Timber vs Recycled Plastic?
What is the difference?
Key Similarities
Same outer shape design and dimensions
Same weight
Same level of performance
Both good for beginners and pros alike
Both have fully adjustable bio rubber handstrap
Both great for kids and adults alike
Key Differences
Material Type
Environmental Impact. Clean the ocean vs planting trees
Cost
Care required (Timber handplanes need more care)
Thickness (BadFish is thinner)
In summary
Pros and cons of a timber bodysurfing handplane
A reivew of the WAW handplanes timber fish
The Timber fish models are the original WAW handpanes design. The design was finalised in 2017 after 3 years of refining and has not altered since then. Why? It’s a winning formula.
Key Pros of the Timber Handplanes:
Smooth concave running nose to tail provides extra lift and control
Added buoyancy makes for easier wave catching
Fully adjustable bio rubber handstrap
Beautiful aesthetic
Natural timber feel
Thick rails for wave face traction
Lightweight
Great strength to weight ratio.
A tree planted for handplane sold.
It floats
Cons of the Timber Handplanes:
Cost, the hand-shaped nature of the timber handplanes make them more expensive.
Extra care required. although strong timber is still subject to scratching and dings and so extra care is required with the timber handplanes to keep them in good condition.
The WAW BadFish Recycled Ocean Plastic Handplane
A review of the WAW BadFish Bodysurfing Handplane
The WAW BadFish was released in 2019 and has been modeled off of the refined WAW timber fish handplane design. The only major design differences are the thickness (the BadFish is a little thinner) and the strap mount system.
Key Pros of the BadFish Handplane
Cost-effective RRP @ $89.95
Great maneuverability during wave ride
Concave running from nose to tail provides extra lift and control
Fully adjustable bio rubber handstrap
1 shopping bag full of plastic waste is recycled into every BadFish
Thinner profile (0.9cm) allows for excellent paddling freedom and low swim resistance
Lightweight
Bright colours, easily seen in the water
Thinner rails cut into waves face easily to generate hold.
Durability can be bashed around and stay in good conditon.
It floats
Key Cons of the BadFish
Plastic material which lacks a natural material feel
Less buoyancy, which makes it a little harder to catch waves initially.
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