For those who have 6.5 or bigger Alula wings, is the diameter of the front strut smaller than a Dacron equivalent or are they the same? If same, do you notice a big difference in stiffness?

Thanks!

Duotone says slightly smaller. You cannot notice a difference without them being side by side.

The important part is the frame is so much stiffer and this helps enormously in low end capability.

is it safe to assume that you can go with a half meter smaller wing as a result of the added efficiency?

In my experience the low end is not related to the use of Alula, but to the profile depth.
I Tied a 6.5 Unit Dlab that was flat and stiff to pump and sign later to get going as the FOne CWC and North lightwind wing without Aluula but a deeper profile that could breath an fill up a bit like a non cambered windsurfsail.
Once on the foil the Dlab was pointing slightly higer and easier to hold on in the gusts. Personally as a non racer I rather grab a 5.5m as max with an bigger foil and efficient mid length board.

An rather cheap, light and very good lightwind option that I see in Europe for sale is the Flysurfer Tao with rigid handles.

I have a 2024 Naish NVision 6m. The leading edge and centre strut seem smaller than my other Naish 6m wings but I haven't measured them.
Based on my everyday use of the NVision in 10ish knots riding a neutral 72L board and 1040 foil, I find getting up on foil reasonably easy, but dependent on timing.
The stiff, light frame keeps the canopy tension higher so there is much less flapping when you have to pump and the solid handles help with the power transfer.
I tried the 2025 NVision 5m with boom last weekend in 12 knots or so riding the same board but with 840 foil and again, no problems getting up on foil and easy to ride.

So, based on my non scientific trials, I'd say yeah....they are stiffer and could easily result in sizing down 0.5 to 1m compared to the older wings.

The official reply of Ken Winner, as the data holder of the DT Unit versions, to my respective question was: SLS 3% less diameter than the original, dlab/Aluula 6% less. Check DT tech talks, I remember it's mentioned there ..

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Oahuwaterwalker said..
is it safe to assume that you can go with a half meter smaller wing as a result of the added efficiency?

For me, yes. I've only ridden Duotone the last few years. I've gone from 6.5m dacron being my biggest 3 years ago. To 6m D/lab being my biggest last year. To 5.5m D/lab being my biggest today.

Just look and watch people on dacron. The wings look like flappy birds. Lots of lost energy. Also look around on the beach at old Aluula wings. The canopies still look new compared to old dacron wings.

Thanks all, this would be a downwind race wing for me. Based on past experience I'm looking at wings that could get me on foil in minimal wind (if needed) and also handle broad reach when in conditions that would justify two sizes smaller if you were just out for fun.

Different schools of thought around using Aluula. Ocean Rodeo wings had very small leading edges acknowledging that they could make a stiffer wing with a smaller diameter leading edge. A lot of other wings only slightly modify their design from the standard version. I think the market is moving towards more highly modified design with Aluula, and also using aluula more strategically rather than just spreading it across the entire support structure (look at FOne Aluula strike or Vayu Aura 3 for examples).