Hey Guys,
I am looking into my next kite purchase while I am out injured.
I have been riding the C4's however I think I am going to go with a different brand even though I have been fairly happy with the C4's apart from the bar pressure which I seem to get a bit of tendonitis from.
My two finalists at this stage are the Slingshot 2014 RPM and the LF Envy. My riding style is 70% unhooked wake style 20% boosting when I am too powered to unhook and 10% wave riding. I will only purchase 1 10 metre or 10.5 at this stage.
I am leaning towards the LF as all theirs kites I have had previously with the exception of the M80 have been great. I have heard great things about this years slingshot so some feedback would be great.
Cheers
Thanks Billy.
How is the Bar pressure on them?
Also I have heard they are a bit light on in the power department.
maybe get a 12 instead of a 10?
let me know your thoughts mate.
RPM 100% better for unhooked.. more slack.. acts much more like a C and it's night and day for kitelooping as well.
Bar pressure I recon is middle of the range. Has really direct steering and feels easy to control in high wind situations.
I find they don't have a great bottom end but when they are powered up they go off. I have a 9m and 7m. I use the 9m in 20-25knots and 7m in anything over 25knots. Never had a kite where you can put on the power so quick. Even feel G forces getting pulled up so quick.
The kite has a constant pull and great pop. Great for unhooked moves.
Tried plenty of kites over the years and i would say the RPM is one of the best.
envy!!
i ride the same style as you do as mostly unhooked freestyle and i switched from a c kite to the envy and have had no dramas with unhooking and not getting slack i can do everything on it that i could on a c kite
the advantage of this kite is it has amazing bottom end power and likewise on the depower for higher winds.
any questions on them id be happy to help
Thanks all.
Matt, how is the bar pressure my old havoc used to be light as. What kites did you come from.
Drury, what size would you recommend as an alrounder, 10 or 12 mate.
Cheers
Personally I'd go with Envy just because I like the LF brand a lot more, it's a great rounded brand and comes from a wake pedigree. Heard nothing but good reviews on Envies and the 2012 which is the last i tried was awesome for unhooking for a SLE kite (comparing to proper C's).
But I'd also suggest checking the best TS out, I like their build quality and I've tried the 2013 TS and it was awesome for unhooking and after speaking to a few riders using best (was asking about GP and TS for 2014 to compare) I'd say the TS is a pretty good kite to consider, i might even consider the idea of using them instead of a true C this coming season if i'm going to do more all round riding and not just 100% unhooking as per usual.
You'd be pretty happy with any of them and giving them a go first would be the best idea. But with how much you unhook i wouldn't rule out pure c's as a choice.
Thanks Charl,
Appreciate your reply.
Would you say that the SLE would have less bar pressure than the pure C.
Hopefully back on the water in 3 weeks!
cheers
Yeah i guess when hooked in most SLE's will have less bar pressure for sure. I've been off kiting for about a year now too and just going to get back into it now. In terms of riding performance I can't say an SLE will hold you back either, there are plenty of decent riders using SLE's and just need a bit of adjustment on your riding style. Personally I never really liked them but I wouldn't mind giving newer ones a go to see how they feel.
For your tennis elbow i just think a bit of post session stretching is needed as well, i never did that and now i still got a shoulder bugging me for 3 years.
As for slack I wouldnt say that any SLE, especially one with pulleys in the bridles would slack well, the play in the bridle absorb the slack. but in saying that if you get used to it it will just be more like cable tricks and if you learn different ways of edging for different tricks properly you could probably overcome most of it. I'm lazy though
I've had issues with my elbow too but love the unhooked nature n slack of a C-kite.
Are there any C's out there worth a try which have less bar pressure than others?
Select to expand quoteJames01 said..
Thanks Charl,
Appreciate your reply.
Would you say that the SLE would have less bar pressure than the pure C.
Hopefully back on the water in 3 weeks!
cheers
What winds are you riding in? I like a 10m as my money kite from 18-25 then an 8 (or 7) if possible for anything above that. 12, 13, or 14 as your 14-18 knot kite. I find this combo works best for unhooking. RPM would be a great choice!
thanks Drury, where do you ride? Brisbane?
wind range 15-25 and I only want a 1 kite quiver. I currently ride a 12 and always end up a bit too juiced!
cheers
Select to expand quoteJames01 said..
thanks Drury, where do you ride? Brisbane?
wind range 15-25 and I only want a 1 kite quiver. I currently ride a 12 and always end up a bit too juiced!
cheers
Sounds like the new 11m might be the go dude! Though you will be a bit overpowered in 25.. I'd say choose between the 10 and 11. If it's closer to 25 more than 50% of the time go for the 10m other way around go for the 11m.
Edit: I ride in Sydney mate
Select to expand quotedefault said..
I've had issues with my elbow too but love the unhooked nature n slack of a C-kite.
Are there any C's out there worth a try which have less bar pressure than others?
I love my razors, they have a setting for wake style, lots of pop, more pressure, less forgiving. and a free ride setting that has less pop, less pressure but more forgiving.
but what's bar pressure anyway when your unhooked!!!
hey james i came from riding hifi's last then went to envy, i started with a havoc back in the day.the bar pressure is medium on the envys but can be changed on the knots on the wing tips to suit. i just prefer to ride with medium bar pressure as i find its similar to cable.
i have rode my 10.5 in all sorts of winds and it is one of the main reasons i went to envys as they have an enormous wind range for a one kite quiver. from 14 to 23 knots id say i can hold it down un hooking perfectly fine then after that you have to trim it to suit which is not a problem at all. it is easy to relaunch unlike c kites and predictable to fly, its super friendly if you grab the bar in the wrong spot mid trick which helps a lot in the freestyle game!
Select to expand quoteJames01 said..
Hey Guys,
I am looking into my next kite purchase while I am out injured.
I have been riding the C4's however I think I am going to go with a different brand even though I have been fairly happy with the C4's apart from the bar pressure which I seem to get a bit of tendonitis from.
My two finalists at this stage are the Slingshot 2014 RPM and the LF Envy. My riding style is 70% unhooked wake style 20% boosting when I am too powered to unhook and 10% wave riding. I will only purchase 1 10 metre or 10.5 at this stage.
I am leaning towards the LF as all theirs kites I have had previously with the exception of the M80 have been great. I have heard great things about this years slingshot so some feedback would be great.
Cheers
Slingslut is the way to go... fly a 10m in most wind conditions and my 12m in light conditions and the the 7m from 25knots onwards... the new pulleys on the direct suspension bridle gives the kite more of a direct feel, and turns alot quicker than the models before. bottom end I feel for the 2014 rpm kites r better this year as they have moved a little more to a meadium aspect ratio kite. All round the kite fly's like a machine
BALLS TO THE WALL
thanks for all the feedback guys. Appreciate it.
matt camo, where do you ride mate?
cheers
