2025 Duotone Float Review | Specialized for Surf Sessions

The Float is a brand new wing model from Duotone, and as you might guess from the name, it's designed to float unobtrusively behind you as you play in the waves. Tucker's had a chance to get out on it and is back to talk about its design and whether it actually works.

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Design Features

Luffing/Surf Handle

The leading edge handle is a new design that's optimized for wave riding. It may be the most important handle in the surf, so it's stiffer and wider. This lets you control the wing while you're luffing by having the option to hold it in the middle or off to one side. If you catch a gust, it won't flex and you'll remain in control. If you ride in cold water and wear gloves, it's nice and roomy and you'll have no issues getting a grip as you switch between that and the boom.

Under the handle is an XL neoprene knuckle guard. You'll be using this handle a lot, so it's nice to know that you won't be catching your knuckles on any seams as you maneuver the wing.

Leash Attachment

There is a leash attachment right below the surf handle, but keep in mind that this wing doesn't include a leash. A lot of people already have a leash from another wing or like to make their own choice in a leash, so that helps keep the expense down by not including something a lot of people don't need or may not want.

Boom

If you want your wing to float, it needs to be as light as possible. To help meet this goal, the only handle option on the Float is a boom. Handle attachment points add quite a bit of weight, and by removing those and two stanchions, the wing can become much lighter. Any weight behind the leading edge makes more of an impact on the wing as you're maneuvering it around, so this really does make a big difference.

The boom is placed very far forward on all sizes of the Float. This makes it easy to transition between the two handles and gives you an ideal place to pistol grip the boom while luffing the wing.

Valves

This wing uses Duotone's Airport valve, so be sure to pick up an adapter if you don't have one already. It's not included, and you'll probably want to pick up a spare since they have an odd tendency to go missing and you can't ride if you can't pump up your wing. Do be sure to read the manual on how to use it since you'll want to be a bit gentle with it. You only need to turn the adapter a quarter turn to seal it as you pump it up; if you go any further you can damage it.

It's a one-pump inflation system with a hose running between the leading edge and strut. Remember to clamp off the hose to isolate the two in case you lose pressure on one while you're out so that your wing will still float as you self-rescue.

There are two dump valves; one on the leading edge and one on the strut. You can use these or you can deflate from the main valve.

Frame

The frame uses a high-quality Dacron that's really quite stiff compared to standard Dacron. It's lightweight yet affordable, especially compared to Aluula constructions. It's also much easier to repair if need be. An Aluula leading edge would cut a bit more weight, of course, but being so far forward it wouldn't have enough effect to justify the cost for most riders.

Canopy

The canopy uses two different materials to maximize strength where it's needed and weight where it isn't. The section towards the front uses a 3x3 ripstop, and then the trailing section uses a 2x2 ripstop that's still very stiff and durable. Both are quite lightweight, and you'll notice that there aren't any windows, either. Windows add quite a bit of weight. Since the wing is flying behind you so much of the time, windows aren't as important for surf and just add weight that isn't needed.

Battens

The battens are removeable/replaceable and do a good job of reducing flutter in the trailing edge. They help keep the wing stable by not allowing the canopy to catch the wind in random ways. The trailing edge itself uses just a narrow section of extra stiff ripstop, again, to keep the weight down.

Wingtips

The wingtips have a slight twist in them so they bend in toward the rider. These act as trim tabs like on an airplane and help to stabilize the wings and keep them from rocking back and forth. It tends to want to level itself out, leaving you free to focus on the wave.

It also pre-loads the frame. Since it's not Aluula, it does have a bit of flex, especially out towards the wingtips, but that's a good thing for a smooth-riding wing. With a pre-loaded frame, you're riding powered as soon as the wing catches wind. That's ideal on the waves, where you're constantly switching between riding powered and letting the wing drift. It also gives the wing a snappy feel and better upwind ability and great high-end range.

Wind Range

The Float handles well in a wide variety of winds. It's designed to be sized down from a typical wing at a given windspeed, more like a grunty wing than a race wing. You only need enough wing to get on foil and stay upwind; the smaller you can go, the easier the wing is going to be to handle while you're on the wave.

The wing can get quite grunty at the upper end of its range. It's got a big pocket in the forward foil section to get you up on the low end, but it's not so big that it keeps it from being fun and letting you go fast. It's not a race wing by any stretch, but it can get going when you need to get to a section.

Tucker's Thoughts

Tucker does think this is one of the better surf wings currently on the market. He actually preferred the Float over the Unit for riding overpowered. It's more stable and the power is a bit more balanced and controllable, especially for waves. It's a well-behaved wing in its wind range. But that's not to say you can't push it beyond its wind range a bit and still stay comfortable.

He found the decision to go with a boom interesting since most surf wings use handles, but he agreed that it helped keep the weight down. It's not quite as packable, but its bag accommodates it well. Being able to fly one-handed on a light day in small waves was perfect for getting a little bump whenever it was needed, or to cruise through a section to get to a better section.

You can definitely use the boom to build some speed, and it's easy to transition between a pistol grip and the leading edge handle. If you're used to riding the Slick or the Unit with a boom, you'll feel right at home.

The construction to price ratio is spot-on. That can be a tough balance to strike, but the Float provides a lot of performance for its cost. Picking up a quiver of these will not be out of range for the average rider. Even as a rider who appreciates high performance, Tucker was perfectly happy with the Dacron construction.

Tucker's Nitpicks

Anyone who's been following Tucker's reviews knows that he's not a fan of Duotone's proprietary Airport valve. It's temperamental and he doesn't understand why they don't include the adapter. He wishes Duotone would adopt something that's more standard across industries, like the HP valve. It works better and is something you're more likely to be able to replace if you're on vacation and not near a shop that stocks Duotone. Be sure always to have a spare adapter.

As someone who rides in cold conditions, he's also not a fan of Duotone's deflate ports. They're just too stiff and fragile in the cold. It's hard to get them to close properly, which means they could blow out during a session, and the pull tabs can snap off when the cold makes them brittle. It's best to use the main valve to deflate in the cold, and just leave the deflate ports alone altogether.

And, of course, Tucker still prefers pumping up the leading edge and strut separately. You can ride with different pressures, and it provides an extra layer of security against a leak forming in one bladder while on the water.

Summary

Overall, Tucker loves this wing. It's fun in the surf and for freeride. It might not be his first choice for serious racing, but against friends it's adequate. He feels it's a great addition to the Duotone lineup and complements the Unit well as a freeride/surf option. Each will suit different riders who want to cross over between the two disciplines but are more focused in one area. If you like to wing surf, the Float will not disappoint.

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