I am new to the sport although progressing relatively quickly. I have a Cabrinha Vector 14M and 2 x Crossbows in an 11m and 8m. Cabrinha seem to get a bad wrap from many posters on the forums and I am just wondering why. The kites I have seem to be well made and fly well and are very stable.

Personally I think their bar system from what I have seen has the best safety features on the market which personally is important for me.

Is the bad wrap just prejudice or is there some reality to past quality issues in earlier models?

They make a high quality kite and I know guys who use their bar system with different kites as they swear it is the best out there.

In the earlier days cabrinha had a big share of the beginners market especially through kites such as the switchblade. A lot of beginners can do beginner things hence it seemed a lot of these kites ended up in carparks and in trees etc.

It was the volume of market share hence the greater chance of strange stuff happening.

This urban myth then perpetuated. Been on a few cabrinhas, sweet kites. Nothing wrong them at all.

My perspective:

Very big brand throughout Europe = used by "euros" here = hated by Aussies

Personally when I was learning back in 07/08 I used one for a bit and thought they were utter rubbish compared to the north rebel @ the time

EnglishCraig said..

My perspective:

Very big brand throughout Europe = used by "euros" here = hated by Aussies

Personally when I was learning back in 07/08 I used one for a bit and thought they were utter rubbish compared to the north rebel @ the time

EnglishCraig can you qualify by what you mean as "utter rubbish"? that statement does not mean much. I am keen to understand what you mean.

kitebt said...

EnglishCraig said..

My perspective:

Very big brand throughout Europe = used by "euros" here = hated by Aussies

Personally when I was learning back in 07/08 I used one for a bit and thought they were utter rubbish compared to the north rebel @ the time

EnglishCraig can you qualify by what you mean as "utter rubbish"? that statement does not mean much. I am keen to understand what you mean.

Certainly - incidentally this is not brand bashing - I have used newer can products and been impressed

The control system was complicated and awkward and the safety was not in my opinion in the best location on the bar system - it made me concerned about being able to use it and as a beginner that for me was the end of the matter

Having cut my teeth on Cabrinha Switchblades (2007's, 09's, & 011's) 8m and 12 m, I can say they are a good product. I agree with in eppo in the sense that there are no "bad" kites to this point in time. If what Cabrinha has to offer isn't to someone's liking, it has more to do with their specific needs and preferences and not the kite per se'. Once my abilities came up to speed and knew what I wanted, I decided on a different brand for my bigger 9 m & 12 m kites. Cabrinha Switchblades, Vectors, and Crossbows, are all great kites but I discovered other kites I liked better for what I was now into. And something I learned as stellar advice when deciding a new kite purchase, demo as many different kites as are available. As for my high wind 5m/7m kites, I have a Cab. Convert and Vector and I like them just fine when it's 25 plus > nice and stable.

Most kite brands at some point in time have quality control or design issues - North with premature line wear, Cab pulleys in 09 and canopy's in 011 in certain colors, etc. They're usually corrected or made good by mfg. As for value, that's a different story. Cabrinha at full retail are amongst the most expensive kites on the market. When I was windsurfing, Neil Pryde (the Cabrinha parent company) were among (and still are) the most flashy and cutting edge gear out there. They're also the most expensive. I never could justify the cost and would purchase Pryde gear occasionally at closeout pricing. I feel the same about some of the top shelf kite brands as well. This of course is strictly personal and budget related.

I'm guessing when comes to "hating on" companies like Cabrinha, it's more of a psychological issue. In general people love to take shots at the top dog, much in the way people tire of dominant teams in sports (if you're not a fan of that specific team). And there are some that see kites like Cabrinha as mainstream, and want to be unique apart from the herd of conformity. I get it. I too like to check out the "little guy's" products and be different.

I'm just happy that there's brands out there pushing the envelope like North, Cabrinha, Airush...everyone, developing and evolving the gear for a sport we're so blessed to be a part of.

The graphic presentation of cabrinha's styling and that ugly logo plastered as big as possible on the kite looks cheap and lame.
To me they look like flying cheap coloured curtains.
When it comes to purchase a new or second hand kite and its a flick of the coin regarding flying performance then styling/graphics takes preference, this also affects resale value. Shallow comments I know, but we are all visual beasts and no one wants an ugly kite.

In every industry there are brands that aim for the masses and mass appeal.
Like McDonalds, their formula is basic bland food that has to be bland because that's the only way they can get a big mac in say Perth, to taste the same as a big mac in Chicago or Tokyo. Blandness being the compromise for mass appeal.

I started kiting with a Cabrinha Crossbow in 2006 - the first bow kite. Good quality and safety. I then moved to Switchblades, a 14 and a 10, both good kites. Preditable, reliable and well made. I still have a Crossbow 7 for when its nuking. Great little kite.

Bashing and whining about big brands is just tall poppy syndrome.

Cabrinha are still innovating - as others mention their new bar is a big improvement re safety and ease of use.

The best approach is to try before you buy and read reviews rather than opinions.

The Cabrinha kites are excellent and the bar is the best on the market by a long way. I don't understand why more brands don't copy them and I equally don't understand how major brands persist with such clunky designs.

My only complaint about Cabrinha is that they seem to only supply a small number of dealers in each city and that restricts reasonable competition. It was not such a problem in the past because the service from the local Cabrinha dealer was excellent. The conversations on the beach have shown that customers are not as happy as they were. Combine that with no choice of dealers and it makes customers want to look at other brands.

they dont deserve a bad wrap, as ive seen plenty wrap themselves beautifully around trees

Nice work!

Personally I don't think that the Cabrinhas get a bad rap at all. Very few posts are truly bagging the brand, probably no more than any other brand.

People poke fun and have a joke definitely and they keep doing it because there are so many Cabrinha riders out there someone is sure to bite back.

kitebt said..

However, I guess Ozone IMHO is probably just as big but does not get any of the bashing Cabrinha get...I am just wondering why that is.

Really?........ Bahahaha

Surely that's a cabrinha that has had a C4 morphed into the picture. Those clever little IT guys I don't know

I started with a Cab 9m Access and 12m CO2 in 2003, also bought a 14m Nitro in 2004. after not kiting for 7 years (kites were in the garage all this time) I pumped up the 12m last November and had a great session with no issues at all! No loss of pressure in any of the bladders, no blow outs, great session!

For a 10 year old kite that has been in storage for 7 years I was really impressed, bought a 10m Cab Switchy (2010 - 2nd hand) in December and am absolutely loving it. Although I've never flown another brand, I've also never had my Cabrinha in a tree (yet) but really admire the quality construction and reliability of all 4 Cabrinhas I've owned. Never had a reason to change but still have a list of other brands I will demo before my next purchase.