I had the very first version and was happy with them but I am a compulsive updater and now have the latest.
I sold my first 5.5 dlab to a foiling friend who is 115kg and foils almost daily and it is still going strong. Obviously he doesn't use it every day but when conditions suit.
So a plug for Duotone dlab longevity.
I am sure there are some sad experiences ?? as there is with all windwings.
I've had very good experiences with the D/LAB longevity, esp when compared to the Dacron versions re: canopy bagout. I was an early adopter (the 3.5 is my bread and butter wing). I find the material keeps the frame's shape better and is more resistant to minor cuts, abrasions, and little punctures from thorns. YMMV
Yes they are $$$ and apparently much more difficult to repair ALUULA, but My original 3.5 from 2022 is still out there on the water (although now it has a ton of canopy punctures from owner #2).
After 2 seasons the aluula frame is Ok, just all cracked yellow material, exposing the white stuff underneath (they say it's "cosmetic"), the canopy is total ****, it tears like paper after 2 seasons, like no joking, I had a tear, it wasn't worth repairing because it was so easy to tear it anywhere else with just fingers, never stored in a hot car or wet, used quite often though.
Their "beach ball" style deflate valves are total garbage, after 1 season all the flaps tear off, at the 1.5 season mark both of them started to leak air due to wear (open/close over time wears the material out, small pieces start to come off), I had to use plumbers teflon tape on both valves and never open them again.
The wing does perform well, but there are slightly less "performing" wings with much better quality out there.
Select to expand quoteSilverFoilSurfer said..
After 2 seasons the aluula frame is Ok, just all cracked yellow material, exposing the white stuff underneath (they say it's "cosmetic"), the canopy is total ****, it tears like paper after 2 seasons, like no joking, I had a tear, it wasn't worth repairing because it was so easy to tear it anywhere else with just fingers, never stored in a hot car or wet, used quite often though.
Their "beach ball" style deflate valves are total garbage, after 1 season all the flaps tear off, at the 1.5 season mark both of them started to leak air due to wear (open/close over time wears the material out, small pieces start to come off), I had to use plumbers teflon tape on both valves and never open them again.
The wing does perform well, but there are slightly less "performing" wings with much better quality out there.
How many sessions or how much distance would you estimate you put on that canopy? Sounds like it really didn't hold up to the test of time!
Select to expand quoteSilverFoilSurfer said..
After 2 seasons the aluula frame is Ok, just all cracked yellow material, exposing the white stuff underneath (they say it's "cosmetic"), the canopy is total ****, it tears like paper after 2 seasons, like no joking, I had a tear, it wasn't worth repairing because it was so easy to tear it anywhere else with just fingers, never stored in a hot car or wet, used quite often though.
Their "beach ball" style deflate valves are total garbage, after 1 season all the flaps tear off, at the 1.5 season mark both of them started to leak air due to wear (open/close over time wears the material out, small pieces start to come off), I had to use plumbers teflon tape on both valves and never open them again.
The wing does perform well, but there are slightly less "performing" wings with much better quality out there.
The first generation Duotone DLAB wings took the lightweight thing too far.
Select to expand quoteBWalnut said..
How many sessions or how much distance would you estimate you put on that canopy? Sounds like it really didn't hold up to the test of time!
On average probably 1.5 times a week. Select to expand quoteFaff said..
The first generation Duotone DLAB wings took the lightweight thing too far.
Perhaps, haven't touch the "latest and greatest" from them, I bet they still do beach ball deflate valve ;)
Select to expand quoteSilverFoilSurfer said..BWalnut said..
How many sessions or how much distance would you estimate you put on that canopy? Sounds like it really didn't hold up to the test of time!
On average probably 1.5 times a week. Faff said..
The first generation Duotone DLAB wings took the lightweight thing too far.
Perhaps, haven't touch the "latest and greatest" from them, I bet they still do beach ball deflate valve ;)
Yes, it's still there. But when I got my first Duotone wing 3 years ago I was told to never use the deflate valve, and I never have. So far, no problems!
Select to expand quoteFaff said..SilverFoilSurfer said..BWalnut said..
How many sessions or how much distance would you estimate you put on that canopy? Sounds like it really didn't hold up to the test of time!
On average probably 1.5 times a week. Faff said..
The first generation Duotone DLAB wings took the lightweight thing too far.
Perhaps, haven't touch the "latest and greatest" from them, I bet they still do beach ball deflate valve ;)
Yes, it's still there. But when I got my first Duotone wing 3 years ago I was told to never use the deflate valve, and I never have. So far, no problems!
Nor me no need
I still hav an Dlab5.5 from 2022 and its still working well but wing design progessed a lot, so my Flux5m working imo heaps better.Given the speed the sport evolves I think buying wing to keep em for years isnt the best bet from a performance point of view.
Standard Duotone valves work great. Don't need to touch deflate valves. Just one large valve for all -inflate /deflate -
Select to expand quoteFaff said..
Yes, it's still there. But when I got my first Duotone wing 3 years ago I was told to never use the deflate valve, and I never have. So far, no problems!
It's not even funny anymore, (not that I have any particular hate towards any brand), think of this in a way:
you see a juicy commercial or talk to a rep, and they tell/show you all the buz words bezzels and such (that usually don't make any sense anyways), and one of the features they show is a quick deflate valves that speed up packing and making it more compact, and at the end of the presentation they tell you: "please don't use it, it's not you, it's just the way we do things at duotone" ;).
I'm a little leery of the dump valves, as I have customers who have torn off the tabs or have seen the internal sealing rib separate leading to a leaking valve. I only have had one wing (original Unit 4m) have a problem with the dump valve, and I did use it every time on deflate for about 1.5 years (problem occurred after it was left in storage after I got my new wings). Anyway, I am pretty careful when I use the dump valve, I rock it side to side grasping from the sides and ease it out. So far no problems, but I get why people hate them... and if you just rip them open using the tab, I can see how that could cause problems. IMO not the greatest valve choice for this kind of thing, but also a pretty easy workaround. I still use the center strut dump valve if I need to pack up in a hurry. If not I just deflate over time enough of the air leaves the strut to make packing down easy.
I deflate the large valve first and unclamp the air tube from the leading edge to the strut. Then once some air is out and the strut is not hard, I open up the strut dump valve so that the release isn't so violent. I never use the other dump valves which are kind of silly since rolling up the leading edge pushes the air out the main dump valve, especially if you roll up the leading edge without the valve first. Then I wrap my leash around the rolled up leading edge so that when I roll up the other side, the air won't go back over there. Never spent more than a couple minutes deflating and rolling up a wing. The hardest part is stuffing the wing in those terrible sail bags Duotone gives you.
but back on topic. I bought a 5.5m Dlab Unit 2025 and it covers the range of a regular 5m and a 6m. So two wings in one at double the cost. Plus I get a lighter wing the flies, luffs, and pumps better. And one less wing to pack up. My guess is that it will last 2-3 years before the next best thing comes out.
I mostly don't use the dump valve unless in a hurry then I moisten it to assist fitting, works well.
I use them and never had a problem with them, but I do prever two seperate valves like Ozone has.
