Anyone got any info on the new Armstrong ML board. I've seen a couple of photos of it but can't find any more details on it. I'm considering buying a 2nd hand ML85 mkI but not sure if I should hold off to see what changes are in store with the new board. Anyone tried them or have any more details on specs etc. thanks
Very light but even more expensive than the actual ones
85 Liter is. 6'4" x 21 3/8. only 4.8 kgs
I have the ML 6-9 x 22 x 100 litre it feels so light don't know the actual weight but I switched from a Sunova 6-3 Coaster to this and it's night and for stability and weight. I really like it can't fault it at all and just feels so good under arm. You get a good look at it in this video . There will a newer version but won't see them in stores in Aus until June July the size/specs & price will change.
^^^ I think this is fine. Notice the squash tail versus the diamond tail, with a V under it. The squash shape will make the rails a tad more parallel, so this effectively makes up for the shorter length. It's almost as if they were the same length, but with a chopped off tail.
I have a 55ML and a 65ML. Both have been amazing boards. The 55 is a bit on the heavier end for its size, but it has been great for both winging and prone in small waves. The 65ML have I believe is a magic board. Awesome as a daily for winging, and it's what I learned to prone on. That one is actually light for its size
My first parawing session was on an 85ML and it went well. That one was a friend's, a bit on the heavier side, but ultra responsive for an 85L board. I almost bought it from my friend, but another one from our crew bought it. I'm keeping an eye on the new ones to get a 75 or 85ML... or I'll source another V1 85ML for light wind PW. Also considering an Axis Frank Mini Dart in either 80L or 90L.
Had a quick demo on the new 55L today in Hood River, winging at the waterfront...I'm 64kg and coming from a 72L Omen Flux V1 and I was very pleasantly surprised at how quickly I got on foil...felt quicker than my Flux (but I was pretty overpowered), it also was pretty stable on the water, and just easy all the way around on the water and up on foil. Touchdowns were forgiving, but hard to beat the Flux on that front. Armie ML felt light and stiff...I'd be psyched to have one.
They are supposed to be available sometime in June here...in the meantime, the KT Arc should show here in the next week or so...so I look forward to getting on one, along with an Omen Emissary and perhaps a Hydrocraft ATV
the full brochure is available if you're nice to your dealer... important things are slight weight reductions across the sizes, and the tail is now squash/flat edge rather than pointy/downwind style, which im honestly surprised by, but armstrong were ahead of the curve by 1-2 years with the original ML board design, so i trust they know better than me what's good in a design!
I broke down and ordered a 75 for parawing. I'm 80kg. I plan to sell my 65 ML MKI because it's pretty close to the new one in size, but keep my 55ML MKI because it's so much smaller and I love winging that one.
The prices however are off the charts, same size for the money you can pickup a new KT pro carbon, it’s very sad to see Armstrong are pricing themselves out of the market.
What makes you think Armstrong have priced themselves out when they're the same price as the KT? Army boards come with a bag too.
Yes, they are pricey. But what makes the K2 Pro Carbon have that price? The full sandwich construction. And it doesn't come with a bag. These new MLs have some funny marketing name for the construction, but it's essentially a full sandwich with a more complicated variation of where the different densities of foam go.
Diagram in Hydrogav video shows layering of foam - full pvc wrap - carbon , with no intermediate of carbon/glass/ inegra between pvc and foam which I thought was standard?
My understanding is they're using a new high temp high / high pressure method to basically fuse it all together in big metal molds.
This is a bit of a guess regarding the new MLv2 construction. The use of metal moulds and the variety of what look like custom PVC thicknesses in the build along with the custom plugs and carbon rails will probably be using pre preg laminates rather than a wet lay up. This means the resin - fabric ratios will be 100% controlled as will the curing process which will rely on temperature and pressure for the reaction. Benefits are lower weight and increased strength because the layup is or should be at its optimum process. Not a cheap way to set it up but for sure more accurate than wet layup.
The KT factory tour shows wet layup going into fibreglass moulds and a bit of heat to ensure curing. This will make for more variability in the weight and strength of the board.
In a video online of Aiden's Armie presentation he talks about the old ML having a variable weight +/-6% I think and the new boards all being a specific weight. Which is quite impressive if its true.
About 35m into the same video there is a clip of Armie bouncing a foil drive equipped MLv2 on the concrete multiple times and it looks like it survived OK. Not scientific but entertaining.
That said, I bought a new ML85v1 as it was on substantial discount. I can wait a few years for the new construction and any issues will have settled down.
I expect all the new Armie boards will move to this pre preg method moving forward. Interesting times.
Thanks, been trying to find that clip I keep hearing about. Here's the timestamp of Army doing the drop test.
Select to expand quotemaxpwr said..
Here's the timestamp of Army doing the drop test.
38:01 is the time stamp.
Select to expand quoteVenomguy said..
The prices however are off the charts, same size for the money you can pickup a new KT pro carbon, it’s very sad to see Armstrong are pricing themselves out of the market.
Not surprising with the huge investment involved in hard steel molds for every size !
Select to expand quoteVenomguy said..
The prices however are off the charts, same size for the money you can pickup a new KT pro carbon, it’s very sad to see Armstrong are pricing themselves out of the market.
Not surprising with the huge investment involved in hard steel molds for every size !
Looks great and I was very interested in this board after the new Appletree Midlength came out. The Appletree has a strange step from 6.1 to 6.5, right in my volume range. But €2500 in Holland, 20% more than an Appletree, no way.
Select to expand quotekitesem said..
Looks great and I was very interested in this board after the new Appletree Midlength came out. The Appletree has a strange step from 6.1 to 6.5, right in my volume range. But €2500 in Holland, 20% more than an Appletree, no way.
I can only see UK pricing and I know these things vary quite a bit internationally. Here in the UK its £2000GBP for the Appletree and £2229GBP for the Armstrong which comes with a high quality board bag. So the difference in price isn’t that high really. If the Appletree construction is the same as the V1 boards the weight will be higher than Armstrong especially in the larger sizes. But yeah, its a lot of money to find which is why i bought the ML85v1 on discount.
