Foil Friday: Code Foils Ultra High Modulus PLUS Mast Review

For this week's Foil Friday, Tucker has a special mast from Code, the Ultra High Modulus PLUS. Except for the little "plus" symbol on it, it looks just like their High Modulus mast, but it is a bit different and might be the right mast for you, depending on your use case.

How Is It Different?

The Ultra High Modulus mast is extra stiff. It uses an even higher grade of carbon than the High Modulus mast, which is already super stiff. However, the Ultra is between 40 and 50 percent stiffer. It is more expensive, though, so why would you need this?

Is It For Me?

If you're a heavier rider or you like to ride wider wingspans, the Ultra is going to keep your foil responsive. If that's your top priority, then you're going to appreciate this mast.

On the other hand, the Ultra is a few ounces heavier, so if weight is important to you, you might want to stick with the standard High Modulus mast, which is still extremely stiff by industry standards.

Features

Everything else is the same about it. It is offered in the same lengths (75, 80 and 85) and it's made in the same mold, so the profile is identical. Only the layup is different in its construction.

It's certainly among the stiffest masts Tucker has tested. Only the Axis Ultra High Modulus felt stiffer, but it also costs significantly more at over $2,000. By comparison, this mast is $1,200-$1,500, so while it's still expensive it's much more affordable.

The Code Ultra High Modulus is just as sleek as the standard High Modulus, so you won't sacrifice any speed or efficiency to get a stiffer mast.

Tucker's Thoughts

For Tucker, the Ultra is a good fit. He's 200lb and 6'3" tall, so he can really put some leverage into his foils. In an area that tends to have calmer conditions, like Michigan in the summer, he likes to ride wider wings, so having such a stiff mast helps keep that ride responsive, predictable, and high-performance. It's consistent in the currents, waves and chop.

He didn't know he needed this mast, but now that he has ridden it, he's going to have a hard time giving it up. Riders under 175lb who are not riding large wingspans probably wouldn't notice any benefit from the Ultra, but if you're downwinding, a heavier rider, or riding wide wings, you can certainly justify picking up this mast.

A lot of people have picked one up already and there has been good feedback on them. It includes a nice cover and hardware, and no adapters are needed to use it with your existing Code foil. If you have any questions about them, reach out to us and we'll be happy to help.