2023 Duotone Slick Vs. 2022 Slick SLS | Design Changes and Benefits

[@rolavi66]

Thanks for balanced review and compare.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for sharing the stoke with us, my friend! 🤙🏽 Good winds to you. -Aaron

[@cnrd83]

Are the bladders of the new '23 Slicks also more resistent than those of the '22 SLS version? Do you have any information or experience with this? As I had problems with the bladders of all my 3 SLS Wings recently and they all started losing air without having put them in any sharp objects whatsoever..

[@AkSeapilot]

Been waiting for a review.. Thanks! i am having problems getting out in light wind with my new 5.5 sls (2022).. I feel like it doesn't get up as quick as my 5.5 v3 slingshot.. Have you ridden the slingshot hard handle or boom version yet? Any thoughts on differences? For those considering an SLS. the reason i bought the 5.5 when i have a slingwing 5.5 v3, was i borrowed a friend's rig. 105 liter quattro, axis bsc 890 and 5 meter 2022 slick.. Took me a few minutes to get up (in a spot with better wind than Alaska), but once up I immediately felt good with the rig having never used the axis or sls in the past.. Noticeably better on learning tacks than my existing gear... I would buy a Unit.. but i really like having a middle handle or middle of boom to grab onto coming around on jibes... Cheers and thanks again.. Last question.. What gloves were you both wearing out there? The key to the puzzle that most of us cold water sailors are searching for.

[@MACkiteboarding]

The new Slick has comparible low end to the Slingwing V3 in the same size. You'd want to size up in the Javelin since it doesn't have as much grunt. Hard handles are nice for direct feel but the rest of the wing is the same. 2023 Mystic Supreme Lobster gloves are the bee's knees for cold water. Best I've found -Tucker

[@CptProv]

Thanks for the review guys! So for a beginner on his first flights with most conditions on the 12-18knts range would you still suggest the 22 Slick SLS, maybe getting a .5 meter more to compensate for the lower end?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yes, going larger is a good call when you are a new rider. Especially on a wing like the SLS with has so much top end range. -Tucker

[@fabianr1737]

Thx for your review guys! I assume that the new Slick 2023 is rotating a lot easier than the Unit V3, but how does it perform in terms of topspeed and hangtime? Is there a big difference to the Unit V3?

[@MACkiteboarding]

The Slick is a bit faster and better upwind compared to the Unit but has less hangtime since it doesn't have as much "lift". -Tucker

[@nemoparos]

Hello guys. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year from the other side of the planet. That's Paros Greece. I'm always watching your reviews and other info you're so kindly sharing with us, so thank you for spreading knowledge and keeping the stoke up. Well i'm an intermidiate on the early stages - just had Santa giving me the nicest present of the first foiling jibe ever - and i'm looking to the SLS as i'm thinking to switch from my 4.5 and 6.0 (16-24 kn - 9-6 kn) to a 5.0 SLS which is claimed on the Duotone site to have a range of 10-30 kn, plus have the benefits of a boom. What's your thoughts on that ? Does it really has such a wide range? Thanks in advance.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Be careful trusting brand wind charts, they are generally misleading. However, the Slick does have a fantastic range. I'm 200 lbs and ride the 5m in about 15-28kn. I've done as high as 35kn but it gets pretty uncomfortable. -Tucker

[@nemoparos]

@@MACkiteboarding in about 15-28kn you're ok? Thanks again

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yes@@nemoparos . With the appropriate foil of course.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yes@@nemoparos . I'm around 200lbs and generally ride foils 800-1000cmsq for our average conditions. -Tucker

[@AdamsHadEnough]

Thanks for explaining the confusing SLS moniker.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for sharing the stoke with us, my friend! 🤙🏽 Good winds to you. -Aaron

[@avinashbikha]

Bring back Tucker solo on his porch and chickens in the background! 😂 Sorry guys.. I couldn't tell A from B.. of course DuoTone branding and product names didn't help!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Hahaah! 😂🤙🏽 Gotta love deep woods Tucker, out there with the chickens! Good winds to you, my friend. -Aaron

[@MACkiteboarding]

LOL, I actually had to re-shoot a video twice last week because the whole herd decided to go nuts. First the rooster, then ducks, geese, turkey, and finally a big ole Moooooooo from one of our cows. Must have been filming too close to dinertime ;) Good news on Slick wings, they are all great. Just pick a price point you are comfortable with and enjoy. -Tucker

[@JeffreyJDavis]

My only minor complaint with Slick SLS is that due to the dihedral it's very prone to flipping upside down, on the water or if you are 2 finger flagging it on the front handle. What's yours Assessment V3 vs SLS V2?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Same thing on the V3. Any wing with deceent dihedrial is going to flip every chance it gets. I just try to to keep a hand on it all the time to it doeesn't flip over. -Tucker

[@JeffreyJDavis]

@@MACkiteboarding thanks for the honest answer tucker

[@zosterinski]

Would be nice to make a vid on the slick d/lab

[@MACkiteboarding]

A comparison is in the works. -Tucker

[@jjmc4]

Perhaps there's a bit of sls in inventory in stock? They are priced great.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thanks for asking, Justin. 🤙🏽 Yeah-looks like quite the full offering at the moment: www.mackiteboarding.com/2022-duotone-slick-sls-wing/ Please reply back if you have any questions. We're always happy to help. -Aaron

[@kshred3043]

The main thing to criticise Duotone wings on is their colours. They might well be the most boring in the entire industry. IMHO of course. 😊 Totally agree on the SLS having a noticeably better top end (at least compared with the original Slick). But, it is a bit of a case of careful what you wish for. I sometimes find that when the wind picks up, because I don't feel like I am getting too badly worked on the SLS, the tendency is to keep riding it long after I could and should have switched down to a smaller size (with all the benefits that come with a smaller wing). That's more of an observation than a criticism. The flip side is that when I am trying to decide on what size to rig on those days when the wind is up and down, the SLS allows me to opt for the larger size without having to worry too much about being way overpowered in the gusts.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for sharing your experience, my friend. 🤙🏽 Good winds to you. -Aaron

[@chuckruffing6283]

Needs to be attached to the board

[@MACkiteboarding]

Hmmmm...smells like a digression to me. 😂 Good winds, my friend. -Aaron

[@chuckruffing6283]

@@MACkiteboarding Just holding the kite thing is not practical...

[@MACkiteboarding]

@@chuckruffing6283 We'll have to agree to disagree. I'm sure we CAN agree riding around using wind power is amazing no matter the craft. -Tucker

[@dcharlton07]

Hmmm, think they’ve already done that but it needs a LOT more wind to have fun