Has anyone flown both of these kites? I know HiFi is not strictly C kite, but more of a SLE/Hybrid type kite, but still, i'm curious if anyone had experience with both?
I've used Fuel for last couple of years, but read some good reviews on HiFi, but just curious what are the subtle differences between the two since considering getting HiFi for my next kite...
thanks, cheers
cant really compare the two as i havnt ridden them back to back. but the hifi is a pretty sweet kite for unhooked freestyle and stuff and its pretty predictable.
Yeah i love my 2009 12m HiFi Comp. do a forum search for hifi; you will find a fair bit of info recently discussed on the hifi and hifi comp kites.
If you like the hifi, you'll love the comp. All the things you admire about the hifi is stepped up a few more notches with the comp. Freeken Awesome.
Seriously ive riden my 12m hifi comp from bout 10knotts through to 32knotts. Massive windrange compared to a normal C kite, or any kite for that matter.
Water relaunches quick and easy; better then a C.
5th line bar, with direct pigtail attachments to the kite (no complicated bridal system).
Allows full depower as it is a SLE kite.
The Hifi Comp also has different attachment points to vary the turning speed and bar pressure..
Go demo a hifi or Hifi Comp; if you ride Fuels, ya gonna love the hifi comp
Sorry for my ignorance, but IMHO if you can go upwind on 12m kite IN 10 KNOTS the low end is amazing not TERRIBLE. tHE high end looks awsome as well since I can only ride 7m CORE kite in such wind and on top of that it must be fully depowered, Im sorry now that I wasnt aware of such great kite as HiFi.
Skiddz, im talking bout the hifi comp. it has a thinner LE than the standard hifi; thus has a better low end. Did i mention im only 63kgs.
Besides, hifi's can be worked heaps fast in the low stuff, so once you have it moving, its sweet.
it is impossible to ride a big kite (11m+) in winds 30kn+.
get a wind metre and you will be suprised how windy 25kns actually is.
Didnt you notice the guy is 63kg thats plenty of weight for 12m in 32 knots, Im 83 what means this kite is right for me in 40 knots plus WOW!
Hey Superlizard, before this thread takes a wrong turn. I have ridden and still own a 2005 Fuel (not that it gets dragged out anymore) and ride the HiFi Comps now. I haven't ridden the standard HiFi enough to really give any feedback.
I will point out though that whilst LF themselves throw it out there as an SLE/Hybrid I can assure you the Comp is nothing short of a true C kite.
Anyway, the HiFi Comp and the Fuel both have similar characteristics, bearing in mind my comparison is with the 2005 Fuel, and whilst this was considered one of the better years for the Fuel, the 2009 Comp obviously beats it hands down for relaunch and wind range given the advancements that C kites in general have made since 2005.
So, notwithstanding those factors the actual feel for the kite, unhooked ability and stability are all very similar. My personal opinion is that unless you are an absolute connisseur or just talking smack, the differences in performance don't really amount to much these days, so long as you are comparing apples and apples, as in this case.
What I can say is that the 09 HiFi Comp has excellent build quality, very good bar setup and that many tuning options that you can tune it to exactly how you want it. Hope this helps a little.
Woah this forum if full of chumps! Hydra you are the only guy with a comment thats on the money 
I have flown both of these kites. Have been flying 03 fuels for years, had a go on a mates new hi-fi. Felt pretty weird to me cos was used to my old school fuels, I was still spinning out about flying a kite that actually had depower! It was a nice feeling kite, only had a couple of quick runs on it but thought it went pretty good, seemed to have plenty of power and turned good. I reckon it could be a good investment if youre looking to buy only one kite, has a better wind range than a fuel i think, however cant really comment on fuels post 03! (they have probably got a bit more user friendly over the years?)
i had 08 hifi's the comment about low end is spot on.. its crap.. but you dont want to ride performance kites under cooked anyway i needed a solid 25 to be well powered on my 7m and i could ride that thing in anything haha i hav never touched its trim and ever felt uncomfortable on it.. they are nice kites i miss em but there are better kites out there.
I' flown them back to back and I used to be sponsored by Slingshot so I've had the Fuels from 05-07, and tried the 08 (which was almost like the 07) and the 09 which is a step up in C kites!!! It is like the 05 version in userfriendly really! Power and control do not go to often hand in hand!!!
I got the Hi-Fi's as a rider for scks and really liked them, very userfriendly, and very, very forgiving (so good to learn new stuff) and very powerful kiteloops too! But despite that it can"t match the Fuel09, which just has a more constant pull, is more powerfull (exept Kiteloops), is more responsive! Very typical C and the Hi fi is a nice Hybrid, but a hybrid!
But I got the HiFi Comp when it came out and WOW, very nice kite and after the Fuel 05, 07 and the Vegas 05 it has definetly deserved a place in the hall of fame!!!
The best kite I've ever ridden, and in my opinion better than the '09 Fuel.
However the leading edge is VERY thin (which gives it better low end and cuts more into the wind- better upwind performance...competition attributes) But even with 9 psi in in it folds very easy when dopped somehow unlucky and is hence often a hard to relaunch.... problem in currence etc. But if this doesn't happen it almost relaunches like a bow- very impressive!
So my fazit is..
beginner in C kiting or kiteloopfreak; Hi fi $1849.95 (12m)
freestyler with ambition (perfomance meets safety etc.) Fuel $2349,95 (11m)
Advanced, exeprienced, wakestyler Hi fi comp $1949.95 (12m)
My advice is Demo both!
cheers Henning
Awesome. Thanks everyone for the feedback. Especially sckitesurf.
The main reason i asked this is because i do'nt want to pass an opportunity to grab a new 08 HiFi for exactly half the cost. And the tail edge fabric on my 07 Fuel is totally wasted... it's just all ripping apart...(??) so i 'm just looking for something urgent and cheap (economic crisis 
) to replace my 13m Fuel (which is also a great kite). I don't care too much about a knot difference in windrange here and there. And so far, 99% of the feedback for HiFi was good (including other sources but this forum). So that tells me i won't be really wasting my money. I also read that 08 HiFi was very grunty and that's the reason they made HiFi Comp in 09 model, and then mellowed down the basic model in 09 version...
Anyways, cheers. I'm happy with this info. Also, i'm not really keen nor have much expectation to have heaps of fun flying in 10 - 15 knots anyway. So as long as it will fly fine 15-23 knots... and i'm paying half price for a new kite, than it's a great deal.
Cheers everyone
Good to see you have made the choice superlizard; to go the 08 Hifi.
Saffer - Yeah long gusts to 32 knotts (used the redcliffe, BRISBANE wind beacon results to see what the wind was that day; bout 2months ago...wasnt a pleasant ride, but i was desperate for a kite).
I can ride in solid 25knott winds coz i keep the kite low and sheeted out; plus i ride slow/ upwind heaps, so when a gust comes through it doesnt pull me off an edge.
For me fun riding is 13- 22 knotts on the 12m hifi comp. Ill change to a 9m hifi at bout 18 + knotts sometimes if its gusty.
