Which Duotone Foil? Glide 3.0 vs Crest vs Carve 3.0 vs Pop — the 2027 Range Explained

Duotone's foil range has grown into something that needs a map. There are seven front-wing families, three constructions, four tail types and five masts, and the names don't tell you much on their own. This guide is the map: what each front wing is for, how the 2027 changes fit, which mast and tail go with what, and — because the question we actually get asked is "which one for here?" — our take for the water between Seasalter and Tankerton.

Specs and quotes are from Duotone's 2027 product information. Where it's our opinion, we say so.

On this page

• The range in one picture
• Glide 3.0 — pump, glide, downwind, parawing
• Crest — waves, freefly, prone
• Carve 3.0 — surf, freestyle, kite
• Pop D/LAB — freestyle and kite jumping
• Lift and Free 2.0 — learning and progressing
• Duotone's own comparison chart
• Masts, tails and what fits what
• Which foil for Whitstable and north Kent
• Prices and what's in stock
• FAQ

The range in one picture

Duotone's own "wing foiling journey" chart is the clearest summary of the range, so here it is. Read it bottom-left to top-right: Lift for beginners, Free 2.0 for intermediates, then the performance wings split by what you want to do.

The other way to slice it is by aspect ratio — span squared over area, which in practice means how long and thin the wing is. Low aspect (Pop, Carve 3.0) turns fast and carries speed but doesn't glide far. High aspect (Glide 3.0, Hyperglide, Amp) glides and pumps for miles but turns in wider arcs. Crest and Blitz sit in the middle.

Constructions: D/LAB is Duotone's premium carbon build (stiffest, lightest, most expensive), SLS is the more accessible carbon build, and the Lift and Free 2.0 are the "Originals". Front wings that come in both D/LAB and SLS are the same shape in different layups — Duotone says the Crest SLS "brings the proven performance of our highly acclaimed Crest D/LAB into a durable and accessible SLS construction", and the same logic applies to the Glide 3.0 and Carve 3.0.

Glide 3.0 — pump, glide, downwind, parawing

New for 2027. The Glide is Duotone's most successful foil platform and 3.0 is a significant redesign: the aspect ratio goes up to around 12, the profile is borrowed from the Crest D/LAB ("stall-friendly" is the phrase — it keeps flying at low speed and forgives you when you slow down), and the tips get the moustache-style curvature with upturned ends that Duotone credits with looser roll, better turning and controlled tip breaches. The D/LAB also gets the 3BS+ connection with a fourth screw.

The two constructions split the size range rather than duplicating it: D/LAB covers the small, fast end and SLS extends up to 1400 for maximum low-end. Duotone says the bigger SLS sizes unlock "exceptional low-end capabilities, enabling downwind and parawing runs even on the smallest bumps — opening entirely new possibilities, including sessions on lakes and inland waters". On the journey chart the Glide 3.0 SLS is the first performance foil an intermediate is pointed at, and the D/LAB is the advanced-to-expert version.

Crest — waves, freefly, prone

The Crest is the medium-aspect all-rounder for riding waves and bumps with the wing flagged out — the "freefly" foil — and it's also Duotone's prone and Foil Assist wing. The D/LAB carries over for 2027; what's new is the Crest SLS, the same moustache-curvature, stall-friendly design in the more accessible construction.

Duotone's description of the Crest SLS is worth quoting because it's the clearest statement of what a Crest is for: "a medium aspect ratio of around 9 ... the perfect balance between glide, pump efficiency and dynamic turning performance. Its stall-friendly profile generates excellent low-end lift while maintaining low drag through higher speeds, allowing riders to stay connected to waves and bumps with minimal effort." The SLS front-wing mount is compatible with all current Duotone AL 3BS fuselages and, with the new Frontpiece AL 3BS, with the monobloc tails.

Carve 3.0 — surf, freestyle, kite

The Carve 3.0 carries over for 2027 in both constructions (a Carve 4.0 D/LAB is listed for spring 2027). It's the low-aspect surf and freestyle foil — the one Duotone lists for prone, performance wave riding, freestyle and kite foiling — and on its own chart it's the fastest and most manoeuvrable wing after the Pop.

Duotone's summary of the 3.0 over the 2.0 it replaced: "improved pump & glide", "more drive and speed when on the wave", and "fluid rail-to-rail reactions enable razor-sharp turns". If you kite foil rather than wing, this and the Pop are the two wings in the range Duotone lists for kite.

Pop D/LAB — freestyle and kite jumping

New for 2027. The Pop is a dedicated freestyle foil: low-to-medium aspect, a fast low-drag profile so you can build speed before take-off, an increased fuselage cross-section for strength and durability, and a locked-in feel with constant front-foot pressure. Duotone says it was developed on the GWA freestyle world tour and had already won World Cups during development, with the 650 the team riders' go-to and the 800 for lighter winds or heavier riders. It pairs with the new Monobloc Tail F165 (37 cm, freestyle-tuned) and, like the other D/LABs, uses the 3BS+ system with a fourth screw.

• Sizes: 500 (AR 7.2, span 60 cm — availability to be confirmed), 650 (AR 6.9, span 66.9 cm), 800 (AR 6.8, span 74 cm)
• Rec. stabiliser: MB-F165
• Duotone's level: expert
• Available: September 2026

Duotone is explicit that it's a specialist: "Compared to more surf-oriented foils like the Carve 3.0, the Pop D/LAB is more locked, prioritizing stability and pop over glide and carving flow." If you're not jumping, you don't need it.

Lift and Free 2.0 — learning and progressing

Both carry over for 2027 and both are worth knowing about because they're where most people should start.

• Lift — one size, 2400 cm², aspect ratio 5.1, span 111 cm, with the C300 stabiliser. Duotone calls it a "budget friendly new glass version" that "gets up in under 10 knots and flies through 5–6 knot patches with ease". It's the entry foil, and Duotone says it's "surprisingly fun for improving riders" too.
• Free 2.0 — 1300, 1600 and 1900 cm² (aspect ratio 7.2 to 6.8), with the PX195, PX225 and PX260 stabilisers. The freeride all-rounder: "easy and gradual 'passive' take-off — lifts without advanced pumping technique", a wide speed range, and "good pump & glide". This is the foil on the journey chart between Lift and Glide 3.0 SLS.

Duotone's own comparison chart

Reading Duotone's chart across the four performance wings: the Pop tops out on speed and jumping and scores lowest on pump and glide. The Carve 3.0 is nearly as fast and manoeuvrable, jumps well, and glides better than the Pop. The Crest gives up a little speed for the best turning-to-glide balance. The Glide 3.0 is the pump-and-glide winner, the easiest to use, the least jumpy, and the only one Duotone places at intermediate level. Every other wing on that chart is advanced or expert.

Masts, tails and what fits what

Three changes for 2027 make the system easier to mix and match:

• Mast SLS 2.0 (new, September 2026) — a one-piece carbon mast with a tapered, lower-drag profile "borrowed from the high-performance D/LAB 2.0 masts", in 76, 84 and 92 cm. Duotone's own sizing: 76 cm for entry wingers, pump foiling, prone, parawing and downwind; 84 cm as the all-round wing foiling length; 92 cm for high speeds, bigger swell, and kite or windsurf foiling. There's also a Mast SLS 2.0 QM (76, 84) with a tool-free Quickmount base plate that works with existing QM plates.
• Frontpiece AL 3BS (new) — a 23 cm aluminium fuselage front piece that lets you run an SLS or Original front wing with the D/LAB monobloc tails, giving full fuselage lengths of 60–70 cm depending on tail. Duotone's point is that it brings low-drag D/LAB tail performance to bigger setups "such as the Glide 3.0 SLS 1250 / 1400 or Amp 2.0 1550 / 1800" where a full carbon fuselage isn't feasible.
• Monobloc tails — the one-piece tail-and-stabiliser units. PX (performance) and S (surf) carry over; new for 2027 are the Monobloc Tail H D/LAB (high-aspect glide stabiliser, 130 and 150 cm², for Glide 3.0, Hyperglide and Amp 2.0 setups) and the Monobloc Tail F D/LAB (165 cm², 37 cm, for the Pop).

The stabiliser letters, in case the tables above look like alphabet soup: S surf (playful turning, forgiving stall), H high aspect (pump and glide), PX performance (fast, loose in turns, controlled in faster surf), F freestyle (front-foot pressure for pop), R race, C control (easy, stable — the Lift's tail).

Which foil for Whitstable and the north Kent coast?

This is our recommendation, not Duotone's. It's based on the specs above and the conditions in our guide to The Street, Long Rock and Seasalter.

Learning or early intermediate: Lift, then Free 2.0. The foiling window at Tankerton is about 2.5 hours either side of high water and you want to be up and flying inside it, not pumping and falling. Both of these are built to lift early and forgive you.

Most wing foilers here: Glide 3.0 SLS. The typical day on this coast is chop, a bit of swell at Long Rock, and wind that comes and goes. A high-aspect wing that pumps through the lulls and glides across the gaps is worth more than one that turns on a sixpence, and the Glide 3.0 SLS is the one Duotone itself places at intermediate level. The 950 or 1100 is where most riders will land; ring us with your weight. If parawinging or the Long Rock to The Street downwinder is on your list, this is the wing for it, with the H stabiliser.

If you're riding the small waves at Long Rock with the wing flagged: Crest. The SLS makes that a lot more affordable for 2027. The 925 or 1050 covers most riders.

Kite foilers: Carve 3.0. The local kite foilers are out earliest of anyone — our spot guide says their biggest kite is usually a 10 m — and the Carve is the wing Duotone lists for kite. We've got the Carve 3.0 SLS 950 set in stock. The Pop is the kite-foil choice only if you're jumping.

D/LAB or SLS? Same logic as the wings and boards: D/LAB is lighter and stiffer and the expert's choice; SLS gives most of the performance for less and is the sensible buy for everyone else. Where a wing comes in both, buy the shape for the riding and the construction for the budget.

Prices at Boardworx

• Duotone Carve 3.0 SLS wing set, 950 + PX175 — £628. Six in stock.
• Duotone Crest D/LAB front wing — 675 in stock at £719; 800 (£759), 925 (£799) and 1050 (£839) to order.
• Duotone Carve 3.0 D/LAB wing set 800 — one, cosmetically scratched, £769.
• Duotone Fuselage Aero AL 3BS — 66 cm £199, 74 cm £219. In stock.
• Duotone Carbon Mast Slim 2.0 D/LAB — 76 cm £1,149, 84 cm £1,199, 94 cm £1,249. To order.
• Glide 3.0 D/LAB and SLS, Crest SLS, Pop D/LAB, Mast SLS 2.0, Frontpiece AL 3BS, Monobloc tails — September 2026, to order. Ring for pricing and lead times.

Browse all wing foils, wing foil boards, wings and the full Duotone range. Our Unit 2027 and Skybrid 2027 guides cover the wing and the board.

We're on Beach Walk, Whitstable, CT5 2BP, a couple of hundred yards from the water. Ring 01227 276566 with your weight, your board and what you want to do, and we'll size the foil for you.

FAQ

Which Duotone foil is best for beginners?

The Lift — one size, 2400 cm², a budget-friendly glass construction that Duotone says gets up in under 10 knots. The Free 2.0 (1300–1900 cm²) is the next step: an easy, passive take-off without pumping technique and a wide speed range.

What's the difference between the Duotone Glide 3.0, Crest, Carve 3.0 and Pop?

Aspect ratio and purpose. Glide 3.0 (AR around 12) is for pump, glide, downwind and parawing and is the easiest performance foil to use. Crest (AR around 9) balances glide and turning for waves, freefly and prone. Carve 3.0 (AR around 7) is the fast, manoeuvrable surf, freestyle and kite foil. Pop D/LAB (AR around 7) is a dedicated freestyle and kite foil built for jumping.

What's new in Duotone's 2027 foil range?

The Glide 3.0 (D/LAB and SLS) with an aspect ratio raised to around 12 and a Crest-inspired profile; the Crest SLS; the Pop D/LAB freestyle foil; the Mast SLS 2.0 and SLS 2.0 QM; the Frontpiece AL 3BS; and the Monobloc Tail H and Tail F D/LAB. All September 2026.

Which Duotone foil for kite foiling?

Duotone lists the Carve 3.0 and the Pop D/LAB for kite. The Carve is the surf and freeride choice; the Pop is for freestyle and jumping. Duotone's mast guidance puts the 92 cm SLS 2.0 as the kite-foiling length.

What mast length do I need for wing foiling?

Duotone's guidance for the Mast SLS 2.0: 76 cm for entry wingers, pump, prone, parawing and downwind; 84 cm as the all-round wing foiling length; 92 cm for high speeds, bigger swell and kite or windsurf foiling.

Can I use a D/LAB tail with an SLS front wing?

Yes, with the new Frontpiece AL 3BS — a 23 cm aluminium front piece that connects SLS and Original front wings to D/LAB tails and monobloc stabilisers, giving fuselage lengths of 60–70 cm.

Glide 3.0 D/LAB or SLS?

Same design, different construction and different sizes. D/LAB covers 600–1100 cm² and is Duotone's advanced-to-expert option; SLS covers 825–1400 cm², is placed at intermediate-to-advanced, and its larger sizes are the ones Duotone highlights for downwind and parawing on the smallest bumps.