I had a very disappointing run with one brand of kites with defective spare parts sent and am seriously looking at alternatives. Currently I have a 7,9,12 and 16 and they will eventually be worn and replaced. At the moment I am looking for a 10 and another big light wind as well as a 6 for the high winter winds.
I will not name the brand I own, because I am not here to bag a particular brand, because those problems can happen with any. My preference though for the future is to deal with a smaller company and not one which hides behind distributors and retailers and does not even have an email published for direct contact.

There was talk about Switch here and I am inclined to give it a try, since you can buy 2 kites for the price of one from other manufacturers, which in the end is way more economical since I do not sell my kites. I fly them until they are finished.

I am an intermediate rider and do free ride, long distance up-wind and downwind and some wave riding in the future when I get a bit more confident on my surfboard. So not freestyle and tricks or big air.
I have some experience with Naish and would also not consider this brand for several reasons.

So please let me know what you swear by and why. And please: try to avoid a brand war here:)... this is not about what is the best brand. It would also help if you have a comparison to other kite brands.

thanks and for all those who cant' help themselves: This is for real and I am not a troll ... !! or associated with any manufacturer or reseller.

regards
gmd

F-one bandit
best kites out

Cab-switchblades

why? ...... cause i'm a tree hugger

Cabrinah! Have not lost one in a tree yet . Im still riding 07, 08 cabs I really like the bar setup the overide mode .

^^^+1
Ozone!

gmd said...

it is really a pitty that an OP cannot delete any posts on this forum and one has to put up with all this juvenile nonsense diluting the web. Guys go some where else where people actually may consider you worth being around.
have a nice day
...
gmd

I'm confused. What are you referring to?

About getting popcorn? If you weren't a forum noob, or if you used the search function, you'd understand that this question gets asked every 11.7 days and the answer is always 'the brand I own is the best by far because xxx blah blah (truth = coz I paid hard earned money for it)'.

The only person who could give you a real subjective answer worth wasting your time over would be a professional kite tester/reviewer (magazine contributor etc) who flies hundreds of different kites per year.

gmd said...

it is really a pitty that an OP cannot delete any posts on this forum and one has to put up with all this juvenile nonsense diluting the web. Guys go some where else where people actually may consider you worth being around.
have a nice day
and KIT33R thanks for the contribution
gmd

I find life a bit too serious so i waste time on here and have a laugh, you take thing to seriously mate, lighten up a bit gmd
As for diluting the web bawhaaaaaa its full of usless s h i t e

Anyway rode RRD for a couple of years fantastic(9/12), no probs at all and still going strong but too expensive

Swithched to Fluid(8/10) this year and really enjoying them, similar speed and seem to be built well for a better price, gonna buy a 12 soon i think
Review section would help also mate

Try the new stabrena kite it great and dead cheap. Number 1

KIT33R said...

Ozone.
Nice car stickers

Agreed!!!

who cares about the kite quality, the feel, customer support, price! Its all about the free stickers!!!!!! lol




BUT on a serious note I have had experience with only North Kites (I own 7m, 10m Fuses) and Best Kahoona'a at the school i learned at. I didnt like the Best, was just not my cup of tea and thats just my opinion as I know there are alot of crew that swear by it.

North have recently added an extra 6 months warenty on their range so that might float ya boat GMD

the gibbo said...

I find life a bit too serious so i waste time on here and have a laugh, you take thing to seriously mate, lighten up a bit gmd
As for diluting the web bawhaaaaaa its full of usless s h i t e

Anyway rode RRD for a couple of years fantastic(9/12), no probs at all and still going strong but too expensive

Swithched to Fluid(8/10) this year and really enjoying them, similar speed and seem to be built well for a better price, gonna buy a 12 soon i think
Review section would help also mate

^^^^^gibbo said
12m ,WA ,WTF you must weigh 120kg's .....unless it's all a pack of lies

Martyflyer said...

I'm no expert as only a newbie but

shannon8888 said...

stuntnaz said...

Cabrinah! Have not lost one in a tree yet . Im still riding 07, 08 cabs I really like the bar setup the overide mode .

no am serious, have had a couple , all tree free ........ u should up grade

how do you get them to last more than 2 years???
unless you don't use them enough?... disclaimer.....
between pubs......will check in later

I don't no they just seem to last i live across the road from the beach so i'm out there all the time .Good kite control i guess all that old 2 line hang glider shaped kite flying when i was a kid , looking after them, I fix my own kites unless they rip in half , but am yet to rip one that bad, my favorite kite has so much sail tape and patches on it i'm thinking of calling it PATCH the bridal has multi colored lines from being fixed . And the 07 08 cab's relaunch really well good for the surf, i love wave riding .My next kite is the cab drifter just waiting for my car or bike to sell.

arrrrghhhh poirate koits .cause Theyre cool


and the qaulity is to die for

Just thought i'd update this one because its all true!
Ozone represent!

KIT33R said...

Ozone.
Quality build.
No pulleys
Simple set up (no battens, no elastic thingys)
Did I mention - no pulleys
Big dump valve
One pump
Big inlet means less pump pressure when inflating
Bar is comfortable and light bar pressure
Fly well forward in the window - motor upwind
Easy relaunch
Short bridle means less chance of mishaps
Good carry bag with lots of spare bits
Replacement parts are cheap

Been making paragliders forever and understand how to build a flying machine.

Gave a mate a fly of my 10m Reo and he felt at home on it straight away

Nice car stickers

some people don't know what a real 25 or 30 knots is...

A solid 25knots 9m gets put away and the 7 comes out.. [u]30 knots fully powered on 7m[/u

A noob on a 10m in 30 knots.. Your pulling your doodle... Charl DV will agree me thinks..

eppo said...

Once you have narrows down a few options, then demo each one before you buy. Looks like you are searching for a specific wave kite. Consider a ozone reo, give the Argo a go as they are meant to be extremely forgiving and stable and even a bws if cash is tight. Ring or go an see a couple of retailers and explain specifically what you are looking for and where you want to progress to. Then again demo. I have wasted a lot of money not demoing kites.

Oh crew are raving about the best TS, so that should be in your mix as well.

What do you weigh?? A 10m in 30 knots for a beginner would be dire, unless you weigh over 100 kg, and even then you want some experience under your belt.