Hi guys
Looking for a sub 10 knots wing and have decided to go for Duotone Unit. Unfortunately, I cannot try the Unit where I live, so need some advice from Unit owners.
I am 172 cm high (approx 5.6). Any owners of the similar hight? Is a 6.5 wing ok or should I get a smaller one to avoid hitting the water (too much) when pumping?
What's the lowest wind speed you can get with up your Units? Perhaps even 5.5 size should be ok for <10 knots.
Not sure how much D/LAB aluula adds to the performance.
Thanks
Hi, I am copy pasting below something I have posted on another thread, I am 181 BTW.
It really depends on your weight, technique, foil and board size.
DLAB vs normal you gain some weight which for bigger sizes should help pumping with less physical effort, you might get 0.5m smaller on a DLAB vs a normal one pretty much. I haven't personally tried a DLAB, but that's the feedback I got from some friends.
Hi, I am 71kg, using the fanatic sky style 55L, Unit 2023 5.5m (not dlab) and Sabfoil 945 (1300cm2) I can easily get going in stable 10kn.
Once I am up I can keep going in lower winds. Stable 8kn with some higher gusts (like 10kn) is very doable with the same setup for me, but if it's 8kn with no higher gusts then it's hard to get on the foil. If I get lucky and get some wave to help me I might get going, otherwise I would have to swim back :)
When it gets lo low winds pumping technique and some physical conditioning is very much needed, don't expect to let the wing still and suddenly start foiling. Also, once you are up you will need to be precise in your jibes, tacks and feet changes...you really don't want to touch the water. A table with no concaves and no weird cuts on the bottom will help you going earlier, the volume is not the only parameter, also the shape is very important.
No way I'd recommend the Unit over the new v3 Slick. Get the Slick. Better for shorter riders, plus just better.
Hi JD,
I've been analysing this for a long time now. Here's another thread that might assist you to make a decision on this. In it I discuss wingspan as I think it's a big factor in being able to get the right wing for your height and technique. FWIW, I'm 70 kg, 175cm and struggle to effectively use a wing with a wingspan of more than 310cm tip to tip. I have been told by others that a bigger wing can be used, but when pumping I find holding the wing in a vertical orientation gives it the most lift (because it's directly opposed to the wind direction).
I've used wings bigger than 5m but generally find I keep touching the tips when trying to pump up on foil which ruins the technique.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wing-Foiling/Wind-Wings/Wingspan-Data--Can-we-gather-info-?page=1#26
There's also this link too.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wing-Foiling/Wind-Wings/Windwing-dimensions?page=1
I've managed to get going in 9 knots before with a bucket load of effort pumping up a 5m Slick. This has been coupled with a BSC 1060 and I've pumped the back foot in unison to get flying. I've used bigger wings (5.5m slick and 6m matador) with no benefit over the 5m. In fact, the matador was completely incompatible with my technique and I couldn't pump it effectively at all. That may be due to the flimsy handles as well as the larger wingspan.
I've also used a 6m Allula Unit and it was super grunty, but again, pumping it was messy on technique. If you're going Allula, I'd suggest it will definitely give a performance improvement, but be sure it matches with your size and technique.
Hi guys
Marty, Mitxval (?Hola!) thank you for the details. I will check the links. Some decent info on wing span there for sure. Thanks Marty.
I agree that the technique is very important. I am ok at pumping now. Getting into jumps this season. For low wind days using 85 ltr board, AXIS 1050. 75 kg, 172 cm.
I have Ensis 5.2 (old version) and it is a very good wing at the low end (a tad heavy but very solid and powerful). For tacks, Ensis can't be compared to my 5.0 2022 Slick SLS. SLS rules in tacks and freeride. Platinum boom is magic!
I need a low-wind "machine" but would hate to make a costly mistake and buy a wing that is too big (especially if it is alula). My Ensis has been used a lot and now looks a little desperate with all those patches...
The low-wind wing would be for the summers in Mallorca, where the thermals are marginal most days. Perhaps I should just try a few wings when in Spain. Plenty of Duotones there.Select to expand quoteDWF said..
No way I'd recommend the Unit over the new v3 Slick. Get the Slick. Better for shorter riders, plus just better.
Interesting. I have a 5.0 Slick SLS 2022. It is a fantastic free ride wing. Top-notch for freestyle. BUT, 5.0 is not ideal for low-wind days. Maybe the V3 Slicks with their MOD3 are better and a 6.0 or even 5.5 is all I need, I don't know.
I also was considering DLAB Unit or Slick in a larger size but ended up purchasing a 7m Mode. My decision was based on wingspan. I wanted something large but narrow enough wingspan so I can still surf with it easily enough. Also wanted large range. My plan is to use 7m Mode until +15kts then switch to 3.5m V3 DLAB Unit.
Mode or Nova Light Wind are worth considering:
I have a 6.5 Unit V2, and find it much more difficult to pump than a F One Strike CWC 6.0. The wingtips on the Unit often hit the water unless I'm really careful; with the Strike CWC, that's never an issue. I'm 183. Technique is a big issue. My wife is a lot shorter than I am but a much better winger, and has no problem pumping the 6.5.
I love my Unit 5.0, but when it's time to replace the 6.5, I will consider other options like the Slick, too.
Slick SLS is known to be flat and have less power. New Slick is very powerful.
My wife at 165 tall finds the 5.5 Slick her best light wind wing ever. No tips hitting.
You can for sure ride the 6m Slick at your height.
Also, don't get caught up too much on wing span dimensions. Those wings with very wide tips also hit the water when held at the wrong angle. Heck, even the CWC has a wider span than you'd think. Lay one on top of another brand. It's shocking. The CWC is wide, but tip is cut angled. So span dimension is misleading. You almost have to try everything.
I'm 5'8ish and about 83kg, I can easily get up on a 6m DLab Unit in just under 10kt with an 85l board and Axis HPS 930. Just depends on your technique but these wings pack a decent punch. The DLab feels more grungy than standard, also being lighter makes this a bit easier. have you got anywhere to try them back to back? And yeah, Slick V3 is spectacularly epic too 
I've been testing the new 2023 Slick back to back on the same conditions and same day as the new Unit 2023. Things that were true for the SLS and 2022 Unit are no longer the same for the 2023 wings.
The 2023 Unit definitely has a bit more low end grunt than the 2023 Slick which has changed to be a lighter flying wing than the SLS.
For me the new Slick is better upwind than the SLS, has a more stable pump attitude (the SLS tends to dip towards the water when pumping it in low wind, which the 2023 Slick does not). The 2023 Slick is also better on the top end and better going upwind, it also pulls less on the front arm and generally flies lighter than the SLS.
The 2023 Unit on the other hand definitely feels a bit heavier in the hands than the Slick but it easier to pump continuously and build power to get onto foil, it's a bit more of a grunty beast. It also is better upwind than the 2022 Unit and with the tighter canopy it is easier to tack and guide through moves like duck gybes and heineken gybes.
On the negative side it definitely lets you know that it's time to change down when things start to get very powered and becomes a bit more of a handful than the 2022 Unit. I think this is just the tighter and heavier mod 3 canopy material and stiffer leading edge just not venting the power as readily.
I feel like when I swap between the two that the Slick feels like a slightly smaller wing than the 2023 Unit for the same size.
Regarding the OP question - I can get a 6.0 DLab (of either) onto foil in around 10kts with a 1500 front foil.
I'm 1.69m and use the 2022 Unit 6.0 in anything from 4kts up, it easily clears the water for me, is very light and handles great, not a beast at low end pumping but no slouch either, paired with a GF M200 I can get up when a burst of wind comes and stay up as long as it's 4kts or above, at about 8-12kts it's a very smooth wing (perso I hate the floppy handles, wish they were more rigid and I loathe that one pump valve system)
Hi guys,
Thanks a lot for the details. Very much appreciated.
I managed to test 2023 Unit and Slick in May - both Dlab and Mod3 (so 4 wings in two decent 3-hour sessions at 7-11 and 12-16 knots).
Very impressed with Duotone in general. I bought a 6.0 Unit Dlab for easy cruising and a 5.0 Slick as my main wing for where I live (freestyle in 13+ knots / in disorganised chop).
Unit Dlab 6.0 is really great for the daily thermal winds in the Med. I can get up in 7 knots on Axis 1050 and in 10+ on HPS 930 (85 ltr board). Perfect setup for light wind days.
The 5.0 Mod3 Slick is now my best wing for 12..18 knots on a 60 ltr board (Axis 999, 899). Coming from windsurfing, I just love the platinum boom of the Slick. I found, going into tacks, Slick feels a tad lighter. Once you drop the backhand, the wing becomes almost weightless. When on a high-aspect foil (I love both Axis HPS and ART), it is almost impossible not to finish a tack.
As for size, I figured 6.0 is the smallest wing I should ever use. If it is not enough, I should just work on my technique, rather than buying a bigger wing.
