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Wind sport behemoth Duotone’s foil range has come to maturity in the last 18 months, with some steps forward in design and performance to align itself more with the smaller, more agile players of the industry. The more recent Whizz was quite an outlandish design with great roll characteristics at lower speeds, now the Glide gets a rework for the second version and ramps up the potential speed range significantly per size. The smaller sizes, including the 750 we tested are available in the more luxurious D/LAB construction. It’s a true high-aspect front wing with 88cm of span and an actual AR of 10.3.
Out of the box, we were impressed with the level of detail and labeling. It’s all exceptionally organized with every bolt and corresponding aperture stated on each component. This even extends to a torque specification in Nm and which fuselage and tail are compatible, which should satisfy even the most pedantic of foilers. All the hardware is M8. The D/LAB version we tested has a smoothly fused front wing running into the mast connection which is locked down by three sturdy 50mm M8 bolts. The fuselage connection has a secret M6 bolt which runs in at 45 degrees to keep the plane set conveniently as one – this is a sneaky hidden feature. Once it’s all together it’s an undeniably slick and drag-free looking system, and our rudimentary stiffness tests showed zero movement at the component junctions.
The plan shape of the foil is quite interesting, shape wise they’ve retained plenty of chord and thickness in the mid-section, promoting early lift. There’s quite a pronounced taper as the outline works its way out into the tips, this is clearly to reduce the paddle effect of a squarer wingtip and free up the roll, all the more important on a high-aspect foil. Looking from the front, there’s a gentle downturn over the entire span which again is slightly more amplified in the last fifth into the tip.
The D/LAB Aero Slim mast is a thing of beauty, being a thinner and faster profile made from a higher grade of carbon. Sensibly, Duotone state it’s only good for front wings up to 100cm span to prevent it getting too stressed, so that’s worth bearing in mind at purchase point if you’re into big foils. The sturdy baseplate is a carbon sleeve design where it meets the mast profile which has an unusual, smoothed X shape where it meets the board. The 165 stabilizer is an unfussy mid-aspect top mount affair that balanced well with the 750 front wing, you can tell the R&D team have been thorough before signing off. It gave the 750 plenty of mobility as you’d expect from that front wing size and personally, I wouldn’t want anything much larger with it. There is, of course, a handy matrix to show which fuse and tail combo best match each front wing in the range, and we suggest you take heed of it.
As a retail package, we’re going to stick our necks out and say the cover system is among the best on the market. The integrated pockets for bolts and tools, the Velcro and the fit are beautifully tailored and thick enough to offer decent protection. As a bonus it’s all made from recycled materials, so top marks to Duotone there.
Performance wise, whilst slightly higher aspect than the previous Glide series, the foil retains the easy-to-use nature and extends the amount of carry round the corners when jibing or tacking. It has oodles of travel, and quite a high level of pitch stability considering the dimensions, the 750 sizing probably bang in the middle of lift and speed range comparatively with other brands across the wider market. It’s not a foil that performs under or over its stated size. Its riding characteristics are friendly, balanced and reassuring.
Whilst the system definitely has a bias for wind sports, the pump and roll characteristics of the Glide 2.0 make it a comfortable surf foil. We also tested with an assist system and here the stability of the system will really help with novice riders learning to control their thrust, and offers a much more forgiving performance than similar high-aspect contemporaries.
Overall it’s a case of Glide by name, glide by nature. It’s a confidence inspiring foil for intermediates upwards, and also slides into more performance riding in the smaller sizes, where the support and stability is going to help you tackle more challenging waves and water states.
