Wingfoil gear size guide: wing, board, foil and mast

For most adults in 12 to 20 knots, a wing of about 4.5 to 5.5 m2 is a typical size. Beginners usually ride a board with 20 to 60 litres more volume than their body weight in kilos and a large front wing of roughly 1500 to 2000 cm2. Lighter riders and stronger wind call for smaller gear, heavier riders and lighter wind for bigger gear.

Every figure below is typical guidance taken from brand size charts, schools and magazines. Charts differ between brands and models, and your skill, board and foil change the answer. Check the chart for the exact model you are looking at.

If you are still at the stage of your first lessons, start with how to start wingfoiling. This guide is about sizing the gear itself.

What wing size do you need for your weight and the wind?

Find the wind you ride most often, then read across to your weight. A 75 kg rider typically uses about 5 m2 in 12 to 20 knots and about 4 m2 in 20 to 30 knots.

Wind (knots)	Under 60 kg	60 to 85 kg	Over 85 kg
8 to 15	5.0 to 5.5 m2	5.0 to 6.0 m2	about 6.5 m2
12 to 20	4.5 to 5.0 m2	4.5 to 5.5 m2	5.5 to 6.0 m2
16 to 25	4.0 to 4.5 m2	4.0 to 5.0 m2	4.5 to 5.5 m2
20 to 30	3.5 to 4.0 m2	3.5 to 4.5 m2	4.5 to 5.0 m2
25 to 35	3.5 m2	3.5 to 4.0 m2	4.0 to 4.5 m2

Typical guidance from one school’s chart (Poole Harbour Watersports), cross-checked with brand charts. It varies by brand, model and skill.

F-One’s chart for a 75 kg rider gives a 5.0 m2 wing for 12 to 25 knots and a 4.2 m2 for 15 to 30 knots. Duotone gives 4.5 to 5.5 m2 for 15 to 20 knots and 3.0 to 4.5 m2 for 20 to 30 knots. In light wind the spread is wider: Duotone lists 5.5 to 7.0 m2 for 10 to 15 knots. Duotone also says riders over 85 kg often benefit from 0.5 to 1.0 m2 more area, and riders under 70 kg usually need smaller wings.

As a first wing, schools and magazines often point to 4 to 5 m2. Duotone notes that a slightly larger wing makes water starts easier and steadier, especially in gusty wind.

How much board volume do you need?

Beginners need much more volume than their body weight; experienced riders often go below it.

Level	Typical board volume	80 kg rider
Beginner	Body weight + 20 to 60 L (most say + 30 to 40 L)	about 110 to 120 L
Intermediate	Around body weight	about 80 to 90 L
Advanced	Body weight minus 10 to 30 L	about 50 to 70 L

The sources do not fully agree for beginners. Duotone says at least 20 to 30 L above body weight, Nootica adds 30, Poole Harbour adds 30 to 40, F-One adds 40, and SURF magazine suggests 40 to 60. For later stages, F-One gives body weight for intermediates and body weight minus 15 L for advanced riders, while Nootica says minus 10 to 30 L takes the skill to sink the board before flying.

Which front wing size and aspect ratio should you choose?

Learn on a large, low or mid aspect front wing, then step down in size and up in aspect ratio as your speed and control improve.

• Learning: about 1500 to 2000 cm2, larger for heavier riders. SURF magazine gives about 1500 cm2 for 60 kg and 2000 cm2 for 85 kg in light wind. Windance and Poole Harbour give similar weight bands, with up to about 2200 cm2 for heavy riders.
• Progressing: many riders move to roughly 900 to 1400 cm2. SURF magazine suggests 1200 to 1400 cm2 from about 15 knots, depending on weight.
• Aspect ratio: low and mid aspect wings are more forgiving at low speed. High aspect wings give more glide and top speed but need more skill. SURF magazine adds that area counts more than aspect ratio when you start.

Aspect ratio figures differ between brands, so compare within one brand.

How long should your mast be?

Start short, then go longer once you can control your height. Most guidance puts a first mast at about 60 to 75 cm.

Mackite suggests 60 to 70 cm for beginners and 70 to 85 cm for intermediates. SURF magazine calls 75 cm a good universal size to start, with about 60 cm for shallow water only. Later, 80 to 90 cm is common: Duotone lists 82 cm for freeride and 90 cm for swell and top speed. For waves and chop, Mackite gives 85 to 100 cm. A longer mast leaves more room before the foil breaches.

What safety gear do you need?

Wear a helmet and an impact vest, and use a leash on both the board and the wing. That is the core kit schools and shops recommend.

On a foil you fall from higher than your own height, and the board and foil can hit you. An impact vest adds padding against those hits. A board leash keeps the board close, and a wing leash, worn on the wrist or the waist, stops the wing blowing away.

One wing or two?

Start with one all-round wing; add a second when you keep missing days that are too light or too windy. Two wings about 1 to 2 m2 apart cover most conditions.

In a SURF magazine article, most of the riders asked, from 73 to 90 kg, named a 5 m2 wing as their single all-round choice. For two wings, they paired sizes about 1 m2 apart, such as 5 and 4 m2, or 6 and 5 m2. Slingshot’s quiver suggestion is 5.4 and 4.0 m2 for riders under 75 kg, and 6.4 and 4.4 m2 for heavier riders.

How can GPS data help you choose sizes?

Your own sessions show which sizes work at your spot. Log the gear you used, then compare foiling time and speed in different winds.

With Waterspeed you can log your boards, wings and foils and see how much each one is used. Foiling efficiency (Pro) shows your foiling time, speed and distance for each session, and you set the minimum speed that counts as foiling. Best speeds show your top speeds over 2 to 50 seconds and longer intervals. If your foiling share drops on a light day, the wing or front wing may be too small for you; if it drops when it is windy, you may be overpowered. Change one piece of gear at a time.

Related: How to start wingfoiling, Foiling efficiency and airtime, Best wingfoil tracking apps, Foiling efficiency in Waterspeed