What Gear Essentials Do I Need for Wing Foiling?

Today I'm going to talk with you about what you need to go wingboard. Maybe you just got your gear and you're making a little checklist to make sure you have everything you need when you go to the beach. We want to help you figure out what you need to go wing successfully, that you got everything you need from the store, and you're not leaving anything at home.

Wing & Wing Leash

Obviously, you've got your inflatable wing. Is that everything you need for the wing? No, it's not. Some wings don't come with a leash, so if you forgot to get a leash with your Duotone wing or, for 2023, Cabrina wings, you're going to need a wing leash. Give us a ring and we can get you hooked up with the right one, or if you have a surf leash at home, that can work while you're waiting.

Pump & Adapter

You have your pump, and that's great, but do you have the right pump adapter? Each brand has its own, so you want to make sure you have the right pump hose adapter to connect to your wing. Some don't use any adapter at all--it's just the hose end--but other ones need a very specific adapter to fit your wing. Some brands include them with your wing in the accessory pouch, but some don't, so if you don't have your adapter, you're not going to be able to successfully wing. Go ahead and give us a call if you need to buy one, but maybe your pump already has it, so be sure to check there as well.

Board & Board Leash

Now that your wing is complete, let's look at your board, whether that's a paddleboard or a wing board. No matter what board you have, you're going to need a leash, so make sure you have a board leash. For foiling especially, a calf or waist leash tends to work the best. You can use an ankle leash in a pinch, so go ahead and do that, but ideally you should hook onto your calf or your waist. That's going to allow you to get the leash up off the water and not trip you up when you're moving your feet around.

Even if you're just learning just to cruise in the water on a paddleboard, make sure you have a leash because, when you fall, that board is going to drift more quickly than you can swim with your wing. A leash keeps your board within reach so you don't end up in an unsafe situation, so you always want to ride with a leash. Get a hold of us if you have any questions about which one is right for you and we'll get you set up.

Foil & Hardware

Of course you need your board, so make sure you grab that, and if you're using a foil, get your foil. Make sure you have hardware. Not all brands include the board to foil connection hardware, so you'll definitely want to check that at home and make sure you have everything you need. Sometimes there are packing errors in the factory as well, so get that stuff all sorted out before you head to the beach.

Advanced Riders: Footstraps/Screws (optional)

One last thing: we don't suggest footstraps for new riders because of the risk of injury to your ankles and your knees, but if you are a more experienced rider and you want to use footstraps, you may want to make sure you have ones that fit on your board at the orientation that you personally like. Make sure they have the right screws for that. The majority of boards out there all use the same windsurf-style, big-threaded, self-tapping screws, but there are a few that are a little different. For instance, Starboard uses a bigger screw, so make sure you have those to get yourself set up there.

Final Thoughts

Other than that, you may want your wetsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a bottle of water, but those are the hard goods that'll get you out there on the water and prevent some issues that would keep you from going out and riding and having a good old time. If you have any questions at all, reach out to us here at the shop- phone, live chat, email, telegraph... whatever. Get a hold of us and we'll get you taken care of. This has been Tucker with MACkiteboarding, and we'll see you next time.

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