Not a fan of REAL.. Next time Whiskey Militia has a surfboard sale, check Real's website. The same boards on WM for $300-400 are on Real's site for $600-$800.
You're comparing a discount/close-out only website to a brick and mortar retail store with a website. Nonsense. Not defending REAL by any means, but that comparison is bunk. Staying on topic, HKs are pop-out garbage.
The first part of what HH comments on (Whiskey vs a surf shop) is on target. Not sure why you (HH) say the HK is pop-out garbage, not taking a shot, just wondering what your experience with the HK is that informs your opinion...?
Had one for awhile, rode it in a variety of different surf and played around with different fin sets. It works pretty well in surf that is head high + and steep. I found in smaller surf, that narrow tail bogs. It is also pretty sensitive to foot placement. Watch Craig Anderson ride it and where his back foot is, much further up generally than most people coming off thrusters and he moves it around a lot. I couldn't get mine to work consistently but found putting smaller fins in it worked best. To me it was too much of a speciality board to keep around. It needed a very specific kind of wave to work well and frankly almost any board works pretty well when it's head high and throwing. Did have some fun sessions on it and would try something similar with a less pulled out tail and a little less bulk up front. Maurice Cole is doing something similar called the "Shiva" that looks interesting. Mine was 5'6x19 3/4x2 3/8 which is slightly more volume than I usually ride, I'd like to try a smaller one and see if that helps.
Just mentioning again. Never rode a hypto. Just a custom that is pretty similar. But not exactly the same. Anyway. When I first went to my shaper I had him make me a 6'1. This was done on purpose. My idea was to get two boards shaped. One for bigger waves, one for smaller more "rippable" waves. Both boards basically the same with some slight adjustments. The 6'1 is a great board, but in like waist-chest high stuff, it is a little much. Whoever mentioned the sweet spot makes a good point. I had to do way to much moving around when going into turns. If have to really widen my stance to get on the tail still be on the sweet spot with my front foot. But in bigger stuff where I'm just dropping in and running down the line, it's great. I then got a 5'8 shaped. Same exact board. In smaller stuff it's amazing. Fits me perfectly. It still handles well in big stuff too, but I enjoy the extra volume in bigger stuff. No shuffling of the feet on the 5'8. I see a section and react. Sometimes it almost feels like the board starts going into a turn before I even know I want to go for it. Obviously the board didn't have a mind of its own, but you get my point. Very responsive. Point being, with a shape like this, sizing is deffinitly important as well as the waves you plan on using it for. Like I said the 5'8 works in big stuff, but I'm not pulling off huge hacks when it's big. So FOR ME the extra volume is a good sacrifice for maneuverability.
No worries. Not much experience with the HK. Never rode one, but I have picked one up, run my hand along the rails, and tapped on the deck with my knuckle. It didn't resonate with me. TBH i'm biased against all non hand-shaped boards. I have good friends who feed their families and keep a roof over their head by building boards by hand. To me boards built in asia are at the core of what has gone wrong with surfing. I would not be surpised at all if the funboards solld at walmart are built in the same factory as a HK.
I agree different shapes. I only brought it up because someone else compared them and I thought it would give me more credibility. Id love to try yours out. If its big enough im 6'2 205. ill buy the beers.
