Should I buy a Jet board or an eFoil?

How do you make the right choice when looking to buy your next board? First, let's explore the differences between the two types of boards so that you can make an informed choice.

Jet boards travel across the water's surface propelled by an electric-powered battery. So riders are in contact with the water, directly experiencing the board's speed, power, and agility at their feet.

eFoils or Electric Hydrofoils fly above the water with no contact or friction, thanks to the hydrodynamic wing and mast. As a result, riders have a different experience; more smooth and serene.

For non-experienced riders, jet boards are more accessible. On a board like the Awake RÄVIK 3 the experience at low speeds is less intense, and the board is more forgiving of piloting errors. eFoils such as the Awake VINGA, however, might at first feel more straightforward thanks to their more serene nature, but a dip in the water soon follows any minor mistakes a rider might make.

Out in choppy water, or even in powerful and rough conditions, the jet board like the Awake RÄVIK S will have more control and offer more possibilities to perform and do tricks and jumps. While eFoils perform well in small chop and rolling swells - passing through virtually undisturbed by the water's surface.

Both jet boards and eFoil perform well when the water is flat and calm, even though each has distinctive characteristics. Jet boards like the RÄVIK S offer punchy and aggressive riding ideal for those who enjoy deep carves, speed and adrenaline. Wider and more accessible boards such as the RÄVIK 3 will allow anyone to experience a stable and easy first ride on a jet board, improving their skills step by step. Also, because jet boards have no mast beneath the water, they perform well in shallow conditions.

In contrast, an eFoil is perfect for exploring the coast or river tideways because of its smooth, languid style and can offer up to 2 hours of riding time like the Awake VINGA 3. Physically too, eFoils are less demanding, requiring a sense of balance and good overall body strength. That said you can always challenge your eFoiling skills with the VINGA S.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which board is right for you is to understand where you'll be riding the most, who you'll be riding with, and what ride style suits you best (punchy and aggressive, stable but playful or smooth and serene).

Better still have both - that way, you can go where your mood takes you.

Here is Florian Garbaccio from Awake's perspective on a Jetboard versus an eFoil.

"I don't think you can compare the two - they are two distinct ways of riding and enjoying the water. When a storm calls - wind, substantial chop, and steep waves wake me up. I grab a jet board like the RÄVIK S and have an absolute blast. The way the board reacts, the power, and the grip on the water give me the exhilaration that comes from braving the elements.

In lighter chop or rolling swell, I click my eFoil together, and I'm never disappointed. Feeling the power of the water moving below the board as I fly above the surface is the smoothest experience one can have. And in glassy and flat waters, I guess I follow my mood. Do I want to enjoy a long cruise along the coast, or do I want to carve it up until my legs burn?
Either way, it's a great feeling."

 

Stay Awake!