Armstrong Foils Performance Mk II Carbon Mast 795mm 2026
Reviews / Hydrofoils
2,520
At A Glance
While the Performance-X focuses on reducing drag and maximising glide, the Performance Mk II takes a different approach. This is Armstrong’s stiffest performance mast to date, designed for riders who demand the most direct possible connection between their feet and the foil beneath them.
Like the Performance-X, the Mk II has been developed using a high-modulus carbon layup, but the emphasis here is on stiffness and precision rather than outright efficiency. The mast has undergone a complete redesign, with Armstrong refining not only the mast section itself but also the transitions into both the base plate and the A+ System fuselage connection. Every part of the structure has been optimised to reduce unwanted flex and drag.
The numbers back that up too. Compared with the previous generation Performance mast, Armstrong claims a 20% increase in torsional stiffness and a 30% increase in bending stiffness. Those figures might not sound dramatic on paper, but stiffness is one of the defining characteristics of any foil setup. Every movement you make through your feet has to travel down the mast before it reaches the front wing. The stiffer that connection, the more immediate and precise the foil feels beneath you.
For riders who like to push hard through turns, ride powered conditions or throw aggressive freestyle manoeuvres, that’s exactly what the Performance Mk II has been built to deliver. Sizes: 725, 795, 865, 935mm
On The Water
The first thing you notice isn’t necessarily that the mast feels stiffer. It’s that the entire foil feels more connected. Every input through your feet seems to arrive at the foil instantly. There’s no sense of the mast loading up before releasing through the turn. Instead, the foil responds immediately, giving you the confidence to push harder, knowing exactly how it’s going to react.
That becomes particularly noticeable when carving. As soon as you roll the board onto its rail, the foil follows without hesitation. The response feels crisp, direct and incredibly predictable, encouraging you to lean harder into every turn. Whether carving open ocean swell, linking bottom turns or laying into powered wing foiling gybes, the increased stiffness is something you feel throughout the session rather than just during one particular manoeuvre.
The same applies to freestyle. Loading the foil before take-off feels more positive, while landings remain composed because there’s less unwanted movement travelling through the system. Everything simply feels tighter and more controlled, allowing you to focus entirely on the manoeuvre rather than compensating for movement elsewhere in the setup.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway after several sessions was just how much confidence the Performance Mk II gives you. When you know the foil is going to respond exactly as expected every single time, you naturally begin pushing harder. Turns become more committed, transitions become cleaner, and your riding feels more dynamic simply because the equipment is responding instantly beneath your feet.
Unlike the Performance-X, which immediately rewards riders with extra glide and efficiency, the benefits of the Mk II are more about control. There is an improvement in efficiency, but it’s harder to quantify, whereas the improvements in handling are glaringly obvious as soon as you start riding.
Overall
The Performance Mk II Carbon Mast is built for riders who value precision above everything else.
Its increased bending and torsional stiffness creates an exceptionally direct connection between rider and foil, transforming the way power and movement are transferred through the entire system. Whether you’re carving hard through waves, riding fully powered on a wing or pushing your freestyle progression, the improvement in control is immediately noticeable.
For riders who want the sharpest, most responsive Armstrong setup available, the Performance Mk II delivers exactly that.
Videos
This review was in Issue 28 of Tonic Mag.
For more information visit Armstrong FoilsRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou Chater has been kitesurfing for over twenty years, paddleboarding for the last six years, and was there testing the first wingsurfer from Naish in Tarifa when it arrived on the continent. He is passionate about riding waves and exploring new places. As the publishing editor, he oversees everything at Tonic but also our sister magazines IKSURFMAG and IMB. He's been on the water since he was born and has never looked back, in the winter you'll find him chasing swells in the Caribbean and during the summer he can be found all over Europe at various SUP, Kitesurf and Mountain Bike events getting features for the magazines.
