Dudek Hike & Cruise
first flights and product sheet
Dudek's Hike & Cruise represents an innovative approach to a wing that fits well into the double-surface mountain wing segment. For the same weight as a traditional mountain glider, it offers a glider geared to performance and thermal lift.
This makes it one of the best-performing gliders in its segment, both for walking and for ascending flights.
- First flights video
- What is it for?
- Who is the Hike & Cruise for ?
- Unique points
- Constructeur data for the Hike & Cruise
- Buy the Hike & Cruise
First flights video
Dudek lent us his new wing in two sizes, 22 and 25. We were able to make a few flights with this wing. We share our impressions in this video:
What discipline is it for ?
The idea is to offer a high-performance, lightweight wing to pilots who want to cross-country after a hike. Ideal for further flights after a Vol March or a Bivouac flight, for example, without having to carry the weight of a full-size glider.
Weighing from 2.37 kg (version 19) to 2.73 kg (version 25), this glider is well within the weight range of classic mountain gliders.
Its flat aspect ratio of 5.6 and 65 cells on the bottom surface, however, give it a much higher performance, comparable to a wing in the middle of the traditional EN-B range.
Who is the Hike & Cruise for?
Dudek stresses that this is not a wing for beginners, but rather for pilots in an advanced progression phase who want to be able to cross-country after a hike. Or even for pilots who only want one wing for all circumstances.
After a few flights with the Hike & Cruise, we tend to agree: although EN A / EN B approved, the high aspect ratio requires a good command of active piloting. Thermalling is efficient, but requires more sustained attention than a traditional mountain glider, in our opinion.
Finally, the brakes are "harder" and the amplitude longer than we're used to. It's clear that this amplitude allows us to control speed better, and therefore to better center thermals. Nevertheless, this is a striking feature on the very first flight, and may confuse pilots who are just starting out and are used to a more progressive brake.
This wing therefore requires more precise and fine-tuned piloting, which is more compatible with intermediate to advanced pilots.
What's unique about the Hike & Cruise?
What undoubtedly makes this glider so unique comes from a unique structure that Dudek calls "3-in-1 Technology", from which comes this wing's unique performance for the weight it carries.
3-in-1 technology
More precisely, the aim is to keep the surface of the wing very fine-tuned on the extrado, which produces most of the lift. As for the intrado, we deliberately skipped rib points to limit weight and thus obtain "ballooning". As a result, we've gone from a 65-cell extrado to a 21-cell intrado - 3-in-1 technology.
Dudek offers a video explaining this technology:
Long brake travel
As explained above, the Hike & Cruise has a long brake travel, enabling intermediate pilots to precisely control their speed and trajectory.
No compromise on take-off
A mountain wing that doesn't have a simple, intuitive take-off characteristic, in all wind strengths, would not be a mountain wing. Here too, the Hike & Cruise doesn't disappoint: we took off with a light tailwind, no wind at all, and in strong winds (over 20 km/h), and in all cases, no problem. The glider rises, needs a firm but short tempo in strong winds, then waits patiently above the pilot.
A higher average speed, to be managed on landing
L’envers d’une amplitude de vitesse large est que la vitesse au point de contact est plus élevée. Cela donne une aile joueuse et dynamique, mais qui peut être ralentie en thermique.
Features of the Hike & Cruise
To finish, here are the technical specifications of this paraglider to help you choose:
| Size | 19 | 22 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homologation | Pending | EN/LTF B | EN/LTF A |
| Number of cells (extrado/intrado) | 65 / 21 | ||
| Flat surface | 19 | 22 | 25 |
| Flat aspect ratio | 5.60 | 5.60 | 5.60 |
| Speed [km/h] | trym= 37, max= 48 +/- 2 | trym= 37, max= 48 +/- 2 | trym= 37, max= 48 +/- 2 |
| Glider weight | 2,37 | 2,62 | 2,73 |
| Pilot Weight range | 50-75 | 65-90 | 85-105 |
More sources about this product
Read directly about this product from the manufacturer on their website.
You can also read Cross Country magazine review for the Hike & Cruise.
Buy the Hike & Cruise
Flyeo is a long-standing Dudek dealer and partner. We will be happy to advise you and suggest the most appropriate equipment to accompany this paraglider.
Contact us here for further information and to order with us.
