flyradical vs f-one tx vs ... good boards for airstyle

[mr_wilson]

Hi,
I have a f-one tx4 in 136x40 and it is a realy good board.
After struggeling many sessions with a Liquid Force LFX 138x42 I sold it. To go upwind with this board was way to exhausting. With the Tx it is totaly different. It's easy to go upwind try something and go upwind again! Thats the way a board should work!
But what if I need a smaller board to handle my dyno 18 a little longer in more wind?
Did anybody of you rode the TX AND the Flyradical or the epic Spartan or ...?

What can you tell me about:
-upwind performance
-performance in choppy conditions
-size of pads and straps (shoe size 11,5)
-pop
-anything else mentionable

If it gets hard to hold the edge with the 136 tx, how much more knots could be handeled safely with a 128 flyradical or the 129 spartan?

[Loon]

I actually have the Spartan, an F-One 2012 Trax in 134 and a 2011 FlyRadical in 134. All the boards are great and offer a different ride.

The Spartan is pretty stiff but still has flex to it. The pop is huge and the upwind tracking is awesome. As a high wind board, it really can't be beat!

My Trax 134 is pretty much my money board. I live in Michigan where I ride the Great Lakes and several in-land lakes where the waves are generated by the wind and not tides so it gets choppy out there and the design of the Trax eats through the chop to produce a smooth comfortable ride while still maintaining great upwind and pop.

The FlyRadical 134 rides much different than the Trax. It's still got flex but not as much as the Trax. It planes better and is great upwind but the pop is insane! Be ready when you first jump or you may come down pretty far and hard.

All in all, I don't think you could go wrong with any of these boards. I've had epic sessions on all of them, just gotta choose the right one for the right time!

Happy riding!

[Toby]

best is to try all yourself...then you know if you can handle it and feel happy with it.

For sure you need a smaller board if you want to hold the power of the 18 in stronger winds.

The straps of the Flyradical are excellent...I have shoe size 12 or so (46 EUR) and I can make them huge and they still are comfortable.

Sweet...the 2013 Radical comes with grab rails! they are excellent for boardoffs!

[mr_wilson]

Thanks for your comments!
@Loon:
I'm surprised that the upwind performance of the trax feels great for you. The trax offers way more pop than the tx (tested both in 136), is a little bether in choppy conditions, but going upwind with the trax is just good compared to the tx. It's interesting that you have all of these boards and love them all!
It seems to be more easier to get a flyradical than a spartan in germany. I'm looking for a used one.
For sure I need more than one Session, to feel comfortable with a small Board.
@Toby
Did you have seen the 2013 already or was it a typo and you meant the 2012?
Is there any good reason to choose the radical4 instead of the radical3? Less weight for board offs doesn't sound wise and putting some eva parts at the board isn't complicated.

[Toby]

I tried the R4 shortly...works so far, but was lighter wind.
Need to try in stronger winds to see if it is too light.

Correct, too light isn't good, specially for the kick flips and board spinning tricks...

[mr_wilson]

Ok, than I am waiting for the right R3 to buy!
Sounds like there is no good reason to spend extra money for the new model...