Since I couldn’t find one when I went to buy the newer version back in June, I want to give a short comparison of the old and new Hybrid Fulvia by Luftverk.
Left: New version; Right: Original
The OG: Slightly more powerful, but can be fatiguing to play. QC of vibe was a problem with the first run, quite often resulting in pulse vibe. While it arguably didn’t effect play, Luftwerk exchanged any problematic models with hand-inspected ones free of charge. Came in a frosted clear, white, & gray colors all with raw aluminum rims.
Version 2: Slightly less powerful, but still incredibly long spinning. All three colorways - now featuring annodized rims - are stunning, but I loved the OG aesthetics too. They fixed the main two problems that anyone had with the original:
- Vibe - While I’ve only played one of each (and my 1st run version came well-used), the general consensus seems to be that the QC is consistently good on the updated version. In my experience, it’s as smooth as any hybrid I’ve thrown or smoother.
- Fatigue - This version shaved nearly 2g off the weight* without sacrificing spin time. (Interestingly, the speed of both of these feel about the same to me). The weight of the OG doesn’t get to me since my sessions seldom go longer than 45-60 min., but for those who grind hours a day, it would likely become tiring. I’d certainly recommend the newer version to those individuals.
While it’s mostly pros for the new HF, there is a con to consider. The way this version solves the fatigue issue is by replacing a sliver of the Al toward the median part of the rim with plastic.
While this was a welcomed change for an updated version (thanks for listening to consumer feedback, Luftwerk), it also creates a palpable seam between the plastic and aluminum. It’s slight, but for me this makes it noticeably less comfortable.
Final thoughts
If you want a beastly, powerhouse of a yoyo that’s comfortable in the hand, go with the original. Keep in mind to ask the seller about vibe if you care about that (I appreciate smooth yoyos, but this is the verison I prefer and my 2nd favorite yoyo even with the pulse vibe on mine). There is also a PiF still going for this version at the time of writing if you want to try before you buy:
If you want something you can play for hours without getting worn out, or if you want a higher likelihood of getting a smooth yoyo, the new version has you covered.
They both have an almost magical feel on the string unlike anything else I’ve thrown (a la YYJ, from what I hear). You can’t go wrong with either one.
*I can’t find accurate specs for the original, so I’m going off the weight of mine and the listed specs of the new.