Test & Review
Wingfoil
Wing Test: Fanatic Aero Free 800 - 1000 Foil
Published March 23, 2023 · by The GlissEvolution Team
Kevin tests the Fanatic Aero 800 and 1000 Foil with an 82cm Carbon Mast and 68cm Carbon Fuselage
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
Unboxing:
The mast and fuselage come with a travel bag. It's generously sized, easily fitting two complete foils and all your assembly tools (Torx keys, no more hex keys). Having everything at hand is incredibly convenient.
Each component has its own bag. These modular bags make protecting your gear simple and effective.
The materials are high quality and impeccably finished.
Wingspan - Chord - Thickness - Aspect Ratio:
- Mast 820mm - C 137mm - Thickness 18mm
- Aero Free 800 Wing: Wingspan 780mm - C 140mm - Thickness 18mm - R = 7.6
- Aero Free 1000 Wing: Wingspan 855mm - C 160mm - Thickness 20mm - R = 7.3
- Stabilizer 216cm²: Wingspan 360mm - C 75mm - Thickness 8mm - R = 6
Reminder: Aspect Ratio = wingspan² / surface cm²
Mast + Fuselage:
The 82cm mast hits the sweet spot for size. It is ideal for all my riding styles.
It's never cumbersome for freestyle, and it's effortless for downwind and freeride sessions, even in choppy conditions.
For surf, some riders might find it a bit long. Generally, surf+foil setups tend to use a mast between 65cm and 75cm.
Always choose your spot based on water depth. For instance, on the Casino sandbank in La Baule, with the right timing, I've had no issues riding with both 92cm and 82cm masts.
This setup is significantly lighter than my old Sabfoil, yet it maintains identical stiffness. The mast-to-fuselage connection is incredibly solid, secured by three M8 screws. Unlike my Sabfoil, this assembly never loosens while riding.
Fanatic Aero Free 800 - 1000 Foil:
The Aero Free range fits perfectly into the freeride, downwind freefly category.
This model balances accessibility and performance. It is an allround model for everything: jumping, freefly, freeride, wave, and downwind.
The Aero Free is available in 1250cm² (R=6.5), 1000cm², and 800cm².
The fuselage and wing connection is incredibly solid, secured by three M8 screws. It's built tough.
The front of the fuselage is better integrated into the wing, which enhances glide and optimizes water flow.
It looks like a new Glide HA range is set to launch this year, 2023, designed for downwind and lightwind, with sizes including 590, 720, 905, 1080, and 1300, and for speed.
Stabilizer 216:
This new stabilizer is part of the Free and Carve range. It's smaller than previous versions, which provides more glide and excellent control.
For spring 2023, expect a new 165cm² stabilizer with a high aspect (HA) ratio, designed for performance.
The Fanatic Aero Free foil in action:
Its take-off capability truly surprised me. When pumping, the front thickness of its profile delivers power underfoot. This makes take-off easier.
This is an allround foil. With its moderate aspect ratio, it offers good glide, impressive speed, and excellent upwind performance. Its glide lets you easily reconnect with bumps during downwinds.
This foil is easy for intermediate riders, yet it still delivers great performance for experts.
Want even more performance? Upgrade your setup with the COLLAB mast for enhanced glide. And when the new HA stab drops, it will truly push your foil's limits.
The entire setup is incredibly stiff and responsive. Even under high pressure in a counter-lean, the foil won't stall or ventilate.
In aggressive carving, if you lift the wing out of the water, the foil will tend to stall. For those who demand 100% carving and surf performance, choose the Aero Carve range, available in 750, 900, 1150, and 1400.
The Fanatic Aero Free foil: a final word
Coming from a higher-performance foil, I was a little apprehensive. I'd tested Fanatic foils in 2019, and they were a disaster. This is completely different.
Fanatic has closed the gap and developed a reliable, high-performance all-round foil. The construction and modularity of the wings are excellent. Assemblies are flawless. The foil is rigid, with good tools and modular bags that are very practical for handling and storage.
I can't wait to discover the new Glide range and the new stabilizer. It will undoubtedly upgrade the foil's performance, even though it's already top-notch.
For me, this foil is the most allround in the Fanatic range. I recommend it without hesitation for intermediate to expert riders who want an all-purpose foil.
Looking forward to seeing you on the beach and sharing some stoke. 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.
- Aero Free and Aero Carve foil test by Erwan Jauffroy on Watersports Zone.
Key Features
| Section | Key takeaway |
|---|---|
| Kevin tests the Fanatic Aero 800 and 1000 Foil with an 82cm Carbon Mast and 68cm Carbon Fuselage | Experience: Advanced rider, weighing 65-67kg. Riding styles include Freestyle and freeride. It also includes surf and jumping. |
| Unboxing | The travel bag for the mast and fuselage has plenty of volume. It easily fits two complete foils and assembly tools (Torx keys, no more hex keys). |
| Wingspan - Chord - Thickness - Aspect Ratio | - Mast 820mm - C 137mm - Thickness 18mm - Aero Free 800 Wing: Wingspan 780mm - C 140mm - Thickness 18mm - R = 7.6 - Aero Free 1000 Wing: Wingspan 855mm - C 160mm - Thickness 20mm - R = 7.3 - Stabilizer 216cm²: Wingspan 360mm -… |
| Mast + Fuselage | The 82cm mast hits the sweet spot for size. It is ideal for all my riding styles. |
| Fanatic Aero Free 800 - 1000 Foil | The Aero Free range fits into the freeride, downwind freefly category. |
| Stabilizer 216 | This new stabilizer is part of the Free and Carve range. |
| The Fanatic Aero Free foil in action | Its take-off capability surprised me. |
| The Fanatic Aero Free foil | Coming from a higher-performance foil, I was a little apprehensive. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kevin tests the Fanatic Aero 800 and 1000 Foil + 82cm Carbon Mast + 68cm Carbon Fuselage: what you need to know
Experience: Advanced level. 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
Unboxing: Key Takeaways
The mast and fuselage come with a travel bag. It's generously sized, easily fitting two complete foils and all your assembly tools (Torx keys, no more hex keys). Having everything at hand is incredibly convenient.
How wingspan - Chord - Thickness - Aspect Ratio?
- Mast 820mm - C 137mm - Thickness 18mm - Aero Free 800 Wing: Wingspan 780mm - C 140mm - Thickness 18mm - R = 7.6 - Aero Free 1000 Wing: Wingspan 855mm - C 160mm - Thickness 20mm - R = 7.3 - Stabilizer 216cm²: Wingspan 360mm - C 75mm - Thickness 8mm - R = 6 Reminder: Ratio = wingspan² / surface cm²
Mast + Fuselage: key takeaways
The 82cm mast is the perfect compromise in size for all my riding styles. It's not cumbersome for freestyle, it's easy for downwind, and it performs well in freeride mode in choppy conditions.
Fanatic Aero Free 800 - 1000 Foil: what you need to know
The Aero Free range falls into the freeride, downwind freefly category. Balancing accessibility and performance, this model truly does it all: jumping, freeflying, freeriding, waves, and downwind.
Stabilizer 216: what you need to know
This is a new stab, part of the Free and Carve range. It is smaller than previous versions.
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.
