HIPE Boards: GONG's Inflatable Wing Foil Range from 299 Euros

An inflatable foil board is a compromise we have already unpacked. GONG has built a whole eight-model range on that compromise. Here is why there are so many.

The range by price

• HIPE First — 299 €. Sizes 5'0, 5'5, 5'11, 6'6, 7'1.
• HIPE Like — 399 €. 6'4, 7'0, 7'4.
• HIPE Perf — 405 €. 5'1, 5'3, 5'5, 5'10.
• HIPE Freefly — 449 €. 5'4, 5'8, 6'2.
• HIPE Pro — 579 €. 4'6, 4'7, 4'9, 5'1, 5'3, 5'6.
• HIPE Diamond — 649 €. 5'0 to 6'6.
• HIPE Cruzader — 669 €. 6'0 to 7'11.
• HIPE Learn — 669 €. 6'5, 8'0.

How to read the range: length says everything

Do not try to memorise names. Look at the size ladder — it reveals purpose more accurately than any description.

Models reaching 8 feet (Learn, Cruzader, Like) are for learning and light wind. A long board accelerates more easily and stands steadier before takeoff.

Models starting at 4'6" (Pro, Perf) are performance shapes. A short board is livelier in the air and catches less wind, but demands a confident takeoff.

The rule: the shorter the board, the higher the skill required. Exactly as in SUP, covered in our size guide.

Where to start

Beginners: 6'5" and longer. The HIPE Learn 8'0 or Cruzader 7'0 are boards you can stand on steadily while learning to work the wing.

Why length beats volume at the start. In wing foiling you first stand still for a long time holding the wing, then accelerate. A long board gives both: stability at rest and easy acceleration.

Second season: 5'4" to 5'10". HIPE Perf or Freefly.

Flying confidently: from 4'6". HIPE Pro.

An honest warning: you will not go from 7'0 to 4'6 in one season. That is three or four steps, each of several months.

What the inflatable construction gives

We covered this in detail in our inflatable foil board article. In short:

Pros: soft in falls (and you will fall a lot), flies as ordinary luggage, more volume at the same length.

Cons: hull micro-flex makes control mushier; a thick board catches more wind before takeoff.

Applied to HIPE: the whole range is built on that compromise, and the 299 € entry follows directly. GONG's hard boards start at 459 € and reach 1 099 €.

Packages: board plus wing

A separate option that often makes more sense for entering the discipline.

Pack Wing Inflatable HIPE First — 999 €, or 959 € in the 2026 version.

Pack HIPE Like — 1 329 €.

What a package gives: compatibility checked for you, so you will not discover that the board needs pads and the wing needs a leash.

What it does not give: a foil. Confirm the contents — we check before payment, because in a modular range this is the main source of misunderstanding.

What else belongs in the budget

The foil. The dearest part. At GONG that is the Allvator system with wings from 199 €.

Pads. In GONG's range they are often separate — from 8 € for a centre pad to 25 € for a front pad.

Leashes for wing and board.

Helmet and vest.

A pump. An inflatable foil board needs high pressure, and a hand pump must hold it.

Common questions

What board length should a beginner buy?

6'5" and longer. A long board gives stability at rest and easy acceleration — both needed at the start.

How does HIPE Pro differ from HIPE Learn?

In length and purpose: Pro from 4'6" for confident riders, Learn up to 8'0" for learning.

Can I move to a short board within a season?

From 7'0 to 4'6, no. That is three or four steps of several months each.

Is a board-plus-wing package worth it?

For entering the discipline, yes: compatibility is checked. But a foil is usually not included.

Do I need to buy pads separately?

In GONG's range often yes — from 8 €. Confirm the contents before payment.

Where to buy

HIPE First 299 €, HIPE Learn 669 €, HIPE Pro 579 €. The section: foil boards.