Wing Foiling Innovations | Are Booms Really Better Than Handles?
All of a sudden, it seems like wings with booms are everywhere. Maybe you've been to a recent event and noticed that many of the best riders were using them. If they are, should you be? Well, it depends. Like so many gear choices in watersports, it comes down to things like your riding style, weight, experience, and personal preference, among other considerations. So what's the deal with booms, and should your next wing have one?
Benefits of a Boom
A lot of brands are now giving riders the choice to use a boom or handles with their wing. Rather than simply designing a wing to include one or the other, it's an option, which really has no downside. Some even have a choice of hard or soft handles for those who go that route. So why would you choose the boom option?
It seems like many who prefer booms won't consider a wing without that option. While Tucker and Jeff are of the opinion that finding the right wing design is more important, there are some good reasons to insist on a boom.
If you want to ride freestyle and do handle passes, a boom is a must. You can't really do a Back Mobe with handles unless you've added a bridge between your handles to make it like a boom. If you're riding powered up and jumping, a boom really is better-suited for that. That's why you're seeing so many pro riders on booms now.
If you're crossing over to winging from windsurfing, you may feel more at home on a boom. Anything that makes that transition go more smoothly is going to be a good thing for you.
In some cases, but not all, the boom can reduce the overall weight of the wing since it's only got two attachment points rather than the four that two handles will have. However, there is the section of boom where there would be open air between the handles to also take into account, so it really depends on the specific wing whether or not you'll see any weight savings and whether it's significant enough to matter.
There is also the argument about whether a boom is easier for beginners. On the one hand, you can grab it anywhere, which really is nice when you're focused on other things like foot placement. But that exact benefit can also get you into trouble if you don't yet have a feel for the best spots to grab on. If you grab in the wrong place, sure, you've still got a grip on the wing, but you can also get yanked off your board. Handles limit your options to the prime areas to hold the wing, and you can't be off from the sweet spot by more than a couple inches. Handles can help you learn where those spots are before you switch over to a boom and the experimentation it allows.
When you do decide to give a boom a go, watch experienced riders on that same setup at the beach or in videos. When riding one-handed, they won't always be holding the boom dead center, so see where they grip the boom and how they use it. That'll give you a jumping off point for your own progression.
A boom can also add rigidity to the center strut. While some riders like their wing to be able to flex a bit, the extra support can be a good thing for heavier riders or when riding overpowered. If you don't have the budget for the stiffer materials like Aluula, a boom can make your wing more responsive in those situations.
A fun little trick that's only possible on a boom is to hook your harness right onto the bar itself rather than a harness line.
Benefits of Handles
With so much to love about a boom, why might you want handles instead? If you travel, a boom might not be an option for you due to space limitations. You can pack your wing down small, even without removing the handles, and if you take them off, you can make your wing more compact still.
Many riders also find handles more ergonomic. Booms run along a single plane, while handles can be angled for each hand and make for a much more comfortable session. If your find that your tendons hurt after riding a boom, try switching to handles to see if that alleviates the issue.
Some handles also sit closer to the strut than booms. This can make you feel more grounded or connected to the wing. You can feel its movements and articulation better and respond to that.
Some handles have gotten longer to give you the best of both worlds. There isn't a big gap between them anymore so they're not hard to find when coming off a wave or switching hands. Often, the front handle is longer than the back handle. This gives you more grip options based on your weight and the power with which you're riding. It also lets you pistol grip further forward where there is less power, allowing you to maneuver the wing more easily and maintain control.
Handles can also give you more options for customization. Some brands have gone beyond just "boom or handles?" and given you more than one handle option. Hard handles, soft handles, semi-rigid handles, different sizes of handles... Each will provide a different experience to let you fine-tune your wing. Tucker's a fan of pairing a hard front handle with a soft rear handle.
I Can't Choose... Help!
Unless you're riding in a very specialized discipline like freestyle where is boom is a necessity or you're traveling and can't pack a boom, there may not be a wrong answer. Tucker has a slight preference for handles, but he's not upset when he's on a boom and rather enjoys one-handing the boom when he's coming in on a toeside tack and in small waves.
If you choose a wing with a long front handle, you'll get a lot of the flexibility of a boom with the ergonomics and packability of handles. The line between the two is blurring, and that's not a bad thing.
If you're used to riding handles and are thinking about switching to a boom, try to borrow a wing with a boom from a buddy or attend an event like MACkite's KoGL Test Fest where you can demo different setups.
Ultimately, Tucker and Jeff both feel that, for most people, it's more important to find the right wing for your conditions and riding style than the handle choice is. In some ways, there is a bigger difference between hard and soft handles than between hard handles and a boom. If you're really on the fence and can't try before you buy, choose a wing that lets you swap handles for a boom, and then you can always swap them out instead of buying a whole new wing.
Our wing crew is always delighted to chat with you if you want more guidance on your decision. At the end of the day, it's about having fun on the water and sharing the stoke!
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