SLINGSHOT SLINGWING V4 Review: A solid wing with a minor flaw (for me)

[@rolotomassi3197]

Erfahrener Kiter (1,68, 70kg) mit TT und Directional ohne Windsurf- und Foilerfahrung, will mit dem Wingen beginnen. Komme aber nach deinen Aussagen darüber ins Grübeln, ob ich mir den Wing - der eigentlich schon fast bestellt ist - kaufen soll. Einsatzort: Binnensee mit tendenziell sehr schwachem Wind. Board und Foil gibt es schon: Indiana Board (118 L) mit Fanatic Foil 2000/300 gefunden. Hast du Alternativvorschläge?

[@hoppline]

Hey, der Slingwing V4 ist alles andere als ein schlechter Wing!! Ganz im Gegenteil, Qualität, Verarbeitung und Griffe sind top. Wingen lernt man am besten OverPowered, als mit mehr Wind oder einem größeren Wing als eigentlich nötig. Am Anfang pumpt man mit dem Wing auch nicht so viel, sondern lässt sich eher etwas passiv aufs Brett ziehen. Das macht der Slingwing V4 aber alles sehr gut. Wo er im Vergleich zu anderen Wings in meine Augen etwas schwächelt, ist im Anpumpverhalten bei sehr wenig Wind wenn man schon sehr gut pumpen kann und kleine Foils und Bretter benutzt. Dafür bietet er aber mehr Speed, bessere Kontrolle und mehr Hangtime, sprich: Du wirst noch lange mit dem Wing Freude haben. Vielleicht ist ja auch ein Slingwing V3 eine Option. Ich würde mir am Anfang auch immer etwas gebrauchtes Kaufen da man sehr schnell aus den Sachen "rauswächst" und was kleineres haben möchte. Welche Größe hattest Du denn im Auge?

[@rolotomassi3197]

@@hoppline vielen Dank für deine Ausführungen; also ich habe ein Super Angebot für einen 2 x mal benutzten 4,5er und einen 5,5er oder 6er in NEU - das kann ich mir aussuchen. Das ist so die Gretchenfrage - 5,5 oder 6, wenig Wind hier in der Oberrheinebene.

[@hoppline]

@@rolotomassi3197 V4 oder V3?

[@rolotomassi3197]

@@hoppline V4

[@hoppline]

@@rolotomassi3197 Hey, wenn ich Du wäre, würde ich mir nur den 5.5 kaufen. Der hat zwar die gleiche Spannweite wie der 6.0, aber ist dafür etwas leichter. Da Du ja recht leicht bist, solltest du damit für den Anfang mehr als genug Fläche haben. Ein 4.5er wäre im Prinzip die richtige Ergänzung und macht dann auch bei mehr Wind mehr Spaß, ist für den Anfang aber nicht zwingend erforderlich. Wings kann man sehr gut Depowern indem man die vordere Hand zu sich zieht und die hintere von sich weg schiebt oder sogar ganz loslässt. Damit kommt man im Grunde auch bei mehr Wind sehr gut zurecht. Für den Start sind also nicht zwingen zwei Wings erforderlich. Was das Depowern angeht, ist der Slingwing seit je her sehr gut. Steife Wings mit einem ausgeprägten Flügelprofil wie der Vantage Batwing oder auch der Duotone Unit sind da etwas weniger fehlerverzeihend und haben deutlich mehr Grundpower, was positive, am Anfang aber auch negative sein kann.

[@AkSeapilot]

Thanks for the review!. I was unable to find any reviews after spending time on the water other than one in German for the v4.. I don't see 2 loops for harness line? I use a piece of rope/line which i much prefer to the old windsurfing style ones.. Those hit me in the face when i am pumping. When i went from v3 soft to v3 hh i felt like the hh had less low end grunt.. But i couldn't say for sure because i had 3.5/4.5/5.5 in soft and 3,4,5 in HH v3.. Did you make your comparison with a v3 4.5 hh? the exact same size? Sailing in Ketchikan, Alaska here and i have done many trips home with bottom of boom on front of board also..

[@hoppline]

I had the V2, V3, V3 HH and V4 all in 4.5m2 and also in some other sizes. I am on your side, as I think the normal V3 had the best grunt getting you on foil fast and easy in low winds. I can't really tell why, but it was harder with the V3 HH. On the Vayu Aura II I much more preferred the hard handles or boom for low wind as it made pumping more efficient. Maybe with the Slingwing it is the added weight? I am not sure. The V4 really adds some speed, amazing hang time and I absolutely love the new grip system. If your are not winging in low winds most of the time, I think it is a really good choice. Looking forward to test the smaller sizes and the NXT (-: .... and good to hear that I am not the only one with the strut on the board (-:

[@AkSeapilot]

@@hoppline Thanks for the detailed and quick reply. I will have the 4.5 in la ventana in about 3 weeks.. the 4.5 v3 soft was my go to last year there at 200 lbs. Where are you mostly winging? As to hangtime i haven't been jumping except when iwas learning to jibe and that was without footstraps and not on purpose:).. That is coming up soon i have been really cautious to take that step mainly because having feet locked in footstraps may increase chances of injury, probably less when jumping and more just riding and being locked in for crashes.. Will find out this winter though in La Ventana.

[@freestyleworld2165]

Very good review! "Loose Leach"-Concept from windsurfing, that was also my first thinking on first days, it really works like that. You have to try the carbon handles, they are 215g less on the 300/300-set for the 4.5 and make the Wing feel remarkable lighter.

[@hoppline]

@@freestyleworld2165 Hey, yes, I first thought the canopy tension was a little loose in the lower third towards the trailing edge, but I really think it's on purpose as it adds a lot of ease, control and hang time. I would love to try the carbon handles but unfortunately they are not yet available in Germany. Carbon handles and NXT will be a sick combo once available !! Can't wait....

[@IRWE905]

Is the V4 available without Windows? You mentioned you liked the V3 Was your V3 with Hard or Soft Handles?

[@hoppline]

Hey, the V4 is only available with windows. I usually don't like windows but at least these ones art totally clear and have good visibility. I had the V2, V3 Soft handles and hard handles. The V3 soft handles was my favorite for low wind punch and in any other category the V4 wins by far.....

[@teedek763]

within 1,5 year, all brands have to come out with windows. Apparently they have to for safety reasons on the water. But the new windows have improved, better to pack and also better to look through.

[@hoppline]

@@teedek763 Slingwing V4 windows are cristal clear !! I am not a fan of windows, but like you said, at least they seem to work now.

[@teedek763]

@@hopplinesame here, not a fan. But I've been riding the V4 for a month now and already gotten used to them..

[@Stanton_High]

Looks like a solid advancement. Hey slingshot, sponsor me! Haha

[@hoppline]

Yeap, solid update! Really love the handles and can't wait for the carbon ones.

[@AdamsHadEnough]

Shocking you found the v3 could get you going early in lightwind. I gave up on Slingshot after owning a soft-handled v3 6.5 with tis flopy canopy loose handles and massive wingspan made worse by a very fat wingtip struts. It was clear their r&d did not focus on big wings and lightwinds which makes sense given they are headquartered in the Gorge.

[@hoppline]

I rode the V3 soft handles in 4.5 and 3.5, so maybe it was due to the smaller size that I really liked it. But like you I think the V4 is taillered for the Gorge!

[@Lytemotiv]

finde die Videos gut gemacht, aber die Aussage "best handles on the market?" da müsstest du ja schon echt viele wings getestet haben ;)

[@hoppline]

Ja, hab ich....20 Stück werden es mit Sicherheit schon gewesen sein! Aber ich verstehe Deine Aussage....von daher: Best handle in the market from all the wings I have tested 😉

[@ukarlsson]

It feels like they should have released V4 as a different model. For the average user V3 is probably better and now they are on sale. I compared V4 to V2/3 in 6.5 m size and for low end and waves, the V4 is a down grade. The long "tail" is pretty bad and is hard to get out of the water and is in the way when pumping as the reviewer mentioned

[@hoppline]

Good to hear you had similar experience. I think it all comes down to your wind conditions. Once I was in the recommended wind range I had no problems at all as the wing would float above the water and even the additional weight of the hard handles was not an issue at all. Just trying to ride way below the recommended wind became a problem in the way you said. So if you are more or less constantly riding in low winds, the V3 might be a better option and the sale right now is really good. On the other side I really like the speed, control and added hang time of the V4. So it's a tough decision ... like always. How did you like the new handles?

[@ukarlsson]

I had not compared with V3 HH yet, but have an order with that coming in now at really good discount 😅🎉