F-One Mitu Pro Bamboo Review: 20 Litres, and Why That Is Right

Mitu Monteiro is F-One's wave rider from Cape Verde, and the board bearing his name has been in the line longer than any other directional. Here it is in numbers.

The short version

• Sizes: 5'2, 5'4, 5'6, 5'8, 5'10.
• Volume: from 20.5 l (5'2) upward.
• Weight: from 2.81 kg.
• 5'2 dimensions: 157 × 45 × 5.4 cm.
• Included: tail pad and three Futures F4 437 fins.
• Price: 898 € for any size.

20.5 litres at 157 cm — why so little

The headline figure, and it usually surprises anyone arriving from surfing.

A 5'2 surfboard would carry around thirty litres. This carries twenty and a half. A third less, and the difference is fundamental.

The reason lies in what accelerates you.

In surfing you do: you lie on the board and paddle. Volume exists so the board floats you in that position and has enough to catch a wave.

In kiting the kite does. No paddling. And more than that — the kite pulls you upward, so surplus buoyancy starts working against you: the board gets pushed out of the water, loses contact and becomes unstable at speed.

The sizing rule: volume is roughly a quarter of your weight in kilograms. An 80 kg rider wants 20 to 22 litres — a 5'2 or 5'4.

Note how different that is from wingfoiling, where volume exceeds your weight. There you must stand still until the wing builds power; here the kite pulls from the first second.

2.81 kg: where weight counts

Light for a 157 cm board, and weight matters more on a wave than on a twintip.

The reason is turning technique. On a twintip you switch edges without rotating the board relative to yourself. On a wave you turn the board beneath you — and its inertia is felt directly.

Second point: on a wave the board is frequently airborne coming out of a turn or when a section closes out. A lighter board returns under your feet more predictably.

Bamboo: why it is in the layup

Bamboo here is neither decoration nor eco-credentials for their own sake.

Bamboo veneer in the structural layers gives natural flex with good damping: the board bends without ringing and absorbs impacts from uneven water.

On a wave that works in your favour. A wave is not a flat surface: there are lumps, chop on the approach, broken foam. A board that bends keeps contact with that water better than a very stiff one.

Bamboo's second advantage is impact resistance. A wave board meets the bottom, rocks and its own fins more often than any other.

When you want carbon: when you ride clean waves and want precision through a carve. Then flex gets in the way.

Three Futures fins included

A welcome detail: the board ships with three F4 437 fins and a tail pad. The front pad is optional.

Three fins is a thruster, the classic surf setup: the centre fin holds your line, the side fins give bite through the turn.

One thing to remember about fins: they are a consumable. They break on the bottom and disappear into sand. Spares and screws are what we recommend carrying on every trip, and they have their own line in our packing checklist.

Leash plug and strap inserts

The specification lists a leash plug and inserts for two foot straps.

Straps on a wave board are contested territory. Some riders use them, some do not.

With straps starting is easier: the board stays put and you can load the edge harder.

Without straps is the classic wave style: you move your feet along the board as in surfing and can step off quickly when a section closes.

Having the inserts gives you the choice, which is right: start with straps and remove them whenever you like.

Who it suits

A first wave board. The most affordable in the line, flex forgives, and it comes complete.

Anyone heading to Mui Ne in winter. There is swell at the cape, and a directional comes into its own there.

Anyone riding chop. Bamboo flex absorbs the lumps.

Anyone trying waves without a large outlay. 898 € against 1 314 € for a Keahi Pro and 1 149 € for a Duotone Whip.

Who it does not suit

Anyone riding only flat water. A directional loses to a twintip there.

Anyone wanting precision through a carve. Look at the carbon version.

Heavy riders on the small size. Over 95 kg a 5'2 will sink — take a 5'6 and up.

Common questions

Which Mitu Pro size at 80 kg?

5'2 or 5'4: 20.5 to 22 litres, and the rule is roughly a quarter of your weight in kilograms.

Why less volume than a surfboard?

In kiting you do not paddle, and surplus buoyancy hurts: the kite pulls upward and the board is pushed out of the water.

Bamboo or Carbon?

Bamboo is softer, cheaper and better on uneven waves. Carbon is stiffer and more precise but wants clean conditions.

Do I need straps?

Easier with them at the start. The inserts are there, so the choice remains yours.

Are fins included?

Yes, three Futures F4 437 and a tail pad. The front pad is optional.

Where to buy

F-One Mitu Pro Bamboo — 898 €, five sizes. Compared with other wave boards in a separate article, and the full range on the F-One page.