Is an eFoil Worth It?

Pros, Cons, and Rider Insights

You’ve seen people flying above the water and thought: that looks amazing, but is it really worth dropping ten or twenty grand? The short answer: yes. The longer answer: it depends on what “worth it” means to you.

Some people think about money per session. If you’re riding a jet ski, you’re paying for fuel, shop bills, and storage. With an eFoil, you charge it, ride it, and keep going. Others measure value in progression. With most toys, you hit the ceiling fast. With an eFoil, you never run out of levels, cruising, carving, jumping, linking tricks. And for a lot of riders, the real payoff is lifestyle. You’re outside, you’re on the water, you’re sharing something new with your family or crew.

That’s what we’re breaking down here. The pros, the cons, the comparisons, and real stories from riders who’ve already put in 100+ sessions. By the end, you’ll know if this is just a cool idea, or a sport worth building your life around.

If you want help learning about the pros and cons of eFoils you can call or message us too.
Call us at +1-877-573-2192 or Contact Us Online.

What Does “Worth It” Really Mean When Buying an eFoil?

“Worth it” isn’t just about the sticker price. You’ve got to ask: what do you actually get back every time you ride?

Financial ROI (Cost Per Session vs. Other Toys)

Break it down session by session and an eFoil often comes out cheaper than a jet ski or even a day of boat fuel. You’re not burning gas, not paying for oil changes, and not leaving your board in a shop half the summer. Once you own it, it’s charge, ride, repeat. If you’re the kind of rider who’s out on the water a few times a week, the cost per ride drops fast.

Experiential ROI (You’ll Never Outgrow It)

Most water toys get old quick. A jet ski? Fun for 20 minutes. A paddleboard? Once you can stand, you’ve kind of maxed it out. With an eFoil, especially one built for progression, you’re always unlocking new skills. Day one is cruising. Week two you’re carving. A few months in, you’re jumping or chasing new tricks. That’s not a toy, that’s a sport. And sports keep giving back every time you push a little harder.

The Hydroflyer is built for limitless progression. From day one you’ll be having fun but more importantly, years from now you will still be evolving, challenging yourself and growing as a rider.

Lifestyle ROI (Family, Community, Eco-Friendly)

This is the one most riders don’t factor in at first, but it matters. An eFoil gets you outside with your kids, friends, or crew. It’s silent, clean, and welcome in places a gas motor never could be, lakes, rivers, even near wildlife. And more than that, you’re stepping into a new community. Riders are meeting up, teaching each other, starting schools. Owning one doesn’t just give you a board; it plugs you into something bigger that’s still growing.

So when you ask if it’s “worth it,” think bigger than the price tag. Think about cost per ride, how much progression you want in your life, and whether being part of a brand-new sport feels like something you want to invest in.

The Pros of Owning an eFoil

Why Riders Say Yes

So why do riders say it’s worth it? Because once you own an eFoil,especially the Hydroflyer, you realize it’s not just one way to ride. You’ve got options. You’ve got progression. And you’ve got a machine that grows with you instead of holding you back.

Limitless Progression, You’ll Never Outgrow It

With Hydroflyer, you can start as mellow as you want and still have a whole skill tree ahead of you.

• Cruising: First day, handlebars in your hands, flying within minutes.
• Carving: A week later, you’re leaning into turns like a snowboard.
• Jumping & Tricks: Swap to the Sport, preload the foil, and you’re in the air.
• Surf Style: Remove the bars completely and ride it like a traditional foilboard.

Most toys max out quick. Hydroflyer keeps opening doors. That’s why Wired called it the “mountain bike of the sea.”

Inclusivity and Accessibility (Anyone Can Ride)

This isn’t reserved for elite athletes. With the Cruiser model and the handlebar system, kids, parents, and even grandparents can stand and fly their very first session. We’ve seen entire families sharing one board, mom cruising in the morning, dad carving in the afternoon, and the teenager going for jumps by sunset. Hydroflyer is inclusive without compromise.

Eco-Friendly & Silent Riding

No gas. No fumes. No noise. You can ride it in places where jet skis aren’t welcome,quiet lakes, calm rivers, even near wildlife,and leave nothing behind but a wake. For a lot of riders, that’s a huge part of the value: you’re out there flying, but you’re also respecting the water.

Community & Sport Creation

The best part? You’re not just joining a sport,you’re helping create it. Hydroflyer riders are naming tricks, starting schools, and inventing progression paths that didn’t exist last year. With one board, you can be a beginner, an innovator, and even a leader in your local crew.

Owning a Hydroflyer isn’t just about having a piece of gear,it’s about having a platform that lets you do more, share more, and grow with a community that’s building something brand new.

The Cons You Should Know Before Buying an eFoil

No sport-changing machine comes without trade-offs. Before you decide if an eFoil is worth it, here are the downsides most riders talk about,and how Hydroflyer stacks up.

High Upfront Cost

Let’s call it what it is: $6,000–$20,000 is a serious purchase. That’s why we built a full cost breakdown in our How Much Does an eFoil Cost? guide. The difference comes down to materials, batteries, wings, and whether you want a board for cruising or a board you can jump. Hydroflyer sits in the higher tiers, but that’s because it’s carbon, progression-ready, and designed to hold value over time.

Battery Replacement Costs

Every eFoil battery has a life cycle. Expect to replace one every 3–5 years, with new packs usually running $2,000–$2,500. It’s the single biggest maintenance cost in the sport. The upside? With good care, charging properly, not storing in hot cars, keeping cycles balanced,you’ll stretch that lifespan and save money. We break this down in detail in How Much Does It Cost to Maintain an eFoil?.

Limited Ride Time Per Session

Most eFoil batteries give you 60–120 minutes of flight time depending on size and conditions. That’s plenty for most sessions, but if you want to ride all day, you’ll either need extra batteries or breaks in between. Hydroflyer’s modular system makes swapping packs fast, but it’s still something to factor in.

Water Condition Limits

Every eFoil has its comfort zone. Glassy water feels magical. Big chop or freezing temps can make sessions harder. Hydroflyer was built with more control and a pointed nose so it handles rough water better than most, but you’ll still notice a difference between calm mornings and stormy afternoons.

Not a Toy, Respect the Gear

An eFoil might feel easy to ride, but it’s not indestructible. The mast, wings, and board are high-performance components, and they need to be treated seriously. That doesn’t mean heavy maintenance,most riders just rinse with fresh water after sessions and do a quick bolt and seal check now and then. But if you want your board to last for years, a regular once-over every couple months is smart. Think of it like tuning a mountain bike: minimal work, big payoff.

Bottom line: yes, there are real costs, care, and limits. But for many riders, those trade-offs are small compared to the amount of progression, time on the water, and community they get back.

eFoil vs Jet Ski (and Other Sports):

Which Is the Smarter Buy?

A lot of people ask if an eFoil is “better than a jet ski.” You can line them up side by side on price or maintenance, but the truth is they’re not even the same kind of ride. A jet ski is all throttle. It’s loud, it burns fuel, and it’s fun in short bursts. An eFoil, especially the Hydroflyer, is silent, clean, and built for progression. One is a toy you might outgrow in a summer, the other is a sport you’ll keep leveling up in for years.

The Hydroflyer also sits apart from most eFoils. Many boards are designed mainly for cruising, smooth, quiet rides but not much headroom once you’ve got the basics down. The Hydroflyer was built to go further. Handlebars give beginners confidence on day one, but they also give advanced riders the control to carve harder, jump higher, and invent tricks no one’s landed before. That’s why riders call it the “mountain bike of the sea.”

If you want a comparison, think about sports like mountain biking, surfing, or snowboarding. They never really end, you’re always chasing the next trail, the next wave, the next trick. That’s the difference. Hydroflyer is closer to those sports than it is to a jet ski. It’s not just a machine you buy, it’s a sport you grow into.

Rider Insights: What It Feels Like After 100+ Sessions

So what happens once the newness wears off? Do you still get the same buzz after a hundred sessions? The short answer: yes. The longer answer: it just gets better.

Beginner Riders

Day one on a Hydroflyer doesn’t feel like most new sports. You’re not struggling for balance or crashing every five seconds. With the handlebars, almost everyone is flying in ten minutes. That confidence is addictive. Beginners talk about how stress-free it feels, fall off, climb back on, try again. For families, it’s even bigger. Parents can ride first, then hand the board to their kids, and everyone feels like they belong on the water.

Advanced Riders

After a few months, the ride transforms. Carving harder, loading the foil for your first jumps, maybe even chasing 180s or linking tricks. That’s when you realize you’re not just on a board, you’re in a sport. Riders who came from mountain biking or snowboarding instantly connect with that feeling: progression never ends. Hydroflyer’s carbon build and handlebar control keep pushing the limit higher every session.

Schools & Community Leaders

For operators and schools, the long game is about how fast people learn. Hydroflyer shortens the curve dramatically. What used to take weeks can now be done in a weekend. That means more stoked customers, more repeat riders, and new communities forming around this machine. We’re seeing local crews pop up in lakes, bays, and surf towns everywhere.

The real insight after 100+ sessions? You don’t get bored. You get better. Hydroflyer turns what looks like a futuristic toy into a lifelong sport, and that’s why riders keep coming back.

Is the Hydroflyer Worth It Specifically?

When people ask if an eFoil is worth it, the real question behind it is often: why Hydroflyer and not something else?

Hydroflyer vs. Other eFoils

Most eFoils on the market were designed for smooth cruising. They’re fun for a while, but once you’ve mastered standing and carving, you hit the ceiling. That’s where Hydroflyer changes the game. The handlebar system gives beginners instant confidence, most are flying in minutes. But it also unlocks advanced progression. Carve harder, load the foil for jumps, and invent tricks that simply aren’t possible on boards built only for cruising. No other eFoil bridges those two worlds the way Hydroflyer does.

Long-Term Value & Resale

Buying an eFoil isn’t just about the first ride, it’s about what the board is still worth years later. Hydroflyer is built from full carbon with an overbuilt mast and handlebar system. That means durability, but also stronger resale because advanced riders still want it secondhand. Add to that the fact that Hydroflyer is constantly innovating and supporting its community, and you’ve got a board that holds its value in ways most generic foam or fiberglass eFoils never can.

When you buy Hydroflyer, you’re not just buying today’s session. You’re buying into a platform designed to grow with you, and to still be desirable if you ever decide to sell or upgrade. That makes it more than worth it in the long run.

From Buyer to Community Builder: The Hidden Value

Owning a Hydroflyer doesn’t stop at personal sessions. For a lot of riders, the hidden value is what happens once you bring it home, you become the person introducing something brand new to your local waters.

• The first in your area showing friends, neighbors, and even total strangers what flying on water looks like.
• A community builder, starting meetups at your local lake, beach, or bay.
• A leader in a new sport, teaching family, friends, or even launching a school that shortens the learning curve for everyone around you.

This isn’t just gear you park in the garage. It’s a catalyst for connection. Riders are naming tricks, starting crews, and growing little hubs of Hydroflyer energy everywhere. That kind of impact is rare. With most toys, the fun ends when the session does. With Hydroflyer, the stoke keeps multiplying, through every person you bring into the sport.

So yes, the board is worth it for the progression and the rides. But the real payoff? Becoming part of the tribe that’s shaping where this new sport goes next.

Is an eFoil Worth It for You?

So is it worth spending ten, fifteen, or even twenty thousand dollars on an eFoil? The answer depends on what you’re looking for.

• For families: If your goal is safe, fun, inclusive water time, an eFoil delivers. Kids, parents, even grandparents can get up and ride together. That kind of shared experience is hard to put a price on.
• For adventurers: If you’re the type who gets bored once you’ve “figured something out,” Hydroflyer is made for you. There’s always another level, carving harder, jumping higher, learning a new trick. It’s a sport that grows with you.
• For schools and rentals: This is a business opportunity. A board that teaches faster, holds up under heavy use, and keeps customers coming back. The ROI here is real.
• For casual vacationers: If you’re only riding once or twice a year, renting probably makes more sense. But if you want a long-term lifestyle on the water, ownership pays itself back fast.

Hydroflyer stands out because it’s not just another eFoil. It’s the safest place to start and the most advanced platform to grow with. That combination makes it more than a purchase, it’s a doorway into a brand-new sport.

So is it worth it? If you want progression, community, and a way to spend more meaningful time on the water, the answer is yes.

Talk to Jerry, Founder & Rider

"Still wondering if an eFoil is worth it for you? You don’t have to guess. I’m Jerry MacArthur, the founder and designer of Hydroflyer, and I ride these boards every day. I love talking with new riders, whether you’re a first-timer, a family looking for something safe and fun, or an experienced rider ready to push tricks and jumps. We’ll figure out the setup that makes sense for your goals."

Call us at +1-877-573-2192 or Contact Us Online.

This isn’t a sales script. It’s a rider-to-rider conversation about how you can be part of a new sport that’s still being written.