Tucker from MACkite shares his impressions of the 2026 Cabrinha Mantis Apex wing after some extensive testing. The Mantis has long been one of Cabrinha’s go-to wings for riders seeking a performance-oriented wing that’s also surf-capable, and the new Apex version pushes that pedigree further with an upgraded construction featuring Aluula in the leading edge’s T-section and strut, and performance Dacron in the wingtips. This hybrid material choice brings weight savings, improved stiffness, and responsiveness while keeping the price lower than a full Aluula wing.
Tucker highlights the Mantis Apex as a high-performance wing that excels in powered-up riding, speed, upwind ability, and free ride agility. It performs best in the upper end of its wind range and is ideal for riders who like to ride fast on small foils and boards. He notes that while it can handle light wind due to its lightweight construction, its full performance potential is only unlocked when it’s well powered. Because of this, it's not a wing Tucker would recommend to beginners—both due to its price point and its more direct, less forgiving ride quality.
In terms of handling, the Mantis Apex features a hard leading-edge handle for direct control and leverage when luffing the wing, and long, slightly canted soft handles on the strut that are ergonomic and comfortable. Riders who prefer a boom for racing can opt for one as an add-on. Tucker praises the overall build quality, noting the wing’s stiffness and sleek canopy design as contributing to its fast, crisp handling. He also appreciates Cabrinha's thoughtfulness in gear storage, pointing out the roomy "mom purse-style" duffel bag that fits multiple wings and accessories with ease—something he uses even when not riding Cabrinha wings.
Tucker places the Mantis Apex squarely between Cabrinha’s Vision (freestyle/grunty lift) and Air (lightweight surf wing), saying it fills a new category: a premium, versatile wing for advanced riders who want to do a bit of everything—surf, race, free ride—without needing separate wings for each discipline. It doesn’t match the speed or upwind angles of full-on race wings with dual skins or more extreme designs, but it offers a more enjoyable surf experience and more versatility overall.
He ends the review with a few speculative thoughts on whether the price could be brought down by altering the material layout (perhaps using performance Dacron in the strut), but acknowledges that Cabrinha's R&D team has done a great job hitting the intended balance of weight, stiffness, and function. At around $2,000, the Mantis Apex is expensive, but Tucker sees it as a well-executed near-full-Aluula wing that will appeal to serious riders looking to push their performance without sacrificing surfability or versatility.
Overall, Tucker sees the 2026 Cabrinha Mantis Apex as a welcome evolution in Cabrinha’s wing lineup—offering speed, control, upwind power, and surf performance in one high-end package for riders who want the best of all worlds.
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