Armstrong A Wing XPS Lightwind Wing

The Armstrong A-Wing XPS Lightwind Wing is a large-format inflatable wing designed specifically for light-wind wing foiling. Produced by New Zealand-based Armstrong Foils, it extends the brand's Cross Panel Sail (XPS) platform into the 7m and 8m size range, where canopy stability and weight management become critical design challenges. The wing uses a single-strut layout paired with Armstrong's patent-pending carbon fibre Power Batten — a cross-batten mounted perpendicular to the strut near the trailing edge — which maintains an airfoil profile across the full span and creates the wing's distinctive bat-tail shape. The result is a narrower wingspan with less outboard mass than a conventional large wing, so it handles more like a smaller size despite its generous area.

Construction relies on Penta TX Dacron for the leading edge tube to maximise torsional stiffness at low weight, while the canopy uses Teijin Technoforce D3 laminate arranged in the diagonal XPS panel layout that Armstrong developed to reduce distortion under load. Removable carbon fibre battens along the trailing edge let riders tune flutter response for different wind strengths, and the Hybrid Carbon Handle features a rigid carbon skeleton wrapped in soft padding for a stiff yet comfortable grip. Despite its size, the 7m packs down small enough to fit in a standard backpack.

• Available sizes: 7.0 m² / 8.0 m²
• Wingspan (7m): 357 cm
• Wingspan (8m): 374 cm
• Weight (7m): 3.1 kg
• Weight (8m): 4.1 kg
• Wind range (7m): 7–15 knots
• Wind range (8m): 4–11 knots
• Max inflation: 6 PSI
• Strut layout: Single strut with Power Batten cross-batten
• Included: Carry bag, wrist leash, spare battens, patch kit

The XPS Lightwind targets intermediate to advanced wing foilers who want to extend their riding days into marginal wind. Paired with an efficient downwind-oriented board and a high-aspect foil, the 7m suits conditions around 7–15 knots while the 8m reaches into genuinely sub-10-knot territory. The single-strut design keeps drag low for downwind runs and wave riding, and the compact wingspan relative to its area makes jibes manageable — an area where oversized wings often become unwieldy.

Because the wing delivers strong low-end grunt but remains stable when overpowered at the top of its range, it works well for heavier riders looking for usable power in moderate breeze as well as lighter riders pushing into true light-wind sessions. It is not an ideal first wing; riders should already be comfortable with water starts and basic foil transitions before stepping up to a 7m or 8m platform.

Armstrong's wing range splits into two families built on the same XPS canopy technology. The standard A-Wing XPS (now in its Mk II generation for 2025) covers sizes from roughly 2.0 m² up to 6.5 m² for moderate-to-strong wind conditions. The XPS Lightwind picks up where that range ends, offering the 7m and 8m sizes that complete the quiver for lighter days. Both share the diagonal panel layout and carbon handle system, so the transition between sizes feels consistent.

In the broader market, the XPS Lightwind competes with other purpose-built light-wind wings such as the F-One Strike CWC V4 in its larger sizes. Armstrong differentiates primarily through the Power Batten's canopy shaping and the single-strut platform, trading the extra rigidity of a dual-strut design for lighter weight, cleaner airflow, and easier packing.