What is the best e-foil for beginners? If you are new to e-foiling, the huge selection can quickly become overwhelming. In this article, we will help you find the perfect setup to get started.

The dream of flying—gliding silently over the water, floating in the air—is the promise that draws so many of us to e-foiling. It's a feeling like no other, a mixture of the adrenaline rush of surfing and the tranquility of deep snow skiing.

But for beginners, this dream can quickly turn into a wet and frustrating reality if you choose the wrong equipment.

In the rapidly growing world of electric hydrofoils, one brand has stood out from the crowd and claims the title of the best e-foil for beginners: Aerofoils, the developers of the Audi e-tron foil.

For our E-SURFER YouTube channel, we recorded this video on the topic of “The best e-foil for beginners” at the Aerofoils booth at the 2026 boot trade fair:

While the eFoil market is flooded with options, Aerofoils offers a combination of German engineering, safety features, and a modular ecosystem that is hard to find anywhere else.

If you're ready for your first flight, find out which is the best e-foil for beginners here.

Safety first: jet propulsion

When asked, “What is the best e-foil for beginners?”, safety must be the very first answer. Traditional e-foils mostly use an open propeller system. As efficient as this may be, a fast-spinning propeller can be intimidating for a novice who will inevitably fall into the water often.

The Audi e-tron foil completely changed the game in 2022 with its fully enclosed jet propulsion. It was the first jet propulsion system for eFoils on the market, and unlike other manufacturers, the Audi team focuses exclusively on jet propulsion systems.

Unlike standard e-foils, where the propeller blades are exposed, the impeller on the e-tron foil is housed in a sleek, hydrodynamic tube. This design virtually eliminates the risk of injury from the motor.

For beginners, this certainty is crucial. Instead of worrying about where your feet are in relation to a sharp propeller, you can focus entirely on your balance and the joy of riding. This feature alone makes it the safest and therefore the best entry-level board.

E-Foil Scooter - eFoiling in 5 Minutes

If you're nervous about balance or looking for the absolute easiest way to foil, eFoil scooters like the Flitescooter from Fliteboard or the Aerofoils HyperFly are probably the best e-foils for beginners ever invented. It's as easy as riding a bike.

What makes the eFoil Scooter so special?

The eFoil Scooter takes the concept of an e-foil and adds a removable handlebar and an inflatable hull. This fundamentally changes the physics of riding.

• Four points of contact: On a traditional board, you only have your two feet to balance on. With the eFoil Scooter, you have your hands on the handlebars and your feet on the deck. This system makes learning to foil almost instantaneous. Most beginners are flying within minutes, not hours.
• Massive volume: The HyperFly, for example, has an astonishing 230 liters of volume. It's practically a small boat. It's so stable that you can stand on it at a complete standstill without fear of tipping over.
• Anti-Breach System (ABS): This is a killer feature for beginners. One of the most frightening moments for beginners is “breaching” – when the wing rises too high out of the water, catches air, and crashes. The HyperFly has a smart air intake sensor. When it detects that you are about to breach, it automatically adjusts the motor so that you glide gently back to the surface of the water. It's like an autopilot for your safety.

Why it's perfect for beginners:

The eFoil Scooter removes the steep learning curve of eFoiling. It has handlebars like a bicycle. And the best part? The handlebars are removable.

Once you've mastered “scooter” mode, you can remove it and ride like you would on a traditional e-foil. It's basically two products in one.

Also ideal for boat charters and rentals:

An eFoil Scooter like this doesn't require a course with a trainer. You can hand it over to charter customers or rental companies without having to provide a trainer.

The foundation: board size

Learning to e-foil is all about volume. The more volume (buoyancy) a board has, the more stable it is when you move slowly or “taxi” on the surface.

For a long time (more on that later), all-rounder boards around 100 liters had established themselves. Stable enough for your first attempts, but not too big to become boring. With a generous 100 liters of volume, such a board offers a stable platform that can carry riders weighing up to 120 kg.

Why is this important?

• Easier starts: You don't have to ride at high speed to stay afloat. You can stand up comfortably while the board is still gliding safely on the water's surface.
• Forgiving landings: If you lose contact with the foil, the extra volume prevents the board from diving aggressively (“submarining”). Instead, it bounces off the water, giving you a chance to catch yourself without falling.

But the manufacturers didn't stop there. For those who find even a stable surfboard too wobbly, there are innovations such as the Aeroloop.

The eFoil Tube – the game changer

For those who want to buy a very stable eFoil board to start with today, which won't become boring in the future, the eFoil Tube is a fantastic accessory.

What is an eFoil Tube?

The eFoil Tube is an inflatable tube – similar to the material used in high-quality rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) – that is tailor-made to perfectly enclose your Audi e-tron foil board, for example. It attaches securely to the hull and instantly transforms your sleek sports board into a super-stable platform.

Why this is a game changer for beginners:

• Unsinkable stability: By widening the standing area, the Aeroloop makes it almost impossible to tip over sideways while you're riding slowly. You can stand up, get your feet sorted, and relax before you even open the throttle.
• Protective bumper: Learning involves mistakes. Beginners often bump into jetties, boats, or pool edges. The Aeroloop acts as a giant 360-degree fender, protecting your beautiful carbon board (and whatever you bump into) from scratches and dents.
• Confidence: Fear is the enemy of progress. Knowing that you have the Aeroloop's “training wheels” attached gives you the confidence to push the throttle and take off.
• Versatility: Once you've learned the basics, you can deflate the Aeroloop, pack it into its backpack, and unleash the full power of the naked board.

An investment in the future

Many eFoil customers are concerned that they will not be able to handle the E-Foil at first, but that a board that is too large will become boring in the long run. The Aeroloop is the solution. It is available in two sizes: for the Audi e-tron foil Performance and the Adventure Board. Here is an example calculation:

• The Adventure Board has a volume of 103 liters. Adding the Aeroloop adds 60 liters, for a total volume of 163 liters. This provides a large platform for a rapid learning curve.
• The sportier Performance Board with 83 liters is not ideal for beginners, but perfect for eFoiler who have gained experience. Here, too, the Aeroloop adds 60 liters, bringing us to a total volume of 143 liters. That's still 40 liters more than the Adventure, which was the beginner board in the past.

And after that?

Once you no longer need the “training wheels” after a few rides, the eFoil Tube is by no means useless. It is ideal for taking passengers with you.

It can also be used as an “eFoil garage” to tie an eFoil to a boat or jetty. This protects the eFoil and boat from damage caused by waves.

The perfect wing for learning

A common mistake beginners make is to focus on maximum speed. But learning happens at low speeds. You want a wing that generates lift early and keeps you stable without twitching nervously.

But don't worry, you don't have to be confused by the huge selection of wings. Manufacturers have a standard wing for each board that is perfectly matched to the board.

For example, the eFoil Scooter has the very large 2000 wing and the other boards have the 1350 wing. We will be happy to advise you on when you should deviate from this.

The small wings are accessories for later. There are different wing variants available depending on your requirements. Some people want to go faster, others want to take steeper turns or ride waves. We will find the right wing for every requirement 😉

Precise control: remote control and modes

Power is nothing without control. One of the most praised features in tests of the Audi e-tron foils is the hand controller.

It has a crystal-clear, high-resolution color display that is easy to read even in bright sunlight. But the real magic lies in the software. The remote control offers three different flight modes, which are color-coded for simplicity:

• Green (Beginner): This mode dampens the throttle response. If you accidentally press the trigger too hard (a classic panic reaction among beginners), the board won't throw you off. It accelerates smoothly and predictably.
• Blue (Intermediate): Unlocks more power for cruising.
• Red (Pro): Full, unleashed power for when you've mastered the art.

German engineering and durability

Let's be honest: beginners are hard on their equipment. You'll bump into jetties, drag your board onto the beach, and perhaps transport it clumsily.

The “best e-foil for beginners” has to be durable. The Audi e-tron foil is built to the same exacting standards you would expect from its automotive namesake.

The board is made from a lightweight but incredibly stiff carbon fiber and fiberglass composite. What's more, the “Made in Germany” label guarantees a level of quality control that is often completely lacking in cheaper imports.

Conclusion: Your ticket to flight

Choosing your first e-foil is a big decision. While there are faster boards and cheaper boards, there is no ecosystem that balances safety, stability, and premium quality as well as Aerofoils.

• For the absolute beginner: Start with the HyperFly. The handlebars and massive volume make failure impossible.
• For the aspiring surfer: Choose the Audi e-tron Adventure or Performance board and add the Aeroloop. Use the loop to build confidence, then remove it to tear up the water.
• For everyone: The jet drive ensures that your fingers and toes stay safe while you learn.

By prioritizing a fully enclosed jet drive and developing innovative tools like the HyperFly and Aeroloop, Aerofoils has taken the fear factor out of e-foiling. They've made the learning curve flatter and more enjoyable.

When you're ready to stop dreaming and start flying, the Aerofoils ecosystem isn't just a good choice—it's, in our opinion, the best e-foil for beginners.