LOFTSAILS PURELIP 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW
THE VERDICT
The PureLip offers class-leading stability and really likes to be sailed powered to fully demonstrate its true qualities. Fast and balanced, it is a pleasure to use in the most challenging environments.
OVERVIEW
Loftsails shifted to a two-year cycle last year, so this PureLip, the brand’s ‘Hardcore Wave’ sail, remains unchanged for the new season. Tested last year in our 5.7m crossover category, we’ve got it here as one of our 5-batten benchmark contenders. Available across twelve sizes, from 3.0m to 6.2m, and in two bright colourways, the panels adopt x-ply throughout, and the attention to detail in the PureLip is of the highest quality. Every aspect in the sail’s function is considered, from the double Dacron head panel (to ensure sail rolling is easy and sail-friendly), to the extra patch of Velcro in the foot to help keep the folded tack fairing in place. Rigged on a Team Edition II C100 RDM, there is plenty of curvature to the sail’s leading edge, the lower battens pulling away from the mast entirely, whilst the sail sets incredibly flat, with minimal shape or depth to its profile at rest. It’s also worth noting that the suggested extension length doesn’t permit the leech to fall away to the ‘Trim Diamond’ in the upper panel; we used an extra notch in the extension’s length to fulfil this. Once downhauled fully, there’s uniform looseness down the leech, including the panel between battens three and four, which goes a long way to explaining the inclusion of the third mini-batten. Radial tendons then complete the picture, extending out from the twin clew eyelets with the intention of stabilising the profile of the sail.
BRAND CLAIM
“Intended for wave and high-wind bump & jump use, Purelip features full x-ply layout, double Dacron head panels and triple reinforced foot and leech edges.”
PERFORMANCE
With such a pronounced luff curve, the PureLip sets with a high degree of skin tension along its leading edge and through its main panels. Reducing the downhaul tension to tighten the leech and enhance its breathability does help, as does using the higher clew eyelet, yet it comes as little surprise that the PureLip has a subtle amount of low torque grunt, rather than being a powerhouse in light airs. Instead, hold the sail upright and wait for the pressure to build, turning the board off the wind and maintaining a sensitive approach to really appreciate the PureLip’s potential. Used in powered to overpowered conditions, the PureLip comes into its own, making light work of even the most volatile gusts. Its stability is incredible, the brand’s reputed features such as their Standing Battens, Integrated Panel System (IPS) and radial tendons combine with the high skin tension to make the PureLip so controllable when sails of similar size are folding. Such is its dependability that it would make a great high-wind bump and jump engine, capable of blasting through a break at full speed, perfectly in control and charging at ramps for aerial hang-time. And even in the most challenging seas, the PureLip can be eased out and sailed at half speed, settling easily and allowing the rider to take a breather. In transition, its on-off capabilities can be put to great use, going light and manageable coming back up the face, before playing the boom and bringing the power back on. It should be noted here that to get the most from the PureLip it has be sailed powered, so you could well be using a
bigger sail, when others have already changed down. Yet for variable conditions that we all too often find ourselves with, the philosophy of ‘rig big for the lulls’ is tailormade for the PureLip, whose steadfast stability will not leave you wanting in the gusts.
LOFTSAILS PURELIP 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW
SPECS
Size: 5.0
Luff: 416 cm
Boom: 168 cm
Battens: 5
Ideal Mast: Team Edition 400 cm RDM (SDM)
Available Sizes: 3.0, 3.4, 3.7, 4.0, 4.2, 4.5, 4.7, 5.0, 5.2, 5.4, 5.7, 6.2.
PRICE: £679.00
NEIL PRYDE COMBAT PRO (2021) 5.0