![How to Pick a Hydrofoil for Beginners [2025]](http://www.barts.com/cdn/shop/articles/how-to-pick-a-hydrofoil-board-thumbnail_fb92c6d3-333b-4689-b449-6bb33d7a1b70.jpg?v=1741217651&width=1600)
Hydrofoils afford arguably the most freedom on the water. You are, after all, effectively flying through the water under your own power. The foil allows you to go virtually anywhere. But, like every other type of waterborne board, picking "the right stuff" can make or break your ride.
Hydrofoils can get pricey, too, so it's important to pick the perfect foil for your first ride. What's important? Which specifications should you focus on? We're breaking it all down. Here's how to pick the perfect hydrofoil for beginners.
Important Parts of the Hydrofoil
Pictured: Hyperlite Shuttle w/ Falcon 1200 Foil
The hydrofoil comprises five basic components, each of which affects the feel, ride quality, and performance of the board. Those key parts include the following:
- Tail Wing
- Front Wing
- Fuselage
- Mast/Strut
- Board
Let's break down how the configuration of each component affects the ride.
Fuselage
The length of the fuselage greatly affects the handling characteristics of the hydrofoil. The shorter the fuselage, the less distance there is between the front wing and tail wing. This reduces drag and allows for quicker turnings and rolls.
But a shorter fuselage also reduces stability and demands greater control and balance from the rider.
Front Wing
Pictured: High-aspect wing (left) vs. low-aspect wing (right)
The front wing provides the foil's lift. It also influences how the board turns and rolls, making its size and shape one of the most important factors to consider when picking a foil.
A long, narrow front wing -- called a "high-aspect" wing profile -- is shaped like a glider plane's wing. This shape provides maximum lift with the least effort from the rider, while also providing high stability. The tradeoff, though, is that a high-aspect wing has less responsiveness. It's shape makes it resistant to sudden changes in direction, so turning and rolling requires more time and effort to execute.
Meanwhile, a shorter and fatter wing, called a "low-aspect" wing, promotes greater responsiveness with more tendency to roll, making turns easier. The tradeoff is that a low-aspect wing has less overall stability, requiring more effort with finer inputs from the rider to maintain a particular angle or direction.
Tail Wing
The tail wing also greatly affects the board's vertical responsiveness and overall "twitch" factor when rocking up and down in the water. The smaller the tail wing, the more freedom the board affords the rider, especially when it comes to pumping the board to maintain lift and speed.
But, like the fuselage, a smaller tail wing also means less overall stability, requiring more control and footwork from the rider.
For beginner riders, a larger tail wing is ideal.
Wing Thickness
In addition to the tail and front wings' aspect ratios, wing thickness plays a role in performance. Generally, thicker wings produce more lift at slow speeds, making them great for beginners and those who prefer to ride behind the boat.
Thicker wings also suffer lower top speeds, which can inhibit their ability to maximize performance when kite surfing. Generally, low aspect wings are thicker, while high aspect wings are thinner.
The Mast
When it comes to the mast, height is what matters. A taller mast creates what is effectively a longer lever which you, the rider, can use manipulate the foil below.
Taller masts allow for finer control and more responsiveness, although they require a bit more finesse to get up and moving in the water. Taller masts allow for steeper bank angles, which makes them ideal for kite surfing.
Shorter masts are better for foil surfing; less length is better suited for shallower water. The shorter mast also aids in maintaining balance when carving steep into the wave or wake.
Generally, standard masts range from 24" to 28" tall, while long masts range from 28" to 32" tall.
The Board
Hydrofoil boards are smaller, and especially shorter, than other watersport boards, like wakeboards and surfboards. Despite this, the basic principles are the same: Larger boards are easier to paddle with, and they make get up and moving easier. But they will hold you back as you become more advanced and chase more speed.
Smaller boards demand more balance, while affording more performance and control. A 4'2" to 4'8" board is considered a standard hydrofoil board size. Any board with 32 to 38 liters of volume works well for beginner to intermediate riders.
Advanced riders tend to ride boards measuring 4 feet or less, some with as little as 21 liters of volume (like the 3'8" Majik Karpet).
Hydrofoils By The Numbers
If all these different aspects of the hydrofoil seem a bit overwhelming, keep in mind that, generally, the number advertised on a foil assembly also indicates its optimal use and performance.
Foil wing surface areas range from as small as 700 square centimeters to as large as 2,000 sq. cm.
For example, the Liquid Force Pod w/ Flite 120 Foil has a 1,200 sq. cm. front wing. The Hyperlite Starship w/ Raptor 1100 foil has an 1,100 sq. cm. front wing.
Beginner riders who want to surf foil or ride wakes should pick a wing with at least 1,500 sq. cm. of surface area. This provides good glide characteristics with plenty of low-speed lift.
A foil with 1,200 sq. cm. of surface area is a great starting point for beginner riders who want to get into wing and kite foiling on open water.
"Just help me pick a hydrofoil!"
We'd love to! See our beginner hydrofoil picks for different riding styles (surf, wake, kite/wing):
Best Overall: Liquid Force POD w/ Flite 120 Foil
The Liquid Force POD is made specifically for new hydrofoil riders, and it comes with features you simply won't find on most (if any) other hydrofoil board. For starters, the POD easily and quickly converts between a hydrofoil and a proper wakesurf board.
Take a peek at the bottom rear of the board, and you'll notice four fin mounts for wakesurfing, plus an adjustable foil mast mount which allows you to finely tune the placement of the foil assembly.
This small but critical feature is perfect for beginners! Ride the mast at the furthest rearward setting, and you'll enjoy a board that's incredibly easy pump for easy lift, and generally learn on. As you progress in skill and speed, adjust the mast forward for more maneuverability.
Down below, the POD's foil is designed for lots of lift without sacrificing performance. Its mid-aspect anhedral Foil 120 (1,200 sq. cm) front wing, generously long 54 Bayonet fuselage, and dihedral and svelte TC 28 rear wing provide arguably the best compromise on responsiveness, stability, and control, affording versatility to ride this foil in the wake or surf, or even with a wing.
Available in 4'4" and 4'9" board sizes.
Best for Growing Skills: Ronix Koal Surface 727 (24" Mast, 1300 Foil)
The Koal Surface 727 w/ 24" mast and 1300 foil is a beginner-friendly board with the capacity to make advanced riding styles easier. The key word, here, is "balance." Ronix spent five years developing every aspect of the 727 to create a board with incredible balance and control.
Key features include a pronounced, directional rockerline that provides effortless rebound to maintain speed and lift with less effort. The 727 is also optimized with a perfect "middle-of-the-road" level of thinness to promote maximum buoyancy for deep-water starts.
Ronix also shaped countless prototypes to find the perfect balance of weight and shape, ensuring the 727 offers great rhythm, effortless turns, and predictability without feeling twitchy or unstable.
Below the board, the 727's foil assembly provides a high-aspect, 1300 sq. cm. wing with loads of surface area. The 24" mast provides a lower center of gravity with high stability, making shallow wake and surf foiling a breeze.
To dial in the feel for new riders, the Surface 727 includes comfortable padded foot straps and a grooved EVA pad that provides plenty of cushion, grip, and support.
Available in 4'1" for smaller (< 180 lbs) riders and those with some experience, and 4'8" for absolute beginners and larger riders (160+ lbs).
Easiest to Ride/Max Lift: Liquid Force X w/ Carbon 1550 Foil
There is no replacement for displacement. The Liquid Force X, with its massive Carbon 1150 Stratus Wing, makes getting up and moving as a new foil rider as easy as possible. Super high-aspect front and rear wings offer maximum lift and stability.
Complementing all that lift is a full carbon construction, keeping the entire foil as light as possible and providing the most responsive, stiff, and tactile feel that allows new riders to become one with the board and quickly advance from simple straight-line runs to popping off the wake and carving like a proper foil surfer.
Available in 4'0" and 4'4" board sizes.
Learn about different riding styles! The differences between wake foiling and foil surfing
