So a recent discussion on Seabreeze got me thinking about my current bar setup (Core bar 2S) and it's shortcomings.

I am now on the hunt for a bar and lines that has high Y capabilities and looking for recommendations for my Core/Duotone kites.

My research so far:
Core 2S - twisty crap safety release. A PITA and unsafe especially when being used on a rope slider. I like the simplicity of the bar and the standard lines seem to be fine. Love the ability of the centre lines to immediately unwind after looping the kite so really like the ceramic bearing setup.

Core 3S - looks like it may have ironed out the above issue but I don't want to be spending close to $1k on bar and lines.

Duotone Trust - my son uses this setup and I like the bar and the lines, but resetting the chicken loop is a bit of a fiddle by having to pull back the plastic housing to click the loop back in. The other issue is unwinding the centre lines after looping the kite. The bit you have to grab is not particularly easy to hold (limited grip) and it is not a smooth unwinding action and hence tends to stick a bit). Price is fine.

Duotone Click - although I haven't owned this bar, I have used one a fair bit. Seems like there is a few complaints from a previous post about centre line wear. Unwinds automatically after looping.. Don't know much else about it but those that have it tend to really like the click ability of the bar. Personally I rarely ever trim a kite (maybe only a handful of times per season). I do not like trimming a kite much as it always impacts on the flying ability of the kite and I don't like that change. I will fly a kite till it is at its max and then would rather change kites than trim. From this perspective I find the additional cost of buying this bar not worth it. Also has the fiddly reset with the chicken loop, much the same as the Trust. Cost $$$$$$$ - much like the new Core bar.

Switch CX5 - know nothing about it, but the price looks good, has a high Y ability, and chicken loop clicks in (Ozone style). It doesn't seem to have the same instant unwind mechanism of the Core and Duotone Click. Might be heavy??

Anyway, maybe I am chasing too much from a bar but this is the features I'm looking for:
- price competitive (around the $600 - $700)
-click reset for chicken loop
-push away safety
- high Y capability
- quality lines
- automatic unwind of centre lines
- not too heavy


Any ideas out there??