See also:

- 2004 and 2005 tests
- 2006 tests
- 2007 tests

The Loft 2008 as tested in France by Planchemag and Wind magazines.

Translations by Yann Terrien

The Loft O2 Freeride 6.6   
"Ease, comfort and performance"

The Loft O2 Freeride 6.6 has a lot of distinctive features within this group of sails. First of all, it's the sail that has the biggest number of battens (like the Pryde). Recommended mast: 460 rdm.
The O2 Freeride is set apart from the others with a heavy-duty construction and a massive use of xply. Longevity must be a priority of Loftsails, because it is the most reinforced sail of this group.
It is worth noting that the O2 Freeride has a Vario Top.
On the water, the sail is not the most powerful of the group, nor the most nervous to start the planing, nevertheless it's doing quite well considering its size (slightly smaller than the other sails tested). Once the planing started, the sail generates forces to propel the board and the rider at high-speed. We appreciate the very comfortable softness and elasticity that it offers to the rider. It's really pleasant to sail with it, because it's well balanced and easy to use. With this Loft we never struggle. The gusts are well absorbed and acceleration is natural.
Control in strong winds is really good. The profile is less blocked than the Hellcat's, but the center of effort is not significantly going backwards. We just have the feeling of a sail a bit less light than the other sails, but its not a problem for the maneuvers.
Competitive and offering good control in strong winds, Monty's O2 Freeride is one of the easiest sail to use, and as usual, very pleasant to sail with.
A good value for money, as a bonus a well-reinforced construction.

+ : Construction, quality/price, strong winds control, softness, performances
- : nothing to report

Verdict: (...) The Loft O2 Freeride offers both very good behavior and good speed. Super all-round and very well constructed, it's suitable for the most windsurfers.

The Loft Lip Wave 5,2   
"Always a sure value"

Few modifications to report on this new Loftsails Lip Wave 08. Monty Spindler, Loft Sails' emblematic designer, slightly modified the Sensitip, top of the sail, to make it easier to roll. He also added an additional eyelet for the outhaul, and modified the general look of the sail. Just like last year, the mast sleeve is a bit larger than on the other wave sails. The sail works well on its 400 Loft RDM mast, and offers the softness and elasticity that are characteristic of the brand. The mast is really easy to insert, for easy rigging of the sail. 
Very well balanced, the sail delivers the correct amount of power, to be used when needed. It's not dragging the rider, and it's never bothering. The power regulation is really interesting. Stable in strong winds, the sail is really fast and efficient under all kind of conditions. 
For surfing, its softness is really enjoyable. It's a proof of tolerance. Handiness is impeccable. The Lip Wave can be neutralized on demand, and the rider can forget the sail to focus on the wave. 
In conclusion, the Loft Sails is homogeneous and always easy to control. With a really competitive price, a very reliable construction and a versatile behavior meant to please everybody in all kinds of conditions, the Lip Wave 08 is once again one of the best sails to have fun in waves. No defects to report here.

+ : price, homogeneity, versatility, efficiency, softness, wind range, power and neutrality
- : nothing to report

Verdict: (...) At last, we shouldn't put away the Loft Lip Wave, which is set apart from the others with its good price, homogeneity, regulated power, softness and positive surf behavior.

Monty Spindler, Loft Sails designer, developed a new Lip Wave 08 with a heavy construction. Some of the linings, for example the batten protector, have been improved. The Sensitip has been modified as well, thus the sail is easier to roll this year.
Triming is easy, just make sure that the vario top is correctly positioned. Be aware that you shouldn't put too much downhaul tension, the Lip Wave just needs a moderate tension to slightly free the leech.
Very well balanced in the arms, the center of effort of the sail is well distributed, thus the sail is soft and limber. It works well on its 370 RDM mast. It's not the lightest sail, maybe that's the reason why it's not the most handy sail of this category.
The Lip Wave is perfectly neutralized in surfing, and it's always homogeneous and easy with no bad surprises. The profile is really stable in the gusts. The sail offers an interesting power, but remains easy to use; thus the wind range is quite large.
In conclusion, the Loft Sails Lip Wave 4,3 is a really versatile sail, meant for alot of different people and different conditions, being always homogeneous and efficient.
A good choice and a gentle price.
+ : versatility, homogeneity, softness, wind range, power/neutrality, efficiency, balance
- : slightly less handy

The Loft 360 5.8 is specifically designed for freestyle. The Loft 360 benefits from a light construction that facilitates moves. It's nevertheless a bit too light on the bottom edgeline, where we often crash with the knees or the harness buckle.

Trimmed with the Loft RDM 430 100% carbon mast, the sail gives a feeling of lightness, as if it was only a 5,3.

It is also a powerful sail, so it has all the requirements for a really early planning. The power on the backhand is not unpleasant; the center of effort is well positioned. Thereby the 360Free allows us to do a vast variety of moves, and the transitions under the sail are easy, all the more so as the bottom edge line is high.

Even under-powered, the sail is not awkward and it's easy to do tricks. In brief, this Loft Sail is a bomb for an early planning and for easy handling... a real weapon for "frimestyle" (show-off style).

Volume 27, Issue 1, Number 115

Excerpts: 
“The sail is so tunable, we found ourselves straying from the recommended specs with dramatic results in how the sail feels. …the Lip does an incredible job of splitting hairs between power and responsiveness. Less downhaul makes it powerful and well-suited to onshore conditions, while more downhaul flattens the Lip for a softer feel and on/off power required for sideshore wavesailing. …no other sail can alter its feel as much as the Lip Wave.”