Dakine Cyclone Wing Review

Dakine Cyclone Wing

First this is what Dakine say about the Cyclone 5m Wing:

“We designed the Cyclone wing to be ultra-versatile and handle any conditions you can throw at it. This wing has stable drift when on the wave or going downwind. This extremely rigid design allows you to get up quickly and go. This stiffness also will enable you to power through gusts and jump to the moon with confidence.”

Here is our view on Dakine's Wing Foil offering for 2023:

This is the first foray for Dakine into the winging world – a brand with plenty of heritage and reputation. Under the new ownership and guidance of Cabrinha kites. As a result, there is no surprise that there are similarities in fittings and features between the two brands. The Cyclone’s shaping, construction and panel layout is also very similar to the Cabrinha Mantis, such as the shallow dihedral in its leading-edge profile, yet its wingspan is quite a bit less, giving it a lower aspect ratio.

Water test

On the water the Dakine Cyclone really impressed with its power, stability and manoeuvrability. It has a rigid structure and whilst not necessarily one of the lightest on test, it flies really well in the neutral position and transfers power smoothly once engaged. The two long handles on the boom strut are particularly worthy of note, providing firm connection and direct feedback, whilst allowing the rider to move their hands without letting go of the wing at all.

The form and structure of handles really is such an important feature when contributing to a wing’s feel and performance, and we think these ones offered by Dakine are some of the best on the market. That said, the handles on our wing were slightly squashed at their rear fixing (we suspect as a result of them being compressed whilst the wing was rolled). Initially wedge shaped and cantered to the front, their form can be altered so that they sit parallel to the strut, through a little massaging and manipulation prior to launch.

Light winds

In light marginal winds, the Cyclone’s tight front canopy and stiff structure provides the spring and response. To punch the power into the board and release it from the water early. It accelerates quickly in the hands and continues to drive forward in gusts. Providing excellent top speed and pointing ability to cover ground in comfort. The large windows provide some of the best visibility of all the wings on test.

The Cyclone offers supreme control in gusty winds through its dependable form and excellent handle structure. In transition, its shallow dihedral leading edge means that it flies neutrally above the head into the wind, making tacks clean and straightforward, whilst the response is there to pump your way out of the manoeuvre, should your speed drop. And whilst riding or gliding, the Cyclone sits and parks well, the solid structure of the neutral handle providing the control to correct any wobble in its stability. 

Valve

At the end of the session, the Sprint valve is a little fiddly to unscrew and release, as we found it hard to get traction on the serrated teeth of the valve’s perimeter. Once undone, deflation is not the fastest, without a dump valve present, the air only escaping from the central strut via the adjoining tube. On the plus side, the duffle bag supplied with the Cyclone is excellent, using a dry-bag closure method, and several straps to help compress the contents

THE VERDICT

The Cyclone may be Dakine’s first-generation wing, but what an entrance into the winging market! Powerful and direct in nature, it flies beautifully, whilst its handle design was liked by all who tried it.

DAKINE CYCLONE WING 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW

SPECS

Price: £825

Size: 5.0m

Weight: 2.93 kg

Canopy Style: Tight, to loose in the leech.

Recommended PSI: 7

Centre Strut Inflation: Single tube

Handles: 2

Harness-line fixings: No

Supplied with: Bag, leash.

Available Sizes: 2.0, 2.5, 3.1, 4.0, 5.0, 6.2.

Thanks for reading here is more Wing Foil Inflatable Wings we offer here at S2AS.