Which Wings Are Best for Riding Waves in 2025? Here's What We Recommend...

If you've had the chance to foil on a wave, then you know what it's like to float on a cloud. It's an amazing feeling that'll keep pulling you back to the water every chance you get. Those sessions are all about getting on as many waves as you can, whether they're overhead ocean waves, lake swell, or bumps on a reservoir, and a good wing is going to get you where you need to be and then hang patiently out of the way.

There are a lot of wing choices in 2025. Although we're only a few years into this relatively new sport, wings have made huge advancements, especially in the last couple years, so Tucker and Jeff thought they'd take a moment to talk about which ones have risen to the top of their list of gear to snag from the demo room when the surf is up.

What Is a Wave Wing?

So, what's the magic recipe for winging in the waves? There are four main characteristics the guys like to see.

Flagging

Perhaps the most important distinction in a wave wing is its ability to flag. That's when the wing is depowered and trailing behind you while you're on the wave. Whether you're holding the leading edge "luff handle" or pistol-gripping the front of the main handle or boom, the wing needs to be stable and float there without needing any input from you.

Light Feeling

This isn't about the physical weight of the wing, but rather how it feels while it's flagging behind you. Does it have downward pressure? Does it want to trapdoor and fall back? Does it feel like an anchor dragging behind you? Is it giving you a lot of feedback? Or does it float there, cutting cleanly through the wind?

Wind Range

Simply put, a wing's wind range covers which wind speeds a wing is comfortable in. How little wind does it need to get you up on foil? How much wind can it take before it feels chaotic and won't behave well anymore? A wing with a wider wind range is better in gusty conditions where the wind speed varies. You'll also need fewer wings to fill out your quiver if each size covers a good wind range. That's especially important if you like to travel with your wings.

Upwind Ability

If you're riding waves, then you want a wing that blasts upwind. The faster you can get back upwind, the more circuits you can make on the waves. Another nice feature of wings that like to go upwind is that they generally have reduced drag through the canopy, so you won't lose as much speed.

Admittedly, that is a pretty big wish list for one wing. Yet there are wings that have managed to conjure up a unicorn and deliver fantastic wave magic. Here are the guys' favorites, in no particular order.

What Are Tucker and Jeff's Favorite Wave Riding Wings for 2025?

These are all solid picks, but each one is going to stand out in its own way, depending on the conditions, your ability, and your riding style. Some have the option of a boom and some don't, but some have that long front handle that you can still one-hand. Everyone's got their preference, so maybe you'll find your surf soulmate in this list.

Duotone Float

The aptly-named Float is light, intuitive, and stable. You can freeride with it, but it's truly a wave wing. It's got quite a good wind range and is a bit more grunty than most of the other wings, so if you like to ride small foils, then this would be a good match for you. It also pumps well when the wind is just a bit light.

You can almost forget the wing is there when you're on the wave. It truly does float and is so well-behaved. Even when you're tacking or maneuvering the wing around, it's easy to handle.

The Float does not use handles, just a boom. By eliminating two of the stanchions to support handles, Duotone could shave off some of the weight, which was one of the main design priorities with this wing. A boom can also be handy when you're lining up to poach the next wave since you can hold it with one hand and pitch the wing's angle to catch more or less wind and match the wave's speed.

The Float's upwind ability is a bit above average. While it has that incredible low end grunt, it doesn't like to be ridden massively overpowered. You can ride it a bit overpowered, and it'll handle better than a wing like the Unit in those conditions, but don't expect to take your 5m out in 30 knots. It'll be too physical and out of control with all that grunt.

Like many wings with a lot of dihedral, when you do crash, it'll flip onto its back like a little dog begging for a belly rub. It won't relaunch itself from that position, which is nice, but it does take a little extra work to flip it back over.

If you've ridden other Duotone wings, the Float has the power of a Unit, but the stability of the Slick. It's the perfect combination for in the waves, plus the Float is more surfy and lightweight. The Float is priced about in the middle, so you do get a lot of wave performance for your money.

Reedin SuperNatural

Last year, the Reedin SuperNatural was our Wing of the Year, and there was a good reason for that. It took a huge leap forward in its design, quality of construction, and overall performance. It's efficient, balanced, stable, and fast upwind. The minute you pick it up, it feels like a feather.

If you like to do speed runs, get back upwind quick, cruise, rip, and glide on waves, this is your wing. It's got a lot of performance that other wings struggle with. Normally you have to choose between a fast wing and a surf wing, but you can have both with the SuperNatural. While it isn't a dedicated wave wing, it checks all the boxes.

Although it doesn't use high-end materials to get the weight down, it does fly like it's light. It's also got an intuitive, playful feeling. It's docile and smooth when you flag it, but it also drives upwind well, which can be a tough combo to find in a wing.

When you're riding on the low end of the wind range and pumping the wing to get on foil, there is definitely a sweet spot that you'll want to find. It takes some effort to find it, but after a couple hours on the water you should have it dialed in, and then it's a great wing even in light wind.

A tiny nitpick of Jeff's is the bumper in the pistol grip of the front handle. It does a good job of protecting your board when you crash, but it's a bit loose and can move when your hand is on it. It's removable, though, so if it bothers you, then you can just take it off. Other than that, the handles are very nice and you feel connected to the wing. The SuperNatural is easy to engage with and the guys love it on the waves and in swell.

Cabrinha AER

This pick should come as no surprise. Cabrinha has always been a brand that focuses on wave performance, whether it's wings or kites or boards. But just how they achieved this went against the flow. Rather than using high-end materials to compensate for the weight of extra features, they removed everything they could to make the AER as light as possible.

When you pick it up, it really does feel like it's made of air... uh, AER. Yet it's solid and quite stiff. The handles are simple, soft handles that are lightweight and well-balanced. If you loved the older F-One wings, then this will have that feel.

Of our four top picks, this is the lightest-feeling wing, and one of the most stable as well. It'll hang wherever you want it to, which is nice not just on the wave, but for downwinders as well. The low end of the wind range is good, though it's not a wing to ride overpowered. Its upwind ability is about average.

There are a couple other areas that the AER does shine in. One is its price point. It's the least expensive of the wings in our lineup. In fact, you can get a couple of these for the price of one of some other wings. And that's great because the AER also comes in smaller sizes than most other wings, so you can expand your quiver. If you get very windy days or you want to teach your kids to wing, take a look at the AER. Its minimalistic design and soft handles also let it pack down smaller than other wings, so it's a nice travel wing.

Ozone Flux V2

Like the Reedin SuperNatural, the Ozone Flux V2 isn't a dedicated surf wing, but rather a fast freeride wing that's also great in the waves. It's even faster and has a bit better upwind than the SuperNatural, plus it has an Aluula version available, the Flux V2 Ultra-X.

The Flux is a well-behaved, extremely light-feeling wing, and it's silky smooth through the wind, making it ideal for offshore conditions. It's sleek without much downhand pressure. If you enjoy both waves and high performance freeride, the Flux might be the right wing for you.

If you like to ride tiny foils or do wing-outs, the Flux has the performance to let you do that. You can use it to actively create speed and lift when you need to carry your weight through certain maneuvers. It's like a dance partner on the water.

It's so great at getting back upwind that you're going to ride more waves during your session. It's a speedy, high-energy wing. It smooths out the gusts with grace, which means you can take out a larger wing and ride a smaller foil. And, of course, that makes it a lot of fun for blasting past your buddies in a race.

The tradeoff is that this is a wing that likes to be powered up. It's not going to feel as light, playful, and lively when you're underpowered. It doesn't float when there isn't enough wind. While it excels in almost every other area, you'll want to pick a different wing for your light wind days. The Flux is a sporty, technical wing that's made to let you push your boundaries.

Which Wing Is Right for Me?

Keep in mind that these four wings are just the ones the guys tend to grab the most often when heading out into the surf. There are lots of wings that are fun in the waves, and one of those might suit you even better than these will. Make your own list of the characteristics that are important to you in a typical session, and then find a wing that checks those boxes.

Maybe you're on a tight budget and nothing else matters unless you can afford it. Maybe you need something that packs down small so you can travel. The guys have a fully-stocked demo room just minutes from the beach so they can focus purely on a wing's performance, but we know that most people don't have an unlimited budget or a riding spot around the corner.

If no one wing jumps out at you as "The One", give us a call at the shop and we'll be happy to suggest some options that meet your personal requirements. When you've got the right wing, you'll think less about the wing when you're on that wave and more on the wave. You'll have more fun and you won't feel held back.

How Do I Build My Quiver?

Choosing wings for your quiver isn't necessarily as simple as picking the sizes that match your weight and wind range. While the Flux is certainly a top-tier wing that will excel in freeride as well as waves, it gets that performance from being powered up. Other wings will do better in light wind, so you shouldn't simply buy the biggest Flux and assume it's your best light wind option. You may well have more fun with a wing that's designed to have better low end.

The foil you like to ride in different conditions can also determine which wing would be the best match. If you want a small, nimble foil, then you need a wing that'll deliver the speed you need to get up and stay on foil. If you've got a larger foil, you can get away with a smaller wing.

Your riding style is also important. Do you flag out a lot, or do you use the wing more actively? Do you perform maneuvers where you need to rely on your wing for some of your lift and power?

Your location is something to look at, too. What are the conditions usually like? Do they change with the seasons? Do you like to travel to explore new locations?

As you progress in skill, you may find yourself looking at different wings. There's always something new to learn, and you may find yourself wanting to experiment with new foils and boards. Your skill level and kit might pair better with a different wing than what you've been used to riding.

There's a good chance your dream quiver isn't 2 or 3 sizes of the same model wing. Sit down, think about your different types of sessions, and make a checklist of priorities for each one. Sometimes a single wing will fit multiple sessions, but often a different model will rise to the top and check more boxes on one or more session types.

If you have a solid list of what you're hoping to get out of your sessions, that will help you decide which wings will be your ideal dance partners in the waves and beyond. Remember, we're always happy to make recommendations as well!

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