The Italian manufacturer Wingman has always specialised in special accessories for foilers, such as the Wingman handle for wings or the Harness Bundlea combination of waistcoat and harness. Now, with the ultra-thin Slim Jack impact protection waistcoat a new product on the market.
"The Slim Jack"explains co-developer Ronny Kiaulehn, "was developed in cooperation with foil professionals such as Balz Müller. The waistcoat should be as thin as possible, so that you can hardly see it. The waistcoat is therefore extremely flexible and snug, making it suitable for all foil sports, whether windsurf foiling, wingsurfing or pump foiling."
The protection here is not the result of maximally thick padding, but also of integrated and very flexible plastic plates that protect the torso. This should have the advantage that not only harder impacts are softened, but also contact with the pointed foil cannot leave any permanent marks. The position of the plates in the chest area can be customised. In the back area, Wingman relies on a combination of EVA padding plus a thin plastic plate.
The Slim Jack impact protection waistcoat is manufactured directly in Italy to order in sizes XS/S/M/L/XL and XXL and costs 359 euros. If you are unsure about the size you need, you can also contact the manufacturer directly (store@wingman-products.com) and enter your own measurements. Information and ordering on the manufacturer's website.
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
Manuel Vogel, born in 1981, lives in Kiel and learned to windsurf at the age of six at his father's surf school. In 1997, he completed his training as a windsurfing instructor and worked for over 15 years as a windsurfing instructor in various centers, at Kiel University sports and in the coaching team of the “Young Guns” freestyle camps. He has been part of the surf test team since 2003. After completing his teaching degree in 2013, he followed his heart and started as editor of surf magazine for the test and riding technique sections. Since 2021, he has also been active in wingfoiling - mainly at his home spots on the Baltic Sea or in the waves of Denmark.
