People used to be snooty about inflatables in the paddle board and kayak market too (I was one of them). Technology has progressed massively in inflatables and it will be the same for wingfoil.
Great video. One aspect you left out is storage/transport. With short boards (below 6 ft) storage and transport is not an issue. Now that the trend is longer and thinner board, for many people storing and carrying the gear becomes a no-no .
You are so right..! My friend said that he wont buy a new car just because he wanted to start winging... I thoughtI had mentioned it at 1:20. But it probably wasn't clear enough!
I would like to see Gong build in some tail kick on the next gen Hipe Cruzaders. While they are fantastic as is for winging i think this could help for flatwater and downwinding.
if on the ocean you need the stiffness. If not, inflatables are fantastic and will take a LOT more damage with out hurthing the board. Hard boards ding with EVERY hit, including just falling over while against a wall. Inflatables are SO MUCH stronger and tougher than most know. I ride mostly at a rock lined reservoir and my inflatalbes look like new after years of use. Never a leak. And my hardboards INEVITABLY get dinged every single time out......
@@mattonfoil Air pressure changes a lot in the ocean or sea? Why is that? Due to the cold from the terrain when you inflate Vs the cold water far at sea?
Great comparison video, any chance you can do one on beginner/ intermediate gong boards? Does the crusader have any benefit for the beginner/ intermediate?
instagram.com/reel/C64XVGLIDe0L6U0NMCERG6bGv0VRqOq5iMtxOc0/?igsh=Nm9lcGM0ZjZ4MDJr My friend (who owns the board) sent me this as a response: instagram.com/reel/C64XVGLIDe0L6U0NMCERG6bGv0VRqOq5iMtxOc0/?igsh=Nm9lcGM0ZjZ4MDJr So i‘d say yes…
I was out today on a 7'11 HIPE Cruzader with a 7 m Cabrina Mantis wing. 7 to 8 kn baseline the "gusts" maybe 10 to 12, certainly no more than that. I was giggling at how fast the whole carriage got on foil. I've never had flights that slow, though. What a fun session. I also own that board in 6'6, my travel companion. So good! And, no, the performance does not exactly match my hardboards. But I'm adjusting within 5 to 10 minutes and then I have fun.
@@huzcer At 75 kg, I am paddling the 7'11 comfortably, the 6'6 is more challenging, but doable. I have not been able to paddle them onto foil - this is my aspiration for 2025. When winging, my carbon DW board gets up just a little easier, but once on foil, there is not much difference.
Love your videos! 😁👌 Keep it up 😁 do you think it's to big of a jump to go directly for a larger Hype Cruzader after my first rigid Lance 130L? A 105L one or so. It's really tempting 😉 I weight 85kg.
Thanks a lot for your message! Honestly, I wouldn't have bought the 6'3 Cruzader if it weren't on the used market. I would have gone for a slightly bigger one because you don't feel the size when riding. A big part of your board is behind you and you don't notice it... plus... you might use it do downwind later on... Does that help?
@@mattonfoil more like if you think that shapewise it's to steep of a learning curve to get a Cruzader as a second board even if it's big? But I guess that's very hard to say 😉
For what it's worth, I bought the 135L Naish inflatable. Can't even stand on it because it's so tippy. Like a marshmallow in the water. Bought the North Seek 138 and while I couldn't SUP on it (still somewhat tippy), I can stand on it way easier. So I will never recommend an inflatable to a beginner.
The only 135L Naish inflatable is the Hover Wing which is a totally different shape to the boards in this video (it's more short and fat). The big difference is that you can get off the water much easier wing foiling with a longer narrow board and in less wind.
@@huzcer my issue as a beginner was standing up. The 138 seek made it so easy to stand. This board would be even more tippy to stand on since it's narrower. If I had someone who was light and short, I might recommend a big inflatable, but at 220 and 6'2", it was difficult on my marshmellow
I have the Gong HIPE First 5’11”. It hits maximum surface speed before foil takeoff speed with my 88kg. I wish I had bought the HIPE cruzader 7’11”. Also, aging just came out with HIPE Learn 8’0”, which is like a wider Cruzader.
People used to be snooty about inflatables in the paddle board and kayak market too (I was one of them). Technology has progressed massively in inflatables and it will be the same for wingfoil.
Yup so much corksniffing in these sports. The inflatable Cruz is fantastic for winging.
Great video. One aspect you left out is storage/transport. With short boards (below 6 ft) storage and transport is not an issue. Now that the trend is longer and thinner board, for many people storing and carrying the gear becomes a no-no .
You are so right..! My friend said that he wont buy a new car just because he wanted to start winging... I thoughtI had mentioned it at 1:20. But it probably wasn't clear enough!
I would like to see Gong build in some tail kick on the next gen Hipe Cruzaders. While they are fantastic as is for winging i think this could help for flatwater and downwinding.
if on the ocean you need the stiffness. If not, inflatables are fantastic and will take a LOT more damage with out hurthing the board. Hard boards ding with EVERY hit, including just falling over while against a wall. Inflatables are SO MUCH stronger and tougher than most know. I ride mostly at a rock lined reservoir and my inflatalbes look like new after years of use. Never a leak. And my hardboards INEVITABLY get dinged every single time out......
Thank you for your insights..!!!
I bought the older Cruzader 6.6. but I have not tried it yet.
That sounds great! Share your thoughts once you ve used it!
Nice video... What about the Takoon one in comparison to the crusader. Any experience?
I haven‘t seen a takoon one around..! Which model exactly?
@mattonfoil The Takoon escape Air... Seem to be exactly the same has the hope cruzader but ligher@@mattonfoil
@@dferrerll have seen comments that it's better than the inflatable crusader due to the carbon stringers on the deck and hull
You have either the Escape air or Glide air V3 iirc.
if you not in the ocean this is no-brainer option! Was happy with it but in ocean rigid is safer :)
@@secondlife7976 that‘s true..! You never lose drown with a rigid board…
Why in the ocean is safer? Just in case it gets punctured?
@ if you‘re far out or you have off shore winds and the board suddenly loses air, it can get dangerous pretty quickly…
@@mattonfoil Air pressure changes a lot in the ocean or sea? Why is that? Due to the cold from the terrain when you inflate Vs the cold water far at sea?
I used a ypra and a fluid from Gong… the ypra L (8,2 AR)
Not too high aspect…
Great comparison video, any chance you can do one on beginner/ intermediate gong boards? Does the crusader have any benefit for the beginner/ intermediate?
I would say yes..! I have a Flint (110L) in my garage and can make a comparison to that, if you want?!
What kind and size of front wing did you use ? Seems high aspect ratio
What about the low-end in vey light wind?
instagram.com/reel/C64XVGLIDe0L6U0NMCERG6bGv0VRqOq5iMtxOc0/?igsh=Nm9lcGM0ZjZ4MDJr
My friend (who owns the board) sent me this as a response: instagram.com/reel/C64XVGLIDe0L6U0NMCERG6bGv0VRqOq5iMtxOc0/?igsh=Nm9lcGM0ZjZ4MDJr
So i‘d say yes…
I was out today on a 7'11 HIPE Cruzader with a 7 m Cabrina Mantis wing. 7 to 8 kn baseline the "gusts" maybe 10 to 12, certainly no more than that. I was giggling at how fast the whole carriage got on foil. I've never had flights that slow, though. What a fun session.
I also own that board in 6'6, my travel companion. So good! And, no, the performance does not exactly match my hardboards. But I'm adjusting within 5 to 10 minutes and then I have fun.
@@martinfuss1711 do you think the inflatable long boards would be any use for sup foil or downwind or do you have to have rigid for that?
@@huzcer At 75 kg, I am paddling the 7'11 comfortably, the 6'6 is more challenging, but doable. I have not been able to paddle them onto foil - this is my aspiration for 2025. When winging, my carbon DW board gets up just a little easier, but once on foil, there is not much difference.
Love your videos! 😁👌 Keep it up 😁 do you think it's to big of a jump to go directly for a larger Hype Cruzader after my first rigid Lance 130L? A 105L one or so. It's really tempting 😉 I weight 85kg.
Thanks a lot for your message!
Honestly, I wouldn't have bought the 6'3 Cruzader if it weren't on the used market. I would have gone for a slightly bigger one because you don't feel the size when riding. A big part of your board is behind you and you don't notice it... plus... you might use it do downwind later on... Does that help?
@@mattonfoil more like if you think that shapewise it's to steep of a learning curve to get a Cruzader as a second board even if it's big? But I guess that's very hard to say 😉
@@carlwestman9343 thats very possible! The smaller the waves, the better!
@@mattonfoil maybe I'll go with the 7'6 as my next board 😊👌
For what it's worth, I bought the 135L Naish inflatable. Can't even stand on it because it's so tippy. Like a marshmallow in the water. Bought the North Seek 138 and while I couldn't SUP on it (still somewhat tippy), I can stand on it way easier. So I will never recommend an inflatable to a beginner.
Thank you for sharing!
The only 135L Naish inflatable is the Hover Wing which is a totally different shape to the boards in this video (it's more short and fat). The big difference is that you can get off the water much easier wing foiling with a longer narrow board and in less wind.
@@huzcer my issue as a beginner was standing up. The 138 seek made it so easy to stand. This board would be even more tippy to stand on since it's narrower. If I had someone who was light and short, I might recommend a big inflatable, but at 220 and 6'2", it was difficult on my marshmellow
I have the Gong HIPE First 5’11”. It hits maximum surface speed before foil takeoff speed with my 88kg.
I wish I had bought the HIPE cruzader 7’11”. Also, aging just came out with HIPE Learn 8’0”, which is like a wider Cruzader.
@@DrKnowNothing1 with these long boards, I feel like you almost can not go too much volume…
@@mattonfoil I'm planning to get one for a travel setup for SUPFoil + Winging. The biggest downside is rail shape.
Wondering if Gong has any problems selling these Cruzader boards in the Middle East because the spelling is almost Crusader...