My favorite Pumpfoil - Review of the Sabfoil Leviathan 1150, 1350 and 1550

After hours of testing I found my favorite pumpfoil! Watch my review of the Sabfoil Leviathan Series, how they compare in size and to other frontwings from different brands.
TESTED FRONTWINGS:
Sabfoil Leviathan 1150
Sabfoil Leviathan 1350
Sabfoil Leviathan 1550
Sabfoil Tortuga W1250
Slingshot G1000
Slingshot PTM 930
Axis PNG 1150
Axis PNG 1310
Gong Rise XXL
Gong Allvator XL
UNFORTUNATELY NOT TESTED FRONTWING:
Sabfoil Leviathan 1750
BOARDS:
Sabfoil B08
2 x Custom / Self Made
Slingshot High Roller
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[@paulkopf7759]

Yay! Just what I needed! Great timing!

[@hoppline]

Haha, perfect! If you need help, let me know!

[@ozoneflysurfer9491]

Excellent review and info! thanks

[@hoppline]

Merci 😉

[@sebastianf.4946]

Thanks for putting all infos together 🎉

[@hoppline]

Maybe one day I will get paid for IT 😂

[@sebastianf.4946]

@@hoppline in Surfing? nobody gets really paid for all the work - at least not with money, you get payed with good vibes and stoke….

[@hoppline]

@@sebastianf.4946 Who needs money if you can feed your kids with love and air (-:

[@darrylforsyth2166]

Thanks for video. I cannot remember from your past videos if you already have one but i would have thought that the SAB 980 (or smaller) would be perfect for you for pumping and downwinding. I am 95kgs and am amazed by the low stall speed and flexibility/friendliness of that wing.

[@hoppline]

Hey, yep, that would be a sweat pick !! Haven't tried it yet but thought about getting one. I have the Slingshot PTM 930 and use it for winging and riding tanker waves. I did a wing downwinder yesterday on the Levitathan 1150 and it's so easy to get up and keep going but I just wish for some more speed. I am still working on my SUP flatwater start and still struggle even with the Leviathan 1350. But I think once I got this dialed in I will make the switch for sure !!

[@chucktrier]

Wunderbar :-) I am a decent wing foiler going into dock start and weighs around 72 kg. Would you recommend the 1150? Just ordered the 1350 from the local surf shop, but I guess they are willing to make the change…

[@hoppline]

Hey, that's a hard one, but I think I would stick with the 1350. Like I said, High Aspect is not the best to learn on, but if you are familiar with winging you will figure it out quick. The 1350 will give you more lift and glide making the start easier and progress faster. Once you know how to pump and you want to be a little more agile you can spice up the 1350 with a smaller stabilizer. I just came back from a session with the 325 stabi and it REALLY makes a difference. Further I watched a friend of mine with 95 kg stepping up to the 1550 because he was stuck in progress on the 1350 for a couple of sessions. I could immediately tell the difference and even if he will probably go back to the 1350 one day, for now the 1550 is a much better fit.....hope that helps !?

[@janschenk85]

Hey Hopline Thanks for your opinion. I would have questions about this: which foils from Gong and Axis have you tried for dock launching? Can you sell any of them? You are from Switzerland or? Keep up the good work, I like and share so you get more viewers🤙 Jan

[@hoppline]

Hey Jan, thank you very much for your support! I really appreciate! I am from Germany and unfortunately I don't have any foils for sail at the moment. You can find a detailed list of the foils I have tried in the description. Cheers, Nico

[@jimmymazzanti1451]

Sabfoil Leviathan 1150 Sabfoil Leviathan 1350 Sabfoil Leviathan 1550 Sabfoil Tortuga W1250 Slingshot G1000 Slingshot PTM 930 Axis PNG 1150 Axis PNG 1310 Gong Rise XXL Gong Allvator XL

[@hoppline]

@@jimmymazzanti1451 Thanks, I also tried a few Slingshot Frontwings like the G1000 and the PTM930 but the are not my first choice for dockstart (-:

[@jonastverring6925]

Thanks for the info! I am also on WL1150 at 82kg. Which is your favourite board? I am considering the B08

[@hoppline]

The BO8 is nice, but flat. I wish it had some rocker and concave. Not so much for touch downs, but for a more locked in foot position. Take a look at the MIO board. I tried it recently and really liked it.

[@jensjarl7310]

Hi! Appreciate the video - really nice walk through ✌. Getting a 1350 based on your video 💪. But wondering how much mast height matters? Currently got 82cm.. but see you use 72..? Would you recommend getting a shorter mast as well? I'm 85kg if that matters

[@hoppline]

Hey Jens, thanks for the heads up (-: Appreciate! Mast high depends on a few different criteria and a little personal preference. Foils and especially big foils like the Leviathans are way more efficient if they are ridden very close to the water surface. It really is a difference like day and night. So on a larger mast you will be higher above the water and maybe having a little more to fight with balance. On the other hands if gives your more room for playing in waves and mastering transitions from one wave into the other. For starting a smaller mast might be easier and more stable. It also depends a little on your dock and starting technique. Higher docks work fine with higher masts. On lower docks it's easier with lower masts as you don't have to jump that high. 70-75cm is a good starting point. For beach starts you might even go down to 60-65cm in the beginning. If your dock allows for a good start with a 82cm mast, I would probably stick with this one for the beginning. Mast are usually to most expensive parts on a set up. If you feel like utilising a smaller mast for winging as well, it might be worse to get one. Cheers, Nico

[@jensjarl7310]

@@hoppline awesome! so many unknowns as a complete beginner in pump foil.. really appreciate these insights. Probably sticking with the 82 for now ✌

[@ZenSendsMedia]

Which slingshot did you start on and was your issue with the brand or simply the AR of the foil you got? -someone who is just getting into foiling

[@hoppline]

Hey, I don't have any issues with Slingshot and still happily use a lot of Slingshot gear. The only thing they are missing are some high performance pumping wings. I was fully committed to Slingshot but needed something else for pumping. This is when I started to use Saboil as well. I started my Slingshot journey on the old Infinity System and went on with the Phantasm sets. Great gear and the discontinued 926 will always have a place in my heart (-: . If you need more infos or advice just let me know!!

[@youhavequasp]

Hey Nico, schönes Video! Fahre den 1550 bei 85kg und kann deine Einstufung hier voll unterschreiben. Der ist wirklich enorm stabil/träge in der Rollachse. Würde ich nochmal einsteigen, würde ich mindestens auch eine Nummer kleiner wählen. Frage: Der Spot, an dem du filmst ist in Mainz, oder? Kannst du mal teilen, wo genau? Bin demnächst ein paar Tage dort und würde da auch gern mal pumpen gehen! 😊

[@hoppline]

Hey, danke für das Feedback! Im Nachhinein ist man immer schlauer, dafür Punktet der 1550 mit viel Lift und Glide (-: Spot kann ich Dir gerne sagen, allerdings ungerne hier in den Kommentaren (-: Ich glaube du kannst mir direkt an meinen Kanal eine Nachricht per Mail schicken oder versuch es über @hoppline bei Instagram, da kann man direkt PN verschicken

[@drbezard]

Have you ever tried Armstrong APF can you compare it ?!

[@hoppline]

Unfortunately not, but would love to!

[@vianasurfer]

Good video, but the M8 don't improve fuselage stability, they rather weaken it, compared to M6, since there's less material on the fuselage. The M8 increase screw strength and bending for sure.

[@hoppline]

Hey, GREAT POINT !! I thought about this, too but did not want to make the video too technical and complicated. I even think that the M8 fuselage benefits from less structural tension during the cooling process / heat treatment as the remaining walls have an more equal wall thickness. But that's just speculation.....

[@Reefbreaker6]

What do you think about the Axis PNG 1310 in comparison to the Leviathan 1350?

[@hoppline]

The Axis takes more speed and skill to dockstart and pump, but is faster once you are up and riding. For flatwater pumping and tiny waves I prefer the 1350, small to medium waves and fast pumping I would go for the 1310.

[@maksymskoryk3784]

Hello Nico! Great video! However, one point caught my attention. The video is about foils for pumping/dock start and you review Leviathan series. So when you said that Gong foils are slow I immediately thought that you are talking about Sirus series which is direct opponent from Leviathan. But then I read the description of the video and see that you tried Rise and Allvator wings from Gong which are just beginner wings! So the comparison is far from fair. I believe mentioning the model, not the brand was worth it

[@hoppline]

Hey, fair point, but at the date of making the video Sirus was not available and Rise and Allvator were the "pumping" frontwings from Gong. A lot has changed since then and to do justice to everyone I would probably have to make a new video. Further the Leviathan 1150 is not my favorite pumping wing anymore as I moved down to the Razor 980. Now the Razor Pros were just announced and I already ordered all sizes. It's really hard to keep up with the rapid development of foiling, so sorry for any inconvenience and thanks for making your point. Hope some people will read your comment and my reply (-:

[@maksymskoryk3784]

Amazing! Thanks for such a reaction to my feedback! Keep making new content, I love it.

[@maksymskoryk3784]

When you said that you ordered all sizes of razor pro wings I immediately remembered your shorts with wife where you say "I borrowed/bought it" 😂

[@hoppline]

@@maksymskoryk3784 (-: ... don't tell her (-:

[@user-vw6nk3rt4h]

Have you tried the 1350 on an axis aluminum mast with an adapter (my current setup). I'm wondering if the 73p is less drag than the axis alu 19mm. Also very interested in the nolimitz v2. But it's more than double the cost of a 73p and I'm concerned about longevity at my 90+kg. Though it would be nice to have a mast that is fast enough for winging the blade800 and stiff enough to sup flat water the 1350.

[@hoppline]

Hey, did not get the chance to try your set up, but I use the 73 instead of the 73P for pumping exactly for the reason to wing it aswell. But I am only 65 kg and won't go beyond 1350 in frontwing size. All the "stronger" boys here have the P mast and I think for pumping the additional drag can be neglected.

[@zackmack4712]

I have used the Axis 19mm 82cm mast with my L1350. The adapter is a bit heavy but drag difference between masts is not noticeable to me and there's zero flex at my 90kgs

[@magnus9756]

gong to slow ? Did u try the new sirus wing the 156cm is still quite turnie and fast for its size... maybe a a bit heavy. But i realy like it but i never tryed a axis to compare. The down side of the sirus 156 is you need a titanium fuse alu will break. The glide is crazy tho

[@hoppline]

Hey, like I wrote in the description I only tried the old Gong Wing like Alavator and rise. Would love to try the Sirius....maybe not the giggest 😂😂

[@kitesurfmexico3377]

Do you think 1150 works well for wing foiling in light wind with Slingshot Phantas mast and fuselage?

[@hoppline]

What's the rest of your set up and how much do you weight (-: ?

[@kitesurfmexico3377]

I have slingwing 5 and 6,5. 75kg, 82 carbon mas, and 325 stabilizer@@hoppline

[@hoppline]

@@kitesurfmexico3377 SWEET ! Nice gear ! With the Leviathan 1150 and the 6,5 Slingwing you should be going in sub 10 kn of wind easily. I don't know about your board volume, but if it is not to small and you have a good pumping technique you could probably go down to 8 knots of wind. Maybe add a bigger stabilizer if you have....helps a lot!

[@kitesurfmexico3377]

thanks@@hoppline

[@mikeb4414]

I'm 70kg. Using the 1350 for pump foiling. I love the pump, glide, and ability to do dead starts, beach starts etc. Only draw back is ability to turn well, especially in waves/swell. Did you find you lost much ability to consistently do static jump starts going from 1350 to 1150? Also how much a difference in overall pump time/distance do you find between the two? thanks, Mike.

[@hoppline]

Hey Mike, reads like you know what you are doing. The 1150 takes a little bit more speed at the start but really not much. Stepping down you will loose a little glide but gain a lot of agility. For me it's a more than welcome trade off. If you haven't done yet, you could start by using a different (smaller) stabi. The 370 and 325 work really well for me. Overall I would say the 1150 takes about 15 percent more energy in static pumping but in return feels 30 percent more free (-:

[@mikeb4414]

Thanks for the very informative feedback. Gonna try a couple smaller stabs if possible. Using the 380 currently. Sounds like the 1150 would work great for me once I got used to it. I do know someone that has the 1150. Hopefully I will be able to try his and decide if its worth investing in one. @@hoppline

[@hoppline]

@@mikeb4414 That's the way to go! Trying first hand is always the best solution!

[@mikeb4414]

So acutrally got an 1150 for a good price used. Found the turning a bit better than the 1350 for sure. Unfortunately I found it a fair bit harder to pump as long as the 1350 especially in windy/choppy conditions. I also tried it light wind winging. Was a bit more fun than the 1350 for turning but I found it just as slow and not much fun. Decided I am going ot sell the 1150. I have a kujira 1440 coming. From what I hear it is good for pump foiling, but also fast and turny enough to be fun for light wind winging. If you know anyone looking for a used lev1150 let me know. Thanks, Mike.

[@hoppline]

@@mikeb4414 Hey Mike, good to hear you got yourself a 1150 and sad that you don't like it as much as I do. I am totally with you when it comes down to speed. Both the 1350 and 1150 are no speed monster but have incredible glide instead. The 1150 needs to be kept near the surface for maximum glide, far more than the 1350. Maybe you want to give it another try? Once you brought up the foil about 10cm below the water surface efficiency is so much butter and noticeable straight away. But if very long pumps and maximum glide is what you are after, you might be better of with another foil. Use Leviathans usually sell very good and fast on the internet. Never heard of the Kujira 1440 but let me know how it works once you had a few sessions. I now pump the Razor 980 in between, more speed, but even less glide. And for winging: I don't like the Leviathans for winging, to slow and not my style of winging. It's more cruising (-:

[@genze58]

I am just going start my dock start journey. I found per your recommendation a inexpensive Sabfoil 1250. After learning I think I will probably got to Sabfoil Leviathan 1350 for only dailey dock starting and pumping practice. My question is what rear stabilizer should I get for the 1250 that would be the easiest to learn dock starting? Thank You

[@hoppline]

Hey, what is your weight and height if I may ask?

[@genze58]

@@hoppline I’m 6 foot two tall and I weigh about 170 pounds with a wetsuit

[@hoppline]

​@@genze58 Hey, a bigger stabi makes it more stable while jumping on the board and a smaller one will loosen up the pitch, making the pumping easier, but at the same time asking for more control. If you have some foiling experience I would go with a S370, one you will not outgrow so fast. If you are new to the sport, I would probably try to find a S399, S425 flat or s430. From the feel I prefer a flat stabilizer as it feels most natural and direct for pumping. I love the S325 but it takes a constant control of the pitch. Good luck and if you have further questions don't hesitate to get back to me (-:

[@genze58]

Thanks so much for the help and advice. I don't have much experience but I have been Efoiling for a year with the ultra short board and different wings so not totally new. But I know Its totally different. Its kind of like a 2024 goal for me. I also have perfect dock to use that I can walk to from my house. Thanks again

[@hoppline]

@@genze58 Sounds like perfect conditions! 425 flat would probably the easiest and S370 the one you could still use on your Leviathan once you outgrow the 1250

[@sternokrat]

Hey. Amazing content!! Thx for sharing your knowledge. I’d like to use my kitefoil setup also for pumping. Fuselage should fit but I don’t have the pump mast from sabfoil. Just the regular one (82cm). Do you think that also works? Thx in advance.

[@hoppline]

Hey, it depends a little on your weight and the frontwings you intend to use. I used the regular 82cm mast with the 1350 and it was perfectly fine. I am only 63 kg but I know some people using the regular mast with around 85kg and they have no problems. I think were you really need the "P" mast if you are either a very heavy rider, going bigger than 1350 or throwing radical moves and therefor applying a lot of force. I am actually pumping on a PIUMA mast right now and love it. Hope that helps....

[@sternokrat]

​@@hoppline Thx for your answer. That helps a lot. I have 85 kg and I'm thinking about getting the W 1250 that you recommended as my first frontwing to learn how to pump. I would love to combine it with an S 463 Stabilizer and my Duotone Pace Kiteboard (17,2 liters, 119cm) and my standard 82 mast and a F 700hs Fuselage. Do you think that is a good idea to start off with? I'm just a little concerned because wakethief tested the w 1250 and after checking the test I'm less confident that it is a good choice. Thx so much for your time and looking forward to your answer.

[@hoppline]

​@@sternokrat Hey, the W 1250 is not a dedicated pump wing and not very efficient when it comes down to long pumps and setting records. But it's very good to get started and develop a good feeling. It's more forgiving with more than enough lift. Paired with a S 463 it should be a good fit for your weight. The 82cm mast and F700 fuselage are okay to start with. Once you know you enjoy pumping and want something more efficient you might think about going shorter on the mast and fuselage (73 / 663 / 653 ...). The frontwing gets way more efficient closer to the water surface and a shorter mast makes it easier to control. A shorter fuselage enables you to pump quicker with less resistants in pitch. Here were I live you can pick up a used W 1250 for around 200 Euros. A used 1350 would set you back 500 Euros. It's all a mater of how much you like pumping and how much money you want to spent, but a W 1250 paired with the rest of your gear would make up for a solid starter set and you can always sell the W1250 and upgrade once you get the feeling (-:

[@sternokrat]

@@hoppline Thanks so much for your time and the response. I'm quite ambitious and would like to choose the right setup. Do you think I can ride my Setup with the 1350 as well? And would you recommend the S 1350 for my weight and skill (quite a good kitefoiler and a decent winger) rather than the W 1250? Checking the Setups on the Sabfoil Website the Fuse is smaller and the Stabi as well..

[@hoppline]

@@sternokrat I personally think the W1250 is the better wing to start with, as it is more forgiving and you do not need to land "spot on". The leviathan 1350 is of course a better choice for pumping and would suit your weight perfectly. I know a lot of people that learned to dockstart with the 1350. Might take a few more tries but if you are a kiter and winger you should get the hang of it pretty fast. The rest of your set is fine for the start. The longer fuse and bigger stabi might even give you an advantage in stability. Sizing down will than "free up" the foil, especially in the pitch. If money is no problem, go for the 1350 and you won't outgrow it so fast. If you want to give it a try first, pick up a second hand 1250....(-:

[@slappyosis]

Have you tried winging the 1150?

[@hoppline]

YES !! As I have quiet a few different foils, winging the 1150 and 1350 was not on my list for a long time. But testing the new VAYU Aura 2 I did some low wind sessions on a 6'0 Gong Cruzader using the Levithans. Wind was somewhere from 4-8 knots and once on foil I could easily ride. Stall speed is incredible low and you can surf tiny waves almost forever. Top speed is not the best, but I think this is not what your are expecting winging a 1150 (-: . Overall it was a really fun session and I will definitely do it again. A small challenge was foot position. It took a few turns to get that dialed in and I would recommend no straps so you can move your feet free. Stabilizers make a big difference, too. I ended up with a sabfoil 663 fuselage and a S325 stabi for the best surfy feeling. But just for winging a longer fuselage and bigger stabi would probably be a better option!!

[@FoilingPastor]

Hoi Nico, cooles Video und cooles Licht beim Filmen. Wenn du mal in die Schweiz kommst, kannst du gerne mal den Gong Sirus 156 ausprobieren (oder auf meinem Kanal anschauen). Der Gong Sirus ist zum Leviathan sehr ähnlich und vielleicht eine gute Mischung zwischen Axis und SAB was die Geschwindigkeit, Glide und Volumen angeht. Grüsse, Marvin

[@hoppline]

Hey Marvinho, cool ! Danke für die Blumen und das Angebot! Der Gong Sirius steht noch auf meiner "Probierliste" (-: ! Gilt natürlich auch umgekehrt, wenn Du mal im Rhein-Main-Gebiet bist, kannst du gerne hier was testen und wir machen ein Video zusammen (-:

[@FoilingPastor]

@@hoppline Sehr gern. Danke für die Einladung, wäre sicherlich. Leider ist der Weg so weit ;)

[@FabianFoehrenbach]

Will auch dabei sein. Testival Tour Rhein-Schweiz-Salzkammergut :)

[@hoppline]

@@FabianFoehrenbach Hahaha..... Trio Grande

[@aminefadous5875]

Thanks for your input, do they fit on the Phantasam fuselage?

[@hoppline]

What a coincidence!! I am uploading a tutorial on this topic right now! Should be online in less than one hours!

[@aminefadous5875]

Do you use a short or long fuselage of Phantasam and which stab ?

[@hoppline]

@@aminefadous5875 Hey, at the moment I mainly use the Sabfoil F663K and F653K for pumping and downwind and the Slingshot F710 for winging (mostly with the Sabfoil Medusa Pro 769 and 669). I have an eye on the new Sabfoil Piuma 652 but not sure if I want another system (-:

[@hoppline]

@@aminefadous5875 And for the stab, I love the Sabfoil S325 and the Slingshot PS340 and PS325 ....don't ride bigger anymore....