The Gong Hipe Review (Inflatable Wingfoil Board)

[fluidity]

adriatic, I think you need to do your own review of a HIPE ! Criticising others is so much easier than setting the fine example

I started watching okkiteboarder's video believing that he sells product himself and wondered if it would affect his review negatively. I'm sure as per his reply to you that he's immensly conscious of that fact. I suspect his poor experience with their customer "service" was of some personal relief to him that retailers have the power to have a good edge over Gong in customer service. There are good and bad retailers too but I'd buy from someone like okkiteboarder over another retailer on the basis that he is willing to step past blind brand loyalty to test the truths of real life behind the front of team rider hype.

We have a local retailer in Wellington New Zealand who doesn't use the product, ignorantly runs down opposition products and falsely extolls the virtues of his favoured product without understanding it's specific drawbacks.

I will add to okkiteboarder's review some things that I noticed when considering a purchase from Gong:
No rear footstrap however the HIPE promotional video shows someone doing a big jump. If you freeze the video right then, it's apparent that the board in the jump is a hard board.
The financial history of Gong on their own website is somewhat chequered, it did not inspire me with confidence to order 2 months ahead despite them having a superb looking product.
And re-iterating okkiteboarder's note about the shape of the board, there is very little curve up in the bow of the board making it more likely to catch. It's a dissapointment that such a rigid semi inflateable board has these weak links.
The weight... On the Gong site the shaper goes on at great length about the high value of the prepreg carbon US Box mounting plate, that they get great pricing in bulk. But in my mind, the high weight okkiteboarder is observing is indicative that this plate should be smaller and likely more care to taper it's thickness as it blends with the vinyl and dropstitch under-hull surface. I expect in their next version of a HIPE they will address these issues.

Oh... and updating my design link for inflateable foil boarders who want to improve release of the curved rear surfaces: https://pinshape.com/items/103319-3d-pr ... uNL8QhyyTM

[joekitetime]

If I were to have done another review of the Naish Inflatable, 135L, I would have have the exact review of performance (regarding rigidness, weight, touchdowns).

Price for Naish is a tad more, and their customer service has been epic in my opinion.

Consider a Naish as a better alternative.

[oldkiter]

I received my Hipe 5'5" 145L board within 5 days of shipping notification to SoCal. It was $755 USD delivered making it about $360 less than Naish 135L. Everything expected was in the package! Customer service has been fine. I also have 2 Gong wings.

[oldkiter]

Update on Gong 5'5". Inflated the board today. Definitely difficult to get it to 15 psi. I am sure it is part that I am somewhat light at 70kg (155#) and my age (VERY OLD)! It weighs apx 16.5 # (7.5 kg +/-) with straps and foil hardware. I will give it a few hours inflated to be certain it holds the air. Probably try to use my Bravo pump in future.
Thanks for reading!!

[fluidity]

[quote oldkiter
Update on Gong 5'5". Inflated the board today. Definitely difficult to get it to 15 psi. I am sure it is part that I am somewhat light at 70kg (155#) and my age (VERY OLD)! It weighs apx 16.5 # (7.5 kg +/-) with straps and foil hardware. I will give it a few hours inflated to be certain it holds the air. Probably try to use my Bravo pump in future.
Thanks for reading!!
/quote]

My F-One foil SUP board pump is skinnier than a kite pump and taller. There's an adjustment at the side of the top of the cylinder which changes it from dual action to single action. I've left my 160 litre board at working pressure since first pumping it though

I'm not sure I could get it to proper pressure with only a kite pump!

[or6]

Ok kiteboarder, thx for your seemingly well informed review. I have a possibly strange question: would you consider using the hipe for kitefoiling?

I am a beginner kitefoiler, haven't got a suitable board, and am considering getting into winging with some mates. Having just one board would be awesome. Obviously, I'd still need several front wings.

What do you think? Gong recommends only the smallest hipe for kitefoiling....would a larger one be useable?

Thx!

[Sbrinckman]

Can anyone tell why Gong opted for only front straps? would a non-freestyler miss the back strap?

[Okkiteboarder]

Ok kiteboarder, thx for your seemingly well informed review. I have a possibly strange question: would you consider using the hipe for kitefoiling?

I am a beginner kitefoiler, haven't got a suitable board, and am considering getting into winging with some mates. Having just one board would be awesome. Obviously, I'd still need several front wings.

What do you think? Gong recommends only the smallest hipe for kitefoiling....would a larger one

It would be tough due to the flotation. The board would not be able to Waterstart conventionally. You would have to probably climb on the board, stand, and then use the kite to take off. That’s why they are recommending only the low volume boards. I have a buddy who kites with the 55L fanatic wing board, but he can do a conventional or at least more conventional Waterstart with it.

[Okkiteboarder]

Can anyone tell why Gong opted for only front straps? would a non-freestyler miss the back strap?

I’m sure they didn’t want to mess with integrity issues from jumping an inflatable wingboard. A non-freestyler does not miss the back foot strap.

[oldkiter]

[quote oldkiter
Update on Gong 5'5". Inflated the board today. Definitely difficult to get it to 15 psi. I am sure it is part that I am somewhat light at 70kg (155#) and my age (VERY OLD)! It weighs apx 16.5 # (7.5 kg +/-) with straps and foil hardware. I will give it a few hours inflated to be certain it holds the air. Probably try to use my Bravo pump in future.
Thanks for reading!!
/quote]

My F-One foil SUP board pump is skinnier than a kite pump and taller. There's an adjustment at the side of the top of the cylinder which changes it from dual action to single action. I've left my 160 litre board at working pressure since first pumping it though

I'm not sure I could get it to proper pressure with only a kite pump!

Thanks for comments. Yes, the Gong pump is the taller skinnier high pressure pump as well (with the single action option). It was actually kind of funny at the end of pumping because I stood on a stool so the I could put more pressure on pump but it just would not go down!! It is possible that gauge is off. Board feels like concrete and did not seem to have any give when I stood on it.

or6...I also plan to try the 5'5" Hipe for kiteboarding which is my "first love". I have a carbon foil which floats so I think there is a chance.