How to buy an Axis Foil

Axis has a really deep line of foils, parts and pieces. There is so much stuff it is hard to figure out what to buy. The good news is that they make a high quality product, and we did all the research to figure out what is right for you.

Axis Masts:

You have the option of aluminum or full carbon. The carbon are pretty straight forward so you just need to pick your length. The mast comes with no hardware or a mast cover, so add that stuff on to the order and you are good to go.

Aluminum is a different story. There are a ton of lengths, thicknesses, doodads, top plates and you have to buy everything as separate parts.We recommend the Axis Aluminum 19mm mast series for additional strength and stiffness. The 75cm is our most popular size that works for all sports.

To build a mast, you need the following parts to complete it:

The mast verticals are pretty inexpensive so this gives you the option to have multiple lengths to switch out once you have the hardware, doodad and top plate.

Axis Fuselage:

There are two fuselage series. The RED Series which has a larger mounting foot where you screw in the front wing. This is for the thicker and larger wings like the BSC970, BSC1060 and PNG1150.

The BLACK Series fuselage has a smaller and thinner profile front wing foot, and it works with the smaller BSC foils, all the HPS and ART foils.

Many people that already foil will go with the Black Series. Beginners will get the bigger BSC foils which fit on the RED. The wings have a clear chart to show you what wings take what fuse.

Next is the length of fuselage. Axis uses a strange naming convention in which the RED are different lengths than the same name on the BLACK. (Short RED = 680mm. Short BLACK = 703mm) We found the best all around RED fuse is the Short which is 680mm. For the BLACK, we liked the Ultra Short 643mm as the most versatile.

Axis Front Wings:

There are three main front wings sets and we sprinkled in the bigger PNG (Pump and Glide) for the flat water pumpers in the group.

BSC (Broad Spectrum Carve). These are best in the larger sizes as they are very forgiving and easy to get up on to foil. They also stay on foil and have a nice predictable turn to them. The BSC 1060 and 970 are right up there as one of the best foils to learn on. They aren’t the fastest by any means, but they are a boat load of fun. The smaller BSC are great for easy turns and easy to ride in challenging conditions. We like them for kiting, winging and surfing in sub par conditions.

HPS (High Performance Speed). If you want a fun mid aspect wing that can pump, turn quickly and has loads of glide, the HPS is it. These are our most popular sellers as you can learn on them and you won’t grow out of them. They have a positive feel on the front foot for nice feedback on take off and turns. Also the wider span offers a lot of glide. The biggest sizes have a really wide span so the turning can be pretty stiff. We love the mid sizes like the HPS 930 and 880 as silver bullet foils that work in anything for anyone. The small sizes are sporty and can take on some more extreme riding.ART (Axis Research Team). True bladed out high aspect wings means top tier performance in the Axis line. The ART is the easiest true high aspect foil to ride where you will get controllable speed and top end performance. With the wider span and skinner chord you get stiffer turns and higher stall speeds.

Axis Tail Wings:

Holy smokes. There are entirely way too many models and sizes of the Axis tail wings. It is impossible to figure out what is going to work when you are looking at them online. We rode almost all of the tail wings they make, and this is what we think.

Axis Freeride Tail:

This is the most well rounded tail, and it works well with all the foils including the ART. With the flipped up tips and fatter section, this tail rolls rail to rail the best in the line of Axis tails. We sized the tails up or down to match the front wing size. The 500 was a big surprise and had much less drag than expected. This is the best tail for a beginner and it provides early lift and a stable ride. The 440 and 400 are the most well rounded. You can size down from there for faster speeds and better turning or up for more stability and lift.

Axis Progressive Tail:

The Progressive Tail works really well, but there are too many sizes options. This is the newest tail to the Axis team and it is focused on higher speeds and control. The slightly down turned shape allows you to ride a smaller tail than normal while maintaining stability. We found the largest Progressive tails in the range (>400) to pump amazingly well but were really stiff in the turns. The smaller tails (<400) were quick and added a locked in and controlled feel.

Axis Speed Tail:

These are really interesting. Great speed with a stiffer turn but lots of grip in a turn. It feels like you are on rails with this tail. Not an every day driver but definitely worth adding to the quiver.

Axis Pump Tail:

This is designed to be really efficient for pumping and gliding around but not designed for turning. We only really use this one for the bigger PNG wings.

Axis Hardware:

Don’t forget to add on the hardware. There are so many little screws we recommend buying a back up set just in case you loose one. The hardware comes in lightweight and more corrosion resistant titanium or standard stainless. The titanium package has a nice little plastic box with a size chart stuck on the outside. Tools and board mounting hardware are included in each package.

Building the right Axis Foil for you:

We put together a few complete Axis Foils packages as a recommended place to start. Check them out in the links below

We can customize these foil packages to best suit your foiling sport and riding location. For more info call us at 252.987.6000 or email us at REALpro@realwatersports.com.