DUOTONE Wam D/LAB 5’9 2022
Reviews / Surfboards
102,827
At A Glance
The Wam is a classic in the Duotone stable; it's been around longer than most of us have been kiteboarding. It's a modern take on a traditional shape, and over the years, it has evolved to be one of the best all-round surfboards on the market. With a squash thumb tail, thruster set up, and pointy nose, it's capable in anything you care to throw at it. The wide point is pushed a little further forwards to bring it up to speed with a modern twist, but to the casual eye, it's a surfboard at heart.
Built in the D/LAB construction, it features a Reflex Memory Foam underfoot to absorb the chop and impacts. This material, also as the name suggests, has a memory and can return to its true form, keeping your board looking good for longer. Any heel dents should eventually pop back out, which is some pretty clever tech! There is also a Carbon Beam to improve the responsiveness of the board, which is wrapped in an Innegra Shield, making it super durable while keeping the weight low.
Sizes: 5'7" and 5'9"
On The Water
It had been a while since I'd ridden a Wam, I'm usually a fan of the more modern shapes like the Whip and Fish, so the pointy nose felt like I was going back in time. However, once I got the board on the water, I remembered just how good it was. If you want to step into your first surfboard experience, then this is a fantastic board to choose. Equally, if you're hunting podiums on the world tour and want one board that can do it all, the Wam is what you need.
It really has got something to offer everyone. More than that, though, it's so capable in such a wide variety of conditions. In small waves, it's fun and playful, and in big stuff, it can arc our a superlative bottom turn that instils confidence. Getting over huge mounds of white water? The thin nose helps. Wanting to learn to do some chop hops? No problem, it has plenty of pop. Keen to pull off the latest freestyle tricks? OK, it's not as good as the Voke or the Whip, but it can spin with the best of them.
What we have here is a classic surfboard shape that delivers a classic ride in all conditions, no matter your ability. While the ultra-modern boards often garner more attention, it's worth remembering where they all came from.
Overall
You really can't go wrong with the Wam if you want a board that can handle just about anything you decide to take on. Big waves, small waves, and everything in between, the Wam has your back. Perfect for the beginner and expert alike, there is a lot to love here!
Videos
This review was in Issue 93 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit DUOTONERelated
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
