Lift Foils is a manufacturer of hydrofoil surfboards from Puerto Rico. Before the Lift team launched its first eFoil in 2018, they had been making foilboards for kitesurfing and surfing for years.
E-SURFER was a representative for the Lift eFoil in 2018 and a dealer for Germany and Europe from 2019. In the photo below, you can see the first Lift Foil, which we brought to Berlin in 2018, right after its launch.
In the first few years, the Lift eFoil impressed with its robustness and simple design. As the first commercial e foil on the market, it was able to establish a market leadership position by around 2020. Especially in the USA.
For our E-SURFER Youtube channel, we produced the following video with Lift Foils founder Nick Leason in 2019:
After the Lift e1 model, the Lift2, Lift3 and Lift 4 came. Unfortunately, not much was invested in innovation except for the boardshapes, colors and new wings. You can also see this in a newer Lift eFoil video of us:
It's hard to say why Lift Foils hasn't developed further. Perhaps they are resting on the patents they have in the US and can therefore collect license fees from other eFoil brands.
But it is likely that the platform does not allow any significant innovations. One would have to break with the compatibility of previous models in order to introduce innovations.
Fliteboard has been the global market leader for eFoils since 2022 at the latest. Flite entered the market in 2019 as the second eFoil manufacturer and has been able to score points with innovations every year. Especially when it comes to safety.
But other brands, such as Aerofoils (Audi), are now also selling more eFoils. At least in Germany and probably also in Europe.
The Lift5 is finally coming in 2025, and it is no longer compatible with the older Lift Foils models. The Lift community has been waiting for this for a long time.
We were able to see the Lift5 at a trade show in Croatia in the fall. Photos were not allowed to be taken because the company wants to sell the existing models until the introduction in 2025.
Unfortunately, our expectations that the team from Puerto Rico would be able to land a big coup again were disappointed. Again, the motor is mounted on the mast above the wings. This is a completely outdated technology that shortens the effective mast length.
Newer eFoils have the drive in line with the front wing. This ensures a more stable ride.
On the Lift5, the battery is simply placed in the board. So there is no longer a battery compartment. This was previously only known from the Chinese low-cost supplier Waydoo.
Lift Foils is a surf company from Puerto Rico that has been manufacturing hydrofoil surfboards for surfing, kitesurfing and wingfoiling since 2010. Lift Foils became internationally known in 2018 because it was the first to launch a commercial electric hydrofoil.
The Lift Foils eFoils cost between 11 and 15 thousand euros incl. VAT at a local reseller such like E-Surfer. The cheaper fiberglass version with small battery starts at 10,500 EUR. However, the most sold is the lighter carbon fiber version with large battery which is priced at 14,500 EUR.
This is one of the most asked questions in the eFoil community. Lift and Flite are the best selling eFoilboards worldwide. We ourselves have had to adjust our opinion over the years and now lean towards Fliteboard or Audi. Read more in our Lift or Flite article.
The Lift Foils can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h and more. The normal cruising speed is 25 km/h.
Basically yes. eFoils are classified in Germany by the Wasserstraßenschifffahrtsamt as small craft or "miscellaneous" and must carry a license plate as soon as they have more than 2.21 kW (3 hp) of power. Other rules may apply to local waters. For example, eFoils are not allowed on Bavarian lakes and Lake Constance. In Austria the rules are not clear and in Switzerland motorized surfboards are not allowed at all.
No, with one exception. eFoils are licensed as recreational craft and thus people 16 years and older may drive them without a license, as long as the power is less than 15 hp (11.03 kW). Lift Foils have a power of 5 kW. The exception are few waters, where the power limit is 5 hp (3.68 kW), such as on parts of the Rhine. You can find out more details from the local authorities, as well as the responsible waterway navigation office (WSA).
