Anyone got any info on the new Armstrong ML board. I've seen a couple of photos of it but can't find any more details on it. I'm considering buying a 2nd hand ML85 mkI but not sure if I should hold off to see what changes are in store with the new board. Anyone tried them or have any more details on specs etc. thanks

Very light but even more expensive than the actual ones

85 Liter is. 6'4" x 21 3/8. only 4.8 kgs

A pitty they made new version not shorter for a ML board.

I have a 55ML and a 65ML. Both have been amazing boards. The 55 is a bit on the heavier end for its size, but it has been great for both winging and prone in small waves. The 65ML have I believe is a magic board. Awesome as a daily for winging, and it's what I learned to prone on. That one is actually light for its size
My first parawing session was on an 85ML and it went well. That one was a friend's, a bit on the heavier side, but ultra responsive for an 85L board. I almost bought it from my friend, but another one from our crew bought it. I'm keeping an eye on the new ones to get a 75 or 85ML... or I'll source another V1 85ML for light wind PW. Also considering an Axis Frank Mini Dart in either 80L or 90L.

the full brochure is available if you're nice to your dealer... important things are slight weight reductions across the sizes, and the tail is now squash/flat edge rather than pointy/downwind style, which im honestly surprised by, but armstrong were ahead of the curve by 1-2 years with the original ML board design, so i trust they know better than me what's good in a design!

The prices however are off the charts, same size for the money you can pickup a new KT pro carbon, it’s very sad to see Armstrong are pricing themselves out of the market.

Yes, they are pricey. But what makes the K2 Pro Carbon have that price? The full sandwich construction. And it doesn't come with a bag. These new MLs have some funny marketing name for the construction, but it's essentially a full sandwich with a more complicated variation of where the different densities of foam go.

Diagram in Hydrogav video shows layering of foam - full pvc wrap - carbon , with no intermediate of carbon/glass/ inegra between pvc and foam which I thought was standard?

This is a bit of a guess regarding the new MLv2 construction. The use of metal moulds and the variety of what look like custom PVC thicknesses in the build along with the custom plugs and carbon rails will probably be using pre preg laminates rather than a wet lay up. This means the resin - fabric ratios will be 100% controlled as will the curing process which will rely on temperature and pressure for the reaction. Benefits are lower weight and increased strength because the layup is or should be at its optimum process. Not a cheap way to set it up but for sure more accurate than wet layup.
The KT factory tour shows wet layup going into fibreglass moulds and a bit of heat to ensure curing. This will make for more variability in the weight and strength of the board.

In a video online of Aiden's Armie presentation he talks about the old ML having a variable weight +/-6% I think and the new boards all being a specific weight. Which is quite impressive if its true.
About 35m into the same video there is a clip of Armie bouncing a foil drive equipped MLv2 on the concrete multiple times and it looks like it survived OK. Not scientific but entertaining.

That said, I bought a new ML85v1 as it was on substantial discount. I can wait a few years for the new construction and any issues will have settled down.
I expect all the new Armie boards will move to this pre preg method moving forward. Interesting times.

maxpwr said..
Here's the timestamp of Army doing the drop test.

38:01 is the time stamp.

Venomguy said..
The prices however are off the charts, same size for the money you can pickup a new KT pro carbon, it’s very sad to see Armstrong are pricing themselves out of the market.

Not surprising with the huge investment involved in hard steel molds for every size !

Looks great and I was very interested in this board after the new Appletree Midlength came out. The Appletree has a strange step from 6.1 to 6.5, right in my volume range. But €2500 in Holland, 20% more than an Appletree, no way.