I am seriously considering getting a PPC wing and trying to decide between a 4.8 or 5.8. I have been on smiks with a 5m and 3.5m. I have destroyed the 5m and am looking to replace it. The 3.5m is still going strong so I was hoping for a ppc to fit in with that as a 2 wing quiver.

From what I understand the PPC is quite a grunty wing. The 4.8 is really equivalent to a 5m or perhaps a little more? I have seen a review/ comparison video from Ocean bound ( YouTube) where he lays the PPC over a 5.2m ensis and they are very similar in size. I would like a bit more low end than my 5m smik but not heaps more. My concern with getting a 5.8m is that I would be over cooked alot of the time. The 5m smik got me going from low teens to 20+ knots. It would be nice to get closer to the 10 knot mark but I would still want to be able to ride it in the high teens as my 3.5m only gets going around 20 knots.

I am 6'4" and 100kg so should probably have a big wing. I am thinking the gap might be too big between the 5.8 ppc and 3.5m smik especially if they are a bit bigger than sizing.

Sorry, haven't tried the PPC wings but have a Takuma 5.2 WK. It's one of the gruntier/stiffer wings I've tried and is my biggest wing at 6'5" 90 kilos. 10 knots low end might just be pushing it depending on your efficiency/foil/board choice. Just thought I'd mention it if it's available in your area.

I have the 3.8 and the 5.8. They are grunty but don't handle over powered so well. I am 95 kg and I can get up with the 5.8 in 12kt with an axis 1010 and Naish 125 S26 Hover with no problems. Could probably go lower with a lighter, smaller board. They have so much power that I don't use past 18-20kts. Use my 3.8 from 15-25 with same foil. I just got a cabrinha x2 cross wing and my 3.8 PPC has more power. I like the handles on the cabrinha better and how it handles once up and flying. Seems all wings have tradeoffs.

I have the 4.8 m3 and use it with a 75L Armstrong board (my weight is 90 kg) & 1850 foil. In 12 knots or above it gets me out of the water flying. But when the wind drops below this, I admittedly struggle relative to the guys out there riding bigger wings/foils/ & boards. It's the only wing I own, and use it comfortably in winds ranging from 12-20 knots. In higher winds, I definitely ride flagged out, but it hasn't felt overcooked in those situations. For winds that are sub teens, I would definitely consider a larger wing.

The PPCs are indeed very grunty. They are from the same family of Takuma wing ride and Ensis (same designer).

I put my mates PPC 2.8 over my Smik 4m and the Smik was only just a tiny bit bigger. So yeah the PPC are huge for their sizes.

If you're used to the smooth power of your Smik, you should consider Fone Strike. It's what I mostly ride now as I'm not a fan of grunty winds that loads my arms heavily

So my son was out in 20-25 knots on a 1050 armie foil on a prone board - 1.5km out on an isolated double head high outer reef break on a 2.8m ppc wing yesterday. And he weighs only 48kg. He would be nuked on a 4m smik.


some of you talk such theoretical rubbish in between the great advice. PPC wings handles the gusts just fine and they ride pretty much as their size dictates on the side.

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eppo said..
So my son was out in 20-25 knots on a 1050 armie foil on a prone board - 1.5km out on an isolated double head high outer reef break on a 2.8m ppc wing yesterday. And he weighs only 48kg. He would be nuked on a 4m smik.


some of you talk such theoretical rubbish in between the great advice. PPC wings handles the gusts just fine and they ride pretty much as their size dictates on the side.

Swell must be small up there if only double overhead for Antman

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Youngbreezy said..
I am seriously considering getting a PPC wing and trying to decide between a 4.8 or 5.8. I have been on smiks with a 5m and 3.5m. I have destroyed the 5m and am looking to replace it. The 3.5m is still going strong so I was hoping for a ppc to fit in with that as a 2 wing quiver.

From what I understand the PPC is quite a grunty wing. The 4.8 is really equivalent to a 5m or perhaps a little more? I have seen a review/ comparison video from Ocean bound ( YouTube) where he lays the PPC over a 5.2m ensis and they are very similar in size. I would like a bit more low end than my 5m smik but not heaps more. My concern with getting a 5.8m is that I would be over cooked alot of the time. The 5m smik got me going from low teens to 20+ knots. It would be nice to get closer to the 10 knot mark but I would still want to be able to ride it in the high teens as my 3.5m only gets going around 20 knots.

I am 6'4" and 100kg so should probably have a big wing. I am thinking the gap might be too big between the 5.8 ppc and 3.5m smik especially if they are a bit bigger than sizing.

Had the Smik 3.5 and 5m (and still have a 6m) and replaced with PPC 2.8, 3.8, 4.8 & 5.8 and rarely use the 5.8 (am <72kg)

The 4.8m is as big as the 6m Smik and the PPC can handle up to 25kts - build quality on the PPC is great, the 2.8 has been most used wing over winter here on east coast - 22kts and up is my goto
Cannot really speak for bigger blokes but I would say if you can get going on 5m Smik, the 4.8 is all you require

Thanks for the great replies everyone. I am probably leaning more towards the 4.8m as it would be the right size for more days. Better to sacrifice a bit of low end so I can be on the right wing more of the time. Plus I often use my 130l sup when it's light which gives me plenty of low end. Also when I do actually get out and wing good waves I would much rather be on the 4.8m instead of going too big or too small.

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hilly said..

eppo said..
So my son was out in 20-25 knots on a 1050 armie foil on a prone board - 1.5km out on an isolated double head high outer reef break on a 2.8m ppc wing yesterday. And he weighs only 48kg. He would be nuked on a 4m smik.


some of you talk such theoretical rubbish in between the great advice. PPC wings handles the gusts just fine and they ride pretty much as their size dictates on the side.

Swell must be small up there if only double overhead for Antman

Lol. He's grown quite bit lately. Nah double from my perspective. Damn it was sketchy out there. Antman had no fear hey - oh to be young again.

Interesting, I got a 3.8 to replace my 4 Smik. Hard to get Smiks atm down here. The Smik is noticeably lighter than the PPC.

Yep sure is. And the weight difference gets even more noticeable between a 4.8 ppc and 5 smik. But i fined the 3.8 ppc is small And light enough to throw around. The 2.8 is a weapon. Its the bigger ppc sizes that are starting to sh1t me - a little.

The PPC's have some extra stuff - separate strut valve, PVC handles, reinforced trailing edge. But this stuff really helps for more grunt.

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Pasquales said..
The PPC's have some extra stuff - separate strut valve, PVC handles, reinforced trailing edge. But this stuff really helps for more grunt.

If you look at my pics it is also a lot bigger than the 4m Smik. More fabric = more weight. It looks like a 4.5 which suits me at 105kg.

YeahI settled on the 4.8m because I thought it would be just a tad bigger than my 5m Smik. It is odd that we have this sizing shenanigans! It's been an issue in kiting since way back and still prevalent in winging it seems.

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Youngbreezy said..
YeahI settled on the 4.8m because I thought it would be just a tad bigger than my 5m Smik. It is odd that we have this sizing shenanigans! It's been an issue in kiting since way back and still prevalent in winging it seems.

Maybe the PPC is flatter that is why it looks bigger??

Sizing varies .6 even in windsurf sails, that are single panel.

Very different canopy profiles and hence they have very different characteristics. Overlaying them tells you sfa. But you are out in the same winds. Rode last two weeks on the 4.8ppc with nathan on the 5m smik (we weigh the same). Smik lighter, flags better - ppc gruntier, easier to start and get up wind. Pretty simple really. Both sick wings.

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eppo said..Overlaying them tells you sfa.

Not really. The PPC will present more area to the wind so should have more initial horsepower to get you up and going (Well I hope so @105kg the 4 was a b##ch to start). Profile will take over when up and going.

Yeh it definitely has good horsepower to get going. As a comparison - armstrong gave antman two V1 wings and they have even more starting horsepower than the PPC - but then the other issues associated with a flatter more rigid wing set in. Ppc seems to be a decent middle ground.

Well had my first go on the 4.8m PPC today in 15 to 20 knots. Ample power in that wind range
( me 100kgs on 5'4" 111L). Very direct and grunty. Super easy to get going, it would have been easy to get going on the 5m smik but this was extra easy. Great acceleration and upwind so once up on foil I could get going quite fast then the wing would feel nice and light in my hands. Definitely didn't feel overpowered.

The PPC feels like it is bigger than the smik and definitely has more power. Flagging and handling is better on the smik but not a giant difference. The PPC is a very smooth and well behaved wing.

Glad I got the 4.8m, the 5.8 would be much bigger than I want for my local conditions.

What can I say, its a bloody nice wing and I'm stoked!

Yeh two mates here had their maiden PPC voyage last few days. Similar feedback as above. No complaints, stoked.

Glad you got the right size and right wing. Today I was handling different wings at my local beach. There were some new brands and some bigger brands. What really stuck out was the stiffness of the PPC handle, and connection to the center strut.

They definitely punch above their weight the 3.8 is close to the power of a Smik 5. Had an awesome ding in conditions I would usually take a 5 out. Very impressive if you compare the handling of the 3.8 with other brands 5m wings. Drifted well and tacks were easy.