This guide is all about helping you pick your first Unifoil setup using the Progression, Evolution, and Aggression front wings - and matching the right tails, masts, fuselages, and boards.

Unifoil’s system is fully modular, so all parts fit together across lines - you can start with a solid base setup and grow your quiver over time.

*Note: Within each Unifoil series, the smaller front wings are designed for more advanced riders, lighter riders, or higher-energy conditions (tow, bigger surf, strong wind conditions).

For your first setup, choose from the mid-size or larger wings in each line, paired with the tail and mast recommendations below.

These sizes give the easiest lift, stability, and progression curve for learning.

 

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1. Start With Your Main Discipline

Before you choose gear, decide what you’ll do most of the time:

• Prone / Surf foiling - paddling into waves, carves, pumping and linking.

• Downwind - open-ocean bumps, shore runners, and long glides.

• Wing / Parawing - riding powered by a wing or parawing, from flatwater to waves.

• Wake - boat, jetski, cable

• Pump Foiling / Dock Starts 

• Assisted Foiling - Foil Drive, etc. 

You can absolutely cross over, but your setup should be chosen around the foiling disciplines you’re most excited to learn.

 

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2. Picking Your First Front Wing(s)

A. Progression - Best First Foil for Most Riders

The Progression line (100 / 125 / 140 / 170 / 200) is a high‑aspect series that is stable and easy to control. *Evolution 205 & 235 for larger riders. 

Super low stall speed → easy lift and forgiving at low and medium speeds. Foil stays flying at lower speeds.

• Real glide & pump → connects waves and works for light wind wing/downwind.

• Carves similar to a mid‑aspect foil → feels surfy, not twitchy.

• Works from beginner to pro, across prone, wake, wing/parawing, downwind, pump. 

When to choose Progression as your first Unifoil:

• You’re learning or fairly new to foiling and want one wing that can do a bit of everything.

• You care about easy lift, stability, and a fast progression curve more than max speed.

• Riding mostly slower, powerless waves, light wind, learning to pump. 

Size suggestions (rough guide):

• 45-60 kg (100-145 lb) → Progression 100 or 125 as a primary wing

• 65-80 kg (145-175 lb) → Progression 140 as a primary wing; 170 if you want more glide/easier lift or tiny waves.

• 80-95 kg (175-210 lb) → Progression 170 as your daily driver; 200 if your waves are soft or you want downwind ease.

• 95+ kg (210+ lb) → Progression 200 or Evo 235 for learning and small surf / wing / DW / pumping.

The 100 and 125 are more speed/size‑specific; great once you’re established, but the 140-200 range is where most first‑setups live.

 

B. Evolution - Next Level Up From Progression

The Evolution line (115 / 135 / 155 / 175 / 205 / 235) is designed for riders who like the easy ride, pump, and flow of Progression, but want more speed, power, and glide.

• Higher speed range and more efficiency than Progression.

• Still pitch‑neutral and forgiving, but feels more “refined” and reactive.

• Covers prone, wing, parawing, wake, pump and downwind depending on size.

• Higher top end speed but higher stall speed. Not as forgiving as Progressions. 

Although viable, the Evolution series is not really the first choice for complete beginners; it’s aimed at riders wanting to carve harder and glide further, often stepping up  from the eProgression series.

How to think about Evolution sizes as a first setup (if you’re not a total beginner):

• Coming off Progression 170 → look at Evolution 155.

• Coming off Progression 140 → look at Evolution 135.

• Heavier riders or light downwind, light wind conditions → Evolution 175-205-235

Choose Evolution as your first Unifoil only if:

• You already foil a bit and want something faster with more glide, or

• You have good surf / wind sports background and are comfortable with a slightly steeper learning curve.

• Are proficient at foiling and looking to step up performance. 

 

C. Aggression - Pocket Surf & Power Discipline

The Aggression line (105 / 115 / 130 + new sizes coming) is built for performance prone, tow wing/parawing, 1st wake, with tons of control in the pocket, high speed, good pump and range.

• Tuned for waist‑high to several feet overhead surf.

• Handles power, size, and steep waves with control.

• Great for parawing/wing, prone, tow, and wake when you want a more reactive surfy aggressive feel.

Size feel:

• Aggression 105 - lighter riders or bigger/steeper waves

• Aggression 115 - medium weight riders

• Aggression 130 - heavier riders, or softer waves where you still want that surf‑performance feel.

Choose Aggression if:

• You mainly prone or tow surf in decent waves, stronger wind disciplines. 

• You already foil proficiently and want tight lines, pocket control, and a surfboard‑style feel but still connect by pumping.

 

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3. Choosing a Tail: Shunt / Shiv / Shank 3 pack, Progression Tails, and Afterburner

Unifoil’s tails dramatically tune pitch feel, stability, pump, and carving. The system lets you mix and match based on foot pressure and discipline.*Pairing to rider weight is a baseline. Swap tail style or size to compensate for riding conditions. 

A. Shunt / Shiv / Shank Tails 3 pack (13" & 14")

The 3 pack uses one outline with three different profiles, tuned for: 

• Shank - Back‑footed (symmetrical 50/50 foil)

• Shiv - Neutral (balanced front/back pressure)

• Shunt - Front‑footed (reflex profile)

Size choice:

• 13" - looser, quicker, more high-performance, less lift. 

• 14" - more stability and pump; great for heavier riders 80 kg+, more lift. 

B. Progression Tails (13.5" / 14.5")

• Based on the Shiv but thinner for more glide and speed.

• 13.5" → lighter riders, tighter turns, more speed for any discipline. 

• 14.5" → heavier riders (80-110+ kg), more stability/pump, smaller waves or lighter wind. 

• Still maintains great low end lift. 

C. Afterburner Tails (14.5” / 15.5”)

The Afterburner tails are Unifoil’s fastest, lowest-drag stabilizers.

• Designed for speed, glide, and efficiency.

• Popular for winging, downwind, and high-speed prone/tow.

• Pairs extremely well with Evolution and Aggression foils.

• Less low end lift than Progression tails. 

Profile & Feel:

• Designed for maximum efficiency with a clean release.

• Provides higher top-end speed and noticeably improved glide.

• Offers a more locked-in tracking feel compared to Progression tails. 

Size Recommendations:

• 14.5" Afterburner

• Rider weight: 55–90 kg

• Feel: Fast, reactive, efficient

• Best for: Wing, prone, downwind in moderate conditions

• Notes: Great for riders wanting speed without losing control or excessive lift

• 15.5" Afterburner

• Rider weight: 85–115+ kg

• Feel: Added pitch stability, more glide, smoother pump cadence

• Best for: Downwind, winging in chop, heavier riders

• Notes: Ideal when using large-span wings or when mast flex is noticeable

• Popular chopped sizes 12” - 13.5” - greatly reduces drag and increases speed at the cost of stability and low-end lift. 

Sizing generally follows rider weight:

• Lighter riders (55-75 kg / 120-165 lb)

• Heavier riders (75-90 kg / 165-200+ lb)

 

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4. Fuselages - Stability vs Reactivity

A fuselage sets the distance between the front wing and the stabilizer wing, and that spacing changes how the foil behaves. A shorter distance creates a tighter pivot point, making the foil more responsive and tightens turning radius but it also demands more precise control in pitch, roll and yaw, as well as a faster pumping cadence. A longer distance adds pitch stability, slows the pumping cadence, draws out the turns, and helps the foil feel calmer underfoot. Choosing the right fuselage length lets you tune your setup toward higher reactivity, or stable and forgiving riding. 

Unifoil system includes XS 22cm, Short 27cm, Medium 33cm, Long 39cm options:

• XS 22cm - extra short, very tight turning, surfy, reactive. Designed for small to medium waves, steep faces, and pocket foiling.

• Short 27cm - still tight turning but a bit more pitch stability.

• Medium 33cm - sweet spot for most riders; stable, still turns well

• Long 39cm - maximum stability for learning, or big wave stability. 

 

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5. Masts

Your mast is your chassis. Masts control your board to water clearance, affects speed/drag, roll and breach precision. Shorter masts ride closer to the surface, create less drag, and feel quicker and more connected. Medium-length masts offer the best all-round use. Longer masts give you more vertical clearance to bank steeper without breaching the front wing, lend board clearance in taller chop, and breach prevention. Choosing the right mast length shapes how stable, forgiving, or high-performance your setup feels in your local environment.

*Note: The longer the mast, the more susceptible it is to flex. The wider the front wing, the more torque it generates on the mast, which also increases flex. Flex is unavoidable to a degree, and can be problematic  because it delays the foil’s response, reducing stability, control, and efficiency. Flex wastes energy, reduces pump efficiency, softens turning, and becomes especially unstable at higher speeds or with wide span wings and heavier riders. 

Short, medium, long: 

Short 65cm - 75cm / Medium 80cm / Long 85cm - 95cm 

Mast Line Up

1. Progression Mast - Maximum stiffness and control for heavy riders and large wings.

2. Torque Mast - Close to Progression stiffness and noticeably faster. The all rounder. 

3. Race Mast - Thin, efficient, very fast. Best for 155 wings and below. 

4. Katana Masts - Budget friendly, well rounded use case. 

5. Aluminum Masts - Budget-friendly, increased weight, but very stiff. 

Rider Weight Guidelines

• 55-75 kg (100-165 lb)       → Katana, Race, Torque mast.

• 75-90 kg (165-200 lb)       → Katana, Torque, Progression mast.

• 90-110+ kg (200-240+ lb) → Progression, Torque mast. 

Height Guidelines

• 65-75 cm → Shallow water, beginners.

• 75-85 cm → All‑round, varying conditions 

• 85-95 cm → Wing/downwind, more clearance in chop.

 

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6. Boards - Matching Unifoil Wings to Volume

Unifoil’s board lineup includes:

• Foil the World (FTW) - 23-30L range, narrow, low volume, highly reactive prone shape. Strap inserts. Great crossover for surf, wake, dock starts. 

• Disco Butter - 27-36 L range; a bit more volume than FTW, still surf/performance oriented. No strap inserts. 

• Nimitz Downwind - 100-123L downwind shapes for open‑ocean paddling and downwind SUP/wing starts.

• Small Fry & Potato Chip wake - wake‑specific shapes, very short, low‑volume.

Nimitz Downwind SUP Boards

• 7′5″ × 18.5″ × 5.75″ → 100L 

• 7′7″ × 19.5″ × 6″      →  113L 

• 7′10″ × 20.5″ × 6″    →  123L

Recommended SUP Board Volumes

 

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7. Example ‘First Unifoil’ Setups

Here are some simple starting points:

A. All‑Round Prone (Beginner-Intermediate)

• Front wing: Progression 140 (65-80 kg) or 170/200 (80-95+ kg).

• Tail: Progression 14.5" or Shiv/Progression 13.5" if lighter.

• Fuse: Medium or Long

• Mast: Katana 750 or Progression 800.

• Board: Disco Butter or FTW around 30-36L.

B. Wing / Parawing + Prone Crossover

• Front wing: Progression 170/200 or Evolution 175/205/235.

• Tail: Progression or Afterburner

• Fuse: Medium or Long fuse if you want extra stability for learning.

• Mast: Katana 830 or race/torque if you’re chasing more speed later.

• Board: Local wing board + a prone board (FTW/Disco Butter) if you want to keep surf in the mix.

C. Performance Prone / Tow (Steeper Waves, intermediate to advanced)

• Front wing: Aggression 105/115/135 or Progression 100 depending on rider weight and wave size.

• Tail: Progression 13.5, Afterburner 14.5 or chopped to 13”.

• Fuse: Short (27 cm) or XS 22 for max reactivity.

• Mast: Torque 80, Katana 950 for big surf

• Board: FTW (strapped) or Disco Butter on the smaller volume side.

D. Downwind / All‑Rounder

• Front wing: Progression 170/200 or Evolution 175/205 if you already foil.

• Tail: 14-14.5" for pump and stability.

• Fuse: Medium or long (~33-40 cm) for more pitch stability.

• Mast: Katana 830-950.

• Board: Local SUP/DW board, or Nimitz 100-123 L.

E. Wake Foiling

1st Wake (Beginner → Early Intermediate)

Front wings:

• Aggression 105/115/130 – perfect first-wake wings: tight in the pocket, easy to stay in the sweet spot, tons of control, landing airs.

• Evolution 115 / 135 – stable and smooth with great forward drive; excellent for learning the second wake soon after.

• Progression 125 – forgiving, predictable, nice speed range for learning rope-free riding.

Tails: Shiv or Progression 14–14.5" for stability and smooth pitch.
Fuse: 33 cm for calm tracking and easy learning.
Mast: Katana 750–830 (shorter = easier behind boat).
Board: Small Fry, Potato Chip, or similar 8–20 L.

 

2nd Wake (Intermediate → Advanced)

Front wings:

• Aggression 130 / 115 – still excellent on 2nd wake; stays locked in and responsive.

• Progression 125 – great blend of pump, glide, and control for connecting 1st→2nd wake.

• Evolution 115 / 135 – more speed + glide for carving out and coming back.

Tails: Shiv or Shank 13–14" for quicker roll and more responsive carving.
Fuse: 27–33 cm depending on desired turning tightness.
Mast: Katana 750 or Progression 800 if heavy.
Board: Compact wake shapes 6–15 L.

3rd Wake and Beyond (Beginner→ Expert)

Front wings:

• Progression 170, 200 – long glide, great low end, efficient pump, great for getting way out the back.

• Evolution 155 / 175, 205 / 235

• Smaller Evos (135/155): intermediate → advanced riders; fast, lively, efficient pump.

• Larger Evos (175/205/235): beginner → advanced riders; super glide, stable, forgiving at speed.

Notes on wing families:

• Progression: beginner → intermediate behind boat; larger Progressions also suit advanced far-back riding.

• Aggression: intermediate → advanced; best in the pocket and early wake progression, not ideal for far-back riding.

• Evolution:

• Smaller (115/135/155): intermediate → advanced riders.

• Larger (175/205/235): beginner → advanced; very forgiving with huge glide and efficiency.

Tails: 13" Shiv or Shank for agility, or Afterburner 14.5" for tracking and speed.
Fuse: XS 22 / 27 cm for maximum snap and reactivity.
Mast: Katana 750, Race/Torque for high-speed loading, or Progression 800 for heavier riders.
Board: Ultra-short wake boards 6–12L, FTW 3’11 23L, 4’3 25L

 

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8. How to Decide Between Progression, Evolution, and Aggression

If you’re still stuck, use this simple filter:

• “I’m brand new or nearly new, I want something forgiving and versatile.”
  → Start with Progression.

• “I already foil and want more speed, glide, and performance while keeping that easy, pitch‑neutral feel.”
  → Go Evolution.

• “I mostly surf decent waves and want tight, controlled carves and pocket performance.”
  → Go Aggression.

From there, tune the tail, fuselage, mast, and board to your weight, local conditions, and style. Read our Hydrofoil Shimming guide to learn more about tuning your gear.