2017 RANGE MAGAZINE TEST REVIEW REPORTS
LOFTSAILS TEST-WINNING PEDIGREE
WINDSURF MAGAZINE (UK) OCTOBER 2016 ISSUE
LOFTSAILS 2017 PURELIP 5.2
"STABILITY AT ITS VERY CORE"
‘The PureLip 5.7m has the crisp response you’d expect of a wave sail, coupled with the steadfast stability and speed to offer plenty of crossover /blasting potential.’
READ FULL TEST and TEST INTRO OVERVIEW
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Planche Mag (FRA) Special Tests Issue April 2017
Loftsails 2017 Racingblade 7.8 Coup de Coeur
"ULTRA WELL-ROUNDED"
Relatively thin with a more discrete twist in the luff than the average, the new Loft is a little lighter than last year on the scales with a high proportion of monofilm and two clew holes.
+ WIND RANGE, GENERAL STABILITY, LINEAR PERFORMANCE AT ALL SPEEDS AND WIND STRENGTHS, GOOD GYBE.
– NOTHING
Planche mag subscriptions and online
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"PERFORMANCE AND ENDURANCE"
The Oxygen is brand new in 2017 with a new X-ply colorful monofilm above the boom and a vertical cut to reinforce the stability. One of the most robust sails in this group thanks to a large X-ply use.
+ WIDE WIND RANGE; NERVOUS, HOMOGENEOUS PERFORMANCES AT ANY REGIME, EASY TO HANDLE, CONSTRUCTION
– NOTHING!
Planche mag subscriptions and online
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LOFTSAILS 2017 SWITCHBLADE 7.8
"THE RIGHT DOSE"
Tested on a 75% Carbon RDM mast the Switchblade is really easy to rig, the mast goes smoothly through the mast pocket, and delivers plenty of shape, once down hauled properly
+ WIND AND TRIM RANGE, ACCESSIBILITY TOP PERFORMANCES, EASY TO RIG
– NOTHING TO REPORT
Planche mag subscriptions and online
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LOFTSAILS 2017 PURELIP 4.7
"PREMIUM STABILITY"
With a longer boom than the average the Purelip presents a 100% X-ply construction, 5 battens and some profile shape just behind the mast. It demands quite a bit of downhaul tension.
+ WIND RANGE, PERFORMANCES, CONSTRUCTION, SURF LONG TURNS, UPWIND, STABILITY,
– TIGHT TURNS IN THE WAVE, A BIT LESS MANEUVERABLE
Planche mag subscriptions and online
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LOFTSAILS 2017 WAVESCAPE 4.5
"SPICY SESSION"
The Wavescape has a moderate open leech and a slightly forward shaped profile. The bottom batten has been replaced, not to crossing the boom anymore. It has two outhaul positions and a full X-ply construction.
+ WIND RANGE, DIRECT, EASY HANDLING IN SURF, PERFORMANCES
– CHOPPY CONDITIONS, GUSTY WINDS.
Planche mag subscriptions and online
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"THE ROCKET"
The new Racingblade evolves with a deeper profile on the bottom of the sail to increase its power and acceleration. A new monofilm is used in the mast panel to reduce deformation at the top of the sail and gain stiffness.
On the Water
Once on the water, the Racingblade, shows immediately its character, a true race engine. It strongly delivers its power from the low end on, driving the sailor and its kit forward but keeping its power on the back hand, so it can be regulated and an additional gear added when needed. When it comes to pumping is one of the most effective ones in the group, delivering a strong reaction, yet keeping a minimal soft feeling. The sail delivers a direct feeling, and never stops accelerating, be it in the low or high end of its wind range. If the rider is up to the game and able to follow the sail’s rhythm, the Racingblade will be one of the fastest in the group. The wind range is very wide, and while the sail keeps delivering its power in strong winds, the stability of its profile allows the sail to go fast through the lulls and offer enough power to replace your board.
The sail rotates smoothly and thanks to its low end power relaunches you back very quickly.
Verdict
The Racingblade is a very complete sail, offering first class performances, fast planning, explosive relauches and a diabolic top speed. On the other hand the sails demands the rider to be focused and fully engaged as it is very direct and powerfull.
+ ACCELERATION, SPEED, LOW END POWER
– RIDER COMMITMENT / ENGAGEMENT.
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LOFTSAILS 2017 OXYGEN 6.8
"AUTOPILOT SAILING"
The Oxygen celebrates its 15th anniversary and therefore presents new curves, a longer luff and a tensioned sail body. Additionally a new material, 3,5mm Biax, is used on the sail top, coming directly from the development of the competition sails and improving its performance and comfort. Sail is SDM/RDM compatible.
On the Water
We have tested this sails rigged with an SDM mast. We liked the large mastfoot protection pad, which opens up and offers great access to the downhaul pulley when rigging. When jumping on the board the Oxygen can feel a bit heavy, however once it gets going you completely forget about it. It needs quite a bit of downhaul tension. It has the usual “Loftsails” feeling; the sail breathes, feels alive. The sail makes all the hard work for the rider and not the other way around. The complete rig is very dynamic and offers and increasing acceleration. When sailing on the limit of its wind range you can really appreciate the performance of the sail that maintains its comfort and stability. It feels light in your hands and shows huge stability once locked on top of the board working its way through gusts and chop and letting you enjoy the ride. This sails offers good bottom end and huge wind range at the same time, while keeping its comfort and elasticity at high speeds. The Oxygen has improved its feeling while gybing compared to older version that felt a bit heavier than the rest.
Verdict
While the Loftsails is sold at a significant lower price, the new Oxygen design improves its high wind performance with the new mix of materials and longer luff. Thanks to the downhaul wide trim range, you can really expand the sails wind range. Lighter in the hands than olders verison and much more tolerant, is not just a sail for heavy riders.
+ BOTTOM END, COMFORT, STABILITY, PERFORMANCE, WIDE WIND
– FEELS SLIGHTLY HEAVY WHEN PUMPING
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LOFTSAILS 2017 SWITCHBLADE 7.8
"SMOOTH DRIVE"
The Switchblade presents a new design derived from competition. The top part of the sail uses 3.5 mm Biax panels and covers a bigger area than last year. The profile has been reworked to be more efficient and expand its trim reactivity. The battens are housed in X-ply sleeves that alternate side to keep sails’ symmetry. Compatible with RDM andSDM masts.
On the Water
The Switchblade has tension across all its body, so the shape and profile are kept on all its length. The moderate mast pocket is in line with its free race program. When pumping you can feel its softness especially on top of the sail, which gets you planning very early. The Switchblade accelerates smoothly but steadily, effortless for the rider, and is one of the fastest sails in the group. It is easy to control, maintaining its stance at all times. Wind range is huge thanks to the different downhaul trim possibilities, soft trimming will result in a tight leech to bust its bottom end power while extra downhaul will expand the rider’s playground but keeping the accelaration, feeling and behavior. A bit less smooth in handling compared to others in the group, but is always with a constant stance.
Verdict
With a good bottom end and high wind range, the Switchblade is able to cover a very large range of conditions thanks to its trim-ability. With a lower price this season, the Switchblade keeps its pedigree, delivering weighted feelings. The sail offers a comforting behavior thanks to its wisdom performance all across the wind range.
+ BOTTOM END, POWER, HANDLING
– FEELS SLIGHTLY BIGGER.
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LOFTSAILS 2017 PURELIP 4.7
"EASY POWER"
The flagship Wave sail model from legendary designer Monty Spindler is back this season with an updated design. Still presenting 5 battens, this Purelip 4.5m2 has longer luff and boom lengths, but equal weight. (3.4 kg)
On the Water
With a stable and thin profile the Purelip has enough power to never fell its absence, but without overloading your backhand. The sail delivers its power very cleverly. With a tensioned sail body, the Purelip benefits from very stable profile that guarantees one of the widest wind range in the market. This season we have noticed great improvement in terms of flexibility and easy use. It is difficult to describe its behavior as the Purelip does not make it notice either while sailing or surfing, responding to all the expectations showing great neutrality, power and maneuverability when needed. It never disappoint the rider, showing to be a successful design. Only critic could be that it lacks the direct feeling of other radical models.
Verdict
The Purelip confirms itself as a safe bet on the homogeny and easy handling wave sails segment. Even though is not the most radical wavesail, It is easy to use and always a sure value that will never deliver a bad experience whatever the conditions are. Really stable and with an XXL wind range, the Purelip doubles as a great bump and jump storm sail. We have also tested and approved the 4.0m2
+ HOMOGENEITY, CONTROL, MANEUVERABILITY, WIND RANGE
– NOTHING TO REPORT
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"LIGHT AND HOMOGENEOUS"
Monty Spindler has radically changed the Wavescape this year with a reduced aspect ratio and a bottom batten that recovers its classic placement below the boom. Sail construction is up to Loftsails standards, simple yet effective and long lasting.
On the Water
When holding the sail you will be surprised by its light weight, much more than any other Loftsails. With a compact design and its four battens the Wavescape delivers enough power on your back hand to start planning early and move effortlessly around the spot. Despite its thin profile it lacks a bit off the on/off character that pure surfers might expect. Featuring a longer boom and a tensioned body, the sail feels neutral when you sheet out, however a bit behind compared to other sails in this group. The Wavescape is a reliable sail that will never deliver any bad surprises, is homogeny, stable and with a wide wind range proves to be very polyvalent.
Verdict
The new Wavescape is a good compact, light, easy to handle and stable sail to use it in very different spots and conditions. On top of being a pure wave sail, the Wavescape can easily expand its use to freewave/freestyle thanks to its polyvalence.+ Wind Range, direct, Easy handling in surf, Performances.
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At the Beach
The Oxygen ist Loftsail´s everbody´s darling kind of Freeride sail. It is available in sizes from 4.6 to 9.5 and supposed to offer even enough performance for freeracers. The 6.8 LoftSail is the smallest sail in this test group and mainly differs from the rest of the pack with its shorter and thinner mast. While other brands recommend a 460 SDM for their 7.0 Freeride Sails, the 6.8 Oxygen works fine on a 430 RDM. The great mast protector is easily accessible and opens the way to the downhaul perfectly. Thick X-Ply in the foot will resist any attacks of harness hooks and can be found in the top as well. When looking at the rigg, the deep profile below the boom is a unique eye-catcher in this group. Further, the Oxygen deserves a good amount of loose leech.
On the Water
Despite being the smallest sail of the tested group, the oxygen is perfectly preserved in right this group. We were a little bit worried about the disadvantages in performance, the smaller size brings, but the Oxygen proofed us wrong. It is a very powerful to get on the plane, does not produce the acceleration of the Sailloft Cross or Avanti Poweride, but it gives a healthy drive and if it has made the plane, accelerates well up to a competitive top speed, even though it is the smallest sail of this group. Nevertheless, on this mast the soft profile seems to be trimmed towards low wind performance. For those who are mainly looking for top speed, an SDM might offer even better performance. Handlingwise, the short RDM pays off, although the Oxygen is never as light as the Gun Sails Stream or Severne NCX, here the deep profile in the bottom avoids grades in the excellent range.
Conclusion
The Oxygen is a serious performance sail created by Monty Spindler that mainly fits advanced riders with somewhat faster boards. The soft profile ignores even the worst gust and produces incredible acceleration. To give the Oxygen the last edge performance, freeracers are recommended to use an SDM, freeriders may perfectly use the tested RDM.
Windsurfing Jahrbuch online-order
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At the Beach
The Switchblade´s sail bag seems to be a bit more heavy than the rest of the pack, unrolling the sail you notice why: The wide luff pocket is made of solid fabric, the thick and easy accessible mast protector brings a bunch of integrated features and the solid monofilm that is enframed by a generous amount of X-Ply leads to a very solid first impression. The Switchblade features seven battens and three cambers on the bottom battens of the sail, any sail size smaller than the tested 7.8 does without the seventh batten. With a bit of experience and the right technique the Switchblade is easy to rig and the printed measurements proofed to be perfectly right. Supported by a strap that puts the required tension on the foot, the sail produces a massive profile, which runs out above the boom and leads over to a considerable loose leech.
On the Water
Wasn´t it the LoftSails that was so hard to carry to the beach ten minutes ago? First doubts are coming up, because the Switchblade does feel really balanced, not feel light as a feather, but in no matter does it feel too heavy. Still, the Switchblade works nicely soft, but very powerful so that the rider never has to worry about being left behind. If we were just on the edge of planning or flying around fully powered up, the Switchblade was a reliable partner for races in any kind of wind. The test-team was seriously impressed by the Switchblade´s top speed and control in high winds, but also by the acceleration it delivers and the feedback to active pumping. The amazing performance the Switchblade offers does not really pay off in the best handling, beginners who are looking for an easy to jibe sail, will not be too happy with the Switchblade, for experts who are up to powerful jibing, the Switchblade will be a very good partner. We have to state that the handling is not too bad for a sail that offers this amazing performance.
Conclusion
Monty Spindler, designer of LoftSails, does have the reputation of building fast sails for good reason and this is perfectly proven by the SwitchBlade. Combined with a Freerace or Slalom-Board, the LoftSail scores perfect points in any of the performance grades. For this reason, the Switchblade should be found far up every speed freak´s wishing list.
Windsurfing Jahrbuch online-order
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This super versatile sail covers sailing conditions for wave, bump & jump and freeride in windy conditions.
‘… preferred in on shore conditions, in off-road sailing or in longer, drawn-out turns in surf. Its strong point is a large range of use by playing with the downhaul and uphaul tension and eyelet position’
Planche mag subscriptions and online
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LOFTSAILS 2017 WAVESCAPE 4.7
The Wavescape has huge acceleration with a high level of performance
‘The Wavescape is suitable for waveriders with a more explosive style, more direct for short ‘nervous’ and fast surfing. The most ‘nervous’ but the firmness of profile’
Planche mag subscriptions and online
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"STABILITY AT ITS VERY CORE"
‘Fast, direct and with impressive top end stability, the Purelip is marvellously adaptable through tuning and use of its clew eyelets to compliment the prevailing conditions and any riding style’
READ FULL TEST and TEST INTRO OVERVIEW
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