F-One Strike V2 vs. V1 Wings - Worth the Upgrade?

Out on the water riding, the experience, how the wing delivers power, what kind of power it has, what it's best suited for, how the stability is, how intuitive the wing is... I think that's really what makes a phenomenal wing and makes one stand out from another. Because there are so many in the industry now, it can be hard to pick. The Strike v1 made a name for itself by having that lift. It wanted to lift you off your feet, drag you downwind, and create that momentum immediately. It's just kind of... grunty, we would call it in kiteboarding, where you pull in and it just gives you power.

On the flipside of things, there are wings that create more forward momentum and build power and speed off apparent wind, and the Strike v1 really wasn't that. It didn't create a lot of forward speed; you had to create that forward speed from the pull it created downwind or the lift that it gave you. So I would say the benefit of the Strike v1 was that it got you up and going really easily, was great for jumps, really brings you high and sets you down soft, but on the downside maybe it wasn't quite as quick and didn't have the same range as other wings that we sell.

I would say they've definitely remedied some of that with the Strike v2. It still has that legendary lift and grunt that everybody loves, but you've definitely picked up a more efficient profile in the wing design so it pulls forward more and creates more momentum and speed. More speed and more momentum means even more power. It means even bigger jumps, and it just means a more fun riding experience and the ability, of course, to ride smaller gear like a faster foil or a smaller, less cumbersome board. So the Strike v2 is really near the top of the list for wings that can help you out in that regard, and it's a great wing for beginners because of that as well. If you can get lift, and lift you off your board as easily as possible without a lot of board speed and technique, it's just going to make your life so much easier when you get out there and learn to ride because you can just get up and ride. You're not going to be struggling, pumping, and having the wrong technique and trying to build board speed through chopping waves. This thing just lifts you up and goes, so much so that a lot of more experienced riders actually choose smaller sizes. So while I would say it doesn't necessarily get you out in any lighter wind, it will allow you to size down your wings a little faster or ride smaller gear when you would ordinarily opt for a bigger board or a bigger foil, so the Strike can definitely help you out in that regard. What I would suggest is riding a similar size, but you're going to have more up-and-go power for those days.

So that is kind of the basics of it. On to the nitty-gritty, the small details. In the surf, this wing is still excellent. It's super lightweight, but as you can tell while I was looking at all the details, it's really built uncompromisingly, so it's sturdy, it's long lasting, it's quality stuff. They've cut out stuff in the right spots to maximize the performance in the light weight of this wing and man, does it show on the water. For a dacron wing, this thing feels so feather light, and because it's so light it's intuitive; it's so easy to move around, to pump, to transition, to move your hands. It carries its weight so well and it's so stable, and part of that's because it's so lightweight, but the other end of it is it's just so well-designed and balanced that it's always where you want it to be. It's not falling in front of you, it's not rolling or trying to twist and flopping over; it's just always there.

It's so easy to ride such a fun, surfy wing, but it also has that performance in the jumps, in light wind ability, and in smaller gear ability that it's just such a popular wing. Everybody should try a Strike at some point in their life, and if you love the v1, wait 'till you get on the v2. It's going to blow your mind. You're going to love it, so alert the powers that be, consult your financial advisor, because these things are going to be a huge hit and everybody's going to want to upgrade their quiver.

This is the Strike v2. If you guys have any questions at all, reach out to us at the shop or put a comment in the comment section below. As always, we'll do our best to get back to you real quick. We've got quite a few of these booked this year, but they are a hot commodity and they tend to arrive a little slower than we like, so definitely get one while you can, get on the wait list if you need to, and we'll get it out to you as soon as we get the proper size that you've requested and get it rolling. This has been Tucker with MACkiteboarding.com and we'll see you next time.