North Sonar MA1500 & SF1080 Wake Foil Review

Ryan and Caden have spent plenty of time behind the boat testing North's Sonar foils, and they've found two stellar options for progression: the Sonar MA1500 V2 and the SF1080. First, you focus on the MA1500 V2 to get your progression going. Then, a shift to the SF1080 gives you the play to perform and start learning more intermediate maneuvers.

What is the North Sonar?

The Sonar from North is a fully modular system. You can swap wings, masts, fuselages, and more based on your individual riding style and conditions. This is especially helpful for those conditions that can flip easily, like the Great Lakes, where one day you need a setup that maximizes the surf and the other for a day with little swell.

Start With: North Sonar MA1500 V2

As Caden calls it, "the Michigan State special". In his experience, this mid-aspect front wing gets almost anyone up and riding. It's stable, controlled, and versatile. You can pull behind a pontoon with no wake or commit to a full-on wake boat. With this setup, you're clocking in your first couple of wakes. Riders from 150-200 lbs. will excel with this setup, but they've seen some outside of that do just fine. In a way, it's the ultimate do-it-all beginner option.

Progress To: North Sonar SF 1080

So you're to the point where you're riding consistently, starting to ride the swell, or can carve and pump around a bit without the rope, you're ready to upgrade. While the SF1080 has a similar wing span but less surface area to the MA1500, it's designed with a higher aspect ratio.

The SF1080 accelerates easily on the wake, making wake-to-wake transfers smooth and fun. Ryan pointed out how fast it accelerates on the wake, making it easy to shoot out in front and wrap back around to play. Caden appreciated that it never felt twitchy or overly technical. Despite the higher aspect, the wing remains extremely controllable, making progression less intimidating.

A Note About the Stabilizer

The stabilizer can change your performance significantly. If you're upgrading your front wing, you should take a look at your stabilizer too. The stabilizer that works with the MA1500 V2 works great for your early rides but might not unlock the performance of the SF1080. In that case, downsizing with your wing is usually the move. That one-two upgrade makes the step up feel natural.

Ryan and Caden are both stoked on how the North's Sonar lineup bridges the gap between learning and progression. There are plenty of easy-access wings to get started with the MA series, and the SF series is there for you wen you're looking to ramp up without a steep learning curve.

Of course, if you're looking to get into wake foiling or want help choosing between setups, give us a shout.

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