Even though wingsurfing can be performed with comparatively little effort due to the low water resistance of the foil in the water, long sessions can still be exhausting - especially if you are not fully trained. Trapezoids offer a way to take the strain off your arms when wingsurfing, but are not everyone's cup of tea, especially if you have no harness experience from windsurfing or kitesurfing. The Wing-Claw promises relaxed wingsurfing without a harness. We have tried out the claw.
The principle is very simple: two fixed but padded hooks are attached to the wrists using wide Velcro fasteners. These are then used to hook onto the boom or the handles of the wing.
After a few hours of practical testing, our verdict is mixed. Hooking in is quite straightforward, especially with wings that have a boom system or wide sewn-on handles - at least you can do it faster than with a harness without prior knowledge. At least the forearms and fingers are noticeably relieved by the Wing-Claw, so if you often have problems with fat forearms or finger cramps, you can certainly extend your session a little. However, the Velcro fasteners do not sit very comfortably on the wrists as soon as the full pull of the wing is held over the hooks. The system also has other drawbacks: For example, the metal hooks hang down a little, which always causes problems when hooking and unhooking wings with tightly sewn-on handles. You also have the problem of unintentionally hooking yourself in from time to time, e.g. when changing your grip during manoeuvres. And last but not least, the fixed hooks are a potential source of damage to the material when getting on the board and in the event of a fall.
Wing-Claw - the conclusion:
The advantage of the Wing-Claw is limited to a slight relief of the forearms and fingers. If you have problems here and don't want to use a harness, you can consider the claw. However, the system is not suitable for relieving the strain on the arms or back, and there are also noticeable restrictions when gripping around in manoeuvres.
If you would like to order the Wing-Claw, you can HERE via the brand's Instagram account.
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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.
