Foil Review - F-one SK8 550 vs Escape 630 - What foil is right for you?

[@Achtenvijftig]

This is the best kitefoil content I’ve seen. Although a serious threat to my wallet; gotta get myself a business foil now…

[@manuelzurbuchen3898]

Dear Rob, thanks for the video. I drive the SK8 650 with the 200 Back Wing. I am extremely enthusiastic, the larger back wing makes a big difference. The best foil I've driven so far. All the best from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[@progressionsports]

Have you ever tried it with a smaller rear wing?

[@manuelzurbuchen3898]

@@progressionsports yep, it came with a 160 wing. I didn't feel well. The 200 Wing makes a big difference, think the tuning is so perfect. Maybe the 180 aswell

[@peteribs5643]

You mean in kitefoil ? so 200 back wing is better than the reommended 180 by F One

[@manuelzurbuchen3898]

@@peteribs5643 Korrekt, in Kite Foil 👌🏼

[@Frozenguy1]

Perfect! I wrote a different comment, but I rewatched the video and you answered my question! My quiver will be 530 Escape, 750 Sk8 and 940 Phantom S for now for both wing & kite. Might exchange the Phantom S for a Sk8 950 some day, but am afraid it might be too large for freestyle (and break). 95 kgs.

[@jonbleiker]

Broken foils aren’t often talked about on KZbin eh.

[@vincentaa7825]

Best foil review I've seen.....and I've seen a few 😅

[@blooskyy7]

Thanks for sharing your insights into foil sizes. I strapless kite and wing foil too and this is super interesting.

[@progressionsports]

Glad you found it interesting 🤙

[@gcammar]

I wingfoil on waves and donwinders in Maui (no jumps). I used to own Escape 630 and 530, but sold them both because not ideal for those two disciplines. Then I bought a SK8 550 and it was too small even for my 72kg. You need at least head high and steep if you want to ride flagging the wing. As soon as you loose some steepness, it wants to come down. So I sold that too and bought a SK8 650 with is absolutely perfect for wave riding instead. It's the smoothest foil I've ever ridden. I couple it with either XXXS 160 or XS 140, both are great. Cheers.

[@hanspeeters4561]

Hello, Great review. What is the length of the fuselage with the XXS 200? I measured the length with XXXS 160 and it was 61.5 cm F-One does not mention lengts in brochure My current Sabfoil gear is 71.5cm. so 10 cm longer

[@peteribs5643]

very good review Rob, nice work, big thank from France 1 question: Do you use standard bandit or S version for kitefoil ?

[@giorgio4660]

He have said somewhere that he use monostruts for the big ones, bandit for 11/10, and the wave banditS 8/6 for stronger winds.

[@mttomi]

Hey Rob, I'm interested in how you travel with the 630 Escape. Based on its dimensions and monoblock construction, 64cm span, I doubt that it fits into a normal kite bag. Or even if it fits it would be kind of vulnerable during transportation. What is your trick?

[@scrameck]

Hi Rob, I am 85kg. Advance rider, strapless, looking for hydrofoil new gear, but ONLY for light winds, between 8 and 18 knots. Why the larger available size of the escape is only 630 ? Why not having a larger size for light winds to focus on new trick, without the need of looping your kite to restart and go? Thank you! Cheers

[@giorgio4660]

Because looping the kite isn’t an issue.

[@narutolis1]

Amazing explanation! Now i know which one to get!

[@progressionsports]

Glad it helped 🤙

[@phildaintree2794]

great video Rob. I kite strapless on axis foils HPS650 which seems similar is span (650mm) and aspect ratio (6.68) to the Escape 630 and ART699 which is closer to the SK8550, 699mm span AR 9 area 543cm2, Both get me up in 8 knots with 12m foil kite (83kg). Because the ART699 glides like crazy the turning circle is much bigger but it is fast. I like the carvability of the HPS650

[@progressionsports]

That is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Sounds like similar styles of foils to the f-ones. Amazing how these small foils are still great in light winds, with a bit of work and persistence 💪

[@phantomfreckle]

Great review and really enjoyed the technical content. Maybe F-One should take you to their factory to get you to give an interview on their progression. Escape ❤ for me

[@progressionsports]

Thanks mate, who doesn’t love an Escape!!

[@choppy3547]

best foil review ever!!!

[@choppy3547]

I agree with others .... wish you could compare say Armstrong vs Lift vs F one ...etc etc especially for us kitefoilers need special help as the sport is all wing and prone these days.... Question:: What foil would your bring for say Maui North Shore summer medium wave and open swell? thanks Josh

[@scrameck]

Great video, Bob! Without your progression videos, my learning time would have been much longer! I noticed you use a standard pocket board. Have you tried also the custom model? Thank you

[@progressionsports]

Only used the standard pockets, love them and never felt the need to try the customs. And the pockets are bomb proof which works for me!

[@giorgio4660]

Amazing. Thanks. Shame that you use only f-one equipment, comparisons between foils madeby you would be crazyyy.

[@progressionsports]

You never know, could be very interesting to compare some different brand foils 🤔

[@Gilloup]

What mast length did you use with both planes ? If I conversely wish to use the escape 630 at wingfoiling to increase riding speed, what length of mast do I need ?

[@giorgio4660]

85 is freestyle in flat water, 105/110 is race, 90/95 is a great compromise

[@Gilloup]

@@giorgio4660 I bought the escape 630 and a 105 F One mast. No regret at all for the two of them. I tried before a Fanatic Glide 725 and it was rolling, but the first seconds I used the escape it was straight line instead ! However I often need several tries to level up and fly and often suffer from stalling when out of jibing. To get rid of that I need speed, so I need wind ... or maybe a more performing wing ... so $$$$. And more, switching feet on the escape 630 is way harder than on a sk8 950 and larger foils ! But the escape 630 is so fast and stable at high speed. As to the 105, incredible, its 20 cm in excess of my other 85 mast act like a valve, I never crash at high speed through waves.

[@giorgio4660]

@@Gilloup wingfoil? You’re light! You’ve bought the best setup you could imo, have fun! 92 is considered The mast size for freeride, the shorter 85 is The freestyle instead in kitefoil but if you’re not in flat water and chop isn’t light 105 usually works better. Yeah anyway, if you start liking more these type of foil a wing like the north ultra or else will be enjoyed more, I’ve noticed that in kitefoil as i usually prefer an higher ar kite, a ghost v3 slingshot or a foil kite or a big air kite usually is more enjoyable going straight upwind and downwind with the foil, with my “old” 2023 wave kite in downwind I have to move it a lot more and in upwind i have less power… with these high ar kite i even go faster while i feel more stable.

[@nicolapescasio2316]

I'm really interested at this topic...I'm using F-one gear for wingfoil and I wanted to enter the F-one world also with the kitefoil...BUT as I ride kite foil only strapless in light wind condiitions (8-15kn) and 'm 85kg whiche foil size do you recommend? I don't care so much the speed, I care more the bottom end, to carve around, the agility...

[@progressionsports]

650/750/850 would all work but just depends on your kite skills and kite foil skills. The more advanced your level the smaller you can go. I haven’t used any of these yet but my gut says 750 will be a good already foil for allot of people in a wide range of conditions. The 850 would be the better option if you want to make the most of really light stuff 8-12 knots. I’m hoping to get some of these foils to see how they all work in different conditions.

[@peteribs5643]

fone mirage 800 of course !

[@ecoSysteo]

I dont remember when the escape 630 was on the market ? 2023 ?

[@youhavequasp]

How I wish I was in Langebaan right now :)

[@progressionsports]

You and me both

[@kountchev1]

great!!! thanxx!

[@progressionsports]

You're welcome! 🤜🤛

[@mikemiller774]

Looks like Escape 630 is not so easy to get. I see now a few shops online, but in general not so much. A lot of shops have it as Out of stock. In FB groups often people look for it used.

[@rafinhakite]

Muito bom!

[@progressionsports]

🫡

[@celinetonio6620]

Conclusion: Escape for the North Sea - it’s always choppy !! 😁

[@pixeldrew]

Kite foiling is so much more fun for bigger guys riding powered. I can see the appeal of winging if I had decent waves but give me strapless kite foiling any day.

[@progressionsports]

Definitely. Though winging is getting easier but nice to have a level playing field with all that power the kite offers!