There’s a revolution going on in board sports, and the driving force is a vertical airplane-like wing that lifts the board above the surface, creating minimal drag as it moves through the water. That lets you fly, magic-carpet-style, effortlessly through even moderate waves. Among foiling boards, the easiest and most fun designs are eFoils. Or if you prefer the longer name: electric, motor-driven, hydrofoil-equipped surfboards.
Rather than having to paddle for waves or navigate surf, eFoils let riders power into offshore swells or simply carve on inland lakes and waterways, just by applying a little throttle via a handheld Bluetooth controller.
The best part? Once “flying” on the foil, the conditions below don’t necessarily have a significant impact on performance. It’s smooth surfing as long as the battery lasts or the waves aren’t too crazy. Here are seven of the coolest eFoil boards currently (or soon to be) on the market.
-
Lift Foils Lift4
Image Credit: Courtesy Lift Foils The just-released Lift4 continues to refine Lift’s flagship eFoil experience. New battery technology, developed in-house, optimizes efficiency to extend battery lifespan while increasing ride times to as much as 2.5 hours. Recharge in as little as 30 minutes. Redesigned wings promise a smoother ride. A choice of carbon-fiber masts is paired with a modular propulsion unit and the propeller is precision machined from a solid block of aerospace aluminum. Additional upgrades reduce weight, minimize vibration and nearly silence noise output. Lift’s pistol-style controller features a customizable color screen, milled titanium trigger and GPS to track speed and distance. Want to stand out from the pack? Up to 12 color options, including an extensive list of metallic finishes, are available. Starting at $11,995
-
Fliteboard Ultra L
Image Credit: Courtesy Fliteboard Bathed in a shimmering gold metallic finish (said to be inspired by no less than the sunset in Ibiza!), the Ultra L comes in at under 50 pounds and utilizes an equally lightweight, 14-pound lithium-ion battery. Fully charged in less than an hour, it promises up to 45 minutes of cruising time. A longer 31.5” mast allows the Ultra L to handle bigger waves, carve deeper turns and venture into rougher water conditions. Flite’s Dual Drive system allows riders to choose easily between the safety and smoothness of an enclosed jet or the performance of a prop. The handheld Flite Controller features “virtual” gears for smooth power delivery, high-contrast display and both GPS and accelerometer. Starting at $13,195
-
Foil FoilR
Image Credit: Courtesy Foil Got the need for speed? Foil’s FoilR claims to be the fastest production board made, hitting top speeds of 33 mph with its expert-only 100 Race Wing. Foil’s 9hp Mavericks R Racing Motor and milled, billet aluminum prop promise exceptional acceleration. Opt for the stainless, three-blade folding prop and balance speed with efficiency, using that power to foil through surf and then ride unpowered with minimal drag. The standard 40 Ah battery offers two hours of ride time; upgrade to 50 Ah ($800) and extend runtime to three hours. Cool tech? Li-Ion cells are wrapped in a phase-changing material to stay cool. The Bluetooth controller magnetically clings to the battery to wirelessly recharge. Starting at $8,999
-
Scubajet Hybridboard
Image Credit: Courtesy Fliteboard As its name implies, Scubajet’s Hybridboard is part eFoil, part electric surfboard. The component that makes the magic happen is ScubaJet’s tool-less Quick Release System. Pop the board’s 8 kW jet propulsion motor into a recess at the bottom of the board and surf for up to 40 minutes with a jet nozzle designed to deliver more thrust. Add a smaller nozzle, stabilizer, front wing and mast and you’re e-foiling for up to three hours. Up to two 1.7kWh batteries can be used. Carbon fiber, aerospace aluminum and titanium keep combined weight as low as 79 lbs. in eFoil mode. Instead of a dash, you can monitor vitals like speed, battery power remaining and distance traveled, via ScubaJet’s watch-style remote or Apple Watch. $17,200
-
The HydroFlyer
Image Credit: Courtesy HydroFlyer The Hydroflyer sets itself apart with a fixed, swept-forward handlepole, topped with a handlebar and throttle setup similar to a personal watercraft. The ultra-wide platform is beginner friendly; many riders will be able to climb aboard and get to their feet before even applying the throttle. Handlebars add two additional points of contact for easy control and cornering. All this is not to say the Hydrofoiler is solely a beginner’s ride. With practice, riders can leap the entire board and mast setup out of the water. Top speed is up to 34 mph. A lithium-ion battery offers up to 120 minutes of ride time and recharges in 90 minutes. Both an inflatable board and shorter, pro board are coming soon. Starting at $15,500
-
Sea-Doo Rise
Image Credit: Courtesy Sea-Doo A surprise name soon to enter the eFoil market, Sea-Doo’s Rise is currently just a tease (available Summer 2024) but may end up being the personal watercraft behemoth’s first foray into the electric vehicle market. It’s clearly an eFoil but also part Transformer. Riders can start on their knees with the hydrofoil retracted, using the hand controller. Lift a flush-stowed handlepole from the board’s surface and ride the board like an old-school standup personal watercraft. Stow the pole and and ride the Rise like an electric surfboard. And last but certainly not least, deploy the mast and wings, either partially or full height, and it’s a full-fledged eFoil surfboard. Price TBD
-
EasyGoat eFoil
Image Credit: Courtesy CabraTec Looking for maximum portability? EasyGoat’s inflatable eFoil weighs in at only 44 pounds for both board and battery. Then it packs away into a wheeled carrying bag. Unload, pump up the pill-shaped board to surprising rigidity and attach carbon wings, aluminum mast and prop-driven 5hp motor in as little as five minutes. Riders can foil as slow as 9 mph; max speed tops out just shy of 19 mph. The handheld controller features two throttle modes and displays GPS speed in realtime. Expect to get about 80 minutes of runtime from the board’s lithium-ion battery. Starting at $7,500
