Part surfboard, part hoverboard, eFoil’s are the closest thing to flying over the water – and they are getting more affordable too. Here’s five of the best eFoils on the market right now:
(Photo: facebook.com)
Who didn’t watch Back to the Future 2 and want their very own hoverboard? Despite numerous attempts to create a version of Marty McFly’s floating skateboard – including the two-wheeled devices dubbed ‘hoverboards’ that children plough into your ankle on in shopping malls – no one has really come up with a viable version. Or have they? eFoils, short surfboards with an electric propeller, are probably the closest thing yet, levitating over the sea and giving an almost weightless experience. Skimming silently and frictionlessly across the Mediterranean or Caribbean waters, they are the ultimate toys for anyone who finds a jet ski a little too much like you are auditioning for a part in Baywatch. Operated by a hand-held controller, it is an experience that is part surfing, part wakeboarding, but is easier to pick up than either – and arguably just as fun. The good news is that they are no longer just five-figure toys for the mega rich, with prices coming down in recent years, and specs ranging from top-spec carbon fibre to more forgiving soft boards, plus options of different masts and wingsets allowing for all levels of rider. Here are five of the best eFoils brands on the market:
Aerofoils
Aerofoils is the maker of one of the most upmarket eFoils around. The company has teamed up with car maker Audi, one of the pioneers of high-end electric car technology, to create an eFoil packed with the best tech. The e-Tron Foil doesn’t disappoint, with an ultra-small motor at the end of an elegant carbon fibre mast that ensures minimum drag and market-leading battery life – it will keep going for two hours between charges. The direct drive e-drive system is designed to be robust with low-maintenance and the smart functions (shown on a high res colour display) help trim your style and control your speed. Everything is, as you would expect from Audi, beautifully engineered. The price is €15,769.
Buy at aerofoils.de
Waydoo
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Waydoo is something of a disrupter in the eFoil world, coming into the market with excellent boards that also just so happened to be half the price of most others. The low price doesn’t mean that these boards will let you down as you cruise past that St Tropez beach bar either. The boards have a rigid and light aluminium frame wrapped in EPP (carbon fibre is an option for only a few hundred Euros more) and the 6000W lithium ion battery will also provide up to two hours of play time. With a top speed of 47kph it is just 3kph short of the Audi too. Get your hands on one for €6,999,00.
SiFly
(Photo: sifly.global)
SiFly was created by Alexander Bachev, a professional athlete in the Olympic sailing division Formula Kite, so these eFoils have a lot of know-how built in. However, these aren’t just extreme trick boards – with a range that includes everything from forgiving and durable soft-top eFoils to aggressive carving machines. The boards have a lightweight construction so are easy to carry around and the basics like the Rider are extremely stable in the water. The entry level Rider will reach 45 km/h and a 2.5hour charge gives a 120 min range. Most impressive however is the price – the Rider starts at just €5,760.00.
Buy at sifly.global
Awake
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These Swedish eFoils have all the design principles we have come to expect from Scandinavia. That is, they are simply but beautifully designed, easy to put together and no nonsense. The range has two choices, the Vinga 3 and the Vinga S. The set-up time is just 30 seconds with the innovative Click-to-Ride system which uses no screws, cables, or hatches. The Vinga S is a more easy-going option – once in the water a double concave hull, wide front and high volume allow for stable, controlled and forgiving take offs and landings. This is a board that will take you from beginner to a more advanced level with ease and without the need to upgrade. All this clever Swedish design comes at a price though – starting at €12,900, but you’ll need to pay €15,400 to get the Flex Battery XR which extends the range to two hours. The Vinga S, starting at €13,400, claims to be the most extreme eFoil on the market, with enough power to jump and a short board for aggressive carving.
Buy at awakeboards.com
Fliteboard
Designed in Byron Bay, Australia, Fliteboard has an extensive but simple range, that runs from an inflatable, fun AIR beginner’s board to an ultra high-end, lighteweight collab with influentual designer Marc Newson that will set you back €16,500. Pick of the bunch however is the AIR even if you are already familiar with riding an eFoil. With an inflatable exterior around a solid carbon core, it is light and easy to use and simple to roll up for storage and put in the back of the car. This is by no means an aggressive freestyle board, it’s better suited to heavier or older riders (thanks to increased buoyancy) as well as beginners and anyone who just wants to cruise around. This eFoil also features a unique Virtual Gears system, making it easier for first time riders to balance on the board and start to fly. Coming in a choice of white or pastel pink, it looks great too, emphasizing the fun element rather than showing off your latest tricks to anyone sitting on the beach. Starts from €10,995.
Buy at Fliteboard.com