There is so much more low end power in these wings, and the range is far better.
I believe that a 5.5 slick, would be the equivalent of a 6m Echo.
In my opinion anyway.

Disclaimer: I have only used my 5.5m slick, in three sessions.

I'm over 90 kg and went the 5.5 and 7m slicks.
Still waiting on my boom down here. Very frustrated my Home made boom at 125cm was the wrong length. I was very specific on length queries to the guys that had them already. At least my wing will be even better once it has the right boom.

I'm having a similar dilema. I currently have a 5m Echo and am debating between a 3.5m or 4m Slick to round out the quiver. I like the idea of a 4m that I'll get a lot of use out of, but I'm soon moving to Portland, Oregon where there are strong winds at The Gorge. Maybe I'll want a 3.5m for 25kt winds? I'm 75kg and 6'2".

Leighbreeze said..

bigtone667 said..

Wardo said..
There is so much more low end power in these wings, and the range is far better.
I believe that a 5.5 slick, would be the equivalent of a 6m Echo.
In my opinion anyway.

Disclaimer: I have only used my 5.5m slick, in three sessions.

I have the 7m echo and 7m slick and 7m slick has more low end grunt.

BT if you have a Slick 7m what's your next smaller size wing.?Being similar kgs.

I generally jump from the 5m Cloud to the 7m Slick.

I rode first generation 5m and 4m Duotones and was thrilled to upgrade to a 6m, 5m, 4m, 3.3m Echo quiver. (I'm 76 kg and definitely prefer booms over handles). To be honest I would have happily stayed with the Echo's but even some time ago I was hearing that the Slicks were a nice improvement. So I have a 6m, 5m and 4m Slick due in next week with 2 Aluminum booms. Keeping the 3.3m Echo for now, which I don't use very often anyway. Alan Cadiz made the comment that Slicks "tack" better than Echo's which is all I needed to hear to fully convince myself since I tack more than I jibe. Working a lot right now on 'backwinded" moves and hoping the shorter wing span and tighter leach will help with that as well,...we'll see...

Not sure if I put this up but tried the GoPro at the end of the boom. Very happy with the angle and didn't seem to effect stability

heysup said..

MdG71 said..

So the Slick 5.5 has more wingspan than the Airush v1 6m? I'm thinking about next wing, I'd love to try a boomed one, but I'm not tall and I don't want more wingspan... the Airush-sb is very compact!!!!

Yes that's correct. Slick 5.5 has more wingspan then Airush Freewing Air 6. the Airush has deeper profile.

dejavu said..

Dspace said..
I rode first generation 5m and 4m Duotones and was thrilled to upgrade to a 6m, 5m, 4m, 3.3m Echo quiver. (I'm 76 kg and definitely prefer booms over handles). To be honest I would have happily stayed with the Echo's but even some time ago I was hearing that the Slicks were a nice improvement. So I have a 6m, 5m and 4m Slick due in next week with 2 Aluminum booms. Keeping the 3.3m Echo for now, which I don't use very often anyway. Alan Cadiz made the comment that Slicks "tack" better than Echo's which is all I needed to hear to fully convince myself since I tack more than I jibe. Working a lot right now on 'backwinded" moves and hoping the shorter wing span and tighter leach will help with that as well,...we'll see...

I've ordered some Slicks as well. I was going to purchase only one boom with them (carbon) but decided to order a boom (aluminium) for each of the others so when I want to upgrade in a couple of years I can sell each as a complete wing.

Upgrade in a couple of years? Love your optimism . I'm on to my 4th big wing in less than 12 months! Ozone 5m, SMIK 5.0, Unit 5.0 and now Slick 4.5m.

waterlife said..

Relapse said..

dejavu said..

Dspace said..
I rode first generation 5m and 4m Duotones and was thrilled to upgrade to a 6m, 5m, 4m, 3.3m Echo quiver. (I'm 76 kg and definitely prefer booms over handles). To be honest I would have happily stayed with the Echo's but even some time ago I was hearing that the Slicks were a nice improvement. So I have a 6m, 5m and 4m Slick due in next week with 2 Aluminum booms. Keeping the 3.3m Echo for now, which I don't use very often anyway. Alan Cadiz made the comment that Slicks "tack" better than Echo's which is all I needed to hear to fully convince myself since I tack more than I jibe. Working a lot right now on 'backwinded" moves and hoping the shorter wing span and tighter leach will help with that as well,...we'll see...

I've ordered some Slicks as well. I was going to purchase only one boom with them (carbon) but decided to order a boom (aluminium) for each of the others so when I want to upgrade in a couple of years I can sell each as a complete wing.

Upgrade in a couple of years? Love your optimism . I'm on to my 4th big wing in less than 12 months! Ozone 5m, SMIK 5.0, Unit 5.0 and now Slick 4.5m.

Do you find the 4.5 slick is equivalent power to the smik/ unit 5.0? what wind strength do you need to get foiling / which axis foil have you got?Tossing up between ordering a 4.5 and a 5m

A bit more grunt than the 5.0 Smik and a bit less than the 5.0 Unit but more usable power than both once you're up. I'm a light weight at 70kg, on my 80L Quatro and Axis 910/420 I need a 12 knot gust to get up with lots on pumping on the 4.5m and 8 knots to keep going

I was a reluctant convert to the 5m Strike and have been loving it so far.Handles over powered conditions incredibly well.
Until I rode a 4.5m Slick today!!!Oh my...

It has more power than the 5m Strike, feels stiffer & has a very direct power delivery when pumping ... Once up.on foil the more compact wing shape allows a great wing position for speed.
First time I've ever ridden a boom wing, absolutely fantastic ...so easy to turn the wing as you gybe.

I'm sold!

I've been holding out for a light wind wing, now to decide between a 5.5m or 6m...

heysup said..

MdG71 said..
Is the 7 not too big? Is it still efficient to pump with this size? I have a Takoon 7 and although it goes early I don't find pumping as efficient and I still need a gust to get on foil. You have to hold a 7 at an angle to avoid hitting the water and a smaller size can be held more upright so you can pump more quickly.

Today I rigged up the Slick 5.5 and it feels really great especially pumping feels so much more efficient. I doubt if it's really necessary to have a 7. Despite the doubts I don't want to miss a moment of Winging so I am looking at a bigger size Slick to replace the Takoon 7, but what would be better, a 6.5 or just a 7? And what about the smaller sizes so i'm now looking at a combi of 4, 5.5 and 7.
But would a combi of 4 and 6 be just fine. Pffff dilema's.

I took some pictures of the Slick 5.5 together with Airush v1 6m and the Takoon 7.

So the Slick 5.5 has more wingspan than the Airush v1 6m? I'm thinking about next wing, I'd love to try a boomed one, but I'm not tall and I don't want more wingspan... the Airush-sb is very compact!!!!

I am 5ft 7.5in and 75kg ride 95l Fanatic and demoed the 7m Slick.
On my knees it cleared the water easily, standing grovelling also no issues up on the foil very nice. But in no wind heavy to hold up compared with my no boom windwings.
Pumping also requires a different technique to my other windwings.
I bought a 6.5 Slick.

sunsetsailboards said..

Dspace said..
Finally got my first session with my 5m Slick. Not sure I'm that qualified to "judge" wings since I'm strictly a strapless, flat water riding Ole guy, but I put my comments in the video. Summary; great wing! But always some minor adjustment of switching from what your used to (Echo's in my case). This thread has been great in giving me a feel for what to expect. Cheers!

nice vid and riding. you are absolutely qualified to judge as many others are doing exactly what you're doing (or aspiring to).

does the Slick for you roll over on tacks easier or less easy than your Echo? Still waiting for my Slicks but should be here next week.

I found the Echos easier to tack than the Units, but not a drastic difference unlike some other wings I have used.

Actually, your the first person who's asked me that. I tack a lot so I'm sensitive to wing roll rate! Based on this one session on the 5m I would say that the Slicks don't roll quite as fast as the Echo's, but it's really only a small observed difference. I need more sessions to refine that opinion. I'm guessing the less dihedral the slower the roll rate rate. Maybe the center strut, or lack thereof,also has something to do with the roll rate. I do remember the Naish S25 I owned was very flat and I hated the slow roll rate. For me it is always the most noticeable on heal-to-toeside tacks. Even with any of the Duotone wings I would always push the wing with my free hand during a heel-to-toeside tack to speed up the roll rate. If you can pull off a nice long upwind glide on foil then roll rate isn't a huge deal, but my upwind arcs tend to be a tighter radius, even with my Veloce foils. On toe-to-heelside tacks I'll even sometimes use my head to push on the wing during the tack to speed up the roll rate.

Dspace that video is brilliant and your riding is pretty much the same. I think your opinion is very valuable given your skill.
I've got the 5m Echo and love it. Had 1 go of my new 5.5 Slick and it's quite different to the 5m Echo. I am used to the Echo (even though I've only been using it for 3 months). Love the boom. Tried a handled wing (Naish) and found that it flopped around all over the place where the boom you could twist it to get much better control. Obviously I'm probably not as good as others with the handles.
Booms - The Echo feels really 'connected' to the rest of the wing. The Slick is similar, but not quite as 'locked in'. You can twist the boom on either and the rig reacts well.
Canopy - The Echo canopy feels a bit loose. It seems to flap around a bit. The Slicks canopy feels really tight and the power felt like it transferred very well. I think that middle strut really allows the designers to tighten up that loose leach. The Slick's wing is effectively divided in 2 with the middle strut - each connected to the middle strut giving them a tight feel. The Echo doesn't have a connection down the centreline of the wing which means the whole thing flaps when you pump it.
Slick bigger size I thought would drag much more (as I'm a shortie - 175cm), but wingtips rarely touched.
It's only 1 go. In 8-15 knots. And I'm nowhere near as experienced as many others on these forums. But I'm not looking back. Slick is the wing I'll move to.
I would say the bags for the Echo are a little tight to get the wing folded up and back in. The Slick is bigger and has a bigger bag, but it's way worse. I'm looking to get a customised bigger bag to pack it in. I'm flumoxed as to why they make bags that are such a nightmare! Jeez, it might cost them $5 in materials and $5 in labour. And I'd pay the $10 extra to have it right.

Martyj4 and Windrider 323,

hmmmm, interesting comment on the bags. For everyday use I think both the Echo and Slick bags actually work OK, but you do have to roll the wings up pretty snug for a good fit. For air travel I would want to use even smaller "cinch" bags made from lightweight rip stop, just to save weight and space. Used to do the same thing with my kites for air travel. If they ever open up that fine country many of you reside in, I'll be there in a flash with the wife,.......and all my winging gear! (My older daughter is working in Exmouth, WA, and my younger one is living/working in Melbourne with her significant other)