Gorgo said..
Lightweight kite. Lightweight bag. Makes sense to me.

All my kites have got lightweight bags. Having got used to them I wouldn't want a full fat bag. It's much easier to get all the kites stacked in the back of the car and I can put the bag in my pocket while pumping or whatever. They're cheaper too.

I did keep one of my old heavyweight backpacks for travel. I can get a couple of kites in the backpack still in their lightweight bag.

Agreed those big backpacks are over kill and stupid.

so from Steve

10M Reo V5 - 2.777
The Alpha V1 10m - 2.2kg

Just weighed the last year they made the Rebel (2017) 10m ...

3.4kg.

Damn !!! no wonder it's ****house on the foil in light winds. Bahahahahahhaha

Gorgo said..
Lightweight kite. Lightweight bag. Makes sense to me.

All my kites have got lightweight bags. Having got used to them I wouldn't want a full fat bag. It's much easier to get all the kites stacked in the back of the car and I can put the bag in my pocket while pumping or whatever. They're cheaper too.

I did keep one of my old heavyweight backpacks for travel. I can get a couple of kites in the backpack still in their lightweight bag.

Hmm I guess, just reminds me of a cheaper kite like how switch do it. I like the big bags as they protect my kites and have pockets for fins and stuff.

Ozone Kites Aus said..

Brohan said..

Gorgo said..
Lightweight kite. Lightweight bag. Makes sense to me.

All my kites have got lightweight bags. Having got used to them I wouldn't want a full fat bag. It's much easier to get all the kites stacked in the back of the car and I can put the bag in my pocket while pumping or whatever. They're cheaper too.

I did keep one of my old heavyweight backpacks for travel. I can get a couple of kites in the backpack still in their lightweight bag.

Hmm I guess, just reminds me of a cheaper kite like how switch do it. I like the big bags as they protect my kites and have pockets for fins and stuff.

They can be purchased with a bag like what the Reo comes in too.

The "Technical bag" option costs $89 extra, same design as all the over 2018 released Ozone kites.

Rode the 12 yesterday for about an hour, did a 6klm downwinder in side on to more onshore conditions in lumpy 1.5 to 2+ overhead ESE winds and swell, if you know Lennox this is not the ideal wind direction. But I had a new kite to fly! Wind strength was 13-18 knots possibly a little under that at times and def a bit over towards the end. We kited from approx 4pm to a bit after 5pm.
Setup and launch was easy, self launched like any other inflatable. Immediately noticed the characteristic Ozone feel and significant canopy AOA adjustment, just like the Reo's I normally ride most of the time. Bar felt heavier than a Reo immediately and I had ordered the kite with the bar recommended by the Ozone B2B site which was a 55cm. Normally 55cm is only recommended on Ozone kites 13M or larger.
The leading edge diameter is larger than the Reo V5 12, as I showed in the pics above and feels quite stiff, definitely gives the single strut canopy support. Bridle is very short and compact, no pulleys as usual.

Getting off the beach and out the back was challenging, but the kite was very stable, quick and tight turning at least as quick and only slightly less tight turning than the Reo V5 12m, BUT there was/is more bar pressure. The pressure I would say is similar to the Zephyr 17m which I've described here before as medium and I'd say most would agree but there are definitely some who feel the Zephyr V5 is on the high side of medium.

The kite pulled well and feels like it has an excellent bottom end - better than the 12 Reo V5 by a couple of knots, but it was a challenging day and wind was very up and down the whole time we were out. I was easily able to take advantage of shoulders that popped up in front of me and turn sharply onto them and ride the wave in either direction depending on which way it was breaking, kite drifted really well. Will it replace my Reo 12M V5? Nope, but it was still a fun kite to fly and was a good kite to have in those conditions. I think it will suit a large range of riding and probably best suited to foilers and TT riders or travellers (including wave riders) wanting compact light weight kites. Can't wait to try the 10m and 8m too.

Danuco said..
Hi Ozone Kite Aus!

I am from Rio, Brazil (sorry for poor english), 80kg, and ride only wave strapless on side-on conditions. I am in doubt on buying a reo 12m or alpha 12m. My current quiver is 2018 Drifter 10m and 8m, and i miss a kite for lower than 15 knots. I had a Zephyr V5 but sold it since it is very big and slow. Going down the line was a challenge with the zephyr. I also think the bar pressure was heavy on Zephy (you have mentioned alpha 12 is the same), but that was not the main reason why I sold it, but I prefer the Reo12 bar pressure.

I have ridden Drifter 10m and Reo 12 on same day, and the low end difference was not that much. I really like the Reo 12, but since I already have a drifter 10, I am thinking that maybe Alpha 12m would be a better choice for that light wind days, and also for travelling. On my last trip to Ceara (northeast of Brazil), I didnt take my zephyr because of its size and weigh, but I have missen it on some lower days.

Unfortunately , there is no Alpha 12m here in Rio for a test, and very few reviews on the Internet. Could you please give me you thoughts on what would be a better choice in my case? I need good low end to complement my drifter 10m, but still need some turn speed and drift for side on conditions in low wind.

Thanks!! :)

For me I'd choose between the 14M Enduro V2 or 12M Reo V5, even in the Reo's the difference in bottom end between the 10M and 12M Reo V4 or V5 was only a few knots, and a change of board to a larger fish or evo style board makes a significant difference.
For riding waves the Reo is hands down better than an Alpha.

Does anyone have some experience with a 12/8 Alpha combo ? Is there enough overlap ? Missing a 9m ..

Ozone Kites Aus said..

Foxi said..
Does anyone have some experience with a 12/8 Alpha combo ? Is there enough overlap ? Missing a 9m ..

I'm 75kg and have ridden the 12M at the extremes of its range, the bottom end on a large TT like my Axis patrol 1.48x48 is about 12/13 knots and the top end about 20-22knots.
The 8m will work for me from around 18 knots so there is some overlap, its just not a lot and that combo of kite sizes may not suit everyone.

Ok thanks - I'm gonna use it mostly on a foil but I got you. Should go 12/10 and use my 7/6 Neos below where weight isn't that important any more.

My question regarding the bottom end for the Alphas. I foil on an 8m Reo from about 12 knots up to 18 knots. But don't ask me to relaunch off the water in 12 knots . I find if I can keep the kite in the air then apparent wind does the rest.

So, in how light a wind can you fly the 8m and10m Alphas?

dafish said..

KIT33R said..
My question regarding the bottom end for the Alphas. I foil on an 8m Reo from about 12 knots up to 18 knots. But don't ask me to relaunch off the water in 12 knots . I find if I can keep the kite in the air then apparent wind does the rest.

So, in how light a wind can you fly the 8m and10m Alphas?

You should be able to reverse launch in 10 to 12 knots with the 8 Reo. I am on my 8 in those winds. It can be a pain sometimes but I I have not had to swim in this year.

Thanks, will give it a try. I tend to roll it onto its back and relaunch old school C kite method with moderate success or haul in one front line and opposite rear line method. That said I've done more swimming this year than the last 10 combined.

KIT33R said..

dafish said..

KIT33R said..
My question regarding the bottom end for the Alphas. I foil on an 8m Reo from about 12 knots up to 18 knots. But don't ask me to relaunch off the water in 12 knots . I find if I can keep the kite in the air then apparent wind does the rest.

So, in how light a wind can you fly the 8m and10m Alphas?

You should be able to reverse launch in 10 to 12 knots with the 8 Reo. I am on my 8 in those winds. It can be a pain sometimes but I I have not had to swim in this year.

Thanks, will give it a try. I tend to roll it onto its back and relaunch old school C kite method with moderate success or haul in one front line and opposite rear line method. That said I've done more swimming this year than the last 10 combined.

I've found the reverse launch method works best with kites smaller than 10m and the one front line and one rear line works better on 12m and up. Basically the larger kites are harder to reverse launch, and are easier with the opposing lines method.
But saying that I dropped my 8m Reo last week in onshore conditions in a big lull and was unable to relaunch before it hit the beach and I swum in. I nearly had it, but a tip caught as I tried to turn the kite and by this stage it was in the shorey and my mate was there ready to get the kite so I fully released.