Delivering plenty of gusto for its size, the KT Wing Air DD holds power well between the hands – always giving you something to work and drive with. Remaining balanced the Wing Air DD will keep wingers engaged through a spectrum of conditions.
With the option of two colour ways, fluorescent orange or green, the Wing Air DD is inflated through two separate chambers and at rest it looks to be a simple wing. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of fuss, however, looking closer you notice where the important bits of attention to detail are; the Direct Drive handles are skinny with Eva Foam grip for ease and comfort of handling. Two-ply Dacron construction around high-stress areas and positive lock seaming make the frame of the Wing Air DD stiffer, ensuring it’s ready for whatever you choose to throw at it. Not possessing much dihedral shape, the Wing Air DD has a relatively loose canopy throughout, and gazing at the side view of the draft and profile of the Wing Air DD, it spreads evenly from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The Wing Air DD should hold some power given the amount of draft ready to expand; the draft being distributed throughout should also give a nice even feeling in the hand, not favouring one hand over the other. Windows are a thing of the past with the Wing Air DD being the only one in the category with zero windows, which will, as a whole reduce weight and increase ease and speed of deflation and packing. In the areas most likely to come into contact with wear and tear, KT have placed some well-positioned abrasion material to prolong the life of the Wing Air DD for the user. Inflated and upon first glance, the Wing Air DD seems simple, but carries well placed engineering and zero fuss design to get you on the water with ample power which looking at the draft, the Wing Air DD will deliver in abundance.
“The Wing Air DD (Direct Drive) is the latest creation out of the KT Surfing R&D department. The DD sits alongside the original Wing Air, featuring hard handles and strengthened construction of the Leading Edge (LE) and Strut.”
Packing some power, the Wing Air DD’s draft and overall deeper profile provides immediate substance in the hands, giving the rider something to work with even when slightly underpowered. Once up and riding on the foil, the power and effort are evenly spread between the hands as you grip the stiff handles that still allow for some forwards and backwards movement. Not requiring more effort from one hand or the other, unless you are really driving for speed and height, it remains stiff with only a minimal amount of flex that takes the sting out of ferocious gusts so you can continue to remain in control and stable. Just remember to pump it up to its max psi to exploit this characteristic. Lulls are dealt with well; keep the backhand sheeted in to keep the draft and depth of the Wing Air DD full. Its depth makes it difficult to stall. In the low end, the Wing Air DD, with its looser canopy tension, suits a lower cadence pump with bigger motion from the rider to get you up and going earlier. Through manoeuvres, the Wing Air DD handles nicely, performing and moving through gybes smoothly. The natural power of the Wing Air DD is welcomed on the exit of both tacks and gybes to slingshot you out, giving you something to immediately work with without having to search or work too hard for it. When flagging the Wing Air DD, it remains light and easy to move between the hands. Its looser canopy tension can drag a little, but is only noticeable when at speed and when over-winged. Its instantaneous power attitude makes it user-friendly for those riders needing guidance in the power department, as well as those looking to always have something to work with to express their riding. Its power-in-the-hands character could make it a little more physical for smaller riders, requiring them to change down earlier – depending on your willingness to be well-powered. For what looks like one of the least engineered in the category, the Wing Air DD delivers decent power and all-around winging performance.
KT WING AIR DD 4M TEST REVIEW 2024
Price: £899
Size: 4m
Weight: 3.45kg
Canopy Style: Loose
Span:
Strut:
Recommended PSI: 8psi
Handles: 2 hard handles
Harness-line Fixings: No, attach to the handles
Supplies With: Bag and leash
Available Sizes: 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0
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