Hi all,

First time poster here. I am currently learning how to foil, I am using a Konrad foil which was handed down to me (lucky me!) But am now looking to get better quality foil, as I have just now started to stay up wind and trying to pump and get up on foil.

I am in two minds between the SAB foils or Armstrong and just wondering which you guys prefer for wingfoiling and perhaps flatwater pumping.

Many thanks for your time and assistance.

If you're looking at Sabfoil, only look at the newer Kraken range. The original Sabfoil range has been superseded and mast or fuselage spares will be difficult if not impossible to get.

Imo you can't compare 2 product that has different quality.. it's like comparing Ferrari (Armstrong) with Fiat (Sab)

When you ride Armie you need a hammer to dismount the stuff just saying....I had both brands and both have it pro and cons. In Europe, SAB is the leader.... Australia Armie.

I've never needed a hammer for Armie dismantling. I have banged the titanium fuse on a wood block once or twice to help release.

Me neither, and i've been using Armstrong since 4 years

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wingedsurfer said..
Imo you can't compare 2 product that has different quality.. it's like comparing Ferrari (Armstrong) with Fiat (Sab)

What do you mean by that? Ferrari's are great to drive fast on a decent circuit or tarmac, but pretty useless if not perfectly paved (one trick pony) and not reliable at all. FIAT gets the job done on all surface (except real offroad territory) and besides some corrosion isses goes a long way. The average joe is better off with FIAT. :-)

@GinoVino: Armstrong and AXIS are heavily supported here. Probably for a good reason, but I've never used one so can't judge on that.

Availability (&prices) and 'focus' are important part of your gear choice. In my experience you choose an eco-system, you start with one kit but will want to upgrade/add parts in the future. Most brands have compatible products, but no guarantees the next line will still be compatible. For Sabfoil I know that they've intoduced HS fuses, then within a year the Kraken system and then added a Ferrari-like system (Red Devil) aimed at racing a year later. The kraken system has 2 lines of fuselage (T6 and T8), each with a number of front wing lines that fit on those fuses.
For Armstrong I know they had to upgrade their initial construction (from A to A+) but have not been following their progress on foot.

Judging from paper:
If you are into freestyling, racing and/or want both windfoiling and winging, I think Sabfoil is slighty better equiped than Armstrong.
If your aim is to ride open ocean swells and powerfull/perfect waves I'd guess the Armstrong line-up is (slightly) better equiped.
For freeriding, gutless waves and windswells on shallow seas and large lakes they probably are on par.

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wingedsurfer said..
Imo you can't compare 2 product that has different quality.. it's like comparing Ferrari (Armstrong) with Fiat (Sab)

Think you may have that wrong...Isn't Sabfoil Ferrari as it's Italian and Armstrong Holden!

Thanks all for your recommendations. I'll probably go woth Armie as I have abit of experience woth their product and I like the fact that it is full carbon. Aluminium can get so heavy especially when learning on a bigger board (6.4" starboard). Now just for the saving part, foiling ain't a cheap sport ??

Welcome to the addiction! My take for new riders is to go with what is most available in your local spot. Look at what folks are riding, ask questions, see if anyone will let you try their gear. Check the used stuff and see if there are brands with lots of used parts. You are starting in a good time in the sport where there are now good used gear in the marketplace and you no longer have to pay to be product testers for companies.

Why not stick with Konrad?
Just because it was handed down doesn't make it inferior
You can upgrade to a carbon mast & fuse if weight is a problem and your existing wing will fit
A bonus I found is have 3 fuse length adjustments rather than having to buy new fuses

Hi,

You can't compare brand vs brand, but compare foil vs foil ... both Sabfoil and Armstrong have different foil setups, and ones better than the others.

For speeding/slalom and freestyle, Sabfoil outperforms Armstrong in all aspects with their Red Devil range for speed and Medusa range for freestyle/freestylewave. Armstrong doesn't have a speeding/racing/slalom or a freestyle foil range.

In freeriding/freesailing on flat water I would say its a draw, as many of their foils perform good for freeride .. doesn't matter if are wave or freestyle foils. For freeriding all is good !!!

In waves Armstrong is superior, no questions asked, but since a few months Sabfoil got the Razor line out that they say are awesome for gliding and waves. I have only tested the Razors 980 and 880 but just in flat water not in their field.

On pumping/supfoil I would say Sabfoil with the Leviatan range is also ahead, but Armstrong just released its new line now.

Durability ... Both brands are awesome, but I can say that Sabfoil is totally indestructible ... the Kraken systems is rock solid and you can abuse them to the extreme, you will break the board or yourself before breaking the foil. The Armstrong are also good, but if you abuse to the extreme they can break on the mast base or near fuselage connection mast area.

Easy of use/setup ... Sabfoil is more user friendly/plug an play and more compatible with different boards brands and styles .. Armstrong foils are more tricky to setup especially on boards that have foilboxes not very far forward.

I have been riding Armstrong HS HA and recently tried also the MA wings, and I love them ... but as I am more into freestyle/speeding I am using Sabfoil now .. and also bc I break a lot of stuff... Sabfoil is resisting to break XD

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jaume said..
Hi,

You can't compare brand vs brand, but compare foil vs foil ... both Sabfoil and Armstrong have different foil setups, and ones better than the others.

For speeding/slalom and freestyle, Sabfoil outperforms Armstrong in all aspects with their Red Devil range for speed and Medusa range for freestyle/freestylewave. Armstrong doesn't have a speeding/racing/slalom or a freestyle foil range.

In freeriding/freesailing on flat water I would say its a draw, as many of their foils perform good for freeride .. doesn't matter if are wave or freestyle foils. For freeriding all is good !!!

In waves Armstrong is superior, no questions asked, but since a few months Sabfoil got the Razor line out that they say are awesome for gliding and waves. I have only tested the Razors 980 and 880 but just in flat water not in their field.

On pumping/supfoil I would say Sabfoil with the Leviatan range is also ahead, but Armstrong just released its new line now.

Durability ... Both brands are awesome, but I can say that Sabfoil is totally indestructible ... the Kraken systems is rock solid and you can abuse them to the extreme, you will break the board or yourself before breaking the foil. The Armstrong are also good, but if you abuse to the extreme they can break on the mast base or near fuselage connection mast area.

Easy of use/setup ... Sabfoil is more user friendly/plug an play and more compatible with different boards brands and styles .. Armstrong foils are more tricky to setup especially on boards that have foilboxes not very far forward.

I have been riding Armstrong HS HA and recently tried also the MA wings, and I love them ... but as I am more into freestyle/speeding I am using Sabfoil now .. and also bc I break a lot of stuff... Sabfoil is resisting to break XD

Awesome review!!!