What foil should I upgrade to? | Poole Harbour Watersports
India HudsonThe Foil Upgrade Guide: Finding Your Next Foil After Learning
Welcome to the foiling club! No one forgets that initial flight, the "magic carpet" moment and the silence as the board leaves the water, and you finally feel that you are on the foil! However, once we get used to that feeling of foiling, the magic wears off and we start to want more, our foil suddenly feels heavy, and slow...
Now, this isn't us saying you wasted your money on your beginner foil, not at all. You wouldn't have been able to get up as easily; your chunky, stable beginner foil was your best friend and made learning enjoyable and simple. Progressing on the foil means that you are going to be focusing now on different things other than just getting up on consistent flights; you are going to start gybing, tacking, and wanting to go faster. This requires a smaller size and possibly a different shape front and back wing as you have hit the 'glass ceiling' of wing foiling beginner gear.
Which foil path do you want to go down?
Similarly to all water sports, wing foiling also offers different avenues, each with specialist equipment. You could focus and adapt your kit for speed (freeride/ racing), gliding (downwinders/ pump), waves (carving, freestyle), or light winds (downwind, light wind setup). Once you know the direction you want to take, your foil choice becomes much clearer:
Speed:
Upgrading from the foil you learnt on, I can't imagine you are looking to get into racing just yet, even though the rush of adrenaline from going fast can be addictive! As such, the foil you will be looking to upgrade to for speed will be a front wing that is longer, thinner (in both the width and thickness) and of a higher aspect ratio for more aerodynamics and less drag. This flatter shape wing cuts through the water more efficiently and will help you pick up speed quickly.
Some perfect examples of a speedy freeride wing are:
Duotone Glide 2.0 SLS Front Wing - better option for all-round increased speeds but manageable.
Duotone Blitz D/Lab Front Wing - high-end speed users, not good for freeride.
Manoeuvres:
Getting up and foiling is one thing, but completing foil gybes and tacks is a whole other step in the wing foiling journey. This progression can also be limited when on a larger front wing that is ideal for early lift but not turning. When upgrading to a wing that is going to help you with foil gybes and tacks, you want to look for something with a shorter wingspan but that still remains stable. You want a front wing that is mid-aspect, meaning that it will maintain lift even as the speed drops during your turn, and for the wing itself to have some thickness to keep you airborne. Rounded tips on the front wing also help you turn while on the foil.
A perfect example of the kind of foil to look out for is:
Duotone Glide 2.0 SLS Front wing - smoother for transitions whilst maintaining lift to focus on manoeuvres.
Duotone Crest D/Lab Front Wing - Ideal for those who have mastered manoeuvres such as gybes and tacks, but want more speed and smoothness.
Waves:
For those slightly more confident in their foiling ability, and possibly with some surfing experience, you may be super keen to get out foiling on the waves and carving up and down the swell. In the surf, the wave provides all the power, so you don't need a massive, heavy wing to keep you up. Instead, you need something that is nimble, easy to turn, and won't "stall" (fall out of the sky) when the wave slows down. This translates to a wing with a shorter wingspan, curved tips for help in turns and the added necessity of a short fuselage. A shorter fuselage will improve reactivity, and sharpen tight turns for a 'looser' feel.
For an enhanced foil set-up on the waves, take a look at these front wing options:
Duotone Carve 3.0 SLS Front Wing
Downwinders:
If you are looking to try out more distance, then a downwind set-up that has good pumping ability is the foil you want to upgrade to. This will feature a long wingspan, thin profile and high aspect ratio for efficient aerodynamics. The glide wing will carry speed and maintain flights with less effort, ideal when you want to cover long distances with minimal manoeuvres such as downwinders.
Duotone Glide 2.0 D/Lab Front Wing
Naish Glider High Aspect Front Wing
Starboard Glider 2.0 Front Wing
Common mistakes with a foil upgrade:
> Going too small too fast - Smaller wings (800-1100) require more speed to fly and a much cleaner technique. If your pumping, foot pressure control, or gybes aren’t automatic yet, the learning curve can feel brutal.
> Comparing and matching other riders' kits - You may chat with friends about upgrading and get advice, but if they aren't the same build, height, or go out in the same conditions as you, then matching their kit is not going to be the right fit for you and your wing foiling journey.
> Don't forget to get the right stabiliser size - Many riders obsess over the front wing and forget the stabilizer. The rear wing affects pitch stability, turning looseness, top-end speed and pump efficiency. Going smaller on the front wing and smaller on the stabilizer at the same time can make your setup feel twitchy and unforgiving. We suggest keeping a larger stabiliser while you downsize your front wing to get accustomed to it better.
> Ignoring wind and water conditions - Upgrading without considering your typical wind strength, gust consistency, and water state can leave you on gear that feels unstable, underpowered, or overly technical for your real-world conditions. Choose a foil that matches the conditions you ride most often—not your ideal fantasy session—to ensure smoother progression and more consistent performance.
> Changing too many variables at once - If you change lots of foil components at once, the whole foil can feel different and you can't isolate if all components aren't working for you or if it's just one hurting your performance. Start with your front wing and go from there.
So what should you focus on when upgrading?
> Reduce front wing size by 20–30% from your beginner setup.
> Move from low aspect → mid aspect before going high aspect
> The best upgrade isn’t the smallest or fastest foil—it’s the one that opens new doors.
> Think about where you want to ride six months from now. Buy for that rider.
If you're not sure where to go next, bring your current setup in-store and we’ll map out your next step together, either with your current foil or something new altogether. Visit us any day in-store from 9-5, message us via email or on the phone, and our experts can gladly help you choose the right foil upgrades!
in the meantime, check out our selection of Foil Wings, Fuselages and Masts.
