Futures

Futures · Split-keel Quad Fin Set (Futures)

Futures Controller Quad Review

8.8/ 10 Estimated score

8.8

Estimated from 1 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Average price$180Range $180–$180 across 1 retailersSee sources

A split-keel quad built for wide-tailed boards. Honeycomb and bamboo construction with Futures' V2 foil and a large surface area — twin-keel speed with enough rear-fin upright area to keep it controlled.

View on Futures

Quick specs

System: Futures
Type: Quad (4-fin)
Template: Split keel, large surface area
Construction: Honeycomb with bamboo
Foil: Futures V2
Ride Number: 8.3 (Balanced)

The Controller is Futures' answer to a common problem: keel fins are fast but loose, and standard quads are controlled but slow in gutless surf. The split-keel template splits the difference — large surface area for drive, upright quad rears for hold.

Futures build it in honeycomb with bamboo and their V2 foil, giving a Ride Number of 8.3 in the Balanced category. It lists at $180 USD, with a cheaper Alpha construction available in the same template.

Pros & cons

Generates and holds speed through linked turns in weak surf
Skatey twin-keel feel with more control than a true keel set
Honeycomb and bamboo build is light and lively
Also offered in cheaper Alpha construction if $180 is steep

Not designed for performance shortboards
Poor match for vertical, above-the-lip surfing
Quad-only — no thruster option in this template
Large area can feel sticky in punchy, powerful waves

How it surfs

Cleanline Surf name the Controller in their best quad sets round-up under the heading "Twin Fin Speed with Added Control," describing a set "designed specifically for use in wide tail surfboards" that is "built to fly." Their listed cons are the honest ones: not ideal for performance shortboards, and not for vertical surfing.

That framing matches the template. Run it in a fish, a hybrid or a wide-tailed groveler and it turns a slow board into a fast one. Put it in a modern performance thruster shape and you will fight the extra area every turn.

The upright positioning of the quad rears is what separates it from a straight keel set — the feel stays skatey, but you can push harder off the back foot without the tail washing out.

Volume & sizing chart

Use the chart below as a starting point. Add half a litre if you are less experienced, subtract half a litre for a looser feel.

Size	Volume	Rider weight	Best for
One size (Honeycomb)	Split keel quad set	All	All levels
Alpha construction	Same template, lighter build	All	All levels

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Futures Controller Quad	Twin-keel speed with control	Small and weak waves	8.8
Futures Rasta Keel	Classic keel drive	Fish and retro shapes	8.9
Futures F8 Legacy	Neutral all-round	Thruster or quad	8.8

Verdict

The best fin upgrade for a fish or wide-tailed hybrid. Fast, skatey and controlled — just don't put it in a performance shortboard.

Estimated score: 8.8 / 10

Estimated from 1 independent sources — see full list below.

What reviewers around the web are saying

Surfex does not test gear directly. Below are independent retailer and editorial sources. When a source publishes a numeric score, it is normalized to a five-point scale; otherwise the source is listed without a score.

Estimated score

8.8/ 10

8.8

1 sources, none scored

Source	Score	Summary
Cleanline Surf — Best Quad Fin Sets of 2026	No numeric score	"Designed specifically for use in wide tail surfboards, the Controller is a split keel quad setup built to fly... a skatey feel to the set, similar to a twin keel but with more control."

Where to buy & average price

Listed prices come from verified retailer pages. The average price below is an unweighted mean of verified retailer prices — converted to USD (≈) when retailers list in different currencies. Click any retailer to verify the native-currency price.

Average price

$180

$180–$180 · 1 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Futures Fins	$180	—	Visit

Frequently asked questions

What boards suit the Futures Controller quad?+

Wide-tailed boards — fish, hybrids and grovelers. Futures designed the template around wide tails, and Cleanline flag it as a poor match for performance shortboards.

Controller vs a twin keel set?+

The Controller keeps the skatey keel feel but adds upright quad rears, so you get more control and hold through turns than a traditional twin keel delivers.

Is the Controller good for vertical surfing?+

No. Cleanline list "not for vertical surfing" as a con — the large area and split-keel template favour speed and flow over hitting the lip.

What does the Futures Controller cost?+

$180 USD for the honeycomb and bamboo set direct from Futures. The same template in Alpha construction sells for less.

What is the Controller's Ride Number?+

8.3, which places it in Futures' Balanced category — a mix of drive and release rather than a pure pivot or pure drive template.