Compared to the Duotone Unit 2022 Wing: key takeaways

- The canopy material has changed to the new MOD3 fabric. This increases stiffness and will likely improve aging. - The panels are sewn very differently from last year.

The Duotone Unit 2023 Wing in Action: Key Takeaways

You immediately get the same ride feel as the Duotone Unit 2022 V2 wing, but with more power. There is a real gain in power.

Test & Review Wingfoil

Test Wing Duotone Unit 2023 V3 4m² by Louis & Kevin

Published January 25, 2023 · by The GlissEvolution Team

► Louis's Test Review of the Duotone Unit 2023 V3 4m² Wing:

Rider experience: advanced intermediate. Rider body size: 1.75m / 87kg. Riding style: surf and freeride focused, no jumps.

Usual quiver: Duotone Unit 2022 V2 4 and 5.5m²

Find out more about Louis here

Unboxing the Duotone Unit 2023 Wing:

The Duotone Unit 2023 Wing is perfectly finished, and the quality of the new materials is, of course, excellent. There's nothing to add; it's very well-finished and adjusted, just like in previous years.

Duotone Unit 2023 V3 wing foil wing test

Compared to the Duotone Unit 2022 Wing:

- The canopy material has changed to the new MOD3 fabric. This increases stiffness and will certainly improve aging.

- The panels are sewn very differently from last year. The Trailing Edge appears tighter, and the new tape should help maintain this tension over time.

- The freefly handle is stiffer, while the rigid handles remain unchanged.

- There are now 4 windows instead of 2.

Duotone Unit 2023 V3 Wing Test, Review

Weight of the Duotone Unit V3:

6.5m2 / 3.1kg
5.5m² / 2.7kg
4.5m2 / 2.4kg
3.5m2 / 2.1kg

Wingspan of the Duotone Unit V3:

358cm for the 5.5m²
270cm for the 3m².

Please note: Duotone wings do not include leashes, and you will need a Duotone pump adapter to inflate the wing.

Inflation of the Duotone Unit 2023 Wing:

Inflation is exactly the same as the Duotone Unit 2022 V2 wing. The valve cap is very practical, and the one-pump system works perfectly. To deflate the wing, there's a valve cap on the central strut and another on the wingtip (we're still not sure why!). You can also deflate through the inflation valve by manipulating the system (a quarter turn). This allows you to pack your wing "normally," and the bag remains practical and not too small!

The Duotone Unit 2023 Wing in action:

You'll immediately rediscover the ride feel of the Duotone Unit 2022 V2 wing, but with more power. There's a noticeable gain in power. This is likely due to the new panel positioning and the Trailing Edge tension.

When riding, the Duotone Unit V2 wing's qualities are all there. Maneuvers are very easy, your hands intuitively find the handles, and pumping for take-off has become even more efficient. We already considered this a strong point of this wing last year.

All this added power introduces a slight instability in the strong, gusty winds we've experienced early this year at La Baule / Pornichet. On the beach, the wing tends to swirl more. I was even surprised the first time, and my Leading Edge hit my stabilizer during launch. Nothing has changed on this front: Stab 1 / Wing 0, back to repair!

We also feel the Duotone Unit V3 wing is slightly more unstable in freefly and gusts, but it's not too bothersome. You don't get something for nothing, and we prefer the power gain, which lets us decrease wing size. This slight instability is compensated in freefly by the new, stiffer freefly handle, which allows for very easy control of the wing.

The new windows are much better placedThis is a clearer view of what's happening downwind. It is more than last year.

Duotone Unit 2023 V3 4m² wing test by Loulou

Summary

This new Duotone Unit 2023 V3 wing seems to have benefited from the research done on the Duotone Unit D/Lab. We now have a more powerful wing, allowing us to go down in size. Last year, my quiver was 4 and 5.5m².
This year, I'll add a 5m² to complement this 4m². I have a feeling this 5m² will be more than enough for me this summer (despite my generous body size!), and the few tens of cm less in wingspan will definitely be appreciated during maneuvers and pumping.

The UNIT v3 at the shop here

► Kevin's Test Feedback on the Duotone Unit 2023 V3 4m² Wing:

Experience: Advanced rider

Weight: 65-67kg

Riding styles: Freestyle, freeride, surf, jumping.

Previous quiver:

Fanatic Sky 4.8 60L + Sabfoil W799-W1000-W800 + Ensis Spin 3.1m², 4.1m², 5.1m²

MORE INFO ON Kevin HERE

Duotone Unit 2023 V3 4m² wing test by Kevin

DUOTONE UNIT V3 3.0m² and 4.0m² TEST:

Advertised program: Surf & Downwind / Jumping & Freestyle / Freeride = versatility

The Unit V3 is available in half-square-meter increments, from 2m² to 6.5m².

Unboxing:

The bag is sturdy and well-finished. It features a large zipper opening, backpack straps for easy transport, and a pump attachment on the side. It also includes a small complete repair kit with self-adhesive ripstop and a strut patch.

The wing is sold without a leash and without the Duotone-specific pump adapter.

Here is the link to find the correct adapter:

/shop

The big new feature of this Unit V3 is the use of MOD3, a new, more resistant material. It stretches much less than standard ripstop. This MOD3 is used on three-quarters of the wing, except for the mast panel, which remains triple ripstop.

The Unit V3 features extensive panel segmentation on both the Leading Edge and the canopy. This creates a tighter wing with less deformation and better tension distribution.

There is a deflate valve on the central strut and on one of the Leading Edge ears. A one pump connection is used for inflation.

New windows offer better visibility. They are also smaller to reduce profile deformation.

A new freefly handle is stiffer and features a comfortable neoprene patch.

There's reinforcement at every panel junction on the Leading Edge. This makes it very strong.

New reinforcement on the central strut between the two handles.

Once inflated and in hand:

The Unit V3 features a very pronounced positive dihedral (the angle formed by the plane of each wing) and a slender shape thanks to the tapering diameter of the wingtips.

It feels light in hand and extremely maneuverable.

I'm discovering the comfort of the rigid handles and, most importantly, the overall stiffness of the wing. The handles allow me to easily attach my homemade retractable harness line.

It's a 5mm Dyneema sleeve with a 3mm bungee core, with two loops on each side for lark's head knot attachment. Dimensions are 53cm, extending to 83cm.

The Unit is light in the hands with comfortable 24mm diameter handles. The Trailing Edge is very taut.

For deflation, the strut's deflate valve is greatly appreciated. Combined with the inflation valve (in unlocked mode), there's no need to even use the wingtip's deflate valve. It deflates extremely quickly.

Start, take-off:

The wing is very responsive during pumping. I feel a power gain compared to my old quiver.

The rigid handle connection to the profile provides immediate power transmission. I feel like I'm getting the windsurf sail feel back.

When pumping, you'll immediately feel that forward traction, with a profile that barely deforms. The MOD3 delivers less elasticity and more responsiveness.

In flight:

The handles are perfectly placed, and the entire profile has excellent balance.

Despite my smaller body size, the Unit V3's wingspan doesn't bother me. It's ultra-maneuverable and feels super light in hand. This is an important criterion for me.

You get a feeling of control and power. You also get balance. This means the traction and pressure are very well distributed between your back and front hand.

My ride feel:

From my very first session, this new Unit made it easy to nail all my basic maneuvers, including jibes and tacks, as well as 360s. Hand placement is intuitive; you don't even need to look.

When riding, the wing is stable and well-balanced in hand.

While riding, the profile holds its shape. With a very taut leech, the MOD3 fabric reduces elasticity in the profile.

The feeling of power and control is even more evident in flight.

The traction is consistently forward-oriented. This allows you to open the wing to rest while still maintaining underlying power to keep moving. It makes the wing enjoyable even when overpowered.

When freeflying, the rigid handle lets me control the wing's stability or change the profile's orientation during surf and downwind transitions. I find it more stable and lighter than my old wing.

The new windows offer relative visibility. To be 100% sure, you still need to check with the wing in the air. There are too many blind spots.

Jumping is a real joy. It has great pop, lets you maintain pressure once airborne, and remains incredibly stable. This Unit will help you jump even higher. The same goes for rotations like 360s; I feel better control, which gives me confidence to try new moves.

This new Unit V3 is the best wing I've ever held.

It's hard to find any negatives. I can only imagine the D-LAB version must be pure magic.

It's a shame Duotone doesn't include the leash and pump adapter with the wing.

At the end of the article, you'll find Erwan Jauffroy's test video, which perfectly summarizes my feelings about this Duotone Unit V3.

Looking forward to meeting and chatting on the beach. Best regards, Kevin

For those who love print, you can find tests in the latest WingSurf magazine #9 (Nov-Dec 2022):

Test of the Sky Style, Fanatic Aero Free & Carve Foils, Duotone Slick SLS, and ENSIS Top Spin:

https://www.wingsurfmag.com/news-le-wingsurf-mag-n9-en-kiosques-ces-prochains-jours

- Test of the Duotone Unit V3, by Erwan Jauffroy on Watersports Zone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJZ62frdoJw

UNIT V3 AT THE SHOP HERE

Key Features

Section	Key takeaway
Review of the Duotone Unit 2023 V3 4m² Wing test by Louis	Rider experience: advanced intermediate level.
Unboxing the Duotone Unit 2023 Wing	The Duotone Unit 2023 Wing is perfectly finished, and the quality of the new materials is clearly evident.
Compared to the Duotone Unit 2022 Wing	The canopy features a material change to the new MOD3 fabric. This increases stiffness and will certainly improve durability.
Duotone Unit V3 wingspan	358cm for the 5.5m² 270cm for the 3m².
Inflating the Duotone Unit 2023 Wing	It's exactly the same as the Duotone Unit 2022 V2 wing. The valve is super practical, and the one-pump system works perfectly.
The Duotone Unit 2023 Wing in action	You'll immediately recognize the ride feel of the Duotone Unit 2022 V2 wing, but with a noticeable boost in power.
Summary	This new Duotone Unit 2023 V3 wing clearly benefits from the research poured into the Duotone Unit D/Lab.
Kevin's test feedback on the Duotone Unit 2023 V3 4m² Wing	Experience: Advanced rider, weighing 65-67kg. Riding styles include Freestyle, freeride, surf, and jumping.

Consider this

Key considerations and limitations noted in this article:

Heads up: Duotone wings ship without leashes. You'll also need a Duotone pump adapter to inflate your wing.
All that extra power does introduce a touch of instability in the strong, gusty winds we've seen this year at La Baule and Pornichet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Louis' feedback from the Duotone Unit 2023 V3 4m² Wing Test: key takeaways

Rider experience: Intermediate+ level. Body size: 1.75m / 87kg.

Unboxing the Duotone Unit 2023 Wing: key takeaways

The Duotone Unit 2023 wing features impeccable finishing, and the quality of its new materials is immediately apparent. It's exceptionally well-finished and precisely adjusted, maintaining the high standards you've come to expect from previous years.

Compared to the Duotone Unit 2022 Wing: what you need to know

- The canopy material has changed to the new MOD3 fabric, which increases stiffness and should improve durability over time. - The panels are sewn very differently this year.

What about the Duotone Unit V3 wingspan?

The 5.5m² measures 358cm, and the 3m² is 270cm. Keep in mind that Duotone wings ship without leashes. You'll also need a Duotone pump adapter to inflate your wing.

Inflating the Duotone Unit 2023 Wing: what you need to know

It's exactly the same as the Duotone Unit 2022 V2 wing: the valve is super practical, and the one-pump system works perfectly. For deflation, there's a valve on the central strut and another on the wing tip (we're still scratching our heads about that one!).

The Duotone Unit 2023 Wing in action: what you need to know

You'll immediately recognize the ride feel of the Duotone Unit 2022 V2 wing, but with a significant boost in power. There's a real gain in power.

Got a question about the gear mentioned here?

The GlissEvolution team rides what they sell. They are available to answer your questions in person at the Pornichet store or by phone.

View Wing Foil section Ask us a question 09 62 64 74 77

# Duotone Surf & Surf Foil Tests & Reviews Wingfoil

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