Location: Adur River · Conditions: gusty 20–35 kts · Boards/Wings: 85L Skybrid with 4m & 3m
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We’ve been testing the Duotone Crest D/LAB 1050 hard in proper UK conditions. In this first-impressions review, Ben Grist rode the Crest back-to-back against the Carve 850 D/LAB 2.0 and the Glide 900 D/LAB 2.0 — and came away seriously impressed with its low-end lift, forgiving stall behaviour, and playful handling.
Key Takeaways from Ben
- Take-off & Low End: “Comparable early lift to my Glide 1595, but in a much more compact, playful wing.”
- Holds Flight at Crawl Speeds: Stays flying through lulls; super forgiving near stall — easy to recover with a few pumps.
- Carving & Manoeuvres: Smooth, confidence-inspiring rail-to-rail; ideal for 360s and tacks.
- Pumping: Efficient and predictable; carries glide very well.
- Speed Range: Big usable low end; composed, non-intimidating top end.
Crest vs Carve vs Glide (Ben’s comparisons)
- Crest 1050 vs Carve 850 D/LAB 2.0: Crest has more low end and glide; Carve feels a touch sharper in manoeuvres. Top-speed difference isn’t huge.
- Crest 1050 vs Glide 900 D/LAB 2.0: Crest has better low end and more forgiving glide; Glide drops off foil more suddenly at low speed.
- Stall Behaviour: Crest is very forgiving near stall and steps off foil predictably, giving time to save it or step off cleanly.
Who is the Crest 1050 for?
If you want a flat-water sweet spot that mixes early lift, playful turning and reliability in lulls, the Crest 1050 is a standout. Ben’s verdict: “It sits between the Carve and Glide — nearly all the glide and carving of both, in an easy, forgiving package.”