Foiling Magazine's pick of the best inflatable wings on the market, every one ridden and tested by our team. Each wing carries a “Recommended for” tag so you can see at a glance where it shines, plus our tester’s honest notes from the water.
Cabrinha
FM Tested – Issue 27
Now in its sixth version, the Mantis has quietly become a benchmark all-rounder. Cabrinha has shelved the twin-handle option in favour of a compact, self-indexing boom that saves weight and gives easy one-handed control, while a refined, lightly segmented leading edge holds its structure even when heavily loaded.
Tester notes
“Six versions in and it shows – the Mantis just feels sorted. The new boom is comfy and gives easy one-handed control, and there's so much stability baked in that it sits dead still when you flag it on a wave. A proper benchmark all-rounder that doesn't ask anything of you.”
Duotone
FM Tested – Issue 28
The Unit is Duotone's all-rounder, and the SLS slots into the sweet spot of the range – a step up from standard Dacron with a garnish of stiff Aluula in the centre of the leading edge where it matters most, for a relatively modest price bump. An angled strut sewn straight to the canopy gives a direct, locked-in feel and angles the handles towards you.
Tester notes
“The smoothest, most balanced Duotone wing I've flown. Power builds evenly across a genuinely wide range with no front-stall to catch you out. Flagged out on a wave it sits quietly overhead with none of the sideways rocking some wings give you. Add the boom-or-handles choice and that comfy oval grip and it's hard to fault.”
Naish
Naish bills the ADX as an all-day, every-session wing – easy to trust, fun to fly, confident in swell and fast across the flats. It's the do-a-bit-of-everything wing in the range: balanced and powerful by design, with steady drive and effortless handling that accelerates with ease and stays composed through every transition. Naish pitches it right across the spectrum, from linking your very first rides through to laid-back carving and a touch of freestyle, which makes it a natural one-wing quiver for the majority of riders who just want to get on the water and go.
North
FM Tested – Issue 28
A long-standing team favourite, and the latest Nova Pro builds on a design we already loved. A sophisticated frame uses stiff N-Weave45 through the strut and centre leading edge, transitioning to Dacron at the tips, with a high-tension Matrix canopy near the leading edge – the result feels exceptionally robust and stiff in the hands.
Tester notes
“Still one of my favourite wings to fly. The compact span makes waterstarts off a sinker effortless, and the wind range is huge – it keeps pulling in the lulls then stays composed when the wind jumps 15 knots. Seriously robust and stiff without being a handful.”
CORE
FM Tested – Issue 26
CORE has reverse-engineered last year's high-end, full-Aluula Halo Pro back to a smarter Dacron build to make it both performant and more affordable. Three grades of performance Dacron combine in an intricate airframe that keeps the front-tube diameter only slightly larger than its Aluula sibling.
Tester notes
“Clever bit of engineering – they've got most of the Aluula Halo Pro's stiffness out of three grades of Dacron, for a lot less money. Versatile, balanced and genuinely easy to ride, with that kinked Bionic boom falling nicely to hand. A lot of wing for the price.”
Armstrong
FM Tested – Issue 26
The original A-Wing XPS sparked a market-wide revolution in canopy tension – pump it up and it's preloaded drum-tight, giving a super-wide wind range and smooth, stable handling. The MkII keeps everything that made it a hit and quietly sharpens it, with slightly reduced spans and the same proven DLE airframe and Teijin D3 canopy.
Tester notes
“Pump it up and it's drum-tight straight away – that preloaded canopy tension is the whole trick, and it's what gives the A-Wing its enormous wind range and that lovely smooth, stable feel. I never felt like I was wrestling it; it just sits where you put it and lets you get on with riding. It drives upwind better than almost anything I've had in my hands, and sits beautifully in the waves where that stability really pays off. The removable carbon trailing-edge battens keep the top end vibration-free, so even fully maxed out it stays composed rather than getting flappy and nervous. The MkII doesn't reinvent a winning formula – it just quietly sharpens it – and the result is one of the most confidence-inspiring wings out there, whatever your level.”
Gaastra
FM Tested – Issue 28
A team favourite that consistently delivers, the Pure Team chases performance in every detail. Its standout is the 80X UPE laminated material used throughout the frame – ultra-stiff and exceptionally light – paired with a 2×2 ripstop canopy and a tougher 3×3 panel at the trailing edge.
Tester notes
“One of my favourites again. The 80X UPE frame is stiff and light, and the two-piece carbon grip means it packs down tiny – a big deal when you travel. Loads of performance in every detail.”
Starboard
FM Tested – Issue 27
Starboard pitches the Viva as a true do-it-all that balances durability, purpose, features and cost – a lightweight, playful wing built to cover waves, freeride, freestyle and big air. A medium-aspect outline with a straight central leading edge and fuller tips delivers strong low-end and a wide range.
Tester notes
“A proper do-it-all that punches above its price. Easy to make power when you're underpowered, hauls downwind, and spills power cleanly when you're maxed. It can push back if you drive hard upwind, but for most riders it just makes everything easy. Brilliant value.”
Reedin
Reedin's do-everything wing is built to carry you the whole way – from your first wingfoiling sessions through to riding waves, boosting, pulling tricks and going for speed runs. For 2026 it gains new boom sizing, and a Short Span Design (SSD) option opens up serious light-wind riding.
Tester notes (previous V2)
“We rode the previous V2 and loved it – super-stiff and noticeably lighter, with a brilliant low-end that made waterstarts off a small board easy. The speed, instant response and explosive lift had me nailing tricks in the first session, and the shaped strut and pistol-grip carbon handles kept arm fatigue right down. Neutral and drifty in the waves, with excellent upwind too – a wing that genuinely works with you, from after-lessons all the way up to pro level.”
AFS
FM Tested – Issue 28
Where most new wings chase lighter materials and more stiffness, AFS took a different line with the Stream One – prioritising accessibility, comfort and efficiency. It borrows DNA from the premium Stream but in a more accessible, Dacron-leading-edge package that makes a lot of sense for most riders.
Tester notes
“The wing almost disappears in your hands – everything feels intuitive, you're not fighting it, you're just riding. The Dacron leading edge isn't the downgrade you'd expect; it stays solid in gusts and forgiving when your positioning's off. My arms ached a lot less after a long session, too.”
North
FM Tested – Issue 25
North's performance all-rounder is crafted with their usual meticulous detail. The airframe uses lightweight-yet-durable N-Weave45, the canopy a low-stretch Matrix fabric that feels thicker and tougher than standard cloth, and a boat-sail-style panel layout that adds both looks and canopy tension.
Tester notes
“Meticulous, as North always are. The N-Weave45 frame and Matrix canopy feel noticeably tougher than the usual fabrics, and the boat-sail panel layout gives lovely tight canopy tension. ShiftLock makes swapping boom and handles a two-screw job. Stiff, durable and reassuringly planted.”
RRD
FM Tested – Issue 26
For its 30th anniversary, RRD delivered one of its most advanced wings yet. The Gold Wing combines Aluula with Insignia Dacron reinforcement inside the leading edge for high torsional stiffness at very low weight, with mini trailing-edge battens keeping a clean profile at speed.
Tester notes
“Crisp and connected from the first pump. The tight Aluula canopy builds power instantly and keeps it forward, so it's all about speed and precision – it holds its shape fully powered and just fires the gusts forward into acceleration. A fast, precise wing for riders who want to go.”
Vayu
FM Tested – Issue 26
Built with Aluula's latest-generation materials – Aeris X in the centre, Aeris at the tips and strut – the Aura X V3 feels exceptionally light yet remarkably stiff straight out of the bag. A mixed-yarn canopy keeps weight down in low-stress areas and toughness where it counts.
Tester notes
“Within 30 seconds you notice the stiffness – zero flutter, no frame flex, totally direct power. Waterstarts and pumping feel effortless and the upwind performance is phenomenal; it locks into position and drives. Seriously impressive build.”
FreeWing
FM Tested – Issue 25
A no-compromise, high-performance wing built around FreeWing's exclusive Ho'okipa Ultra PE leading edge and strut, an Ultra-X canopy and a prepreg carbon pistol-grip boom. The Ho'okipa material pairs very low elongation under load with high tensile strength at competitive weight.
Tester notes
“Explosive. A couple of pumps and you're flying – the low-end and take-off power is instant, which is gold in the waves. Once up it stays light and drives forward without fuss, and that carbon pistol boom is superb whether you're flagging on a wave or loading for a jump.”
Eleveight
FM Tested – Issue 26
Eleveight's flagship wing comes with a carbon bar and a premium feel from the bag onwards. The frame is built with light, stiff Aluula Gold; the canopy uses a 4×4 yarn construction reinforced with 6×6 in the trailing edge and high-stress zones for durability.
Tester notes
“Feels premium from the bag onwards. The Aluula Gold frame is light and stiff, the low-end is excellent – no trouble waterstarting a sinker in marginal wind – and it's stable up top with real freestyle potential. An easy, enjoyable wing that likes to be pushed.”
NeilPryde
FM Tested – Issue 28
NeilPryde's playful, high-performance all-rounder leans towards waves and freestyle. It's built around an Aerotex frame – a woven UHMWPE composite with a distinctive black finish, reinforced with an Aramid X-Ply core – with lighter Aerotex tips to balance weight and stiffness, plus a durable 5×5 ripstop canopy backed by tougher 6×6 panels in the trailing edge. A slightly lower aspect than its Fly Pro IV sibling makes it the more agile, manoeuvrable of the pair.
Tester notes
“Agile and comfortable from the first wave – it drifts beautifully, sits perfectly neutral when flagged, then fires instant power when you need to get back out. In the air the lift is explosive, with a forward pull that practically begs for inverted flips and rotations, and it only gets more playful as the wind turns gusty. The more creative, high-performance choice for technical riders.”
The Portimão 2026 X-15 Wingfoil Series delivered two days of close and highly competitive racing, bringing together riders from 17 nations to compete on identical X-15 equipment in the class’s unique one design format. Hosted by Clube Naval de Portimão, the event showcased the core philosophy of the X-15 Class: delivering accessible one design wingfoil
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With over 15 nations represented, the rapidly expanding X-15 fleet unites riders of all levels in one-design racing defined by skill, progression, and fair competition. Portimão, Portugal, May 2026— 115 riders are registered for the 2026 Portimão X-15 Wingfoil Series, taking place from May 24 to May 26, and hosted by Clube Naval de Portimão,
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An exciting achievement with a record fleet ahead of Portimão for the X-15 Class With over 15 nations represented, the rapidly expanding X-15 fleet unites riders of all levels in one-design racing defined by skill, progression, and fair competition. Portimão, Portugal, May 2026— 115 riders are registered for the 2026 Portimão X-15 Wingfoil Series, taking
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