Foil Review - F-one SK8 550 vs Escape 630 - What foil is right for you?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ก.ค. 2024
- A review of the F-one SK8 550 and how it works for kitefoiling. It seemed like the best way to approach this test was to compare it against the Escape 630 - the foil I’ve been riding non-stop for the last 18 months and my favourite kitefoil.
00:00 - Introduction
02:38 - Escape 630 - Design Characteristics
03:58 - SK8 550 - Design Characteristics
06:48 - Sk8 550 - What’s it like to ride?
13:17 - Escape 630 - What is it the foil of choice - Jumping
15:09 - Winging - 550 vs 630 and Chris MacDonald’s comments
16:09 - Winging Crossover - 550 and large SK8s
19:19 - Conclusions - What foil is right for you?
21:08 - Comments and Coaching
The Escape 630 is a classic mid-aspect kitefoil where as the SK8 is a more modern, higher aspect foil designed for winging and surf foiling. I’ve looked at the overall design characteristics of both foils and then tried to relate them back to what you will feel when riding these foils with a kite.
Disclaimer:
Yes, I am an F-one Ambassador, so take that into account with this review but I have tried to be honest and highlight the pro’s and con’s of both these foils. Neither are perfect for everyone in every conditions - so hopefully this review will help people to understand what foil will be the right one for them.
I’ll also cover how the larger SK8 wings (650, 750. 850 & 8950) can cross over between kitefoiling and winging.
Filming in Langebaan, South Africa
Find out more about my coaching videos, private 1:1 coaching and camps:
www.progression.me
F-one SK8 foils: www.f-one.world/product/sk8/
F-one Escape foils: www.f-one.world/product/escap...
Video clips of Chris MacDonald:
• F-ONE | Chris Macdonal...
• Full Event Highlights ... - กีฬา
This is the best kitefoil content I’ve seen. Although a serious threat to my wallet; gotta get myself a business foil now…
best foil review ever!!!
Hi Rob, I am 85kg. Advance rider, strapless, looking for hydrofoil new gear, but ONLY for light winds, between 8 and 18 knots.
Why the larger available size of the escape is only 630 ? Why not having a larger size for light winds to focus on new trick, without the need of looping your kite to restart and go? Thank you! Cheers
Perfect! I wrote a different comment, but I rewatched the video and you answered my question! My quiver will be 530 Escape, 750 Sk8 and 940 Phantom S for now for both wing & kite. Might exchange the Phantom S for a Sk8 950 some day, but am afraid it might be too large for freestyle (and break). 95 kgs.
Amazing explanation! Now i know which one to get!
Glad it helped 🤙
I wingfoil on waves and donwinders in Maui (no jumps). I used to own Escape 630 and 530, but sold them both because not ideal for those two disciplines. Then I bought a SK8 550 and it was too small even for my 72kg. You need at least head high and steep if you want to ride flagging the wing. As soon as you loose some steepness, it wants to come down. So I sold that too and bought a SK8 650 with is absolutely perfect for wave riding instead. It's the smoothest foil I've ever ridden. I couple it with either XXXS 160 or XS 140, both are great. Cheers.
Best foil review I've seen.....and I've seen a few 😅
Thanks for sharing your insights into foil sizes. I strapless kite and wing foil too and this is super interesting.
Glad you found it interesting 🤙
Dear Rob, thanks for the video. I drive the SK8 650 with the 200 Back Wing. I am extremely enthusiastic, the larger back wing makes a big difference. The best foil I've driven so far. All the best from Switzerland 🇨🇭
Have you ever tried it with a smaller rear wing?
@@progressionsports yep, it came with a 160 wing. I didn't feel well. The 200 Wing makes a big difference, think the tuning is so perfect. Maybe the 180 aswell
You mean in kitefoil ? so 200 back wing is better than the reommended 180 by F One
@@peteribs5643 Korrekt, in Kite Foil 👌🏼
Great review and really enjoyed the technical content. Maybe F-One should take you to their factory to get you to give an interview on their progression.
Escape ❤ for me
Thanks mate, who doesn’t love an Escape!!
great video Rob. I kite strapless on axis foils HPS650 which seems similar is span (650mm) and aspect ratio (6.68) to the Escape 630 and ART699 which is closer to the SK8550, 699mm span AR 9 area 543cm2, Both get me up in 8 knots with 12m foil kite (83kg). Because the ART699 glides like crazy the turning circle is much bigger but it is fast. I like the carvability of the HPS650
That is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Sounds like similar styles of foils to the f-ones. Amazing how these small foils are still great in light winds, with a bit of work and persistence 💪
Hey Rob,
I'm interested in how you travel with the 630 Escape. Based on its dimensions and monoblock construction, 64cm span, I doubt that it fits into a normal kite bag. Or even if it fits it would be kind of vulnerable during transportation.
What is your trick?
What mast length did you use with both planes ? If I conversely wish to use the escape 630 at wingfoiling to increase riding speed, what length of mast do I need ?
great!!! thanxx!
You're welcome! 🤜🤛
very good review Rob, nice work, big thank from France 1 question: Do you use standard bandit or S version for kitefoil ?
He have said somewhere that he use monostruts for the big ones, bandit for 11/10, and the wave banditS 8/6 for stronger winds.
I agree with others .... wish you could compare say Armstrong vs Lift vs F one ...etc etc especially for us kitefoilers need special help as the sport is all wing and prone these days....
Question:: What foil would your bring for say Maui North Shore summer medium wave and open swell? thanks Josh
Great video, Bob! Without your progression videos, my learning time would have been much longer! I noticed you use a standard pocket board. Have you tried also the custom model? Thank you
Only used the standard pockets, love them and never felt the need to try the customs. And the pockets are bomb proof which works for me!
Amazing.
Thanks.
Shame that you use only f-one equipment, comparisons between foils madeby you would be crazyyy.
You never know, could be very interesting to compare some different brand foils 🤔
I'm really interested at this topic...I'm using F-one gear for wingfoil and I wanted to enter the F-one world also with the kitefoil...BUT as I ride kite foil only strapless in light wind condiitions (8-15kn) and 'm 85kg whiche foil size do you recommend? I don't care so much the speed, I care more the bottom end, to carve around, the agility...
650/750/850 would all work but just depends on your kite skills and kite foil skills. The more advanced your level the smaller you can go. I haven’t used any of these yet but my gut says 750 will be a good already foil for allot of people in a wide range of conditions. The 850 would be the better option if you want to make the most of really light stuff 8-12 knots.
I’m hoping to get some of these foils to see how they all work in different conditions.
fone mirage 800 of course !
Muito bom!
🫡
How I wish I was in Langebaan right now :)
You and me both
I dont remember when the escape 630 was on the market ? 2023 ?
Conclusion: Escape for the North Sea - it’s always choppy !! 😁
Kite foiling is so much more fun for bigger guys riding powered. I can see the appeal of winging if I had decent waves but give me strapless kite foiling any day.
Definitely. Though winging is getting easier but nice to have a level playing field with all that power the kite offers!