About 2,5 months I have tried the F-one Strike v3, an highly anticipated wing as F-one was the brand to beat for wingfoiling. With development going quick can they keep up making a better and more loveable wing then the competition?
Although I have used all Strikes and CWC strikes before, I never made a review about them. So it’s about time on this version 3 in the size 5.5.
Jumping and waveriding
Let’s jump right in to characteristics where this wing excels, if not the best of all wings I have ever tried! This wing just makes you feel it wants to jump. When you speed up you will get this instant feel of a certain power that you can convert in to jumping. You can feel you can use the power to jump and it really makes you go up in the sky so easy! It blasts you up in to sky, followed by much control in the air which feels incredible.
Although it has this enormous pull to the wing, it still feels very balanced and controllable. Also when you release the wing, and go flagged out on the wave this wing is all about begin stable. It just follows you along on the waves in the most lightest feel imaginable.
Low end and high end of the wing
Much discussed is the low end of the wing. Totally understandable, because the low end for me with 85kg isn’t available when I need it the most. Of course when there is a bit of a breeze, you can pump it up making short but rapid strokes and it will get you going. But just that moment before, with a bit less wind, don’t expect this wing to deliver any pull to keep you up on your sinker board.
It is possible to lower the pressure of the wing a bit. It helps with better pumping of the wing, but the pull remains the same.
On the other side, the high end of the wing is really well. The balance and control that this wing excels in remains when the wind becomes stronger.
Racing
The speed this wing generates feels good. But it is not the fastest wing out there. It is really made for use in the waves or just cruising along and doing tricks. Also the span width of the wind is quite large. When racing in waves you will hit the water a bit fast. Though this is something you get used to and hold it up in time. Also it is not possible to attach single point harness lines to the wing.
Going upwind and downwind
The wing goes upwind really well. It remains balanced in both hands. Something that was my personal biggest con for the Strike v2. It generated to much backhand pressure for me. On the v3 however, the balance remains perfect, no matter the angle. Also going downwind while using the wing, feels good. The downwing angle while still proving power feels good.
The handles
Most discussed thing for wings are the handles. F-one was known to have the most flexible handles out there. On the version 3 they still go their own direction and have given the wing soft handles ones again. People get pretty emotional about their handles. They love the F-one wings, but are retrofitting them with hard handles. I guess it’s all about personal feel I guess. I don’t mind soft handles, if they are well made I like them. Same goes for hard handles. They both have their cons and pro’s.
For the version 3 it’s almost not possible to talk about flexible handles F-one had before. These handles are still made of a soft material, but they feel really stiff. What I like about them is that they still form a bit to you hand and the angle you hold them. With hard/carbon handles you cannot compensate when the angle is wrong to your build. So you will have more stress on wrist. Something I did not have on these handles. Yes they are still a bit less responsive then carbon handles. But for most people out there, these handles will work great. They are placed well, transitions go easy and they don’t give you blisters as soon as hard handles can give you.
Attention to details
For the version 3 they changed the materials of the wing. It should lengthen the durability of the wing. Something ofcourse time will tell.
The wing has something called a load diffuser made of some extra layers of Dacron and Mylar. F-one says this has performance gains. However, it does make packing the wing slightly more complicated. You can just roll it up the way you think it will fit the bag. F-one actually does a good job in explaining how needs to be folded by having instructions printed in the bag.
Talking about the bag. It’s a good bag, it fits the wing well. You do need to get most air out to get in it in. But it works. Also it’s a good bag with 2 shoulder straps and the bag holds a pump on the outside.
The wing comes with a leash which works well. The only thing missing is a swivel to the cord which I think should be there standard.
Overall the wing gives a feeling of quality. It’s just one of the better produced wings out there. The weight of the wing is all right. There are lighter wings out there. But they are generally more expensive with Aluula or Hookipa materials. Or they are built not to last. I did not measure the weight as it just felt good in this one.
Both the leading edge and the strut are pumped separate up to 10 and 9psi. F-one still uses the same valves they also use on SUP’s and I still prefer these over all other valves. I just works really well and indicates the pressure on your pump really well.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best balanced wing out there to cruise around, ride waves and do jumps with lots of attention to details. This is the wing you are looking for! If you have the feeling you want to go out in really light winds, grab a Strike CWC instead. These are the wings from F-one that provide that low-end pull I did not find in this wing. For all other days, these wings wont disappoint. At this moment I think competition is coming closer in making incredible wings. However, F-one makes it’s own design choices and serves a large audience that will prefer the Strike version 3 once again.