The brand: Aerofoils GmbH and Audi
The Audi e-tron foil is one of the odder sights on the eFoil market: a car brand name on a piece of watersports gear. The boards do not come off an automaker's assembly line, though. Behind them stands Aerofoils GmbH, a Bavarian company that specializes in developing and building electric hydrofoils; the finished product then sells under Audi's name as the Audi e-tron foil. At Audi, e-tron stands for electric drive, and that is exactly the message the board takes onto the water: electric propulsion, German engineering, premium build quality.
If this is your first brush with the topic: an eFoil is an electrically powered hydrofoil surfboard that, above a certain speed, rises out of the water on the lift of its underwater wing. You are practically flying over the surface. The premium segment today is defined mostly by American Lift and Australian Flite; the Audi e-tron foil is the German alternative in that field.
With eFoils, premium is not an empty label: pricier models usually get you better materials, stronger motors, and longer-lived batteries, which shows up in reliability over the years. What sets Aerofoils apart from the pack, though, is not primarily the materials but a single, sharply drawn promise: according to the trade press, this is the safest eFoil you can currently buy. The next section takes that claim apart.
One more point is purely practical: among the premium manufacturers, only Aerofoils develops and builds directly in Germany. Lift ships its boards from the US, Flite from Australia; this maker works out of Bavaria, in the heart of Europe. What that base means for you as a buyer gets its own section further down.
To place it on the market map: Lift and Flite are the two big names of classic propeller premium; Swedish Awake is the challenger from the jetboard world; Waydoo leads the value class; and Bulgarian SiFly is the newcomer with EU production and aggressive pricing. In that lineup, the Audi e-tron foil holds a position of its own: German premium, built around a safety concept. It sets out to be neither the cheapest nor the fastest, but the eFoil you would most readily trust with your family.
The Audi e-tron foil in action
Official imagery and the full model range: aerofoils.de ↗
Safety: the fully enclosed jet drive
On most eFoils, an electric motor on the mast spins an open propeller underwater. The Audi e-tron foil takes a different approach: it uses a completely enclosed jet drive. An impeller, a rotor inside a closed housing, accelerates the water; not a single rotating part can be reached from the outside. There is no exposed propeller for a hand, foot, or fin to find.
That one design decision is the reason the international trade press keeps listing this board as one of the safest eFoils and a top choice for beginners. To be precise, this does not mean the machine is harmless. It means that among the eFoils on sale today it is considered the safest, because one of the main sources of injury, the open propeller, has been engineered out of the design.
Anyone standing next to an eFoil for the first time almost always asks the same question: “What happens if I fall off?” On a board with an open propeller, the honest answer includes several precautions. With the enclosed jet drive it gets much shorter: you splash into the water just as you would off any other board, and there is no rotating part you could touch. The difference shows on land too. An eFoil has to be lifted out of the water, carried across the beach, and loaded into the car, often with curious kids crowding around. With an enclosed drive, those everyday moments demand less vigilance, and over time that counts for more than you would think at first.
How it works deserves a quick look, because a jet drive is more than a “propeller with a grille.” The jet principle: the drive draws water in through a closed duct and pushes it out at high speed behind the board. Thrust comes from the exiting stream of water, not from a freely spinning blade. The rotor does its work entirely inside the housing; you cannot come into contact with it while swimming or while handling the board. Jet skis run on a similar principle, and Aerofoils translated the approach to eFoil scale.
Why does this matter so much? Because as a beginner you are guaranteed to fall, and fall often; it is part of learning. After a fall you swim back to the board and pull yourself up, and in the process your hands and feet inevitably come close to the drive. With open propellers, the ground rule is: keep your limbs as far from the motor and wings as possible and never use the foil as a step. The enclosed jet drive lowers that risk through the design itself: you can be clumsy climbing back on and still never meet a spinning blade.
The same argument matters twice as much once the board is shared beyond one practiced owner. In families, kids love swimming around the board; at schools and rental operations, the gear lands in inexperienced hands day after day. It is no coincidence that reviewers single out enclosed eFoils as a teaching- and rental-friendly solution.
One thing even the enclosed drive does not change: falling is a skill of its own. When the board gets unsettled, use the last stable moment to bail. Always jump clear to the side or backward, never forward, and put as much distance as you can between yourself and the foil. The wing and mast are rigid parts, and hitting them hurts even when no rotating part is exposed. The enclosed drive removes one of the main sources of risk, not all of them.
To round out the picture, the enclosure can come at a small technical cost: compared with an open propeller, the housing may add a touch of drag. Recreational riders will hardly notice; if you are chasing race-level performance, test ride several brands. And most importantly, the enclosed drive is no substitute for protective gear. The vest is mandatory, a helmet strongly recommended. Pick smooth, sufficiently deep water for learning and keep a generous distance from swimmers and other craft. The fastest and safest way into the sport is still learning with an instructor.
Models and prices
The 2026 Aerofoils lineup consists of five sets and is laid out more clearly than ever: three full-carbon boards (Adventure, Performance, Competition) and two inflatable models (Hyperfly, Airfly). The Hyperfly has taken over the role of the earlier eFoil Scooter: with its removable Hyperbar handlebar, it rides as an eFoil with a grab handle or as a classic board. All five sets are built on the same enclosed jet drive, so the safety concept runs through the entire range.
A note on the brand name: the manufacturer now goes simply by Aerofoils (part of the Rosenxt group since 2025); the “Audi e-tron foil” name is the legacy of the earlier partnership. The core stays the same: Munich engineering know-how and the enclosed drive.
AdventureAerofoils 2026
The all-round carbon model from Aerofoils: a 103-liter board with an enclosed jet drive and up to 2 hours of flight time with the larger battery.
- Board size
- 176 × 72 × 13 cm
- Volume
- 103 l
- Weight
- board 11 kg, set 28.6-33.3 kg
- Battery
- 1130 Wh (Light) or 2120 Wh (Endurance)
- Flight time
- up to 1 h (Light) / up to 2 h (Endurance)
- Charge time
- approx. 50 min - 2 h 15 min (depending on battery)
- Top speed
- up to 50 km/h
- Max. rider weight
- 120 kg
- Motor
- enclosed jet drive
- Construction
- full carbon
- Price (approx.)
- €14,269
Manufacturer figures (as of 2026-07-05). Prices are for guidance only.
PerformanceAerofoils 2026
A sportier, smaller board for advanced riders: 83 liters, up to 55 km/h, with the same enclosed jet drive.
- Board size
- 153 × 67 × 13 cm
- Volume
- 83 l
- Weight
- board 9.2 kg, set 26.8-31.5 kg
- Battery
- 1130 Wh (Light) or 2120 Wh (Endurance)
- Flight time
- up to 1 h / up to 2 h
- Charge time
- approx. 50 min - 2 h 15 min
- Top speed
- up to 55 km/h
- Max. rider weight
- 110 kg
- Motor
- enclosed jet drive
- Construction
- full carbon
- Price (approx.)
- €14,269
Manufacturer figures (as of 2026-07-05). Prices are for guidance only.
CompetitionAerofoils 2026
The smallest, most agile Aerofoils board (73 l) for experienced riders who crave speed.
- Board size
- 135 × 63 × 13 cm
- Volume
- 73 l
- Weight
- board 8 kg, set approx. 27 kg
- Battery
- 1130 Wh (Light) or 2120 Wh (Endurance)
- Flight time
- up to 1 h / up to 2 h
- Top speed
- 55 km/h
- Max. rider weight
- 100 kg
- Motor
- enclosed jet drive
- Construction
- full carbon
- Price (approx.)
- €14,999
Manufacturer figures (as of 2026-07-05). Prices are for guidance only.
HyperflyAerofoils 2026
Successor to the earlier eFoil Scooter: an inflatable 230-liter board with a removable Hyperbar handlebar, rideable with or without it.
- Board size
- 215 × 92 × 15 cm (inflated)
- Volume
- 230 l
- Weight
- board 20.8 kg, set 39.7-43.9 kg
- Battery
- 1130 Wh (Light) or 2120 Wh (Endurance)
- Flight time
- up to 1 h / up to 2 h
- Top speed
- up to 50 km/h
- Max. rider weight
- 120 kg
- Motor
- enclosed jet drive
- Construction
- inflatable, with removable Hyperbar handlebar
- Price (approx.)
- €14,499
Manufacturer figures (as of 2026-07-05). Prices are for guidance only.
AirflyAerofoils 2026
An inflatable travel eFoil: folds down to a 130 × 70 cm pack size yet behaves like a rigid board once inflated.
- Board size
- 173 × 73 × 15 cm (inflated)
- Volume
- 150 l
- Weight
- board 19.3 kg, set 38.2-42.5 kg
- Battery
- 1130 Wh (Light) or 2120 Wh (Endurance)
- Flight time
- up to 1 h / up to 2 h
- Top speed
- up to 55 km/h
- Max. rider weight
- 110 kg
- Motor
- enclosed jet drive
- Construction
- inflatable
- Price (approx.)
- €11,799
Manufacturer figures (as of 2026-07-05). Prices are for guidance only.
Whichever model you land on, the same spec-sheet items matter as they do on any eFoil. The size and volume of the board: as a beginner, err on the larger side, since a bigger board is more stable and easier to learn on, while a smaller one is meant for quick turns and higher speed. Wing size follows the same logic: a larger wing runs steadier and burns less energy, and above 80 kg (around 175 lbs) of body weight it is clearly the one to pick; a smaller wing is faster but harder to control. For the mast, the shorter one suits beginners, the longer one advanced riders and choppy water. Finally, look at battery capacity and charging time: one charge is typically good for roughly 1 to 2 hours on the water, and many manufacturers make the battery swappable; a spare battery doubles your daily ride time.
On price, Aerofoils sits squarely in the premium field: on the 2026 list, the sets cost about €11,799 to €14,999. For exact current prices, ask the manufacturer and its official dealers; for how eFoil prices break down in general, and what upkeep will cost you, see our eFoil prices page.
Which model fits you?
For beginners, the Hyperfly (with handlebar) and the high-volume, travel-friendly Airfly are the natural starting points. On the carbon line, the Adventure is the all-rounder, the Performance the sportier pick, and the Competition the board for experienced riders hungry for speed.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns
| Model | Price (approx.) | Flight time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure | €14,269 | up to 1 h (Light) / up to 2 h (Endurance) | Carbon all-rounder from your first flight |
| Performance | €14,269 | up to 1 h / up to 2 h | Sporty, for advanced riders |
| Competition | €14,999 | up to 1 h / up to 2 h | Competition-oriented, for experienced riders |
| Hyperfly | €14,499 | up to 1 h / up to 2 h | Inflatable with removable handlebar, also for beginners |
| Airfly | €11,799 | up to 1 h / up to 2 h | Travel-friendly and inflatable |
Aerofoils and the competition
In the premium field, Aerofoils is the brand that owns the safety argument: while Lift and Flite work with open propellers, here the fully enclosed jet drive is the foundation of the whole system. For families, schools, and more cautious buyers, that alone can settle the decision. On price, the German sets land between the top configurations of Lift and Flite.
You will find every current model from the active brands in one table in our eFoil comparison.
Who is the Audi e-tron foil for?
For beginners, and perhaps for them more than anyone. The learning path is the same as on any eFoil: prone first, then kneeling, finally standing; most people ride confidently after 4 to 5 hours of practice, and with prior watersports experience you may be flying within 20 minutes. The difference plays out in your head: when no part of you is busy thinking about a spinning propeller, you fall more relaxed and try things more boldly, and that attitude is exactly what speeds up learning.
For safety-minded buyers and families. If several people will use the board (your partner, teenage kids, visiting friends), the yardstick is not your own routine but that of the least careful user. A machine whose drive is closed by design simply means fewer worries in that situation: even with kids splashing next to the dock, you lift the board out of the water with more peace of mind.
For rental operators and instructors. From an operator's point of view, an eFoil's risk profile is part of the daily routine: most guests are standing on a board like this for the first time in their lives, and the briefing gets minutes, not days. Here the enclosed jet drive is not a comfort feature but a business case: less risk for guest and gear alike.
Whether at the dock of a vacation house or off the deck of a yacht, safety is measured at the least attentive moment, and that is exactly what the entire Aerofoils product is built around.
And who is it not for? If your budget is tighter, Waydoo offers the best value in the entry class (mostly around €5,000 to €7,500). If the classic propeller-premium world with its wide accessory range appeals to you, see our pages on Lift and Flite; if you want a cheaper EU-built alternative, SiFly deserves a look. The full decision checklist is in our eFoil buying guide.
From Bavaria to your home waters
The brand's home base is worth a moment. Aerofoils is the one premium maker in the scene that develops and builds in Germany, while Lift ships from the US and Flite from Australia. How much that matters depends on where you ride: for buyers in Europe, a manufacturer on the same continent tends to mean simpler logistics for service, spare parts, and warranty work; everywhere else, the official dealer network handles those jobs. Either way, confirm the current delivery, distribution, and service terms with the manufacturer or your dealer before you order, because they change from time to time.
The board itself suits a wide range of waters. An eFoil runs electric, quiet, and nearly wakeless, which gives it an advantage on lakes and bays that restrict combustion-powered craft. That does not make it legal everywhere: rules differ by country and even from lake to lake, so check what applies at your spot before you buy and before every session. The enclosed drive is particularly reassuring near busy shorelines, but the basics still stand: keep a generous distance from swimmers and make sure the water under you is deep enough.
Factor in the season as well. On lakes in temperate latitudes, foiling is at its best from late spring into early fall, and a wetsuit stretches that window into the cooler months; on warm coasts you can ride year-round. For full days at the dock, a spare battery or a planned charging break pays off. Sheltered bay, alpine lake, or a flooded quarry outside town: smooth water is easy to find almost anywhere; just confirm beforehand that eFoils are welcome there.
And before you spend a five-figure sum, try eFoiling for yourself, most easily through a rental session or a lesson. Boards with enclosed drives work especially well for teaching. If you have your eye on the Audi e-tron foil specifically, ask schools and rental operations in your area which brands they run: the fleet changes with the spot and the season.
