What volume and liters for a wingfoil board according to your weight?

The commonly accepted benchmark for choosing a wing foil board volume is your body weight plus 25 to 40 liters, for a hard board. This range accounts for your level, your age and your spot: the upper end for a complete beginner, the lower end for an experienced rider coming from another board sport. For an inflatable, allow 20 to 30 liters more than a hard board of equivalent size. But volume alone says nothing about stability: width is what determines it, as the demonstration below shows.

Volume is the first filter. It determines whether you float at rest and whether you can start without exhausting yourself pumping. Here are the ranges by weight bracket, before adjusting for your level, your age and your spot.

For an inflatable board, add 20 to 30 liters to these figures, for equivalent size and level.

Almost everyone chooses their board by volume. It is the most cited criterion, and also the most misleading. Volume is nothing more than the product of length, width and thickness. It tells you whether you float at rest. It does not tell you whether you will stand up once moving, or in chop.

The proof is in the SROKA range. Here are three boards with the same volume, differing only in width:

Six and a half inches of width difference, for an identical volume. The Sky Rider forgives balance errors. The 6'6 requires a rider already comfortable on the board. Neither of these behaviors can be read from the volume.

Remember the simple rule: volume decides whether you float, width decides whether you stand up. Both matter, but they answer different questions.

• Your level. A rider comfortable in board sports can go down one size. If you overestimate yourself, you will progress more slowly.
• Your age. Beyond 55 to 60 years old, take more volume. Balance and recovery between attempts are not the same as at thirty.
• Your spot. On flat water, you can take a little less. On choppy water, take a little more: chop eats into stability, so it needs to be compensated.

Weight gives a starting point, but the size of your foil and your wing influence the choice of your board just as much. A small foil generates less lift, especially in light wind: you then need to compensate with a longer board, which glides further and lets you get up on the foil despite that reduced lift.

The same logic applies to the wing. With a small wing, you produce less power to lift the whole setup: you then need to increase the size of the board, or of the foil, to compensate. Conversely, with a large foil and a large wing, you can afford a more compact board.

Volume is therefore not the only key. The right choice depends on the balance between the size of your board, your foil and your wing, according to how you ride.

The wing size follows the same logic: our guide to choosing your wing foil wing details the calculation by weight, by wind and by riding location.

At equal stability, an inflatable board needs about 20 to 30 liters more than a hard board, for equivalent size and level. Drop Stitch construction offers rounder rails than a hard board, which slightly reduces lateral stability at the same volume: the extra liters offset this difference. Find all the criteria to choose between the two constructions in our inflatable or hard guide.

Some very advanced riders sail with a volume lower than their weight, between minus 10 and minus 30 liters: this is called a "sinker" board. The board sinks at rest, so you need to know how to get it up while moving rather than floating on it. In return, it is lighter, more responsive, and provides a much more direct feel of control with the foil. This is not a choice for progressing: it is a choice for refining, reserved for those who already perfectly master the water start and pumping.

What board volume to start wing foiling?

Take your weight plus 30 to 40 liters for a hard board. If you go for an inflatable board, add another 20 to 30 liters to that figure. Aim for the upper end of these ranges if you have never practiced a board sport.

Does an inflatable board need more volume than a hard board?

Yes, about 20 to 30 liters more, for equivalent size and level. The rounder rails of an inflatable construction slightly reduce lateral stability, and the extra volume compensates.

Is volume alone enough to choose a wing foil board?

No. Volume determines flotation at rest, width determines stability in motion, and the size of your foil and wing also come into play. A small foil or small wing generates less lift and power: you then need a longer board to compensate and manage to get up.

What is a "sinker" wing foil board?

A board whose volume is lower than the rider's weight, by 10 to 30 liters depending on level. It sinks at rest and requires getting it up while moving. Reserved for advanced riders with a solid water start and pumping.

Does board volume change with age?

Yes. Beyond 55 to 60 years old, it is advised to take more volume: balance and recovery between attempts are no longer the same as at thirty.

What volume to choose for riding on choppy water?

Aim for the upper end of the recommended range for your weight. Chop eats into stability, and a more generous volume compensates for it.