2026 Duotone Float SLS Wing Review w/ Tucker & Jeff

Tucker and Jeff are no strangers to pushing the limits and giving their honest feedback, and the 2026 Duotone Float SLS is no exception. If you’ve ridden the previous Float, this version feels like it’s been put into “sport mode” — more responsive, more efficient, and more fun when you're not strictly riding waves.

First Impressions on the Water

When Jeff took the new Float SLS out in Florida flat water, the first takeaway is that it drives upwind a bit better than last year's version. It feels very light in the hands, exactly like you expect the Float to be. It feels like it initiates the power more, and the canopy is a little stiffer, giving it a bit more oomph.

It kept all the great characteristics we love about the previous year's Float — it flags out well, feels smooth, and floats overhead effortlessly. That said, Jeff thought the 2026 model had a little better upwind drive and feels more stable when you want to push it in speed than its predecessors.

SLS Construction Upgrades

Last year was the first year for the Float, and it quickly became a shop favorite dedicated to wave riding. It's a wing that floats behind you, doesn't get in your way, and is very playful. But in testing the standard unit, they naturally wanted an SLS version. Duotone delivered.

This year, Duotone upgraded the frame with stiffer, lighter material. The 2026 features a Nano ripstop material in the back two-thirds of the canopy and a lighter weight 2x3 ripstop in the front where the canopy has less strain. This change has added, as Tucker calls it, a little bit of "zip and snap". They also went with a notably narrower leading edge and frame all the way through. In a way, Duotone took last year's Float and turned it in sport mode.

Performance, Range, and Upwind Drive

Right away, it has better low end than last year's Float, and the high end seems to drive upwind faster. If you are into riding waves and downwind swell, having a wing that feels like you can drive it back upwind is pretty good. The narrower leading edge and stiffer frame make a huge difference with the overall upwind drive. The canopy is incredibly taut and tight. It's snappy, always in that flying position, stable, and creates its own lift.

Once you are up, you can really drive it upwind. With last year's Float, you had to let it breathe more; if you tried to force it upwind, it would backwind a little bit on you. The Float SLS is cranked up and more sporty. As a caveat, you get a little less feedback in high conditions, but you are gaining range, upwind ability, and top-end speed.

Handling, Boom, and Pistol Grip

Overall, the Float SLS feels very light — when you flag it out or put it over your head for heel-side or toe-side tacks, it just floats right up and comes around really easily. If you like to do acrobatics and spins, the Float SLS adds a playful feel to your riding.

The control arm itself is pretty stiff, but it's large enough where you can grab it easily at a few different angles. That control adds to overall stability, as the wing isn't undulating under your hand and you have direct contact. The boom is a great compliment to the wing: it's lightweight and you can grab it one-handed, sliding your hand anywhere along it, so you can pay attention to the wave.

In Tucker's opinion, one of the best things about the Float is how close the pistol grip is to the leading edge. The further back your grip is, the more leverage you need to direct the wing. Having the grip near the front allows you to grab it quickly, choke up on it, and give it some power one-handed. He finds Duotone made this grip a nice size for manueverabiltity, and makes the whole connection feel like you are truly in the wing.

It also features replaceable battens, so if you manage to break one while packing it too aggressively for travel (it happens!), you can easily swap them out.

The Dislikes: Inflation System

Every time we do a Duotone video, Tucker and Jeff have to harp on this until they change it. The Float SLS has the standard Duotone one-point inflation and a 9mm dump valve, aka the worst valve in the industry (hands down). The valve finicky, prone to breaking, and requires a dedicated Duotone adapter that nobody else makes. In our overall opinion, the one-pump system just adds weight, complexity, and cost.

As an alternative, Tucker and Jeff would love to see an SUP-style high-pressure valve. It's proven, cheap, low profile, and uses a universal adapter. Having one valve on the strut and another on the leading edge creates a duplicate safety system so if you have a bladder blowout, it saves the other, while also keeping the build and repair process simple.

Who It's For and Sizing

While it's made for the waves, it's even better when you aren't in the waves. It's incredibly fun for freeride, freestyle, dinking around, or doing a beer league race with your buddies. You can generally be competitive in a recreational race with the Float SLS.

While they aren't convinced that a small wings offer the best price-to-value, a 4.0m or 4.5m is a solid option for wave riding, especially in the SLS material. When the waves get bigger and conditions get treacherous, you want to ride overpowered so you don't get stuck without power on smaller foils and boards.

Compared to the D/LAB, which is super light and crazy stiff but has a raw feeling, the SLS is the sweet spot. There is notable performance here, and you can feel the reduction in weight and the better quality of materials. It lasts longer and is a worthwhile upgrade without having to pay twice the price for a D/LAB.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Tucker and Jeff have enjoyed riding the Float SLS. As usual, Duotone delivers in terms of performance, especially in terms of wave riding. While the material may drive up the price, it pays in spades if you're serious about driving upwind and catching swells.

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