Most brands now offer three styles of wave sail. Although each loft has slight variations on the theme, nowadays they tend to be pitched along the lines of ‘power wave’, ‘all-round’ and ‘4-batten’.

The term ‘power wave’ has been around for years, and to most people it tends to imply ‘a sail for heavier riders’. Examples of this style of sail would include the Gaastra Poison, NeilPryde Atlas and North Duke. ‘All-round’ sails are 5-batten models designed for use in all conditions, and include sails such as the Gaastra Manic, NeilPryde Combat and North Ice. The 4-batten sails are generally focused towards frontside riding, such as the Naish Boxer, Simmer Black Tip and NeilPryde Fly.

So, based on this thinking, you may as well stop reading if you weigh less than 85kg, as these power wave sails are not for you. But is this really the case? Are they really just for heavier riders? Let’s see what some of the brands have to say…

Read the full test at our sister site, Boardseeker.com