struts with the new materials or not. They will no doubt be overpriced in AU as usual....

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Alysum said..
I thought the release got pushed back to European Spring 2023.

Will be interesting to see if the CWC will keep the 3 struts with the new materials or not. They will no doubt be overpriced in AU as usual....

Yes 3 struts. I hope info is correct.

If they come out with a better more stretch resistant material, Ill swap all my wings to f-one ... nothing flies better (specially when it gets underpowered)

I doubt release was pushed back, because current wings are on close out sales in the US.

My US dealer confirmed that I'll be able to get my hands on the V3s late January to early February. No details about the update. Firm embargo.

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mindhoc said..
If they come out with a better more stretch resistant material, Ill swap all my wings to f-one ... nothing flies better (specially when it gets underpowered)

It looks like they've updated quite a few things on the new Strikes V3. The shape it self saw some updates with an updated dihedral angle, more compact outline and a new profile angles which might suggest better upwind performance.

The center strut and the center of the leading edge seems to have a thinner diameters for what suppose to be a stiffer frame due to the new material.

The trailing edge which is the first part to usually show fatigue is now constructed from a heavier more durable and more stretch resistant material.

The canopy panel layout as mentioned saw a big update and hopefully will address the longevity of the wing.

It was mentioned that overall the wings maintained their light weight.

It seems like a worthy update to these great wings. Already reserved 2 sizes in Flame color for the high-end 2.5M and low-end 5.5M.

For my main size 4M I'll hold off for the new Ocean Rodeo AX Series. Spending some time with the prototype I can see this wing lasting for 2 years and it will be worth the investment imo.

Can confirm Burchas' accurate info. 'I reserved my 3,4 and 5. impressed by the work they did averall, it's just not a new version of a predecessor but a completely new wing in every aspect. And they swear they did not change the f-one feeling which is the most important thing (at least to me).

hopefully they make more than 10 of them this year. All year I saw only two of the CWCs on the water, but they sold out instantly everywhere.

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Windbot said..
hopefully they make more than 10 of them this year. All year I saw only two of the CWCs on the water, but they sold out instantly everywhere.

I would not bet on CWC wide availability before Spring. Put your order now and you'll might get it as it becomes available.

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burchas said..

Windbot said..
hopefully they make more than 10 of them this year. All year I saw only two of the CWCs on the water, but they sold out instantly everywhere.

I would not bet on CWC wide availability before Spring. Put your order now and you'll might get it as it becomes available.

Certainly seemed like they underestimated the demand for a good light wind wing.

I'm not one to preorder stuff much, but in this case might have to. Once we get to see what Fone's and Cabrina's new light wind wing offerings look like, I'll be getting in one of those virtual line.

Maybe v3 being ridden at our local beach near Montpellier where F one is based.

interesting. Looks like most of the updates are about the canopy. Kind of looks like the leading edge construction went back to prior year method. Going away the changes made in 2022, lighter dacron with extra seam reinforcement. It created the exploding sausage look.

I guess they are planning to die on that hill (floppy handles).

So hoping for a another handle option from Fone. I hate the idea of spending top dollar for a wing, and feeling the need to spend more time and money modify it from the start.
Others do it
oaseforum.de/showthread.php?t=183180

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Fishdude said..
So hoping for a another handle option from Fone. I hate the idea of spending top dollar for a wing, and feeling the need to spend more time and money modify it from the start.
Others do it
oaseforum.de/showthread.php?t=183180

My German is too basic to understand what's going on in the forum. I'd love to give this a go for my V2s.

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DWF said..
interesting. Looks like most of the updates are about the canopy. Kind of looks like the leading edge construction went back to prior year method. Going away the changes made in 2022, lighter dacron with extra seam reinforcement. It created the exploding sausage look.

I guess they are planning to die on that hill (floppy handles).

Not Dacron. I'll take the 30% lighter exploding sausage look over the actual exploding strut on the DuoTone

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Fishdude said..
So hoping for a another handle option from Fone. I hate the idea of spending top dollar for a wing, and feeling the need to spend more time and money modify it from the start.
Others do it
oaseforum.de/showthread.php?t=183180

I prefer by far actual handles vs hard/stiff. Hope they keep what they have.

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NordRoi said..

Fishdude said..
So hoping for a another handle option from Fone. I hate the idea of spending top dollar for a wing, and feeling the need to spend more time and money modify it from the start.
Others do it
oaseforum.de/showthread.php?t=183180

I prefer by far actual handles vs hard/stiff. Hope they keep what they have.

I prefer the current handles as well for most of f-one line. I will say that on the big heavy wings I saw the benefit of rigid front handle.
I tried that above method on my 6M CWC V1 for a while, I dropped the back rigid handle shortly and stuck with the rigid front handle.
On my Strike 5.5M V2 with the updated handles I don't miss the rigid handle at all.

I have 7 and 8 new CWC's on order, let's see if there's a need for rigid handles with all the new materials used.

Yes I really hope they keep the v2 handles they are fantastic. Solid handles koolaid damages boards and hands on long sessions.

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Alysum said..
Yes I really hope they keep the v2 handles they are fantastic. Solid handles koolaid damages boards and hands on long sessions.

Agree they should stay the course but that said, floppy handles have permanently damaged two of my fingers over time. My preference is for a wing to essentially disappear when holding the LE handle and floppy handles are (I'm assuming) lighter.

Maybe it's time for me to have wings for general reaching and a couple of Strikes specifically for downwinding (one can dream)

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My German is too basic to understand what's going on in the forum. I'd love to give this a go for my V2s.

Chrome and probably other browsers as well will translate on the fly

When can we expect to see details online?

The handle debate of floppy vs hard handles rages on.

I tend to think of it this way - if you have a mass production carbon sandwich board that dings easily then hard handles are likely to damage it. If you got yourself a decent carbon inegra (AK compact) or a custom board like Swiftfoiling that is also made of carbon inegra then handle dings are just not a factor, these types of construction are just way tougher (and still light). I have a swift foiling board so the whole "it will damage your board" comment just doesn't apply, it would take significant force to smash the handle into the board and make even a small dent.

I have a full quiver of Strike V2s, the first time I tried hard handles I didn't like them - at all. I think it's a fairly natural reaction if you have been using soft webbing handles for any amount of time. However, I have had opportunity to use a Duotone Unit for a week or so and put multiple long sessions through it and now I'm coming round to the idea that harder handles are actually better for a lot of things (particularly more complex gybes and tacks and pumping onto foil). If you are a soft handle guy and have just tried a hard handle wing for a session then you aren't going to like it - but spend some time and you may be surprised at how your thinking shifts.

I still think soft handles are better in the cold - they are smaller diameter and easier to hang on to wearing gloves, they can also be a bit lighter (assuming they don't take on too much water) but that for me is really where the advantages end.

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MeonAsh said..
The handle debate of floppy vs hard handles rages on.

I tend to think of it this way - if you have a mass production carbon sandwich board that dings easily then hard handles are likely to damage it. If you got yourself a decent carbon inegra (AK compact) or a custom board like Swiftfoiling that is also made of carbon inegra then handle dings are just not a factor, these types of construction are just way tougher (and still light). I have a swift foiling board so the whole "it will damage your board" comment just doesn't apply, it would take significant force to smash the handle into the board and make even a small dent.

I have a full quiver of Strike V2s, the first time I tried hard handles I didn't like them - at all. I think it's a fairly natural reaction if you have been using soft webbing handles for any amount of time. However, I have had opportunity to use a Duotone Unit for a week or so and put multiple long sessions through it and now I'm coming round to the idea that harder handles are actually better for a lot of things (particularly more complex gybes and tacks and pumping onto foil). If you are a soft handle guy and have just tried a hard handle wing for a session then you aren't going to like it - but spend some time and you may be surprised at how your thinking shifts.

I still think soft handles are better in the cold - they are smaller diameter and easier to hang on to wearing gloves, they can also be a bit lighter (assuming they don't take on too much water) but that for me is really where the advantages end.

Thanks for an objective perspective of the hard vs. soft handle issue. I also read your other comment about your recent experience with the Units - also very useful especially as I am in the same boat as you. I have been on Strikes for a year (both V1 and V2) and rate them.

At the same time I agree that there are issues/limitations with the Strikes, e.g. bagging out over time and the leeward aspect of the wings rattle and flutter when over-powered (I take it as a sign to rig a smaller size when that happens). And I can see how complex manoeuvres may be easier with hard handles (yet there are plenty of Strike pilots doing all these things too). Additionally I doubt whether F-One will move to hard handles (I heard that the founder thinks they are unsafe). But it would be great if they improved on the canopy materials. That would already be a plus for me.

If I look at how the Strikes evolved from V1 to V2 I don't anticipate major changes. The changes will be incremental and probably come under intense criticism from the peanut gallery, but I suspect the small differences will add up to a meaningful new release. Some other brands needed to make major changes as their V1s were not good (and I'm being kind using that word) and the V1 Strike was exceptional. There are some clues in the new F-One kites that point to what I expect we will see in the V3s (eg the jagged stitching, layout of panels, new materials and use of new materials in the leeward side of the canopy etc). This is also very much incremental innovation, in the sense of now companies like Apple improve their products year over year.

So to come back to your post, I am "hard handle curious" but I suspect I will stick with the Strikes. And I have to add - tongue in cheek - I've not yet seen a Unit I like the look of, purely aesthetically speaking. Personally I think the Strikes are the most striking-looking on the water too.

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ArthurAlston said..

Thanks for an objective perspective of the hard vs. soft handle issue. I also read your other comment about your recent experience with the Units - also very useful especially as I am in the same boat as you. I have been on Strikes for a year (both V1 and V2) and rate them.

At the same time I agree that there are issues/limitations with the Strikes, e.g. bagging out over time and the leeward aspect of the wings rattle and flutter when over-powered (I take it as a sign to rig a smaller size when that happens). And I can see how complex manoeuvres may be easier with hard handles (yet there are plenty of Strike pilots doing all these things too). Additionally I doubt whether F-One will move to hard handles (I heard that the founder thinks they are unsafe). But it would be great if they improved on the canopy materials. That would already be a plus for me.

If I look at how the Strikes evolved from V1 to V2 I don't anticipate major changes. The changes will be incremental and probably come under intense criticism from the peanut gallery, but I suspect the small differences will add up to a meaningful new release. Some other brands needed to make major changes as their V1s were not good (and I'm being kind using that word) and the V1 Strike was exceptional. There are some clues in the new F-One kites that point to what I expect we will see in the V3s (eg the jagged stitching, layout of panels, new materials and use of new materials in the leeward side of the canopy etc). This is also very much incremental innovation, in the sense of now companies like Apple improve their products year over year.

So to come back to your post, I am "hard handle curious" but I suspect I will stick with the Strikes. And I have to add - tongue in cheek - I've not yet seen a Unit I like the look of, purely aesthetically speaking. Personally I think the Strikes are the most striking-looking on the water too.

I agree F-One aesthetically have some of the prettiest wings and the Duotone are a bit muted and over fussy in that regard.

Certainly my point about some things being quite a bit easier to achieve with the Unit versus the Strike v2 wasn't meant to be saying that the Strike is bad at those things or can't do them, I learned to do all the things I tested on the Strike v2 and then later tried them on the Unit. If I can learn all that stuff in my 50s then I'm sure most people can also do so.

It's not a case of the Strike can't do it but more a case of the Unit is more forgiving and gives you a bit more leeway, you don't have to get it perfect to make it through and out the other side on foil - I think that's my point overall.

I am expecting the v3 to be incremental - I'm just not sure at this point it is still the wing for me. It's all a personal thing and different wings will suit different riders styles. My reason for posting was just to say that it takes a bit of time with a wing to understand hard handles if you have come from a purely soft handled background. One afternoon demoing a hard handled wing is unlikely to change minds - it takes a quite bit longer in my experience.