2023 Cabrinha Mantis and Vision Wings Review

Today we're going to have a look at the new Cabrinha Mantis v3 and Vision v1. These are two of the wings from Cabrinha for 2023, so there's some exciting stuff out there with the Vision being a new model in their lineup and the Mantis continuing its legacy as their standout wave freeride wing. I'm going to give you a quick review on these, how they differ, how they're the same, and which one might be right for you.

Wing Features

The outlines are very similar. They're both 5 meter sizes, and there are just some slight differences in the shape to help you determine which one's right for you. Before we do that, let's look over some of the fine details.

Surf Handle

On the front is a nice surf handle. It's very stiff and almost plasticky, yet really comfortable and easy to control the wing when you're luffing. There is a nice, soft pad underneath it. I have a leash on it, but not a Cabrinha leash since they do not come included for 2023. That allows them to keep the price a little lower, and you can choose whichever wing leash you want. Maybe you already own one and don't need to buy another, so you can save some money.

New Handles

Coming down the strut, we've got our new Cabrinha hard handle system. This is brand new for 2023 and featured on all of their new wings. It's got a nice, long span with some grips molded in. It's a really ergonomic shape; it's kind of rounded and a little narrower on the inside, but then a little fatter and more square on the outside. It's comfortable with a nice feel on your fingers, and it's very easy to grip with your fingertips. The ends have some rubbery pieces so that if the handle whacks your board it's less likely to ding it, which is a nice touch. This rubber wraps around to the inside, so it's really comfortable to grip if you're in a tack or if you're surfing off the front handle. It lets you give direct input into the wing. The back handle is the same as the front one, and I've got a rope harness line between them. That works great, or you can also unscrew the handles and put on a windsurf style harness line, which works as well.

Where the handles attach to the strut, there is a bushing. You can remove one or both to change the angle or the height of the handles. Personally, I think the stock height with the bushings installed works great. It's perfect for me and it's easy to find the handle blindly, especially if you have thick gloves on, but if you have small hands or you never wear gloves, maybe you'd want that a little tighter to the wing. It gives you some options to play around with, and it's something that I've not seen with any other wing brand, so that innovation is unique to Cabrinha and their team.

Inflation System

We have a Boston style inflation valve. It's a one-pump system, so when you pump up the leading edge, it pumps up the strut as well. It does have two strut hoses, which makes inflation quick and deflation pretty quick. You can also use the 9mm deflation valve on the strut. That works great in most conditions, though in freezing conditions it doesn't work at all, so then you have to evacuate through the hoses. But that's still pretty quick since these hoses are a decent diameter and there are two of them. The hoses also have new screw-in style direct elbows, so that makes service and any kind of repairs that need to be made really easy and quick. It's a solid connection, so you're not likely to grab this by accident and rip it off. If you're way offshore and you accidentally snag one of those, it shouldn't pop off, which is important. It's more durable and reliable.

Window

Both of these wings have a nice, big window. It gives you a good view when you need it. I end up looking out of the outside portion more than anything. When you're riding, the wing has to be pretty vertical to see out of the portion closer to the boom, so maybe that portion of the wing window isn't all that necessary, but maybe somebody else would say the opposite, so it's there if you need it.

Canopy Material

The canopy material is the Nano ripstop, which is a really awesome canopy material. It's a 2 x 2 ripstop, but the space between the ripstop strands is much smaller, so you get a lot more threads in there. It's very stiff and strong, so there is a lot of longevity in a Nano ripstop canopy like this. It's a really nice winging fabric.

Baffle

It's got a nice baffle behind the wing to create that wing shape. The baffle has an open panel in the front and the back to let it breathe and to make sure that the whole sail is getting all the pressure that it can. It's nice to have that space on the trailing edge so you can loop a camera around the strut if you want to.

Bag

Cabrinha has come out with that what I've dubbed the "mom purse" style bag. It's basically like a big duffel bag, but I really like this bag. It doesn't amp up the cost of your wing when you buy it; it's not a fancy, hundred-dollar backpack they force you to buy. It's just a functional duffel bag style, and you can fit two or maybe even three wings in one of these, or any other gear that you want to throw in here for the day. It's very lightweight and easy to travel with. It's just a nice quality bag that's everything you need it to be and nothing you don't, so I'm stoked on the bags not overdoing it and making you pay for a bag that you don't really need.

Which Wing Is Right for Me?

All those features are the same on the Mantis and the Vision. You get a similar outline, features, and price point on these wings, so the big question is, which one do I choose and why? I would say it comes down to the type of rider that you are and the kind of wing that you want.

Mantis vs. Vision

The Mantis is definitely more surf-focused. If you're a person that's riding in the swell, downwinding, and really looking for that ultimate surfing-type wing, the Mantis is the clear choice, especially if you've already had some of the groundwork and you're not a brand new rider.

Of course, you can always step in with the Mantis as a brand new rider, but the Vision does have some benefits to new riders that I think most people will find really appealing. To be fair, the Vision's a pretty awesome surf wing as well. The Vision is going to be a bit more "pull-and-go", as we call it. It's got a little deeper profile and the wingtips twist in a little bit more, so that pre-loads the canopy so that when you pull on it, it's already ready to power up and go. The Mantis flexes a little bit, so it has to fall into position before it really powers up and feels solid to pull on. For that reason, the Vision pumps a little easier. It's a bit more pull-and-go, and you just grab it and go. You can feel that power immediately, and it wants to accelerate and take off without much input from you.

Additionally, the Vision has a little bit more dihedral if you look at the top of the wing. What that does is it keeps your wingtips off the water when you're pumping and when you're cruising so they don't get in the way or drag in the water as easily. It also tends to create a bit more ease-of-use if you're transitioning, if you're in a jibe, a tack, or just switching hands and getting the wing to move from one direction to the other. That happens a little more naturally since that shape is a bit more balanced and easy to ride for new riders. You don't need to think much about it, and it's a little less finicky with regard to sail angle as compared to the Mantis, so it's a smidgen easier to ride and a bit more beginner to intermediate focused.

The Vision is definitely more freeride-focused, and if you want a big wing for light wind, it's phenomenal in the big sizes. If your goal is to ride in underpowered conditions, the Vision is an awesome choice. Those big wings with those wingspans can get more difficult to manage, but it's going to be nice on the Vision.

Both of these wings are phenomenal, and I can grab one of these in almost any condition and go out and ride almost any riding style and have a lot of fun. They're very versatile, fun wings and not hyper focused on one style of riding. While the Mantis is more focused on waves, it's still versatile enough that anybody can grab this wing, beginner through advanced, wave rider, racer, jumper, whatever, and have a lot of fun. They're minor differences, and if I didn't show you the labels and told you these were the same wing, you'd probably believe me. But there are some minor changes in these wings that do make them a little different from one another and a bit more refined to the kind of riding you're doing or the stage you are at in your progression, so hopefully that clears things up for you.

My Nitpicks

I always like to poke at something I don't like about a wing. Honestly, I really like both of these wings, but if there's anything I don't like, I do think they are almost too similar to be in the same lineup. I would like to see a little bit more differentiation between the models, but since I really like them both, maybe that's not the case. I just think you're throwing in a lot of extra questions and decisions when they are so similar.

I would also probably like to see two individual Boston valves for independent inflation, and strut clamps would have been a nice feature as well so you can isolate those bladders, especially in a situation where you're in a lot of current or offshore long ways. Being able to isolate the bladders really does keep it safer so that if one bladder fails or you have an issue, the other one can still be used as a flotation device. I'm nitpicking here; these are great wings. Excellent job, Cabrinha team. You're really stepping up your wings this year.

Mantis Apex

The Mantis also comes in an Apex construction, which has a new frame material that's comparable to Ho'okipa or Aluula or N-Weave. It's stiffer, and the frame is a little smaller and sleeker, so it'll be faster and more efficient with a little bit more range on the top end. When I get my hands on one, I'll be sure to review it for you, but the ones I reviewed today are the two wings most people are going to be interested in. I think they fit within the budget, and for most riders there's no need to upgrade to that Apex material. They're really great wings and are well constructed and well thought out.

If you have any questions, reach out to the shop and we'll get you taken care of. This has been Tucker with MACkiteboarding, and we'll see you next time.

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