Hi all,
I've currently got an 07 12 boxer and am very happy with it - just want to know how the new sigma shaped kites are holding up? Do they wear more than the previous shapes, and are there any disadvantages to the shape?
I'm considering purchasing an 08 cult and would like to know if they are much better than the 07 kites?
Cheers
glenno,if youve been riding the old boxer,your gonna be pretty happy on the cult!.you wont have any problems with the new canopy,just make sure you pump it up rock hard...the cult will have more pull on the bottom end,ridiculous top end,and will just feel crispier in your hands....just make sure the bar has been fitted with the ''smart loop''...the boxer was good in its day,but kites have moved forward design wise alot...have fun
I'm an '08 Alliance owner and am still really happy with it. The biggest difference i found when i first started flying the sigma was how stable the canopy is; no fluttering at all. Now a full season of use and it's still looking good and flying as well as the day i first launched it.
Enjoy your Cult. 
I dunno about that one about kites moving on-I ride Boxer SLEs and am on my 3rd-I tried the Cult for about a month and liked it a lot-it just wasn't that much better in any way over the Boxer SLE-also the Smart Loop is dumb IMO-I MUCH prefer to have the depower ABOVE the bar-much easier leverage pulling in or releasing the depower strap over the difficulties below the bar.
Again just an opinion-I wish Naish still made the Boxer SLE-I keep hunting down new ones.
Glenno the 08 Cult was the pick out of the sigma range for that year.
The 12 was a bit slow in flying speed and wont jump extremely high but if flies well and is a great wave kite.
The 10.5 and down are nice kites they do everything really well , the sigma shape works nice this kite will not invert ever and in high winds the shape delivers a smooth ride, if your riding flat water get the extensions , waves stay on the 20 mtr lines.
As for the bar its super nice and clean and the smart loop is nice once you get used to trimming the kite below the bar , you wont want to go back.
The only thing I remember was the bridle line which runs through the pulley will wear and eventually snap , Naish made you buy the whole bridle which sucked , I hope now you only have to buy the short replacement line for it.
As for comparing it with the 07 Boxer , its a better kite full stop.
Funny about the bridle I've snapped 4 on my 07 boxer those pulleys just hate the sand. All it takes for mine to clog up is one or two self launches/landings in the sand. I got the sh@ts in the end and put some heavy duty sailing rope there instead and can't tell the difference, and it doesn't matter how clogged those pulleys get that rope won't break!
I've got the smart loop on my boxer and love it - you get spoilt being able to adjust the depower right below the bar. It's interesting that a few are saying they're not as quick and don't boost as well I'm erring on the side of trying a different brand altogether Ie Slingshot rev.
Cheers
Yep I have to agree that the Cult's are a great kite. And i agree with the comment that Danza made the 12 is slow turning, I also have a 9 and that is fantastic, alot faster turning but still stable and predictable. I would love to give the 09 gear a go just to see what the improvements are like. Anway Glenno have fun with your purchase.
Glenno if you have got the cash the 09 range is so much better , the Helix is a kick ass kite that has been improved so much I could not believe it when I tried it.
I did not like the 08 helix for a number of reasons but the 09 range is all good.
As for jumping in the cults anything form 10.5 in the 08 range jumps big , the nine is probably one of the best nine mtr kites I have tried and owned and my biggest jumps have been done on that kite.
But the Rev has a big following so try them all and see what you like.
I'd be interetsed to hear if anyone's had an issue with the one pump system and all the LE to strut hose connections being internal ?
That's the only thing that's put me off trying one out, it seems it would be a MAJOR headache if anything came undone !
au rick,you just open up the zip on the strut and twist-lock off from the l.e.,the only issue ive encoutered is if ya got a big hand thats hard to fit inside...apart from that,they are hassle free...note too,because its internal,they wont split etc cause its not exposed to u.v's...give one a try,just pump the kite up hard as a rock!
au-rick
I have had the 9 and12 meter cults for over 12 months now and had absolutely no problems with the one pump and any connections between th LE and the struts.To be truthful I haven't even unzipped any of the struts.
No issues with any of the bladders in my Alliance.
I was told by a couple of shops that they tend to charge more to fix the sigma's because they're harder to work with due to the internal plumbing, but considering i've done all my and mate's repairs in the past i don't see the sigma's being any harder to work with.
They are a bit of a nightmare to work on and I bet they drop the concept in favour of an external system of some sort or just go individual inflation.
The are fiddly to work with. Each nozzle that fits into each strut, needs to taped very smoothly and cleanly with teflon tape (not easy to do, especially on smaller sizes), or they leak.
A puncture in a strut is hard to isolate, because that strut and the LE will go down, external systems are so much easier and better!
There is no way to stop the struts from over pressurising, when the kite is repeatedly crashed, by a rider who is learning unhooked tricks. Everytime the kite hits the water hard, a bit more air is pumped into the struts, and then the zips let go or the struts stitching lets go. We saw many kites with these issues when we sold that brand.
We could order Best kites with their similar E-Z pump system and we will not, and will not sell octopuss or E-Z type one pump kites.
I also reckon its a PITA to have to individually let down each strut, and then remember to do the valves up again, before you pump, its just a plain dumb design.
Slingshot licensed/Cabrinha type, external hoses with lock off clips, design/system is best.
The one pump systems like takoon, LF, etc where normal valves are connected with tube and lots of cable ties suck too, as they age they leak where the valve/hose connection is.
Flame suit on, but thats the truth folks, from people who repair lots of kites and who fly lots of different kites.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve
Dont listen to Uncle Steve his still upset his not aloud to sell Naish or North.
Flame suit on you need it by the sounds of it your still burning inside.
But in saying that I wish that all kite companies would piss the one pump system off.
Love your work Steve.
I agree with you Steve that the zipped tied system is not the best, especially when a line or bridle hooks onto the end of the zip tie and deflates your strut for you, luckily I had a spare zip tie in the car and was out in no time (could be a problem doing a downwinder).
Slightly off topic, I like the CAB setup (really neat and professional), the only issue I found is that if you smack your kite into something hard (water/land/whatever) the main inflation valve does not pop like the normal plug types but possibly causing the LE or struts to burst)
I don't know if anybody has had this experience but that is the only down side to the CAB system.
Cheers
Rich
Mate these kites are as tough as nails i have flogged the shti out of mine getting towed in by the wave every session and they still look like new as for the one pump system works very well haven't had a problem with one yet this year at all.
Saffer its about the system, not about just one of the brands that use it.
Not all Kitepower shops are unable to sell that brand!!!!. All the Kitepower shops sell the other brand that uses that design, but none of the Kitepower shops sell Best kites with E-Z pump.
The fact remains, that there are known issues with that single point inflation sytem design, and all I've done is talk about the issues out in the open.
My opinion as a repairer and user is valid, as is everyone else's. Some people say they have had a great run with the kites with this system, but others have nightmares, especially as the kites age or if the kite is used for learning unhooked tricks and is crashed heavily, at high speed, a lot.
My posts are not a brand beat up, so don't try to twist it that way, please. They are critical of the system, or the design of the system. There is more than one brand that uses the same system.
Somethings look like a great idea in theory and in brochures but in practice they are not so good, and thats all I have said.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve
I wish the Jew fish I try and catch at night would bite like you Steve.
Love your work , your always good entertainment on Seabreeze.
Cya
and where are those NE winds
Dan
Remember the BEST days when BEST was simply the BEST AND Uncle Steve would slag all the other brands and then he ended up slagging BEST as well.
Deluded , their is only one person deluded on Seabreeze and thats you Steve.
He pimps a brand then he slags it , he then pimps it and then he slags it and the story goes on.
Cya
Which brand am I going to slag now.
And Good winds
Dan
