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The Loft Tested 2008

The Loft | Wind magazine France 2008 test

The Loft O2 Freeride 6.6   
"Ease, comfort and performance"

The Loft O2 Freeride 6.6 has a lot of distinctive features within this group of sails. First of all, it's the sail that has the biggest number of battens (like the Pryde). Recommended mast: 460 rdm.
The O2 Freeride is set apart from the others with a heavy-duty construction and a massive use of xply. Longevity must be a priority of Loftsails, because it is the most reinforced sail of this group.
It is worth noting that the O2 Freeride has a Vario Top.
On the water, the sail is not the most powerful of the group, nor the most nervous to start the planing, nevertheless it's doing quite well considering its size (slightly smaller than the other sails tested). Once the planing started, the sail generates forces to propel the board and the rider at high-speed. We appreciate the very comfortable softness and elasticity that it offers to the rider. It's really pleasant to sail with it, because it's well balanced and easy to use. With this Loft we never struggle. The gusts are well absorbed and acceleration is natural.
Control in strong winds is really good. The profile is less blocked than the Hellcat's, but the center of effort is not significantly going backwards. We just have the feeling of a sail a bit less light than the other sails, but its not a problem for the maneuvers.
Competitive and offering good control in strong winds, Monty's O2 Freeride is one of the easiest sail to use, and as usual, very pleasant to sail with.
A good value for money, as a bonus a well-reinforced construction.

+ : Construction, quality/price, strong winds control, softness, performances
- : nothing to report

Verdict: (...) The Loft O2 Freeride offers both very good behavior and good speed. Super all-round and very well constructed, it's suitable for the most windsurfers.

 

 The Loft | Wind magazine France 2008 test
The Loft Lip Wave 5,2   
"Always a sure value"

Few modifications to report on this new Loftsails Lip Wave 08. Monty Spindler, Loft Sails' emblematic designer, slightly modified the Sensitip, top of the sail, to make it easier to roll. He also added an additional eyelet for the outhaul, and modified the general look of the sail. Just like last year, the mast sleeve is a bit larger than on the other wave sails. The sail works well on its 400 Loft RDM mast, and offers the softness and elasticity that are characteristic of the brand. The mast is really easy to insert, for easy rigging of the sail. 
Very well balanced, the sail delivers the correct amount of power, to be used when needed. It's not dragging the rider, and it's never bothering. The power regulation is really interesting. Stable in strong winds, the sail is really fast and efficient under all kind of conditions. 
For surfing, its softness is really enjoyable. It's a proof of tolerance. Handiness is impeccable. The Lip Wave can be neutralized on demand, and the rider can forget the sail to focus on the wave. 
In conclusion, the Loft Sails is homogeneous and always easy to control. With a really competitive price, a very reliable construction and a versatile behavior meant to please everybody in all kinds of conditions, the Lip Wave 08 is once again one of the best sails to have fun in waves. No defects to report here.

+ : price, homogeneity, versatility, efficiency, softness, wind range, power and neutrality
- : nothing to report

Verdict: (...) At last, we shouldn't put away the Loft Lip Wave, which is set apart from the others with its good price, homogeneity, regulated power, softness and positive surf behavior.

 
 

The Loft | Planchemag Wave tests 2008

Issue 303 November 11-09-2007 page 45
The Loft Lip Wave 4,7   
“Pure wave and high speed”

...it's a great compromise between nervousness and softness for an improved wind range.  ...strong point of the sail is the way the leech opens to release excess of power while the profile maintains an awesome stability. The sail is really fast in on-shore conditions. You can really feel the overall stability while surfing; you get less unbalanced than usual because of its natural neutrality.  ...it is a very versatile wave sail meant for alot of different people in different conditions. Once again, it's hard to find a real weakness to this sail.

+ : ratio softness/nervousness, comfort, ratio handling/neutrality, construction, wind range
- : nothing to report

 

 

 The Loft | Wind Magazine 2008 Wave test
Issue 318 October 07 page 54
The Loft Lip Wave 4.3

Monty Spindler, Loft Sails designer, developed a new Lip Wave 08 with a heavy construction. Some of the linings, for example the batten protector, have been improved. The Sensitip has been modified as well, thus the sail is easier to roll this year.
Triming is easy, just make sure that the vario top is correctly positioned. Be aware that you shouldn't put too much downhaul tension, the Lip Wave just needs a moderate tension to slightly free the leech.
Very well balanced in the arms, the center of effort of the sail is well distributed, thus the sail is soft and limber. It works well on its 370 RDM mast. It's not the lightest sail, maybe that's the reason why it's not the most handy sail of this category.
The Lip Wave is perfectly neutralized in surfing, and it's always homogeneous and easy with no bad surprises. The profile is really stable in the gusts. The sail offers an interesting power, but remains easy to use; thus the wind range is quite large.
In conclusion, the Loft Sails Lip Wave 4,3 is a really versatile sail, meant for alot of different people and different conditions, being always homogeneous and efficient.
A good choice and a gentle price.
+ : versatility, homogeneity, softness, wind range, power/neutrality, efficiency, balance
- : slightly less handy

 
 The Loft | Wind magazine 2008 tests
Issue 317 September 07
The Loft 360 5.8 08

The Loft 360 5.8 is specifically designed for freestyle. The Loft 360 benefits from a light construction that facilitates moves. It's nevertheless a bit too light on the bottom edgeline, where we often crash with the knees or the harness buckle.

Trimmed with the Loft RDM 430 100% carbon mast, the sail gives a feeling of lightness, as if it was only a 5,3.

It is also a powerful sail, so it has all the requirements for a really early planning. The power on the backhand is not unpleasant; the center of effort is well positioned. Thereby the 360Free allows us to do a vast variety of moves, and the transitions under the sail are easy, all the more so as the bottom edge line is high.

Even under-powered, the sail is not awkward and it's easy to do tricks. In brief, this Loft Sail is a bomb for an early planning and for easy handling... a real weapon for "frimestyle" (show-off style).

 
 The Loft | Windsport Magazine 2008 Wave sail test
Volume 27, Issue 1, Number 115

Excerpts: 
“The sail is so tunable, we found ourselves straying from the recommended specs with dramatic results in how the sail feels. …the Lip does an incredible job of splitting hairs between power and responsiveness. Less downhaul makes it powerful and well-suited to onshore conditions, while more downhaul flattens the Lip for a softer feel and on/off power required for sideshore wavesailing. …no other sail can alter its feel as much as the Lip Wave.”

 

The Loft Tests 2007

The Loft | Tests
See also:

- 2004 and 2005 tests
- 2006 tests
 
Wind magazine | CONCEPT 360 – 5.8

Wind magazine 2006 test results Translation by Mauro Giffoni

COMPACT, ACCESSIBLE AND VERY HANDY

Monty Spindler does not offer many sail ranges.... The Concept 360 is added to the O2 and Lip Wave ranges for 06 to satisfy the needs for freestylers and entry-level windsurfers who seek a sail that is both light and easy, as well very handy sail in transitions. The design is compact, with a very big length of boom and a short mast length. The body completely consists of woven films, without the reinforcements being too heavy. The finishing details are particularly neat, the concern of the least detail was not forgotten by the American designer living in Tarifa. There is a beautiful mast protection, thick, molded and quite high, covering moreover perfectly the tack.

The feeling in the hand is really easy, this 360 is very light and is well balanced. The power is well gathered around the boom, accelerations are pleasant, quite progressive and never too brutal… This makes it possible to plane very accessibly and particularly soft, appreciable to take its first steps without concern.
The behaviour in the gusts is good, but the power on the back hand is more important and can be not pleasant… better is not to choose to sail with a too great surface.
Lastly, the handiness is soft and easy in the jibes and tacks, it is always tolerant and a pleasant because of its neutrality without fault. The boom, as it is somewhat long, can be slightly cumbersome for the technical transitions under the boom in freestyle. 

+: versatility, accessibility, softness of use, neutrality/rotation of the profile, finish/upperworks

-: behaviour in strong gusts, boom a little long for technical freestyle
 
The Loft | O2 earns "hearthrob" in the new Planchemag 07 Freeide test
Excerpts from the test:

Headline - "The one that best consumes blasts of wind."

“It is the top on manoeuvres: it is light and it has a good power/finesse ratio.
It is the one that you can bring the far in the wind. You can accelerate easily without forcing.
For Paulin (PM tester), the O2 is the reference in this group (no cam sails)."
PLANCHEMAG | LIP WAVE 4.7 - 2006
The Lip 4.7 does not unbalance… with electric acceleration… It is a sail that all the team loved.
A very beautiful surprise by the feeling that it releases and its incredible homogeneity. …it has a superb rotation of profile and is neutralized perfectly in surfing. It is a sail that one completely forgets in navigation.

PLANCHEMAG | O2 FREERIDE 6.6 - 2006
...construction excellent until the least detail… A sail very well reinforced with more than 50% of monofilm X-Ply. A reference. …it is the one you can control further, most stable profile and the most maneuverable. Difficult to resist to this sail. It is the most complete sail, most powerful, with less effort required.

The Loft | Tests 2006
PLANCHEMAG 06 TEST QUOTES
PLANCHEMAG | O2 FREERACE 8.4 - 2006
More reinforced than the other sails… most simple to trim and to tend… super stable and one can handle strong gusts. Alive, it breathes extremely and develops a really high level of performance. It is the heartthrob in this test for its extreme versatility.
 

Wind magazine | O2 FREERIDE CONCEPT – 5.9

Wind magazine 2006 test results Translation by Mauro Giffoni

FREERIDE WITH POWER-BOOST AND KNOWS HOW TO JIBE!

With its profile firmly maintained by six battens and a small flexible batten at the head with a pretty name (Sensitip), this O2 could very well have appeared in the category Performance Freeride!
Monty Spindler likes versatile sails, his designs are able to mark points in all the fields; the designs are not limited to only one single use. The definition of the profile is exemplary, the sail shape very harmonious and is well placed in the low part, while the work of leech is really neat, with a progressive and important twist in the higher part. One also assesses the quality of construction and assembly, with a choice of materials of most judicious, in particular of solids films woven in all the zone in front of the pilot, in order to offer a flexibility in use.
The finishing details are perfectly neat with good reinforcements, a high mast protection and thick and a good system roll-up strap; now almost standard on all the sails or almost.

Well balanced and very pleasant in hand, not too heavy in spite of the significant number of battens, it offers a power and accelerations widely higher than the average of this group and reached an excellent speed without one being obliged to work hard for the speed. Indeed, piloting is very natural and really powerful, the O2 is at the same time fast and very stable with high winds, the profile shape is stable, the four carbon battens and the very flexible leech fulfilling their role perfectly. One is fixed without any problem, and the handiness remains, even if the freestyle transitions are not as light as with a sail less constructed! The rotation of the profile is perfect and the exit of jibes really good.

+: Profile definition, acceleration, assembly, finishing details, feeling while navigating

-: transition

 

The Loft Tests 2006
 
PLANCHEMAG 06 TEST QUOTES  
PLANCHEMAG | LIP WAVE 4.7 - 2006
The Lip 4.7 does not unbalance… with electric acceleration… It is a sail that all the team loved.
A very beautiful surprise by the feeling that it releases and its incredible homogeneity. …it has a superb rotation of profile and is neutralized perfectly in surfing. It is a sail that one completely forgets in navigation.

 

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PLANCHEMAG | O2 FREERIDE 6.6 - 2006
...construction excellent until the least detail… A sail very well reinforced with more than 50% of monofilm X-Ply. A reference. …it is the one you can control further, most stable profile and the most maneuverable. Difficult to resist to this sail. It is the most complete sail, most powerful, with less effort required.

 

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PLANCHEMAG | O2 FREERACE 8.4 - 2006
More reinforced than the other sails… most simple to trim and to tend… super stable and one can handle strong gusts. Alive, it breathes extremely and develops a really high level of performance. It is the heartthrob in this test for its extreme versatility.
 

 

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Wind magazine | O2 FREERIDE CONCEPT – 5.9

Wind magazine 2006 test results Translation by Mauro Giffoni

FREERIDE WITH POWER-BOOST AND KNOWS HOW TO JIBE!

With its profile firmly maintained by six battens and a small flexible batten at the head with a pretty name (Sensitip), this O2 could very well have appeared in the category Performance Freeride!
Monty Spindler likes versatile sails, his designs are able to mark points in all the fields; the designs are not limited to only one single use. The definition of the profile is exemplary, the sail shape very harmonious and is well placed in the low part, while the work of leech is really neat, with a progressive and important twist in the higher part. One also assesses the quality of construction and assembly, with a choice of materials of most judicious, in particular of solids films woven in all the zone in front of the pilot, in order to offer a flexibility in use.
The finishing details are perfectly neat with good reinforcements, a high mast protection and thick and a good system roll-up strap; now almost standard on all the sails or almost.

Well balanced and very pleasant in hand, not too heavy in spite of the significant number of battens, it offers a power and accelerations widely higher than the average of this group and reached an excellent speed without one being obliged to work hard for the speed. Indeed, piloting is very natural and really powerful, the O2 is at the same time fast and very stable with high winds, the profile shape is stable, the four carbon battens and the very flexible leech fulfilling their role perfectly. One is fixed without any problem, and the handiness remains, even if the freestyle transitions are not as light as with a sail less constructed! The rotation of the profile is perfect and the exit of jibes really good.

+: Profile definition, acceleration, assembly, finishing details, feeling while navigating

-: transition
 
 
Windsurf UK | O2 FREERIDE
 
At A Glance
In sizes 5.9m to 7.4m is the O2; The Loft’s Freeride Concept sail, designed for sailors who want easy speed in a light and friendly package. This is the 2005 version, as the new season’s model wasn't available in time for the test unfortunately, although it is in stock now.
Refining his two-sail range each year, Monty Spindler avoids making change for changes sake, preferring to evolve the designs through constant R&D at his test bed of Tarifa. Built as robust as they come, the O2 is a particularly well-engineered sail, and thanks to the brand’s now familiar Sensitip head, has one of the most eye-catching outlines on the water.

Rigging and Set
Requiring significant downhaul tension, the O2 has masses of tuning range, the leech twisting off almost right down to the clew on maximum loading. Setting conventionally by playing the outhaul against the downhaul, it retains good rotation in the two main battens, and has some shape to its profile below the boom, before quickly becoming flat further up the sail.
 
Ride and Handling
On the water, the O2 is a very interesting sail, combining the straight-line performance of a freeride sail with the balanced handling characteristics akin to a freemove foil. Taking a closer look at the sail’s cut goes someway to explaining this, with the large sail area below the boom supported by just a single batten and a relatively high clew eyelet. As such, the O2 is a stunningly versatile contender,
catering for any rider style or board type.
Providing a great deal of bottom end power, the centre of effort is placed well forward in the sail, efficiently transferring energy directly to the board to coax it onto the plane.
Accelerating smoothly to an impressive speed, the O2 is solid yet supremely balanced and comfortable in the hands, which, combined with the sail’s awesome tuning range, allows the rider to adopt the stance of their preference. In marginal conditions, it can be used to great affect cruising around leisurely, the sail breathing and responding to the smallest gust.
As the wind increases and the conditions become severe, the O2?s top end stability is incredible, the centre of effort secured by extra tension, opening the leech and
enabling excess power to exhaust effortlessly.
A great deal of fun to use for long periods, its composed handling and rock-steady stability make the O2 one of the top performers in this group over distance, easily handling any sea state.

For: Excellent all-round performance from a well built and engineered sail. Easy to rig and set, giving it an awesome wind range.
 
Against: As a user-friendly freeride sail, the O2 can't be faulted.

Verdict
Offering easy, enjoyable and versatile performance across an impressive wind range, the O2 is a stunning freeride sail, whose handling nature can be altered according to its set. And at a very competitive price it comes well recommended by us.
 

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Windsport magazine test The Loft Lip Wave 5.7 2006:
 

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Wind magazine | CONCEPT 360 – 5.8

Wind magazine 2006 test results Translation by Mauro Giffoni

COMPACT, ACCESSIBLE AND VERY HANDY

Monty Spindler does not offer many sail ranges.... The Concept 360 is added to the O2 and Lip Wave ranges for 06 to satisfy the needs for freestylers and entry-level windsurfers who seek a sail that is both light and easy, as well very handy sail in transitions. The design is compact, with a very big length of boom and a short mast length. The body completely consists of woven films, without the reinforcements being too heavy. The finishing details are particularly neat, the concern of the least detail was not forgotten by the American designer living in Tarifa. There is a beautiful mast protection, thick, molded and quite high, covering moreover perfectly the tack.

The feeling in the hand is really easy, this 360 is very light and is well balanced. The power is well gathered around the boom, accelerations are pleasant, quite progressive and never too brutal… This makes it possible to plane very accessibly and particularly soft, appreciable to take its first steps without concern.
The behaviour in the gusts is good, but the power on the back hand is more important and can be not pleasant… better is not to choose to sail with a too great surface.
Lastly, the handiness is soft and easy in the jibes and tacks, it is always tolerant and a pleasant because of its neutrality without fault. The boom, as it is somewhat long, can be slightly cumbersome for the technical transitions under the boom in freestyle. 

+: versatility, accessibility, softness of use, neutrality/rotation of the profile, finish/upperworks

-: behaviour in strong gusts, boom a little long for technical freestyle
 

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The Loft 2005 Full Tests

 

Wind tests 05
Tested: THE LOFT O2 Freerace | Size 8.4

THE ART OF THE DESIGN IN A FREERIDE SAIL!

PRESENTATION

For this test we present to you the 8.4 m2 Freerace Concept of the range O2 Freerace Concept 2005, which presents real profile/design freeride performance. The finish is very neat, just as the quality of assembly. The materials are quite selected, like special Dacron of the sleeve and X-Plys. One threads the 490 without problem, but it is nevertheless necessary better to make the accordion to arrive until 514 cm of the mast! The top plug is useful, but needs a check to fit. Maximum tension is needed to make the sail leech free, but fortunately the tension is not so difficult to apply; the 3-roller tack pulley facilitating things well. The design is very clean, perfect definition of profile. One almost comes to regret having had another color, this yellow-flouro not seen since years.

SAILING

Bigger and thus heavier than the average of this group, this Loft O2 8.4 offers pleasant and very rapid power in hand. One immediately appreciates the good reactivity of the sail, which is flexible and answers the smallest thrust of pumping. Powerful with low winds and immediately very easy to settle in the wind, comfortable and powerful on the level of its accelerations from standing start, this 8.4 m2 shows an exceptional stability of profile in high winds. Monty Spindler succeeded in offering control of great class in the gusts to this sail which is actually cut for light breezes: the sail shape does not move back and the top of the sail breathes perfectly. For manoevers the rotation of the profile is excellent, the battens pass gently, but it should not be forgotten that it is a 8.4 at the time of the jibe attack.
 

 

 

 
 

Planchemag 2005 - March/April
Tested: The O2 Freeride Concept | Size 6.6

Also tested sails:
Gaastra Matrix 6.5 / Gun Flash 6.3 / Naish Evolution 7.0 / Neil Pryde Saber 6.7 / North Sails Crossover 6.6 / Severne NCX 7.0

A UNIQUE FEELING

The design

The sail freeride of Monty Spindler preserves its curved lines with 7 battens including 3 tubular of carbon. Relatively fine of profiles (light hollow on bottom), this sail has the characteristic to be trimmed on a RDM mast 4.30 m, even if it also work with a traditional diameter mast. For the level of construction, in addition to the strongest proportion of monofilm X-Ply, it is necessary to underline the excellence and the quality of the reinforcements at all the levels. Solid!

Team point of view

Equipped with a departure to planning more progressive than the average, the O2 is a very fine sail in control, which offers a peel of elasticity on the front of the profile. Once launched, one appreciates at the same time the smoothness of piloting and the degree of acceleration. Except on the level of the weight where it pays its quality of manufacture, Loft Sails positions at the top or in second position in each one of our criteria of test, which shows the O2s high degree of versatility. Very soft for manoeuvres with the advantage of the RDM mast, it may be only slightly slower in light and irregular winds for heavy people. For the remainder, it is forgotten completely in the arms thanks to total neutrality and an excellent work of the tip (this is its secret!). For the second consecutive year, the O2 brings a fresh air in this group by its pleasantness of control and its total freedom in the hands.

 

 
 

Planchemag 2005 - March/April
Tested: The LIP Wave Concept | Size 5.2

Also tested sails: Aerotech Phantom 5.3 / Arrows Flight 5.4 / Gaastra Poison 5.4 / Gun Wave MC 5.3 / Naish Force 5.3 / Neil Pryde Search 5.4 / North Sails Duke 5.4 / Severne Blade 5.3 / Simmer Style Crossover 5.3

STABILITY AND SOLIDITY IN ANY TEST

The design

The Loft the brand of the big Monty Spindler (old Mister A.R.T.!) installed in Tarifa, continues to offer pure sail lines with the image of this Lip Wave. Its structure 100% X-Ply monofilm and its complete upperworks make it one, if not THE most robust of this group. This sail is very "top-of-the-range".

Team point of view

Recommended on a RDM mast of 4 m, the Lip is a powerful sail that delivers a large feeling of stability. It is based on an exemplary work of the tip that it is in the choppy, the gust wind or the famous backloop receptions. With the fine and flexible time in control, it forms part of this sails' super fast performance and very is handy in manoeuvres. The Lip is very easy and neutral when surfing waves, and has the possibility of accelerating when one wants. Only the true reproach that one little to find to this sail, this is a weight that remains slightly over the average. It is the price to pay to obtain the best in terms of solidity for a sail which, point out it, presents an excellent quality/price ratio. Qualities which make this Loft Sails a frightening weapon in all the conditions, side or one shore. To discover urgently.

 

 
 

German SURF Magazine issue 01/02/2005
Tested: The LIP Freewave Concept | Size 6.2

Also tested sails (freestyle):
Arrows 8 ball 6.0, Gaastra Echo 6.0, Gun Sails Jam 6.2, Naish Boxer 6.2, NeilPryde Expression 6.1, North Sails Disco 6.4, Severne Freek 6.4.

"LIP Freewave - a name that sounds not so much like flatwater-action in El Yaque... however Monty Spindler confidently submitted his "freemove" sail into our 05 freestyle test. And why not?... the performance requirements for wave and freestyle sails (around 6 m2) are nearly the same: early planning, soft handling and sufficient on-off functions are all needed for convincing an engaged windsurfer. It was no surprise that this "freewave concept" design would work in tricky conditions, yet as well the LIP has a very early planning quality; in lightwind the Lip starts planning as early as the Severne. Naturally, the strong reinforcements in the LIP make it feel slightly heavier than the super light Australian design. The LIP, when compared to the North Disco or the less reinforced GunSails Jam, has a similar feel regarding weight. For Duck Tacks and moves that need a power-off-function where the profile becomes flat (which is appreciated by dedicated and technical tricksailors), the LIP has no leech fluttering and no nervous movements - no power-point wandering. The Loft LIP Freewave Concept also feels soft and smooth in your hands if the wind comes up."

 

 

 
 
The Loft 2004 Test Quotes

The Loft is windsurfing efficiency and simplicity... feel it! Ask a Loftsails owner or check magazine test results.

The LIP Wave 5.7 - [Windsport]

Windsport 2004
Tested: The LIP Wave Concept'04 | Size 5.7

"The LIP is gaining popularity each year. This is a soft, luff shaped 5.7m wave sail that reacts to sheeting angles as well as any wave sail tested. The forward-and-low sweet spot is suited for a true wave board in pure wave conditions where instantaneous maneuverability and power control is expected.
Nimble in the hands with precise control...
The nice thing we found with the LIP is how well it worked for blasting and B&J conditions. With above average lifespan features, this LIP will withstand the test of time."

 

The LIP Wave 5.2 - [Windsurfing]

 

Windsurfing 2004
Tested: The LIP Wave Concept'04 | Size 5.2

"It sits in your hands with a level of calmness that is instantly rewarding.
...this 5.2m has exactly the same high level of detail and workmanship as the LIP did in the smaller size. There is a very stable, trustworthy feel to the LIP, with every ounce of energy in marginal wind conditions seemingly translating to forwards motion.
...when the wind picks up however, and the sail is retuned for stronger wind conditions, does the LIP truly begin to show its colours.

 

The LIP Wave 4.7 - [Windsurfing]

Windsurfing 2004
Tested: The LIP Wave Concept'04 | Size 4.7

"...it was immediately apparent that there was quite a wide tuning range available...
It feels balanced and poised in the hands, driving from low down with real purpose.
...a bit more downhaul and outhaul applied and the LIP's top end performance is easily a match for any other sail on test. It has a distinctly composed and solid nature, never ruffled by the most severe gust."

 

 

The LIP Wave 4.7 - [Surf Magazine]

SURF Magazine 2004
Tested: The LIP Wave Concept'04 | Size 5.2

"Monty Spindler has created a real converting artist. Even with full trim the Lip feels soft and smooth in the waves. With flat trim there is enough power with soft batten rotation that the Lip becomes a handling-wonder...

The Lip has not quite the playful lightness like the Gaastra sails, but the Lip has more power than they do. The unusual thing about the Lip is that the outhaul tension for highwind trim could be nearly 20 cm more than the zero position.

Fact: The Lip is an extraordinary design with a big windrange. The likable smoothness and soft handling will well please a large public."

 

The LIP Wave 5.2 - [Planchemag]

Planchemag 2004
Tested: The LIP Wave Concept'04 | Size 5.2

"5 stars!
...the Lip Wave is a rather collected sail that is characterized by the quality of the materials and reinforcements employed. Refined on the level of the design, it easily presents a superb mast protection and astute for rigging. It is one of the best reinforced sails of this group.
...the Lip is very fast and is neutral & easy surfing in waves, offering robust and precise handling. One appreciates the elasticity feeling and the nervousness that emerges so as to always sail at high speed.
Very versatile, the Lip Wave is a Turbo Wave, a fast wave sail with particularly high stability, ideal in onshore conditions for its smooth power and leech release. Also a good sail for side shore conditions due to his neutral profile in the surf."

 

The O2 Freeride 6.6 - [Planchemag]

Planchemag 2004
Tested: The O2 Freeride Concept'04 | Size 6.6

"The O2 is the sail with the largest proportion of X-Ply in his category and is very well reinforced, more than other sails.

We feel the experience of the designer in all the details, like the huge mast protection to be open with a velcro.

It is a sail that does not cease accelerating by offering an incredible general balance.

The O2 is fine in control, with the feeling not to force; a very pleasant feeling that one does not find in any other sail.

For top-speed the O2 does not miss a charm through feelings that it releases in navigation. It is a particular sail intended for those in love with speed and jibing without effort. A success."


Detailed 2004 | 2003 | 2002 tests

 
 

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CONCLUSION

Extraordinary sail for light wind, pure freeride with high performances on flat water and with a high wind range. Great ART, thanks a lot Mister Spindler!

+ : Homogeneous and accessible, stability piloting, design, fittings/finish.
- : Only: large for manoeuvres.

View WIND Test scans:
page 1
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page 5
page 6 (The Loft)


 

 
 

Tester point of view - Paulin
"A very pleasant sail with which one can sail on the end it so much is stable and light in control. With its high level performances and its comfort in the manoeuvres, it forms part of the very best sails of the group. A big and beautiful surprise for this sail which I did not know."

+ : Smoothness, performance of point, comfort, control, and manoeuvrability.
- : Small lack of nervousness in light winds.

View PM Test scans: 
page 1 
page 2 
page 3 
page 4 
page 5 (The Loft)

 

 
 


Tester point of view - Maxime
"The Loft is a very stable and very robust sail which brings much support in on shore and the jumps. In addition to the fact that it is a little heavy, the trick which obstructed me, it is the lack of visibility in the window: one sees less well that with other sails."

+ : robustness, price, wind range, neutrality/power, flexibility
- : the whole remains heavier without being embarrassing

View PM Test scans:
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
 page 5
 page 6 (The Loft)

 

 
 

Test Summary:
"In the Northern or Baltic Sea, most surfers use the same sail for waves and tricks in flatwater - and then, the LOFT is the best choice."

The Lip Freewave has, in the sum, the best marks in the following categories:

- early planning
- freestyle quality
- freeride quality

View SURF Test scans:
page 1
 page 2
page 3
 page 4


 
 
Windsurf UK | The Loft O2 2005

 

At A Glance

In sizes 5.9m to 7.4m is the O2; The Loft’s Freeride Concept sail, designed for sailors who want easy speed in a light and friendly package. This is the 2005 version, as the new season’s model wasn't available in time for the test unfortunately, although it is in stock now.
Refining his two-sail range each year, Monty Spindler avoids making change for changes sake, preferring to evolve the designs through constant R&D at his test bed of Tarifa. Built as robust as they come, the O2 is a particularly well-engineered sail, and thanks to the brand’s now familiar Sensitip head, has one of the most eye-catching outlines on the water.

Rigging and Set

Requiring significant downhaul tension, the O2 has masses of tuning range, the leech twisting off almost right down to the clew on maximum loading. Setting conventionally by playing the outhaul against the downhaul, it retains good rotation in the two main battens, and has some shape to its profile below the boom, before quickly becoming flat further up the sail.
 
Ride and Handling

On the water, the O2 is a very interesting sail, combining the straight-line performance of a freeride sail with the balanced handling characteristics akin to a freemove foil. Taking a closer look at the sail’s cut goes someway to explaining this, with the large sail area below the boom supported by just a single batten and a relatively high clew eyelet. As such, the O2 is a stunningly versatile contender, catering for any rider style or board type. Providing a great deal of bottom end power, the centre of effort is placed well forward in the sail, efficiently transferring energy directly to the board to coax it onto the plane. Accelerating smoothly to an impressive speed, the O2 is solid yet supremely balanced and comfortable in the hands, which, combined with the sail’s awesome tuning range, allows the rider to adopt the stance of their preference. In marginal conditions, it can be used to great affect cruising around leisurely, the sail breathing and responding to the smallest gust.
As the wind increases and the conditions become severe, the O2’s top end stability is incredible, the centre of effort secured by extra tension, opening the leech and enabling excess power to exhaust effortlessly.
A great deal of fun to use for long periods, its composed handling and rock-steady stability make the O2 one of the top performers in this group over distance, easily handling any sea state.
For: Excellent all-round performance from a well built and engineered sail. Easy to rig and set, giving it an awesome wind range.
 
Against: As a user-friendly freeride sail, the O2 can’t be faulted.

Verdict
Offering easy, enjoyable and versatile performance across an impressive wind range, the O2 is a stunning freeride sail, whose handling nature can be altered according to its set. And at a very competitive price it comes well recommended by us.
 

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Windsport magazine | O2 Freeride 5.9
Windsport magazine tests The Loft O2 Freeride 5.9 and identifies ONLY the O2 as BOTH a High-Speed performer AND a Low-end power and torque performer. 
Windsport also reports that the O2 is "Full of details".  Check it out - download ZIP with this article.