Lift 3 eFoil Review — Electric Surfboard That Flies Above Water
Today we’ll be reviewing the latest lineup for the Lift eFoil electric surfboard, including the latest Lift 3 model with the new 4’2 Pro size, and even some of the new additions to the Lift 3 Elite accessories and components.
We took a trip down to Puerto Rico where Lift has it’s headquarters and got to test ride the latest boards, and get a tour of their new 22,000 sq foot factory where they assemble and manufacture boards. We also filmed a full podcast with Nick Leason, the inventor of the eFoil and CEO of Lift– so be sure to give that a listen as well.
Lift Foils — Hand Built In The USA
Alright first up, taking a look at what’s new with the Lift 3 lineup. All of the boards are redesigned with a new construction made of forged carbon fiber.
Forged carbon let’s shapes be formed with precision, compared to traditional carbon fiber. And it’s even stronger then regular weaved Carbon Fiber— making it as strong as titanium. The technology of creating forged composite was developed jointly by Lamborghini and Callaway Golf, who make ultra strong carbon parts for their cars and clubs.
We got a chance to tour the new factory in Puerto Rico, to see how the boards are made and meet some of the team. We were super impressed with what we saw — Lift has invested millions of dollars into their production facility. From the CNC machines milling out the inner core of the boards, the full paint booth to paint the boards, to all the different teams working on assembly and Quality Inspection. You quickly understand why these boards cost so much and why they are worth the investment. And all the people we met who work at Lift are smart, hard working, while also being humble and down to earth.
Lift 3 — New Board Shapes and Sizes
Taking a look at the new lineup of Boards– there’s 4 new sizes to choose from with 3 different colors — matte black,
Starting with the 4’2 Pro model, Lift went even smaller with this board, shortening the nose while still keeping the volume large enough so that it rides nimble and is super responsive. This also allows you to go fast and carve the wing deep.
We already own a Lift version 2 in the 4’4 size and love how the smaller boards ride, and the new 4’2 Pro board takes it to another level. It makes the sensation of Foiling even more pronounced, and feels like there’s barely any board under your feet. While this size caters to more seasoned riders, it can still be picked up by beginners– but the learning curve will be longer. Also, if you weigh over 180 lbs, it will be more difficult to get up and control.
The 4’9 Sport is the most popular option that Lift sells, with this board being the perfect size for both beginners while still giving you plenty of room to progress. We rode the 4’9 while in Puerto Rico in the ocean, and loved the way it carves. It’s very versatile and gives a great balance between stability and performance, while still being a perfect size to share it with your friends and family and teach them how to ride.
The largest size is the 5’4 Cruiser board. Going bigger in size means more stability and control, along with added confidence while riding, so this board is perfect for those who are new to watersports and board sports in general. It’s also perfect for eFoil rentals if you plan on offering it as a rental service. We actually visited an eFoil affiliate called eFoil New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee, and had a chance to ride their 5’4 Lift 3 board in carbon black. We loved the way the board felt stable and made turning easy and effortless.
The last size in the lineup is the 5’9 Explorer board. This is the biggest board Lift makes and really caters to eFoil rental locations, since anyone would be able to get Lifted on this board due to the stability that it offers. It makes the ride very mellow and slows everything down so anyone can quickly pick it up.
Looking at the colors, each size can be ordered in either Brushed White, Brushed Blue or Matte Black. The White and Blue colors have brushed black strokes throughout, and the Blue color really makes the board pop. Meanwhile the Black shows off all the weaved carbon fiber that the boards are made of, which looks super awesome especially in the sunlight. And while the White color is more simple, it still shines while keeping the board temperatures down under the hot summer sun.
New Foil Wings
This year Lift also introduces a whole new lineup of wings. There’s a total of 9 front wings and 4 rear stabilizers, giving plenty of customization. The 150, 200, and 250 surf wings are great all around and perfect for carving. Meanwhile the High Aspect wings have increased wingspan which gives amazing glide while also making them super efficient, so your battery can last nearly 2 hours of riding.
Lift also made improvements to the propulsion system, including changes to the design of the propeller and shroud. The small changes in these go a long way, making the board have less drag and be even more quiet while riding.
They even made new improvements to the Propeller with a new system with a quick release mechanism. So, you can easily and quickly swap out the regular prop for the folding Prop if you want to surf swells and waves, which is for much more advanced riders.
There’s also a new mast length this year, so you can now pick between the 28” inch standard mast or the 32” taller mast which is great for ocean swells and waves.
The hand controller remote that comes standard is the same one for the last 3 generations of eFoils. This remote is tried and tested and gets the job done. It floats, has good ergonomics and is sturdy, while the throttle and trigger has plenty of give so you can control the power with precision. The display is black and white but keeps it simple and shows you how much battery the board has, while the ‘Plus’ and ‘Minus’ buttons allow you to switch governor modes– which has a total of 15 different power modes. The standard remote is powered by 2 AA batteries, but don’t let that fool you — it will provide over 50 hours of ride time — and last you all season long.
Lift Elite Package & Components
Lift also introduced a new set of upgrades this year called the Lift 3 Elite. These components are optional upgrades, including an even more advanced controller. The new controller is made of the same forged carbon fiber as the boards. For the trigger, Lift takes it one step further with a titanium build and mechanism that’s fully adjustable so you can dial it in for ultimate precision. It also has a color display that shows a lot more detail, and they added precision GPS inside the controller so you can track all your ride data.
The Elite package also has an upgraded board carrying case. While the included standard case that Lift offers with a new board is actually really nice to begin with, these upgraded Elite bags offer even more rigid protection along with a new hot swap way of quickly adding wheels to the bag. Using a unique velcro system, the wheels can quickly be added or removed, allowing you to wheel your eFoil to your riding location without having to carry it the entire way.
Price & Availability
Looking at the price, the new Lift 3 eFoils start at $12,500 for the standard package– which include the board, battery, 1 wing of your choice, the standard remote, and a full set of the standard board bag and wing case.
For the Elite package, it will be available later this year and you’ll have the option to order either the complete package, or buy individual components like the new Hand Controller or bags separately. This is perfect for existing eFoil owners who want to upgrade their existing eFoil.
Lift also released a new board called the Lift 3F. It’s made of Fiberglass instead of carbon fiber, which reduces the price down to $9,995. While the board is heavier, it also comes standard with a half size battery, which reduces the overall weight significantly while still giving up to 1 hour of ride time.
But if you’re interested in the Lift 3F and more comparisons between the models, be sure to look out for our review and comparison videos in our reviews.
