NEILPRYDE FLY II 5M TEST REVIEW 2024

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NEILPRYDE FLY II 5M TEST REVIEW 2024

The Verdict

The NeilPryde Fly II provides exceptional low end and natural pumping ability. The Fly II excels in the low end to just right conditions, remaining powered and poised for your next manoeuvre. Its uniquely shaped front handle assists with performance and ease, which is a simple yet nice touch with plenty of benefits.

The Lowdown

The Fly II, on first appearances, has a slightly higher aspect shape compared to some others in the category. NeilPryde has come up with some engineering tricks though to compensate for the disadvantages of this higher aspect ratio. The handles and especially the front handle with the unique “pistol grip” are designed so that the wing has more distance to the body, is therefore less affected by turbulence and has more distance to the water surface. Inflation is facilitated with two separate valves to enhance the leading edge’s stiffness and increase the speed of pack down. Abrasion reinforcement is present on the Fly II, but only where necessary i.e. along the wing tips, around the valves, and on the flagging handle on the leading edge. The Fly II possesses a subtle dihedral shape, which helps add tension to the front half of the canopy, while the trailing edge carries a slight looseness. The Fly II’s canopy is made of Challenge Code 95 for long-lasting shape, and to prevent stretching. When observing the Fly II from the side you’ll notice that the draft uniformly peters out from the front to the back, strongly suggesting that the power should be relatively well-balanced in the hands and will resist the rider stalling due to oversheeting. The strut is slightly ergonomically shaped; however, the front handle is properly ergonomically designed, which upon examination, will certainly offer some advantages when it comes to handling and manoeuvring the Fly II. Inside the bowels of the Fly II, NeilPryde features an anti-twisting system on the bladder to prevent any unplanned breakages or bursts during inflation. This system also makes it easy to replace the bladder if the need arises. Available in two colour-ways – blue and red/orange – the Fly II seems to have what should be a crowd-pleasing shape along with small, but impactful design features.

Brand Claim

“The 2024 FLY II represents an evolutionary leap from the original model that features new materials, even more advanced 3D flying shapes, and a host of enhancements aimed at improving performance and enhancing the user experience.”

Performance

The Fly II’s front handle may seem like a small feature in the grand scheme of the wing design, but you will actually notice it instantly. From the ability to walk down the beach with your hand holding the front power handle, to the absolute ease of reaching for it from the neutral handle on the leading edge, so the Fly II immediately stands out here. It packs a bit of power, but not aggressively; it provides a consistent, decent positive pull that is very usable. This is particularly noticeable in the low end, where it gives you confidence to pump and work yourself onto the foil. Performing exceptionally well in the low end, the Fly II has a really nice pumping cadence to suit its tight-to-loose canopy tension, which will match many riders’ abilities and athleticism. Through gybes and tacks, the Fly II has a slightly higher aspect shape than some others in the category and enjoys some proactive input in the preparation phase. You can build a little more oomph to allow the Fly II to react and glide through the gybe to match your desired radius. When tacking the front handle of the Fly II allows you to get its leading edge a little higher, providing a bit more uplift in the tacks. Pushing the Fly II into punchier conditions, we did find some flex and flutter, especially at speed when pushing angles upwind. Out of the gusts and into lulls, the Fly II’s good low-end character comes out to shine again, keeping you moving without any panic to reach the next patch of stable breeze. The Fly II displays really nice qualities and stability in the low end to perfectly powered spectrum along with a level of comfort that will be enjoyed by all.