Hi Guys
In the 5 years that i have been kiting i have only ever ridden 2 Brands of Kite. North Rebel and Naish Park.
Although i have been happy with them in general , the time has come to buy new again and i am trying to justify the extra expense that these brands seem to demand .
I pay for my gear and usually get a good discount from my local as i have bought all of my gear there for the last 5 years ( 9 kites ,4 boards , SUP , etc )
i am trying to work out if it is worth paying the $2500 (retail ) for a North or Naish when something like and Airush or even an Ozone can be up to $500.00 cheaper .
I even try to justify to myself that i will keep it for years ......but that never happens and a 12 month old $2500 kite is worth the same as a 12 month old $1900.00 kite......
Please dont tell me that North are the best constructed kites out there as i have had trouble with both the kites and boards failing and will not buy another North Product out of principle.
Do you really get what you pay for ?
I am considering buying either Airush Lithium or Ozone Catalyst this year and am trying to arrange a demo of each. The problem is that i have demoed a Naish Pivot and found it to be excellent........$2500 kite.
Do either of the other kites have similar performance ?
I am an old man who loves old school boosting and freeriding with a bit of wave riding as well and really only want a 12m and 9 m quiver . Ever year the companies tell us that the bottom end is improved ......blah blah blah and the shops will tell you that there brands are the best .
Can anyone please advise on the quality and low end , general free ride fun factor of either the Lithium or the Catalyst.
Sorry for the rant but the Naish Pivot did feel really good .......i just need to know if the others do too as i am without a kite at the moment and want to maximise the dollars.
Cheers
North kites soooooooooooo over priced and not built any better than most brands, they just have a very organised and strong marketing program, both Airush and Ozone are good performing well built kites. Demo Demo Demo cause what's good for one is not necessarily good for another
I haven't got the new lithium, I've got the old airush varial, love it.
I've demoed heaps of kites but nothing has come close to old faithful yet,
I hated the ozones, haven't tried the Pivot yet, but I'm pretty keen, although I don't think I'll be switching to a Naish kite until their control bar looks more like a Cabrinha bar, that said, I wouldn't buy a Cabrinha kite, might be a bit harsh to judge them on one day of flying but they didn't demo well on the day.
The price you pay is soon forgotten when you're riding with a massive grin on your face.
You really need to love your gear and be happy with it. Life is too short to waste time riding gear you don't love just because it's cheap.
So the tip is test it, try it, educate yourself about the features ... then buy the one you like the most.
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
The price you pay is soon forgotten when you're riding with a massive grin on your face.
You really need to love your gear and be happy with it. Life is too short to waste time riding gear you don't love just because it's cheap.
So the tip is test it, try it, educate yourself about the features ... then buy the one you like the most.
Hi Gorgo
I know what you mean.....small price to pay i guess . The Pivot felt really good , especially jumping. I am trying to arrange a demo of the Airush but am concerned about the long term Build Quality although they seem to have all the right ingredients with the Tejin and D2 etc. I also like the idea of the cross fabric reinforcing thing that they have . Just trying to work out why they are $500.00 cheaper is all .
I ride the Airush Lithiums. Have a quiver from 2011 to 2015. Would recommend them, only been kiting 3 seasons but the 2011 10m has taken a pounding and no problems yet. Not ridden too much else but seem to boost well compared to others.
enjoy the demo!
Without getting bogged down in details, but most kites are around $1800 - $2000. Not sure how you are paying $2500 for kites ESPECIALLY if your shop is "looking after you "
I demoed 10 kites last season, my surprising favorite was Ocean Rodeo (!) and they cost me $1650 and $1850
ps Ozones are built extremely well!
hi There,
Ozone have amazing quality, I also really rate the Wainman kites quality and I think they may suit your riding style.
Good luck with the search!
Select to expand quotedaggy said..
Without getting bogged down in details, but most kites are around $1800 - $2000. Not sure how you are paying $2500 for kites ESPECIALLY if your shop is "looking after you "
I demoed 10 kites last season, my surprising favorite was Ocean Rodeo (!) and they cost me $1650 and $1850
ps Ozones are built extremely well!
Hi Daggy
The retail price of either a North or Naish Kite over here ( anywhere up the East Coast ) in a 12 meter size is $2499.00 while an Ozone is $2100.00 and the Airush is $2000.00
The problem i have with the Naish is that the hype surrounding it seems to mean that the shops can charge the full retail or offer $100.00 off or maybe 10% if you can get it .
Seems a bit wrong as the kite has already been out for nearly 6 months .
I would happily pay a fair price and understand that the shops need to make their money. I also guess that the aussie dollar is affecting margin etc,.
I need to Demo Airush and Ozone and have heard good things about Turning and Boosting with Lithium but only hear that Ozone has excellent build quality. Can anyone comment on its low end and turning etc.
I know , i know demo demo but sometimes horses mouth help too.
Thanks for the replies.....
I have used my two Lithium (9 and 12, 2013 models) a lot. Great kites, good (real) low end power for their size, everyone who has used one agrees. Turn well, boost well, smooth power delivery including when looping. Love them.
I have heard that 2015 Lithium's are even better but haven't tried one yet. Demo!
Just looking at the Kitepower web site, 12m 2015 model Ozone, Slingshot and Cabrinha kites (complete with bar, lines, pump and bag) are just under $2500 with free shipping. That seems to be the going rate.
Liquid Force are $200 cheaper. Core are about $400 cheaper but the model years are 2014.
You cant say airush isn't a good build. Every single kite Iiv owned i blew up, all except airush. Iv owned 5 razors and never had one die on me ( and I crash hard alot) iv only had trouble from sharp shells tearing! But I think all brands are good quality!
I bought an Airush DNA 12 meter 5 years ago. It surely got a lot of use and I never had any problems with it. When learning initially it had to endure a few hard landings......
Not sure I've ever heard anyone complain about airush durability.
I've got a 2013 lithium that I learnt from beginner on, apart from canopy pin holes where I released it onto rocks or trees, it still looks very robust.
Airrush & Ozone are brand names just as much as naish, north, cabrinha, slingshot, LF, OR, Wainman etc.
This lot aren't (mostly - I'm too lazy to pick a few big names out):
Advance (Boards, Kites)
Aeros (Kites)
Air-Evolution (Kites)
Airush (Boards, Kites)
Best (Boards, Kites, Accessories)
Blackline (Kites)
Blade (Boards, Kites)
Boom (Kites)
Bull (Kites)
Carved (Boards, Kites)
Catapult (Boards, Kites)
Caution (Boards, Kites)
Challenger (Kites)
China Kites (Kites)
Concept Air (Kites)
Core (Kites)
Eclipse (Kites)
EH (Boards, Kites)
F-One (Boards, Kites)
Faith (Boards, Kites)
Flexifoil (Boards, Kites)
Fluid (Boards, Kites)
Flysurfer (Kites, Accessories)
Freak Dog (Boards, Kites)
Gaastra (Boards, Kites, Accessories)
Genetrix (Kites)
Gin (Kites)
Globe Kites (Boards, Kites)
Griffin (Kites)
Handmade (Boards, Kites)
HQ Powerkites (Kites)
JN (Boards, Kites)
Kangaroo (Kites)
Kite Factory (Kites)
Kite Innovations (Kites)
Latitude by Sof-X (Boards, Kites)
Loose (Boards, Kites)
Monkey (Boards, Kites, Accessories)
Mr Kitesurf (Kites)
New (Kites)
Newind (Kites)
Nobile (Boards, Kites)
PKD (Kites)
Peter Lynn (Kites)
Radsails (Boards, Buggies, Kites)
Rodwy (Boards, Kites, Accessories)
Royal (Boards, Kites)
RRD (Boards, Kites)
Sky-T (Kites)
Sof-X (Boards, Kites)
Spleene (Boards, Kites)
Starkites (Boards, Kites)
Storm (Boards, Kites)
Swirl (Kites)
Switch (Boards, Kites)
Takoon (Boards, Kites, Accessories)
Twister (Kites)
Vairo (Kites)
Vari Kites (Kites)
Wild (Kites)
Windart (Kites)
Windwing (Kites)
Wind-X (Kites)
Wipika (Kites, Boards, Accessories)
Zeeko (Boards, Kites)
Select to expand quotePeterc150 said..
I have used my two Lithium (9 and 12, 2013 models) a lot. Great kites, good (real) low end power for their size, everyone who has used one agrees. Turn well, boost well, smooth power delivery including when looping. Love them.
I have heard that 2015 Lithium's are even better but haven't tried one yet. Demo!
have owned and agree, will get you going and keep you going,
2015 is an amazing kite, go and demo one- i know theZu have one in 10M they demo (the one i rode and enjoyed)
Why don't u just stick with Naish kites......
Seems like the logical choice considering ur username 
Select to expand quoteGilly3 said..
Why don't u just stick with Naish kites......
Seems like the logical choice considering ur username
Maybe he is "naish" and fishing for honest info about his brand
(yes, I joke)
High Rrp's give both the retailer and the wholesaler the ability to discount further. It'll make the customer feel like they are getting a better deal.
It'll also give the impression of higher quality. The average newb will pick the $2200 kite that has a $400 discount, rather than the $1800 rrp kite.
Had several big name brands and I wanted an 11 meter as I did not like my drifter.So I went with a dark horse!
wanted a kite that turned reasonably quick, light bar pressure,killed the power on turnes and jumped well with float.
Big wind range and good upwind.
2012 Peter lynn fury
It was cheap and Holy crap best kite I have had.
I mainly ride in the surf on a surfboard.
Have never seen an inflatable Peter lynn kite here on the east coast.
Worth a look, plenty here on seabreeze.
Select to expand quotebjw said..
High Rrp's give both the retailer and the wholesaler the ability to discount further. It'll make the customer feel like they are getting a better deal.
It'll also give the impression of higher quality. The average newb will pick the $2200 kite that has a $400 discount, rather than the $1800 rrp kite.
Hi BJW
I am not trying to be smart etc but am having trouble finding any Kites at all that RRP around the $1800.00 mark for a 12 meter . I am happy to buy anywhere that has a good deal ..........
Oh Yeah.... the username was something at the time i thought was clever.......... and i am sort of impressed with the Pivot so far........
Cheers
Select to expand quoteRobertNaish said..
bjw said..
High Rrp's give both the retailer and the wholesaler the ability to discount further. It'll make the customer feel like they are getting a better deal.
It'll also give the impression of higher quality. The average newb will pick the $2200 kite that has a $400 discount, rather than the $1800 rrp kite.
Hi BJW
I am not trying to be smart etc but am having trouble finding any Kites at all that RRP around the $1800.00 mark for a 12 meter . I am happy to buy anywhere that has a good deal ..........
Oh Yeah.... the username was something at the time i thought was clever.......... and i am sort of impressed with the Pivot so far........
Cheers
my go to kite is griffin argo, 11.5m, 2012 model I think, they went to 12m after that. Think I paid about $750 for kite alone. Quality/finish was not as good as Rev but was inproved on the 12m the following year. (in saying that I have not had any problem with kite apart from a few loose threads which are on the outside of stitching which I just trim off, if I can be bothered, and I use it heaps)
Im 110 kg, and I can fly from about 16k on a good twin tip, its a simple kite, flys great, stable, jumps big, lands soft. I pump up to about 9.5 pounds (yes I know that's lots but any less the tips fold a little on big jumps (but never clasped on me)
Make you own choice but have a look at them, they may suit your style, may not.
Buy the way, my old 15 and 11 Rev1 are for sale as I don't use them
Cheers.
Hi Robert Naish,
There are a number of good reasons to buy the bigger brands.
Unfortunately, good quality, big name 12m kites are all now around $2400-$2500 complete. This is a lot of money to pay, no doubt. You can reduce this cost by buying "kite only" and using your old bar (if appropriate), or waiting until the end of season sales when 20%-30% discounts are up for grabs. This makes a 12m kite purchase under $1500. Or buy late model second hand.
Buying a bigger name brand from a shop that stocks a good range spare parts for said brand is a good idea. Resale value is another rarely considered reason by kite buyers. Cheap kites, no name brands or unsupported brands are hard to sell, even when the price is at "give away" levels. A big brand like North, Naish, Cabrinha, Best, etc has excellent resale or trade in value as they are constantly in demand. It will cost you about the same to buy a new kite each year from a big brand when trade in or resale is taken into consideration as it will to buy a no name "cheapy" brand. The depreciation of the no name brand is so much greater. Have a look at the plethora of cheap 2nd hand kites on Seabreeze and you'll get a sense of what is of value and what isn't.
You do get better quality in the big names. The reason they are more expensive is more cost to make the kites, levels of quality control and materials and often it is in the bar and lines. The more you spend, the better the quality, same with cars, food, electronics TV's etc etc.
The aussie dollar has taken a thumping which has seen the costs of kites rise in the last couple of years too.
The things you don't see in some of the cheaper brands is canopy stretch and performance longevity. Cheap quality fabric and line quality stretches MUCH faster than quality stuff. Yes, the kites continue to fly and may remain intact, but the degradation in performance can only be felt when you fly a brand new kite of exact same model and make of the tired one. The difference is phenomenal! especially on cheaper brands. Just because a kite hasn't "blown up" doesn't mean it is a good quality kite.
These are just personal learnings and thoughts from someone who has been involved in the sport for almost 15 years and have seen and heard almost everything from manufacturers, shops, riders and customers. You can find anecdotes from very believable persons supporting every brand on the market. They can't all be correct ... or can they???
Just demo a kite, find one you like, buy it, and forget about what you paid because it doesn't matter in the long term if you are happy with the purchase.
DM
Hi Robert Naish,
I only owned Naish kites up untill I bought a 7m Switch E3. I bought it as it was a high wind kite and wouldn't be used much it's a great kite and great quality. After that I was thinking.... hey, I can save myself thousands here....I was about to replace my aging 9m park, then my 12m park and then my Fly (waiting for their light wind kite). That was until I tested the Pivot. I bought the 8m and on the weekend traded in my 12m for an 11m pivot. They are the best kites I have flown.
So The moral of the story is if you can get a similar preformance kite for less go for it otherwise you will have to beg, borrow and steal as I did to have a massive smile on my face as I'm gliding high through the air.
One last thing you size down with the Pivots so instead of a 12, 9 you get a 11,8....saves you a little bit of cash.
Switch Element 3 are great kites and saves you a lot of money due to their different business model. I started with Switchblades and now prefer the Switch Element 3 and have 2 of them in my quiver (13m & 9m). They are good quality kites and behave much better than many of the "brand" kites 
IMHO Switch has superior build quality than most brands. I have heard lots of complaints about Ozones quality and warranty recently, but there kites sure do fly nice. Other brands like Naish are well built, infact overbuilt and fly accordingly like pigs. North warranty not very good. Cabrinha warranty ok build quality ok.
Select to expand quotekookanaut said..
IMHO Switch has superior build quality than most brands. I have heard lots of complaints about Ozones quality and warranty recently, but there kites sure do fly nice. Other brands like Naish are well built, infact overbuilt and fly accordingly like pigs. North warranty not very good. Cabrinha warranty ok build quality ok.
Plus Switch Warranty = lifetime. Cabrinha = 1 year !
I purchased a lithium 12 2014 kite and bar in November
$1500.00 complete. I had a 2010 varial 12 that I learnt on previously from new only upgraded cause I could.
I couldn't kill airush kites and god knows I've tried.
Also own a ozone zephyr 17 and that appears to be well built.
Get on to airborne kites in Osborne park.
No I've got no affiliation with them.
Select to expand quotebergerman said..
Airush are rubbish. Stick with a brand like North top quality and warranty.
Disagree with airush being rubbish
Agree that North are D-bomb.
Nice first post in any case..
Why buy the current new model , how much better is it that the last year's model. Can can usually buy last year's model new for a steal shop around.
Try Daniel or reg at kite addiction in Perth and ask for a price _ u can't go wrong
