The Loftsails Oxygen HD offers superb top end performance, while requiring some targeted input from the rider at the bottom end of its wind range. The Oxygen will remain fast and stable, while it will naturally work to keep you in control – meaning there is no need to constantly adjust the settings. The Oxygen is a pleasure to sail, particularly in well powered conditions.
Unrolling and rigging the Oxygen, you will immediately notice the generous use of high-quality and robust materials from tip to toe. Plain, clean monofilm doesn’t make an appearance, instead, it’s covered in varying degrees of X-Ply, from 5mil in the luff and foot panels to 2mil in the upper body panels. Each placed with care and thought about to maximise stability and robustness, while keeping a careful eye on its weight. The Oxygen, on a purely materials basis, is exceptional. Rigging the Oxygen on the recommended mast is simple, as it downhauls with ease. Simply downhaul to the trimming diamond on the top panel and leave it there to set you up for the full spectrum of conditions. At rest, the Oxygen has a flatter profile and draft than some other 6-batten sails on test, but there is still some flex and give in the lower section of the Oxygen where it can fill. At the clew, two eyelets are placed in quite contrasting positions compared to any other sail on test. The lower eyelet, which is placed cut into the sail under the boom for well-powered conditions, while for light wind conditions, an upper clew eyelet is positioned above the crossing batten on the very tip of the leech with the aim of allowing you to hold on to more power, while generating better low end, which in grand total creates a 20cm boom range between the top and bottom eyelet. A naturally attractive sail with shades of orange and contrasting black, the Oxygen is well-made and certainly looks the part.
“As a true freeride sail, the Oxygen is designed to simplify the sailing experience. It is easy to set up, accelerates quickly, and delivers impressive speed on the course. With the centre of effort focused around the rider and smooth power delivery, once in motion, the Oxygen naturally falls back into a committed stance.”
Initially taken out in well-powered and gusty conditions, the Oxygen was a master of control and natural tuning. Its naturally flatter profile gives the Oxygen a pleasant, slippery, and fast feel when up to speed and powering along. Naturally twisting off and tuning itself to the conditions, it takes any extra power and immediately translates it into extra speed, while remaining stable, with little to no input from the rider as you sink in, commit, and reach impressive top speeds. The Oxygen displayed real pedigree in top-end control and capabilities, in fact, it was one of the best on test in this department. In marginal conditions, and if you’re not prepared to fine tune it’s settings, the Oxygen requires a little more targeted effort, finesse, and refined technique to get the most out of it, however, your efforts will be rewarded with the Oxygen giving you as much back as you put in. The Oxygen is very reactive to trim, so taking a moment or two to adjust the downhaul, while also moving the outhaul up to the top eyelet really helps to increase and maximise the low-end performance of the Oxygen. Meanwhile, through lulls, the Oxygen requires some active input by adjusting your sailing line and sheeting angle to keep you going until you reach the next patch of breeze. When planing and comfortably powered, the Oxygen delivers impressive upwind pointing ability due to its overall flatter profile, which gets you back upwind ready for the next downwind run before anyone else. Tactically choosing to gybe in a gust, so that you are well powered will provide you with more than enough speed for the entry. At this point, the Oxygen goes light in the hands and slices wonderfully through the gybe, giving you ultimate control from start to finish. The Oxygen is a real master of control, so if you are looking to hold onto bigger sails than everyone else at your local spot, in a bid to find those few extra knots in speed, then the Oxygen is your weapon of choice.
LOFTSAILS OXYGEN HD 7.3M TEST REVIEW 2024
Price: £729
Size: 7.3m
Luff: 474cm
Boom: 202-223cm
Battens: 6
Ideal Mast: 460
Available sizes: 4.6, 5.3, 5.8, 6.3, 6.7, 7.0, 7.3, 7.8, 8.5, 9.5
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