You bought into foiling for the feeling — the first silent glide, the wave you caught without paddling, the light-wind session that should not have been possible. The freedom to ride more often, in more places, on more days. That is the promise. The harder question is which gear actually delivers it.
This TakeOff Evo review is a useful place to look, because it does not come from us. German watersports magazine Gleiten.TV put the TakeOff Evo through a two-part test — one video on the technology, one on the water — and published both in their foil test section. If you are weighing up a Foil Assist system, independent eyes matter more than any brand page.
Below we summarise what each part covers, link both videos so you can watch them in full, and add the published specs that the test puts to the water. Consider this your map to the review, not a replacement for it.
Key takeaways
- Gleiten.TV, a respected German watersports magazine, published a two-part TakeOff Evo review in 2026: Part 1 covers the technology, Part 2 is an on-water ride test.
- Part 1 walks through the technical details — the modular battery system, the slim main unit, the integrated mast options, the motor and the app.
- Part 2 focuses on how versatile and powerful the Evo is, and how long the different battery configurations actually last.
- The TakeOff Evo runs two battery types — lightweight Air packs for travel and Endurance batteries for range — on one main unit.
- Both videos are in German; the summary here gives English-speaking riders the gist before they watch.
- The review sits in Gleiten.TV’s Surffoil test category, alongside their foil and hardware reviews.
What does the Gleiten.TV TakeOff Evo review cover?
Gleiten.TV is one of Germany’s established watersports outlets, covering kite, wing, SUP and foil gear with hands-on tests. A two-part feature on a single product is not something they hand out lightly — it signals the product was worth a proper look.
The TakeOff Evo review is split into two videos so each job is done properly: the technology first, the riding second. Watch them in order and you get the full picture — what the system is, then what it feels like to use.
Here are both parts. (Paste each URL on its own line in WordPress and it will embed automatically.)
Part 1 — The technology
Part 2 — Test the ride
You can also watch them on the magazine’s own pages via Gleiten.TV’s two-part TakeOff Evo test.
What is in Part 1 — the TakeOff Evo technology?
Part 1 is the technical walkthrough. It is the part to watch if you want to understand how the system is built before you judge how it rides.
The headline of the platform is modularity. The Evo main unit takes two battery types on the same body: lightweight Air packs of 97 Wh, assembled in sets, and higher-capacity Endurance batteries for longer range. You choose the setup that matches the session instead of buying a new system as you progress.
The main unit itself is slim — only 13 cm wide — with batteries redesigned for cleaner water flow. An ultra-light Air setup starts at around 2.5 kg plus motor, which Manta frames as roughly half the weight of an average eFoil. Less to carry, more playful on the wave.
The mast is integrated, with a choice of AFS carbon or Manta aluminium, and adaptors that fit most foil-brand fuselages. The motor sits on a universal pod you can trim to your preferred cable length, or as part of the integrated mast, and the same hardware swaps between Assist and full eFoil riding.
The motor is fully enclosed for easy maintenance — a short freshwater rinse after a session is the idea, rather than a teardown. Control runs through a remote that auto-locks to prevent accidental triggering, plus a mobile app for gears, rider profiles, firmware and battery health.
What did the TakeOff Evo review say about the ride?
Part 2 takes the system to the water. Its focus is the question every buyer actually asks: how versatile is it, how much power is there, and how long do the batteries last?
Versatility is the point of a modular platform. The Evo is built to cover assisted take-offs for learning, light-wind sessions, catching more waves without a paddle or jetski, going upwind to reach distant spots, and acting as a safety line home. Part 2 is where you see those use cases ridden rather than listed.
Battery range is the part riders care about most, and it is exactly what the test examines. Manta publishes the following figures for the system — useful as a reference, with the caveat that real riding time depends on your weight, your foil and how hard you lean on the motor.
| Battery setup | Configuration | Weight (unit + battery)* | Approx. riding time (published) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 194 Wh | 2× Air packs (front) | 2.5 kg | ~15–20 min | Travel, lightest setup |
| 388 Wh | 4× Air packs (front + rear) | 3.8 kg | ~35–40 min | All-round sessions |
| 518 Wh | Endurance battery | 4.0 kg | ~45–50 min | Longer sessions |
| 712 Wh | Endurance + Air (both plugged) | 5.3 kg | ~65–70 min | Maximum range |
*Weights are the main unit plus battery, as published by Manta; add 2.0 kg for the motor (so the lightest full system is about 4.5 kg).
The Air packs matter for travel: at 97 Wh each, you can fly with a set of swappable batteries without the pre-approval headaches that bigger fixed packs create. That is range when you want it and luggage-friendliness when you fly.
How does the TakeOff Evo compare to other Foil Assist systems?
A review is most useful next to its alternatives. Foil Assist is a young category, and the main ways to get into it are a branded system, a system like Foil Drive, or a DIY kit. Each has a logic.
TakeOff Evo vs Foil Drive
Foil Drive is a well-known name in the Assist space and a genuine option. The TakeOff Evo’s distinct angle is the two-battery platform on one unit — Air packs for travel and Endurance for range — so the same system adapts to the session and to the rider as they progress, rather than committing you to one fixed battery profile.
TakeOff Evo vs a DIY Foil Assist
DIY assist builds will always exist, they are usually cheaper, and for some riders the tinkering is half the fun — that is fair. What Manta sells instead is a finished, tested, integrated product: parts designed to fit, a fully enclosed motor, an app, and after-sales support behind it. You are buying the peace of mind, not a box of components.
Choosing a Foil Assist: what to compare
| Criterion | TakeOff Evo | Other branded assist | DIY kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery system | Two types, modular (Air + Endurance) | Often single profile | Self-sourced |
| Travel-friendly | 97 Wh Air packs, no pre-approval | Varies | Depends on cells |
| Weight | From ~2.5 kg + motor | Varies | Varies |
| Integration / fit | Designed, integrated mast | Brand-dependent | Manual |
| After-sales support | Yes, dealer network | Brand-dependent | None |
| App and control | Gears, profiles, battery health | Varies | Usually none |
TakeOff Evo review: what to look for as you compare
Watching the videos, here is what is worth paying attention to — the same checklist applies to any Foil Assist review you watch.
- Real battery range in the conditions you actually ride, not just the headline number.
- Weight in the hand and on the foil, since carry and playfulness both depend on it.
- How quickly it swaps between Assist and full eFoil mode.
- What happens after the session — rinse, maintenance, and who supports you if something breaks.
- App features that matter day to day: gear levels, rider profiles, battery health.
- Whether the battery system can grow with you, or locks you into one profile.
Frequently asked questions about the TakeOff Evo review
Where can I watch the Gleiten.TV TakeOff Evo review?
Both parts are on YouTube and on the Gleiten.TV website. Part 1 (the technology) and Part 2 (the ride test) are linked above, and both sit in the magazine’s Surffoil test section.
Who is Gleiten.TV?
Gleiten.TV is an established German watersports magazine that produces hands-on tests across kite, wing, SUP and foil gear. A two-part feature on one product reflects a closer look than a standard clip.
Is the TakeOff Evo review in English or German?
The two videos are in German. This article gives English-speaking riders a summary of what each part covers so you can follow along before or while you watch.
What batteries does the TakeOff Evo use?
The TakeOff Evo runs two battery types on the same main unit: lightweight Air packs of 97 Wh assembled in sets, and higher-capacity Endurance batteries for longer range.
How long does the TakeOff Evo battery last?
Manta publishes roughly 15–20 minutes on a 194 Wh Air setup up to around 65–70 minutes on a 712 Wh Endurance setup. Real riding time depends on rider weight, foil choice and how much you use the motor — which is part of what Part 2 of the review tests.
Can the TakeOff Evo be used as an eFoil?
Yes. The same hardware swaps between Foil Assist and full eFoil riding, with the motor in different positions on the integrated mast or universal pod.
Is the TakeOff Evo good for beginners?
It is designed to help riders learn at their own pace — assisted take-offs and light-wind sessions lower the barrier to getting on foil. App rider profiles run from beginner to advanced, so the system can be dialled down while you learn and opened up as you progress.
How heavy is the TakeOff Evo?
An ultra-light Air setup starts at around 2.5 kg plus the motor, which Manta describes as roughly half the weight of an average eFoil.
Why Manta Foils builds a Foil Assist worth testing
A two-part independent test exists because there is something to test. That is the bet behind the TakeOff Evo: build a Foil Assist that earns a closer look instead of a quick mention.
The structural choice is modularity. Most of the friction in this category comes from fixed hardware — one battery, one weight, one use case — so we built the TakeOff Evo Foil Assist system around two battery types on one unit, light Air packs for travel and Endurance for range. The system follows the rider from first assisted take-offs to longer, more advanced sessions, instead of being replaced as they improve.
That is the freedom the sport is really about: more days on the water, more spots within reach, less dependence on perfect conditions. An independent review is simply where you get to check the claim for yourself — so watch both parts, then come back and see how the platform is built to grow with you.
