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Which kite to buy ?

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Created by Wobbles > 9 months ago, 10 Feb 2021
Wobbles
NSW, 29 posts
10 Feb 2021 8:52AM
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Would like some views /opinions on buying a new kite before having a demo. My favorite kite, slingshot 8m rally died, and I want to get a new one that has similar flight characteristics ie fast turning. What do you guys recommend. Thanks

CJ2478
NSW, 482 posts
10 Feb 2021 9:41AM
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Wobbles said..
Would like some views /opinions on buying a new kite before having a demo. My favorite kite, slingshot 8m rally died, and I want to get a new one that has similar flight characteristics ie fast turning. What do you guys recommend. Thanks


Hey Wobbles, if you like the rally (upwind, grunt and boost) you may like to consider the duotone NEO. It is a wave kite with excellent drift, fast turning and low wind performance. Unlike most other wave kites on the market I find it has upwind and boosting performance similar to most TT kites. For this reason it is a great all round kite that will cover you for most riding from foil, surf to boosting huge on a twin tip. The neo allows you to ride a size or two smaller compared to other brand kites and other kites in the duotone range.

Wobbles
NSW, 29 posts
10 Feb 2021 10:43AM
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CJ2478 said..

Wobbles said..
Would like some views /opinions on buying a new kite before having a demo. My favorite kite, slingshot 8m rally died, and I want to get a new one that has similar flight characteristics ie fast turning. What do you guys recommend. Thanks



Hey Wobbles, if you like the rally (upwind, grunt and boost) you may like to consider the duotone NEO. It is a wave kite with excellent drift, fast turning and low wind performance. Unlike most other wave kites on the market I find it has upwind and boosting performance similar to most TT kites. For this reason it is a great all round kite that will cover you for most riding from foil, surf to boosting huge on a twin tip. The neo allows you to ride a size or two smaller compared to other brand kites and other kites in the duotone range.


thanks mate. will have a look.

KPSS Used
NSW, 372 posts
Site Sponsor
10 Feb 2021 3:52PM
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Another good allrounder is the Ozone Enduro, V2 or V3, they have an adjustable bridle that goes from wave to freeride to freestyle.
North Reach is another good one, and on clearance pricing right now in most sizes.
Core Nexus and the new rally are worth a demo as well. We have all the above in demo and a good range of late model used kites with warranty.

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
10 Feb 2021 9:25PM
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I second demoing the neo considering your older kite being a rally. Good suggestion.

Gazuki
WA, 1363 posts
11 Feb 2021 9:05AM
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Wipika

horey69
QLD, 495 posts
11 Feb 2021 2:44PM
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Hey Wobbles,
The Rally's were an example of the bomber Slingshot construction. We have extended our range to include the RaptorV1, it's a big boosting kite that is great to ride, we also have the new RallyGTV2 the RPMV12 not to forget the SSTV5.
So it's fair to say we at Slingshot Australia have you covered.
Contact a dealer or head to our website for details and or a demo
Cheers.

Kingofgroms
QLD, 4 posts
11 Feb 2021 3:21PM
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Hey Wobbles,

If you liked the Rally, Slingshot essentially split that kite into two new options, the Rally GT or the Raptor. As with all of Slingshots kites, they're bulletproof.

Give and read Kite World Mags review of the Raptor for some clarity.

Good luck brother!

theDoctor
NSW, 5765 posts
11 Feb 2021 4:42PM
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i really wanna try one of them hyperlinks

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
11 Feb 2021 8:09PM
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Gazuki said..
Wipika


The 2 line Angel of death was a highly underrated piece of gear

Andrash
WA, 637 posts
11 Feb 2021 9:15PM
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CJ2478 said..
The neo allows you to ride a size or two smaller compared to other brand kites and other kites in the duotone range.




Sorry to say, but this has been such a ridiculous claim surfacing over and over again: a size or two smaller... I thought this hype died out some time ago.
Yes, I am riding 5-7-9 Duotone Neos, and yes they are great kites with good low end, but that's all...
No, they are not significantly more powerful than the Ozone Enduro, Slingshot Rally etc, which I rode before I bought the Neos. The Neo has a surprisingly good grunt, but only for a wave kite. For grunt alone, my Enduro and the Rally were better. The Neo is far from the best choice (even in the duotone range) unless someone wants to ride waves regularly, and for that it is fantastic, especially for someone who wants to boost as well on some occasions.

lucy5
QLD, 102 posts
12 Feb 2021 5:34AM
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Andrash said..

CJ2478 said..
The neo allows you to ride a size or two smaller compared to other brand kites and other kites in the duotone range.





Sorry to say, but this has been such a ridiculous claim surfacing over and over again: a size or two smaller... I thought this hype died out some time ago.
Yes, I am riding 5-7-9 Duotone Neos, and yes they are great kites with good low end, but that's all...
No, they are not significantly more powerful than the Ozone Enduro, Slingshot Rally etc, which I rode before I bought the Neos. The Neo has a surprisingly good grunt, but only for a wave kite. For grunt alone, my Enduro and the Rally were better. The Neo is far from the best choice (even in the duotone range) unless someone wants to ride waves regularly, and for that it is fantastic, especially for someone who wants to boost as well on some occasions.


Enduro more grunt than a neo what meds you on

CJ2478
NSW, 482 posts
12 Feb 2021 9:40AM
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Andrash said..

CJ2478 said..
The neo allows you to ride a size or two smaller compared to other brand kites and other kites in the duotone range.





Sorry to say, but this has been such a ridiculous claim surfacing over and over again: a size or two smaller... I thought this hype died out some time ago.
Yes, I am riding 5-7-9 Duotone Neos, and yes they are great kites with good low end, but that's all...
No, they are not significantly more powerful than the Ozone Enduro, Slingshot Rally etc, which I rode before I bought the Neos. The Neo has a surprisingly good grunt, but only for a wave kite. For grunt alone, my Enduro and the Rally were better. The Neo is far from the best choice (even in the duotone range) unless someone wants to ride waves regularly, and for that it is fantastic, especially for someone who wants to boost as well on some occasions.


This is my experience and yours might be different.. Your use of the word significant would imply a large margin (>50%), however we are only talking 1m2 or 2m2 in the larger sizes which is a difference of ~10%, hence i would agree that there is not a significant difference in power, but there certainly is more power relative to other same size kites. This is my experience based on what I was riding previously; core nexus, cabrinha FX, switchblade (powerful but slow) and (old) North dice and had some turns on a mates V1 enduro.

the dude has asked for advice to replace his rally, specifically citing fast turning as a requirement. Wave kites like the neo are faster turning than all rounders and 5 strut kites. Neo has the advantage over other wave kites that it can boost, has hangtime, better upwind while retaining the user friendly attributes like drift, resistance to backstall and handles gusty wind.


Andrash
WA, 637 posts
12 Feb 2021 8:52AM
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CJ2478 said..


This is my experience and yours might be different.. Your use of the word significant would imply a large margin (>50%), however we are only talking 1m2 or 2m2 in the larger sizes which is a difference of ~10%, hence i would agree that there is not a significant difference in power, but there certainly is more power relative to other same size kites. This is my experience based on what I was riding previously; core nexus, cabrinha FX, switchblade (powerful but slow) and (old) North dice and had some turns on a mates V1 enduro.

the dude has asked for advice to replace his rally, specifically citing fast turning as a requirement. Wave kites like the neo are faster turning than all rounders and 5 strut kites. Neo has the advantage over other wave kites that it can boost, has hangtime, better upwind while retaining the user friendly attributes like drift, resistance to backstall and handles gusty wind.





I don't doubt anyone's experience. I doubt the hype.
Before I bought the Neo's I did the homework. I found only one reliable test done by an instructor on three large size wave kites side by side in light wind. He found the Neo was the gruntiest (I can't recall the other brands).
I think it is worth reading the recommended use of the different models of any brand. The Neo was developed as the "wave" model of North and as I can recall this did not change with the change over to Duotone.
This is where the Neo excels as compared to my previous Enduro (same sizes) and earlier versions of Rally. Because of its relatively increased grunt compared to other wave kites, the Neo generates more power with the turn, although (as I heard) it still turns as fast as most dedicated wave kites. This grunt, however may not be welcomed by average strapless surfers, because it needs more precise control of the kite. However, I found the Neo very predictable, obedient with no surprises if flown properly. However, all this praise will matter only if someone rides waves. For other things there are more suitable models even within the Duotone range.

Wobbles
NSW, 29 posts
12 Feb 2021 3:12PM
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Thanks for your input guys. Im taking it all on board. Just to clarify, I only ride in the surf with a strapless board. The rally I owned was a 2014. Such a great kite to use in the surf, and bullet proof.

Kingofgroms
QLD, 4 posts
12 Feb 2021 3:13PM
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Wobbles said..
Thanks for your input guys. Im taking it all on board. Just to clarify, I only ride in the surf with a strapless board. The rally I owned was a 2014. Such a great kite to use in the surf, and bullet proof.


Hey Wobbles, if you're always riding in the surf, you should give the Slingshot SST a crack instead. It's Slingshots wave kite, used to be called the Wave SST until they worked out it was also good for foiling. Again, like everything Slingshot its bombproof.

Kingofgroms
QLD, 4 posts
12 Feb 2021 3:13PM
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Wobbles said..
Thanks for your input guys. Im taking it all on board. Just to clarify, I only ride in the surf with a strapless board. The rally I owned was a 2014. Such a great kite to use in the surf, and bullet proof.


Hey Wobbles, if you're always riding in the surf, you should give the Slingshot SST a crack instead. It's Slingshots wave kite, used to be called the Wave SST until they worked out it was also good for foiling. Again, like everything Slingshot its bombproof.

Andrash
WA, 637 posts
12 Feb 2021 4:44PM
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Wobbles said..
Thanks for your input guys. Im taking it all on board. Just to clarify, I only ride in the surf with a strapless board. The rally I owned was a 2014. Such a great kite to use in the surf, and bullet proof.


It's funny... no one asked the obvious question.
Any dedicated wave kite would suite, each brand is the best (by some). Demo if you can.

lucy5
QLD, 102 posts
13 Feb 2021 8:43PM
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Kingofgroms said..

Wobbles said..
Thanks for your input guys. Im taking it all on board. Just to clarify, I only ride in the surf with a strapless board. The rally I owned was a 2014. Such a great kite to use in the surf, and bullet proof.



Hey Wobbles, if you're always riding in the surf, you should give the Slingshot SST a crack instead. It's Slingshots wave kite, used to be called the Wave SST until they worked out it was also good for foiling. Again, like everything Slingshot its bombproof.


And so easy to launch and land slingshot

RbGar
90 posts
13 Feb 2021 9:34PM
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Can't go wrong with Ocean Rodeo, Ozone, Douotone, Cabrihna. All the top brands are good these days, best bet is to support your local shop!



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"Which kite to buy ?" started by Wobbles