1000 euros for a wing, 1500 euros for a board and then another 1300 for a foil - if you want to equip yourself with new wingsurfing equipment, you'll have to spend a lot of money over the counter. It's understandable that many buyers turn to the second-hand market instead. However, as wingsurfing is a very young sport, there are still huge leaps in the development of equipment. So that you know what to look out for when buying second-hand wingsurfing equipment to avoid making a mistake, we have compiled all the important tips for you below.
Wings - the best tips for buying second-hand
If you want to buy a used Wing, you are faced with a few questions: What size do I need? What do I need to know about the grip system? And how do you recognise whether the condition is still OK?
The right size
In general, you can cover a very wide wind range with a single wing. For example, with a 5 square metre wing, you can take off at 12 knots with the right pumping technique and, if necessary, you can still use it in winds of over 20 knots. The specific size you should choose depends on your own body weight and the typical wind conditions in which you want to use the wing.
For inland wingsurfers and prevailing wind conditions of six to 15 knots the following recommendations apply:
- < 60 kilos: 4.5-5 square metres
- 60-75 kilos: 5-5.5 square metres
- 75-95 kilos: 5.5-6.5 square metres
- > 95 kilos: 6-7 square metres
For wingsurfers in coastal regions with regular wind conditions of twelve to over 20 knots the following recommendations apply:
- < 60 kilos: 4-4.5 square metres
- 60-75 kilos: 4.5-5 square metres
- 75-95 kilos: 5-5.5 square metres
- > 95 kilos: 5.5-6.5 square metres
With or without a window?
Windows can offer additional safety in full spots. However, most manufacturers only fit their wings with small viewing slits so as not to increase the pack size too much - the wing should not be folded over the windows. All in all, we would advise beginners who are not yet confident jibing to use wings with windows. If you can already jibe, you can do without windows in the wing.
Which handle system?
One of the key issues when buying a wing is the grip system. A lot has been improved here over the years. The first wings from almost all brands had narrow handles. The problem was that it was not possible to move your hands sideways, which meant that you could not always choose the right grip position. If you bought such a wing, you ran the risk of having to swing with uneven tension distribution - an often tedious affair. Since the 2022 season, the trend has clearly been towards fixed, short handles. These offer direct contact with the wing and allow the hands to move sideways. Wings with a continuous boom are also on the rise.
Buying used Wings - how to check the condition
Before buying a used wing, you should make some enquiries. Just like sails or kites, intensive UV radiation is particularly damaging to the material - it then becomes brittle and tears more quickly in the event of a fall. A wing can therefore be in a much worse condition after a season in a water sports centre under the Greek sun than if a wingsurfer has used it privately for three years in northern Germany. Also important: Are the valves tight? Sand in particular will damage the seals over time when screwing in the standard valves.
You should also take a look at the seams. Wings suffer more quickly in the wingtip area if they have been dragged over the tarmac or used for wingskating. Last but not least, the grip system: Minor flaws in the coating are not a problem, but if the grip is in tatters, the price will have to be reduced. Tip for buying wings with fixed grips: Check the screw connections and check whether the grips have play or are still tight.
Buying used wingsurfing equipment - tips on the board
There are also many questions when buying a board, which we will answer below.
The right size
As the learning curve for wingsurfing is very steep at the beginning, it makes little sense to buy a board at the beginner stage. Background: If you are just starting out, you will use a board with plenty of excess volume, depending on your previous water sports experience. However, as soon as you are able to foil and turn with a reasonable degree of confidence, a large-volume beginner model is more of a drag. Our tip for beginners: take a wingsurfing course at a watersports centre at the beginning - you can find a large overview of watersports centres in Europe here HERE. There's a detailed guide to questions about the right board size and the ideal board type HERE.
Buying boards in condition - check condition
Ideally, you should inspect the board for defects before buying. If it is at the other end of the country, you should make the following enquiries with the seller:
Deck soft?
If a board has been jumped a lot, it may be soft-footed. Lay the board on the floor and press the areas between the straps and in the heel area with both thumbs. If the deck bounces visibly, the laminate has probably already separated from the core. If such a delamination is not repaired, the deck laminate will soon tear and the board will absorb water. If the price is favourable, you can also buy such boards. However, you should budget between 150 and 250 euros in additional costs for the repair.
Cracks & holes
Repaired cracks and holes do not have to be an exclusion criterion if they have been properly repaired. It is only important that the board has not absorbed water because it has been used in a damaged condition. Cracks in the standing area and under the pads are problematic - it's better to keep your hands off them.
Broken loop plugs
Loop plugs tend to wear out over time because a self-tapping screw is screwed into a plastic plug. These are subject to permanent strain during wringing. As the damage in the plugs is hardly recognisable from the outside, you have to rely on the information provided by the seller. However, if plugs are broken, they can be refurbished. HERE there's a suitable workshop.
Foils - Tips for buying second-hand
Foils are easy to buy second-hand because, unlike boards, the risk of hidden damage is comparatively low. You should pay particular attention to the following aspects before buying:
Foil masts
Most foils are equipped with aluminium masts. These are significantly cheaper than those made of carbon fibre, but can bend if overloaded (for example when landing). On the other hand, they are less sensitive to light impacts.
Screw connections
While the screw connection from the fuselage to the mast is usually loosened with every session, the wings often remain connected to the fuselage for a long time. If the screws have not been greased before screwing in, there is a risk of contact corrosion - in extreme cases it is almost impossible to loosen them. Therefore, before buying, check whether the screws can be turned and re-grease them promptly.
Scratches & cracks
Minor scratches due to grounding are part of every foil and are no reason not to buy a foil. Deeper gouges can be quickly repaired with a little superglue and filler from the DIY store and sanded again - you can of course find the relevant workshops at www.wingsurf.world. The situation becomes critical with battered wingtips or burst leading edges on the wings - professional repairs are necessary here and should be included in the price.
Accessories included?
Foils are usually supplied with matching bags, covers for the wings and tools. Make sure that you also get these.
One final tip: Before your first session, mount your new foil in your board to avoid any nasty surprises at the spot. Depending on the thickness of the mounting plate, it is by no means certain that the length of the old screws for mounting in the box ("track nuts") will also fit the new foil.
Used wingsurfing equipment - the prices
Of course, the price level for used wingsurfing equipment always depends on the condition and age of the boards, wings or foils on offer. Nevertheless, it is possible to define price ranges within which the offers (should) move.
Wing material that has been used for one season usually changes hands for around half the regular new price.
Wings from the previous season cost between 400 and 550 euros. Older models from the early years of the sport (2019/2020), on the other hand, are subject to a sharp drop in price, as many wings were not yet fully developed from today's perspective. Some can be found for between 150 and 300 euros.
The price level for foils appears to be much more stable. The background to this is that there have already been many years of experience from other foil disciplines, which means that foils that are two or three years old often still function reasonably well today. As a result, even older foils (may) still cost around 50 per cent of the new price - on average between 500 and 800 euros. If older models are offered, they are often windsurfing foils. These usually have a longer fuselage and often smaller front wings and are therefore not ideal for wingfoiling.
The same principle applies to boards: used annual models in good condition are available for around 50 to 60 per cent of the new price. The oldest models from 2019 and 2020 are already available for 30 to 40 per cent of the new price.
The best marketplaces for wingsurfing equipment
The wingfoil market is currently extremely dynamic, with new products coming onto the market almost daily. It is not only difficult for newcomers to keep an overview. For this reason, you should also pay a visit to your favourite surf shop - many shops have test or used equipment on offer. The relevant advice comes free of charge on top. Of course, equipment is also traded online. The most important platforms for buying second-hand equipment are
You can also quickly find what you are looking for in the Facebook groups "Surfing equipment", "Surfer classifieds" or "Kite and windsurf second-hand market".
