Duotone Unit D-Lab 6.5m wind wing - full review

[@NQshawn]

I have 6.5m dlab and love it. Just received new ventis 8m and had 2 sessions on it. So impressed, was up in conditions where it would be impossible for me to get going on 6.5. Pumps so efficiently and feels quick to. no wing tip touches either.

[@jonathanreinke9392]

Thanks for a great review on your 6.5m D-Lab Unit vs your 8.0m Strike CWC and including differences on the 6.0m / 7.0m Slicks is super helpful too!

[@Yanivkahana]

Love this review.. I don't need either of the sizes yet but stayed for the quality of the review!!!

[@rudiregenwetter]

Hi Dominic, thank for your brilliant review! I’m thinking about buying the Unit DLAB 2023 6.5. I’m 186cm and 96 kg. I’m a little bit worried about the wingspan and wingtip dips in the water. What are your experiences? Would you recommend the 6.5 after a period?

[@dominichoskyns9091]

You’re the same height as me. I would recommend it even if you were a bit shorter. The wingspan isn’t a problem as it flies naturally at a good angle. The allula material is very slippery on water so wingtip touchdowns just slide off the water really easily rather than catching the water

[@robertzeeland]

Still frothing after my 3rd session on the '22 Unit 6,5mtr, coming from Slick 4/5/6 and Echo7. Used the wing today in 10-15kts. It's got a good vertical pull which gets me flying with ease. The handling, stiffness and ease of use are prrimo! The way the power comes on is a tad less on-off bang-bang than the Slick, but that may have to do with the windspeed in which I've used it, 'till now. The handles are great. I like the mini-boom a wee bit better, but will surely get used to them. What's good is that they are slightly less in diameter than the mini-boom. I find the low-end a bit more useful than my Echo7. I'm only a debutant, but I can see that the new Unit has some solid jumping pot/! Thanks for your upload, D.H! Best regards from the Netherlands!

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate it. Real glad that you're enjoying and sharing the stoke🤙🤙🤙 BTW I just heard that Duotone will soon be releasing a new lighter version of the slick - maybe an Aluula D-Lab version?????

[@jurgenhinz6320]

Great review !! I would love to see/hear you in a 1:1 comparison DLab vs the new Slick SLS !!

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Coming soon 👍

[@martinomovies]

Very thorough review. Not a lot of fluffage!

[@michaellambert8606]

I’ll add to others saying that the units/dlabs like a different pump. With my 6dlab I tried a back hand pump(like sculling the rudder of a sailboat), and found it got me up with very little pressure in my hands. Also after a short stint with reedin SWX wings I’d say that flat wings want you to be pointing farther from the eye of the wind when you pump up. Really nice flowy wing handling there btw!

[@peterheirmanster]

perfectly clean waves and steady wind

[@hhhancock167]

Really nice review. I am newer to wing foiling (been kite foiling and wake foiling for 6 years) and still on the earlier side of the progression. I have 3.5m and 5m Duotone Slicks SLS. I was thinking about adding more of a light wind wing (10-16 knots) to the quiver and want to use it in small surf. I am 65kg (145lbs) -- do you think think the 6.0m or 6.5m Duotone Unit D-Lab is a better fit for my size and my current quiver? I would get a little more range out of the 6.5m but would also have to deal with the bigger size. Thanks for any feedback!

[@dominichoskyns9091]

At 65kg you'll be fine with a 6m. The 6.5 will get you on foil in even lighter wind and its super light but like you say, the compromise is the size.

[@NeonSwell]

really great vids. a beacon of light in a sea of confusion with regards to foiling and winging. I have watched your videos for years and found your reviews great! Seems like I can't 'try-before I buy' either so any guidance helps. Currently have Echo 5M (which is good but sinks at the tail when it touches the water), 6m CWC Strike (seems less powerful than echo) and just ordered SLS 6.5M. Hoping to sell the others but you take a massive hit on resale. Looking for a real light wind setup for fun carvey cruising. Im not looking to wing when I see white caps on the water which seems to be 12-15 knots where Im from, so 10 knot and below would be epic.

[@wolfgangweissenberger8528]

I sold my CWC 8m2 (which I loved) for the 6,5 d-lab. I find the lowend almost similar. The key is to put less psi into the d-lab in low winds. 5,5 psi is enough. The tips of the leadingedge should feel still a bit soft. The pumping will be very efficient then. The high-end is also great. You can hold the wing almost neutral in strong gusts. Realy a great wing, altough the Price hurts.

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Great advice. I'll try it, thanks 👍👍👍👍

[@mikemiller774]

Thank you for review. Based on comments i see mostly talk about this 6.5 size. But what about something like 4.5 size? As duotone says it's 10-28kts, ok let's bump maybe low end to 15. Could this be a all around single size for ones who ride something like wave/downwind carves with winds starting at 15-16kts? Thank you

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Yes, that sounds about right. I can use the 5m from about 12 knots

[@ozoneflysurfer9491]

Another great entertaining review as usual! Super impressed with the Dlabs they are so efficient. The speed acceleration and upwind angles are unmatched. Super direct and responsive . Really enjoying the 4.5 it's almost a one wing quiver gets me going from steady 10knots on the Kujira 1095 and 65L board. The windows on the 6.5 are a bit useless but they are more functional in the smaller sizes . I suggest trying different PSI on the Dlabs and they tend to "break in " after a few sessions and get better. It will take a lot to feel overpowered on the Dlabs more than you expect. In my experience I can match the 8m Fone in sub 10 knots wind with a bit of technique as the Dlab develops power differently.

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Awesome feedback on the D-Labs - thanks!!!!!!

[@adriaanvandijk4782]

Hello, did you ever measure the stretch of the canopy after 5months. I have the 5.5 and still love it. Your review was spot on. Tnx

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Has it really been 5 months already? Wow! I'll measure it the next time I use it. Thanks for the reminder 👍

[@andylitespeed]

Great review Dominic, thankyou and well done!

[@kevinhogan7645]

Great review. I have an unrelated question how did you get the camera shots during the review? Thanks.

[@dominichoskyns9091]

I'm holding a Gopro max 360 on a 3ft pole. The software magically removes the pole

[@panagiotiskapsalas4666]

Excellent video.Could you please let us know your weight? Thanks in advance.

[@lnbadi]

awesome review!

[@surfertbone4333]

Another comparison of dLab & 8m cwc could include winds at 7-25 knots in the surf. More realistic scenario for myself here in Hawaii.

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Ha - I can only dream of the conditions you get in Hawaii!!!!!!!

[@randalbladel2817]

6.5 psi, eh? My Ocean Rodeo Allula wing (5 m) calls for 8 in the leading edge and 12 (!) in the center strut.

[@nickmary1234]

Another great video. “Flappage”…have I spelt it correctly?!?!😀. Not a comment on DLab but a flappage comment. Ensis Scores had a deep curvature, when up and running, loads of power but that meant strut was not attached to boom at all, so it would flap (for me, prob bad technique) when pumping up in marginal winds. Ensis Spin’s are attached to boom, much like the DLab, so flappage is massively reduced. That helps me hugely pumping up in marginal and/or in transitions in marginal when I need to give a couple of small pumps to stay on foil. Also makes sail easier to transition and less seesaw’y. With less flappage I feel way more “connected” to sail. It might lose a bit of power/top end but I don’t care, I just want sail to be easy to get going, easy to transition and super stable when luffed. Buuuut, having said all that, the CWC seems to have loads of flappage, it obviously doesn’t bother you? Great job with the videos, always really informative.

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Haha that's how I'd spell it 😜 The CWC may have a very deep canopy but it's still really easy to pump. The D-Lab's canopy is obviously totally opposite - flat and tight, so it feels very different when pumping. They both generate a lot of power but in different ways. I think the D-Lab's power comes from acceleration while the CWC generates a lot of grunt, sort of like the difference between a formula one car and a tank 😅. I think all wings are easy to pump when they are well powered, but it's in their low end that the differences are mostly felt and that's when its most important. I don't know why but despite its big belly the CWC is very easy to pump in its low end, but the Slicks (while easy to pump when powered) are difficult to pump in their low end, especially the big sizes. My comment about flappage was mainly directed at how stable it is when flying at speed. When going fast most wings start to flap a bit, mostly at the trailing edge, and especially if you have the wing at the wrong angle. I definitely get what you say about a tight canopy making you feel more connected with the wing. It's such a direct feel, super responsive yet easy to control. Duotone have really done a great job with this wing 💯👌🤙

[@wildhogget69]

looks amazing, really solid, yet to see one here in my area, I use slicks at the moment. Was considering changing my Gong Fluid XXLS to AXIS and I hear great reviews about the HPS 1050, have you tried this one yet??

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Yes, the HPS 1050 is a great foil for light wind winging and downwinding. IMO it feels very stable, has got great glide, and has good speed for a big foil. It's performance range is very similar to the kujira 1440 and fits very nicely between the PNG 1300 (or 1150) and the HPS 930/980 or ART 999

[@flaviomassafra2548]

Hi Dom...great review!!! Did you try the 6 Unit dlab? Do you think that the low end is similar to 6.5?

[@dominichoskyns9091]

The only D-Lab I've used is the 6.5 but it will be better in lower winds than the 6m due to simple physics - a larger size wing will always be able to generate more power than a smaller size. However, if you're lighter than me (around 70kg) then the 6m will felt get you on foil when I'm using the 6.5 in the same wind. If you're under 70kg then the 5.5 will probably do the same job for you and the 6m will get you going when I'm on my 8m CWC. Weight makes such a difference

[@jonathanreinke9392]

I have a question Dominic. I am wondering which combo you think would get you flying in lighter wind? A: 6.5M Unit D-lab with a Axis PNG 1300 B: 8.0M Strike CWC with a Axis ART 1099 I can see how the 8.0m Stike CWC and the PNG 1300 would be epic for light wind. I am trying to pace my new gear purchases. 😊 Thanks! 🙂

[@dominichoskyns9091]

I think both would need 10 knots to get up on foil but once on foil I think option A would be slightly easier to get up on foil because the 1300 has much more lift at slower speed, and it would be easier to stay on foil in the lulls, partly because of the 1300 having more lift at lower speed but also because the 6.5m D-Lab is lighter and can fly at faster speeds than the 8m. There really wouldn't be much in it though

[@briansmith207]

I can’t wait to try the 1310 with my 8 CWC, the 1310 will have lower takeoff speed than the 1300.

[@candych0754]

Nice,thanks

[@smytharmstrong8543]

The new Unit looks like a real winner -- thanks for the review and comparison with the Strike! It would be interesting to see how it compares to 2022 Unit made out of "normal" materials -- in other words is the super light Unit worth the extra money? I've heard that there will be an updated Slick coming soon -- light materials and super light boom. That will be interesting. So much new equipment and so little time. BTW will you be doing a review of the Kujira 1095?

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Thanks 👍 The non-aluula Unit will be heavier and not as stiff, therefore will lose some performance, but how much is difficult to say without a back to back test. Is it worth the extra cost???? - IMO definitely in the bigger sizes. I'm not convinced the extra cost is worth it for the smaller sizes, but who knows - if I tried a 4m D-Lab I might change my mind😂 Yes, I will definitely be doing a review of the kujira 1095 - working on it now so won't be long😁 I can imagine the slicks will be awesome in aluula👊

[@smytharmstrong8543]

@@dominichoskyns9091 New Slick SLS supposedly to be released in the next couple of weeks -- new lighter materials (but I don't think they used aluula) with full carbon boom and similar in design to the new Unit -- more dihedral. Performance supposedly similar to the Unit as well but maybe a little better. I suspect you'll have one soon and I"m looking forward to your review -- I'm partial to Ken Winner designs with the full boom.

[@dominichoskyns9091]

@@smytharmstrong8543 can't wait 🤙

[@rossbikeking]

Dom do you find the Unit pumps differently than the Strike (CWC) I have moved from Gen 1 units to a Strike and still trying to find the Strikes pumping style as it seems different than the Units.

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Yeah, the D-Lab has a unique pumping style for sure, but then I think they all do - the D-Lab feels very different to the 8m strike and the Duotone Units. It's hard to say which is easier to pump as its down to personal preference and technique AND getting used to/dialling in any one wing model) but I would say the Strike CWC is instantly very easy to pump, the D-Lab is almost as easy to pump (but I get the feeling that is is more influenced by technique - the better your technique the more impact it will have on the effectiveness)

[@lukeskywalkerthe3rd]

@@dominichoskyns9091 Could you explain the pumping technique on the D-lab? I demo'd a 6m today in light winds. Loved it, but definitely did not yet figure out the right pumping technique.

[@dominichoskyns9091]

@@lukeskywalkerthe3rd I find its best to pump the D-Lab in a circle rather then just out and in. Forwards and out, then back and in - otherwise your pushing back with as much force as you're pulling in (because of its tight cannot)

[@lukeskywalkerthe3rd]

Thx. May The Windforce Be With You

[@DaveSails7]

Definitely agree! Just switched from 6m CWC to 6.5m DLAB. I pump my strikes in a circle around the horizontal axis, but the DLAB works much better pumping in a circle around the vertical axis. For the CWC pumping front and read hands together, but DLAB pumping the rear hand more than the front works better. Someone also noted above you have to head more downwind pumping the DLAB, I've found that as well.

[@Nilz4FR]

What is a realistic wind range for the dlab 6,5 on a 97l 1800 foil? I got 82kg at 190cm

[@dominichoskyns9091]

I would say around 10 knots up to 16 knots would be a comfortable range, possibly more depending on your skill level. Over 16 knots would be possible on a smaller foil

[@apricotscrub]

I use 8m cwc for light winds 10-15 knots, looking at either 6/7m cwc or dlab for 12-18 knots. Which would be your preference?

[@dominichoskyns9091]

Definitely the D-Lab as it has a much better top end then the CWC. 6 or 6.5m depending on your weight

[@apricotscrub]

@@dominichoskyns9091 what about strike v2 5.5 vs dlab?

[@dominichoskyns9091]

@@apricotscrub sorry but as i haven't used the strike v2 I don't know what it's like. I have a friend who used to use the strike v2 and he went over to Duotone slick which i used to use, and he said the D-Lab had much more direct power than the strike so its easier to pump, but the strike feels lighter and has less pull in gusts. Sorry I can't be more helpful

[@ClivehWright]

Hey great review, really appreciate it.

[@benzaitz4477]

I have the 8 m FOne and the 6.5 m unit. I weigh 235 lb at 6'4. My board is 130 l. With winds gusting over 16 17 mph I can be on the 6.5 with the SAB 999. In lighter winds I use the 1250. I am beginning to think that I can do almost as well with the 6.5 and the 1250 as I can with the 8 Basically I can pump the 6.5 harder and faster than I can the 8. The 6.5 is much more enjoyable to fly

[@dominichoskyns9091]

I only use the 8m when it's under 10 knots now.

[@benzaitz4477]

Do you ever use a bigger foil to compensate for lower winds?

[@dominichoskyns9091]

@@benzaitz4477 yeah all the time. Axis 1300 in the lightest wind from 10 knots and under, then kujira 1440

[@gusthunter4181]

the Strike CWC is really the kingin light winds 🙂

[@rudiregenwetter]

2nd thing: what do you think about the durability? The wing is a little bit pricey 😉

[@dominichoskyns9091]

No problems with durability so far. I’ve had it as long time now and it’s still in really good condition

[@rudiregenwetter]

Thx Dominic!!!

[@happybirthdayhasan3201]

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