Duotone Crest D/LAB

Duotone’s contemporary foil range (as it previously stood) consisted of the Glide, Carve and Whizz. They very much did what they said on the tin, with the Whizz having a strong roll bias. To bring the range in line with the wider market where we’ve seen more of a homogenization of these attributes to build one killer, multi-purpose ‘surf’ foil which will work in a wider range of conditions – and these tend to be the most prolific sellers for the brand – Duotone have answered this consumer demand with the Crest, which bolts straight onto their D/Lab platform.

Five sizes are available in 550, 675, 800, 925 and 1050 cm², and we tested both the 800 and 1050, across wingfoil, parawing, SUP and (of course) with the obligatory Foil Drive.

The D/Lab package is a significant step up from the more budget-friendly SLS, and sits comfortably in line with other premium systems across the market. The devil is in the detail, with all the bolts laser etched with their lengths and diameters, and the covers are all extremely well-tailored and practical. The labeling and German level of organization are evident, with suggested tail matches, and uses inscribed on the front wing, as well as suggested torque settings leaving little room for error. We tested the PX160 D/Lab monobloc stabilizer, which meshes the tail neatly into the fuselage with no harsh drag points that you would find in a bolt-on solution. An ingenious internalized bolt goes in at 45 degrees between the front wing and tail to hold them together as a plane set for quick assembly with no bolt head causing drag.

The D/Lab Slim 84cm mast has a socket style connection with a wide brim, which fits well into the top of the fuselage with accurate tolerances. The 84cm has a thickness of 14.5mm in the lower section which is competitive cross market. Three M8 bolts pin the mast to the fuselage and all crank down, and the 45 degree split across the plane set is seamless and drag free. It’s a slick and hydrodynamic system, as lightweight and rigid as anything else out there.

The Crest wing itself takes design cues from the existing range and blends them. It has a gentle moustache turn up into the wingtips (like a toned-down Whizz) which give it a decent performance during tip breaches, and make it eager enough to roll. The plan shape sits between the Glide and the Carve, but critically loses that extended rear chord in the center section of the foil. It’s far more subtle and straight across its trailing edge with gentle lobes. The aspect ratio changes throughout the range, hovering around the 9 mark with the smaller wings having slightly higher figures.

In the water, again, the Crest blends the attributes of its predecessors and produces perhaps the most versatile and balanced front wing from the Duotone range. Winging at 90kgs, we found the 800 a decent daily driver with plenty of performance, and it feels very neutral between the feet and back foot. Stepping onto our formative stages of parawing torture, the larger 1050 worked a charm with a longer board and helped us get to grips with the angry carrier bag, when you’re often trimming balance as a beginner. Paired with a decent stiff board, the foil feels lively and translates feedback well with no discernible flex through the system even on the larger 1050. Bolting on a motor, we found the 1050 easy enough to flat water start with a 33L board and the Crest’s neutrality made for a smooth ride on and off motor.

The Crest is the ultimate no surprises, quiet, well-built daily driver that gets the job done with little fuss. Its extended speed range and versatility lends itself to progression across more or less any discipline. Think of it as the oceanic equivalent of the Audi Savant and you won’t be far off.