Duotone Unit D-Lab 6.5m wind wing - full review

This review includes footage of me talking through the features of the 6.5m Unit D-Lab, and then a live, 'on the water' review - this means the sound quality is variable as the wind occasionally causes a few problems, but bear with it, the bits with bad audio don't last long.
I decided to get the 6.5m D-Lab to replace my 7m & 6m Duotone Slicks, but as I can't 'try before I buy' it was a bit of a risk whether it would cover the same wind range as both of those two wings. As such my main objectives for this review was to see what the D-Lab's useable wind range is (for me at 82kg on 90ltr and 60ltr boards and a range of foils), as well as it's overall performance characteristics. During the review I also refer to the 8m F-One Strike CWC a few times - I realise that the 1.5m2 size difference is not a valid comparison, but I wanted to test the D-Lab to see how good it's low end really is, and what better to test it against than the best light wind wing on the market.
The action videos are done over 3 days, the 1st day is 8-10 knots (8 knots max before the wind-line and about 10 knots when past the wind-line. The 2nd and 3rd days was an average of 14 knots.
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
Day 1: Appleslice v1 5'2" x 90ltr, Axis PNG 1300 & p475 rear stab.
Day 2 & 3: Appleslice v2 4'9" x 60ltr, Axis ART 1099 & p350 rear stab.

[NQshawn]

I have 6.5m dlab and love it. Just received new ventis 8m and had 2 sessions on it. So impressed, was up in conditions where it would be impossible for me to get going on 6.5. Pumps so efficiently and feels quick to. no wing tip touches either.

[jonathanreinke]

Thanks for a great review on your 6.5m D-Lab Unit vs your 8.0m Strike CWC and including differences on the 6.0m / 7.0m Slicks is super helpful too!

[Yanivkahana]

Love this review.. I don't need either of the sizes yet but stayed for the quality of the review!!!

[martinomovies]

Very thorough review. Not a lot of fluffage!

[robertzeeland]

Still frothing after my 3rd session on the '22 Unit 6, 5mtr, coming from Slick 4/5/6 and Echo7. Used the wing today in 10-15kts. It's got a good vertical pull which gets me flying with ease. The handling, stiffness and ease of use are prrimo! The way the power comes on is a tad less on-off bang-bang than the Slick, but that may have to do with the windspeed in which I've used it, 'till now. The handles are great. I like the mini-boom a wee bit better, but will surely get used to them. What's good is that they are slightly less in diameter than the mini-boom. I find the low-end a bit more useful than my Echo7. I'm only a debutant, but I can see that the new Unit has some solid jumping pot/!
Thanks for your upload, D.H! Best regards from the Netherlands!

[michaellambert]

I’ll add to others saying that the units/dlabs like a different pump. With my 6dlab I tried a back hand pump(like sculling the rudder of a sailboat), and found it got me up with very little pressure in my hands. Also after a short stint with reedin SWX wings I’d say that flat wings want you to be pointing farther from the eye of the wind when you pump up. Really nice flowy wing handling there btw!

[NeonSwell]

really great vids. a beacon of light in a sea of confusion with regards to foiling and winging. I have watched your videos for years and found your reviews great! Seems like I can't 'try-before I buy' either so any guidance helps. Currently have Echo 5M (which is good but sinks at the tail when it touches the water), 6m CWC Strike (seems less powerful than echo) and just ordered SLS 6.5M. Hoping to sell the others but you take a massive hit on resale. Looking for a real light wind setup for fun carvey cruising. Im not looking to wing when I see white caps on the water which seems to be 12-15 knots where Im from, so 10 knot and below would be epic.

[jurgenhinz]

Great review !! I would love to see/hear you in a 1:1 comparison DLab vs the new Slick SLS !!

[rudiregenwetter]

Hi Dominic, thank for your brilliant review! I’m thinking about buying the Unit DLAB 2023 6.5. I’m 186cm and 96 kg. I’m a little bit worried about the wingspan and wingtip dips in the water. What are your experiences? Would you recommend the 6.5 after a period?

[ozoneflysurfer]

Another great entertaining review as usual! Super impressed with the Dlabs they are so efficient. The speed acceleration and upwind angles are unmatched. Super direct and responsive . Really enjoying the 4.5 it's almost a one wing quiver gets me going from steady 10knots on the Kujira 1095 and 65L board. The windows on the 6.5 are a bit useless but they are more functional in the smaller sizes . I suggest trying different PSI on the Dlabs and they tend to "break in " after a few sessions and get better. It will take a lot to feel overpowered on the Dlabs more than you expect. In my experience I can match the 8m Fone in sub 10 knots wind with a bit of technique as the Dlab develops power differently.

[andylitespeed]

Great review Dominic, thankyou and well done!

[wolfgangweissenberger]

I sold my CWC 8m2 (which I loved) for the 6, 5 d-lab.
I find the lowend almost similar. The key is to put less psi into the d-lab in low winds. 5, 5 psi is enough. The tips of the leadingedge should feel still a bit soft. The pumping will be very efficient then. The high-end is also great. You can hold the wing almost neutral in strong gusts.
Realy a great wing, altough the Price hurts.

[panagiotiskapsalas]

Excellent video.Could you please let us know your weight? Thanks in advance.

[hhhancock]

Really nice review. I am newer to wing foiling (been kite foiling and wake foiling for 6 years) and still on the earlier side of the progression. I have 3.5m and 5m Duotone Slicks SLS. I was thinking about adding more of a light wind wing (10-16 knots) to the quiver and want to use it in small surf. I am 65kg (145lbs) -- do you think think the 6.0m or 6.5m Duotone Unit D-Lab is a better fit for my size and my current quiver? I would get a little more range out of the 6.5m but would also have to deal with the bigger size. Thanks for any feedback!

[nickmary]

Another great video. “Flappage”…have I spelt it correctly?!?!😀. Not a comment on DLab but a flappage comment. Ensis Scores had a deep curvature, when up and running, loads of power but that meant strut was not attached to boom at all, so it would flap (for me, prob bad technique) when pumping up in marginal winds. Ensis Spin’s are attached to boom, much like the DLab, so flappage is massively reduced. That helps me hugely pumping up in marginal and/or in transitions in marginal when I need to give a couple of small pumps to stay on foil. Also makes sail easier to transition and less seesaw’y. With less flappage I feel way more “connected” to sail. It might lose a bit of power/top end but I don’t care, I just want sail to be easy to get going, easy to transition and super stable when luffed. Buuuut, having said all that, the CWC seems to have loads of flappage, it obviously doesn’t bother you? Great job with the videos, always really informative.

[mikemiller]

Thank you for review. Based on comments i see mostly talk about this 6.5 size. But what about something like 4.5 size? As duotone says it's 10-28kts, ok let's bump maybe low end to 15. Could this be a all around single size for ones who ride something like wave/downwind carves with winds starting at 15-16kts? Thank you

[adriaanvandijk]

Hello, did you ever measure the stretch of the canopy after 5months. I have the 5.5 and still love it. Your review was spot on. Tnx

[randalbladel]

6.5 psi, eh? My Ocean Rodeo Allula wing (5 m) calls for 8 in the leading edge and 12 (!) in the center strut.

[kevinhogan]

Great review. I have an unrelated question how did you get the camera shots during the review? Thanks.

[ClivehWright]

Hey great review, really appreciate it.