I'm looking to get a complete wing foil rig and after some advice as to how old is too old to buy?

I've windsurfed for 10 years and kited for 10 years to decent level, I've typically bought last seasons ex demo gear or gear that's up to a few years old. Whilst I can afford brand new gear I just haven't found it worth paying double for something that may only be a bit better. Now that I'm getting into foiling does the same logic apply? As I'm aware that being so such new sport compared to what I'm used to the gear has progressed a lot in the last few years. I don't mind paying double for new gear that is genuinely twice as good, I'd just prefer not to!

Open to suggestions on gear too, I'm 6ft 5, 97kg and really after something for light wind days when it's tempting to use my 12m kite but typically not worth it as I hate an underpowered session! I'm on the Gold Coast so the wind is frequently only 15 knots. So the more light wind the gear is the better, and considering all of this can I really get a decent session with only 10-12 knots as people have told me?

Thanks for the help!

Hey man

I've gone through lots of gear the past years so here my advice :)

- be honest to yourself how invested your going to be in the sport, how "advanced" you will want to go.
Is cruise and some waves enough or will you do free style and different disciplines such as wing,prone,kite,dw

- wings/boards dont matter as much imo- you will go through some different boards and probably have a few sizes wings and you can mix brands however you like
but for foil I highly recommend to do some research about brands you like and choose one and stick with it

- choose a brand that is back/forward compatible. Doing this allows you to get cheap starter gear and then swap out one piece a time

- if going for different disciplines- choose the right size mast from start - i recommend around 85 - that works for many disciplines

if i was to do it all over again id go for an armstrong kit,
invest in a good mast, buy used foils in the beginning, they are cheap now, and when found your discipline of choise invest in a newer foil of your liking

Select to expand quote

happysam said..
Hey man

I've gone through lots of gear the past years so here my advice :)

- be honest to yourself how invested your going to be in the sport, how "advanced" you will want to go.
Is cruise and some waves enough or will you do free style and different disciplines such as wing,prone,kite,dw

- wings/boards dont matter as much imo- you will go through some different boards and probably have a few sizes wings and you can mix brands however you like
but for foil I highly recommend to do some research about brands you like and choose one and stick with it

- choose a brand that is back/forward compatible. Doing this allows you to get cheap starter gear and then swap out one piece a time

- if going for different disciplines- choose the right size mast from start - i recommend around 85 - that works for many disciplines

if i was to do it all over again id go for an armstrong kit,
invest in a good mast, buy used foils in the beginning, they are cheap now, and when found your discipline of choise invest in a newer foil of your liking

I do agree in the most points.
In the beginning take a big enough board, wing and foil!
That would be a 7m wing, 130-140l board and a frontwing 2200cm +. The first thing you will probably change is the board and the frontwing of the foil.
Maybe it is a bit easier, less scary, if you start with a shorter mast about 70cm, around 85cm is also for me the best alround length.
So my advice for the foil would be north sonar. You can combine alu with carbon older and new in every direction.
Start e.g. with 70cm af mast but 70cm carbon fuse and MA2400V2 frontwing and S270.
After some weeks you can the easily chance to MA2100V2 (you could also start with this) or MA1850V2.
Than go for the 85cm carbon mast and maybe S210.
Best regards, but be careful, is sport will easily make you addicted ;-)

On the Goldy just come and see us, always have some good priced gear, brand new wings cheaper then most 2nd hand ones www.oneoceansportsaustralia.com/wind-wings-shop , will also have brand new foils for about $1200 soon enough that will be fully compatible with other brands.
Boards there are heaps of used boards floating around that might suit that will get you going. Just call in one day and even if I don't have the right gear I will be able to point you in the direction of something that will suit.

Any post 2023 wing (6m) and foil (1300-1500 mid aspect) will do nicely.
For boards it's worth looking at a big mid length (>6ft length<23in width) of about 10L over bodyweight.

My recommendations are based on you having board experience and being willing to struggle just a little at first but then not needing to change equipment for a long time.