HydroFlyer eFoil

The HydroFlyer brand

HydroFlyer is the work of Canadian founder Jerry McArthur, who developed the concept together with hydrofoil maker Unifoil: the first production eFoil with handlebars. The idea behind it is simple. Hold on with your hands as well as your feet and you're braced at four points instead of two, so the hardest part of learning to eFoil, keeping your balance, comes together much faster. The first boards reached the market in 2021; since then the brand has built a rental network across the US and has a presence from Europe to Dubai.

The big generational shift arrived in March 2026: the Gen 2 program sorts the range into three tiers, from the fiberglass entry-level AL under $10,000 through the full-carbon CF to the 10 kW flagship FF, which the manufacturer bills as the most powerful eFoil board ever built. Every tier comes in two board shapes: the long Cruiser with its V-nose is the stable, comfortable learning platform, while the Sport, about 33% shorter, is the quick-turning, playful option.

Why handlebars?

At first glance the patented, removable handlebar looks like an odd cross between a jet ski and a surfboard. On the water, it clicks fast. While you learn, the bar carries part of your upper-body weight, so your first attempts to stand don't ride entirely on your ankles; once you're flying, your arms work with you through the turns, which according to the manufacturer adds noticeable confidence on choppy water. You control the speed through a wireless throttle lever with a display mounted on the bar, or through a handheld remote if you prefer, with five speed levels to choose from.

Safety is another argument for the bar. In a fall you can use it to push the board away from your body, and the motor cuts out the instant you release the throttle or the remote goes under. Add to that the guard ring around the propeller and the silicone edge protection on the wing tips. The most important point, though: the handlebar is optional. Undo two bolts and the HydroFlyer becomes a completely normal eFoil, so the board grows with your skills.

Models and prices

The 2026 Gen 2 range consists of three tiers, each available with either the long Cruiser board or the shorter Sport board. The prices below are the net US prices from the manufacturer's online store; the whole lineup is currently on presale, with FF deliveries slated to start in August and the AL to follow in September. Where the company leaves a spec open (the weight of the complete set, for example), we leave the number out too.

Which HydroFlyer is right for you?

The three-tier logic is easy to follow. The AL delivers the handlebar experience at the lowest price, and for most beginners that is exactly the right place to start. The CF targets more ambitious, sportier riding with its carbon construction and the longer 78 cm carbon keel. The FF marks the performance peak: 10 kW and 60 km/h put it in competition-eFoil territory. For the board shape, the rule of thumb is Cruiser for beginners and heavier riders, Sport for experienced riders who like a playful board.

Who should buy a HydroFlyer?

First and foremost, anyone drawn to eFoiling who is put off by the balancing act: with the handlebar, the learning curve flattens out considerably. The manufacturer aims the Cruiser shape squarely at families and riders across generations; it publishes no rider weight limit at all and simply recommends the bigger board for heavier riders. The same logic makes the concept attractive to rental operations and waterfront businesses. At the other end sits the sport rider: for them the FF, with its 60 km/h top speed and freely adjustable throttle curves, is a competition machine, handlebar or not.

If the purest possible surf feel is what you're after, you'll likely be happier with a classic board from our comparison lineup; on a board like that, the handlebar would only add weight and drag in the water.

HydroFlyer on your home waters

On a quiet inland lake or in a calm coastal bay, the HydroFlyer fits in the way any eFoil does: silent, exhaust-free, and on flat water the Cruiser shape is a genuinely pleasant board to learn on. The legal side is another story. Rules differ by country and often from one lake or bay to the next, so check your local regulations before you ride. A flight time of 2 to 2.5 hours sits near the top of the category and comfortably covers an afternoon session. Before you buy, think through two things: the true total cost (net dollar price plus shipping and import charges) and the service question, because if something breaks, support runs through the manufacturer in North America, not a repair shop down the street.

Want to try eFoiling before committing to a board in this price range? Rental operators and foil schools on many lakes and coastlines run beginner sessions, and an hour on the water tells you more than any spec sheet. For the full picture of what ownership costs, our guide to eFoil prices breaks down the numbers.