Only had one session on this kite so it is mostly first impressions. I'm a shop owner so you can view it as biased but I do sell many brands.
Took the 11m out in 17-34knt gusty winds and was very surprised by the depower and just how comfortable I felt on this kite. I felt as if I could have handled another 5knts. The curved LE on this kite brings the front lines higher up the kite which allows you to sheet the kite out much further than a traditional LEI kite. The best part is the back lines dont go too slack so you dont lose turning speed.
mmmmm turning speed. These things turn on a dime and on a 46cm bar. They turn so fast that the 13m uses the same bar!
The following day we were out in much lighter winds and the kite has a better bottom end range than I thought it would. The front tips dont flare when you oversheet (because it doesnt have any) and the fast turning speed allows you to keep the power in the kite.
I know it all sounds like a lot of hype but hopefully there is somebody else out there that has ridden one?????
Jason
BrisKites
www.briskites.com.au/
I've flown the 7m in light winds on a mountainboard and it does turn quickly. I also have two f-one m5's and they are sweet. I love the 12m, very fast 
. Are there many f-ones being flown in Oz at the moment? I'm heading back to melboure soon.
17 to 34 knots....and another 5 knots no problem??? i know the depower is good, but i didn't think it would be that good.
I've got a F-One Dream 05 12 meter, and thinking about going for the impact this time around. I find the dream 12 has a weak bottom end, and always wishing it was a bit bigger, so I was thinking about going for the 13 this time around. Any idea of the top end on the 13???
Tell me jason,
It's all very well to quote these top ends, but I would like to know just how much fun it still was at these numbers.
My own kite can handle these winds but it becomes a chore after a certain point, if you know what I mean.
best winds
Tony L
The wind range on the f-one web site is 10-20 knots for the 13m, and if the M5 is anything to go by this means that for a 80kg rider you can get going on your normal sized board in around 12knots and the sweet spot is 14 -18knots. You can ride in up to 20knots but its not that fun,as you spend all your time trying to stay alive. My 12m5 12-24knot range is like this with a 15-20knot sweet spot. The quoted wind ranges are more like the maxamium possible usuable range not what you would normally kite in. Of course the usuable wind range will increase/decrease depending on your skill level. hope this helps
Ascole - you would be better getting the 16m M5 to compliment your 12m. This will give a sweet spot of 12 - 20 and a usable range 2knots either side.
i have a m5 12m brought it back from boracay last year as i didn't know they sold them in oz, if these kites were marketed like the large brands there would be no looking back, the f one range had the total depower issue sorted before bow kites even came out. If you want a kite that gives you a huge safe range and covers the whole safety/de power issue that boosts huge just by an m5 or this years impact. Balmoral has them to try , I urge everyone to test these kites, they are huge in europe
quote:
Originally posted by RAL INN
It's all very well to quote these top ends, but I would like to know just how much fun it still was at these numbers.
My own kite can handle these winds but it becomes a chore after a certain point, if you know what I mean.
I've had the 12M dream out in 30+ when everyone was getting blown out on 9's and 10's so the depower is pretty impressive with them and supposed to better on the impacts with the round tips etc...
Can i get a comparison between the dream 12 and the impact 11 and 13...is there anyone out there that can compare the dream to the impact?
Thanks
One thing I noticed is that the impact turns fast and pulls throughout the turn, while the dream turns, fast again but without much pull
WOW...so far i am impressed
i got a 9m impact and so far i love it more than anything in this world.
the quality is excellent.
i love the simplicity of the whole system.
i took it out yesterday in about 12knots using my 115 board (i weigh about 47 kg), whilst i had to work the kite a little i had no problems staying upwind.
it is very responsive.
this kite has potential!!!...
will give you an update as soon as i get to take it out is some real wind!
talking new f one kites, anyone tried the new tribal yet, looks fantastic
www.f-one.world/
for whats its worth, i have the m512, and 10, and dream3 8.
the m5 12 gets me going in around 14 kts, and is comfortable to about 20, but is fun boosting huge up to around 25kts, the m5 10 is so much quicker and gruntier than the 12 that id guess the bottom end is 15/16, but the comfort range up to 24 kts, and holdable comfortably (not for unhooking) to 33/34 kts, the 8 ive used to 40kts in anger and that was hanging on the 5th line...still able to cruise at normal riding speeds with the kite fully depowered.. the 10's my pick for range, but the 12's better for massive for jumping due the much higher aspect ratio, the 10 looks the same AR as the impact
i've had a 13m impact for a while, but have only had chance to use it at the lower windrange so far.....
on a 125 demon, it can get me up and running in 12kts (just) and i'm 85kgs. but it's not realy worth getting outta the bag until ya hit 15, but then, what kite is ?????
as said, there's power all the way thru the turn of the kite, perfect for unhooked, powered riding !!!!
on the tribal front, i've had a v.v.quick go on a pre-pre production model & it's looking impressive. but wouldn 't like to comment tooo much, as its gonna change a fair bit before it's released.
f-one kites and espes there boards are all over europe, but i've not seen one at all since i've been in oz. they not well liked over here ???
tara
Stu
i did my own research ordered them myself and had them send it to sos in freo... call them as i think they have all the info now and will order them for you 94307050, or peli point
no one stocks them here in perth but they only take a few days to get here...
they are soooooo good.... even though there is no wind i cant leave it alone!
Hey Kim must be hard with the new toy and still no wind forecast for a while. Whats your local spot...would like to check the kite out when some wind comes in.
cheers for your feedback.
woodies or safety bay and in sheer desperation melville
hopefully sunday will be THE day! will post when we work out where we are going
its so true that when you get new gear you get no wind... so maybe i should apologise to the whole of perth as lack of wind is my fault!
Had a go on the 13m Impact thursday at 13th beach.
First impression was that it was very user friendly, and sheeting all the way out really shuts the power off.
conditions were gusty but mainly 13 -15kts but systems coming though with up to 30kts( horizontal spray of wave tops).
all it took to cope was pulling in about 100mm of depower from full powered. I put the kite down during one squall to have a rest and had difficulty holding it down on the beach which made me realise just how windy it was.
I think that by shortening the back lines another 100mm, there will be even more bottom end without losing topend adjustment.
It seems to have more bottom end than a GKSonic 11, but that is only from comparing how someone kiting with me at the time on one fared. he being lighter and better than me and comparing who lost the most ground down the beach when the wind died.
At any rate it feels like my Airblast 10 in power but flies faster and and reacts quicker, more like an 11m.
next week I will get to compare to directly with a Nova 12 and CB12.
PS: I seemed to become a better wave rider, but I'm taking the credit for that
Best winds
Tony L
Pelican Point on Stirling Highway have the 11m Impact to demo. They'll be stocking them soon. 93861830
The 13m impact will be at Stkilda beach sunday early arvo for demo, and then later at Pt Danger. If you see it just come and ask for a ride.
where and for how long will be according to the wind.
best winds
Tony L
Hi.
I happened by coincidence to read your forum on the impact, so I thought I'll send you some greetings from Finland. Got an Impact 13m on saturday and I can tell you honestly that I´m happy with it. Had two great (but cold) sessions outside Helsinki. I'm no serious kiter. Been doing it for three years when I've had the opportunity (not too often). Some kind of average level I guess. Kite's I've owned are Takoon Wook2 12m and Scoop 12m, OR Bronco 16m, Caution Spiritfire 14m, CO2 8.5m, Rhino4 10m, Rhino4 18m and f.one M5 14m.
I'm really amazed by the Impact's turning speed and it's smoothness. It's really reacting quickly to the impulses you give it. Looping it through the wind window is defenetly no problem.
It pulls smoothly through the gusts and is forgiving when you miss jumps. (Had the same feeling with the Torch 12m, which felt maybe even more forgiving.) I've sometimes had problems in gusty conditions with other kites when using a big chicken loop without a donkey dick. I mean getting un-hooked in situations when you would definetly like to be hooked-in. I'm not afraid that will happen too often with the Impact.
The depower is something I've never experienced with other kites. (Though I can admit I've only had a short light-wind session with the Rhino5.) Sometimes it even felt underpowered in a way. You really need to have some speed. I heard someone say it's not a kite for a beginner. Maybe it's true, but I don't really understand why. This kind of depower makes it very confortable and safe. (Compared to the Wipika "train engines" for example I think it's heaven for beginners) If I would have had this kite three years ago I would.... don't even want to think about it. I wouldn't like to let my girlfriend try it; she would probably not give it back. :)
Another thing I haven't experienced so clearly with any other kite is the way it starts to generate speed when you pull the bar towards you. The power adjustment really suits me.
About ten other surfers were testing it and everybody seemed very happy with it, even the "Rhino-guys". They agreed it turns faster than the Rhino6 14m. Though I heard some comments about an "under-powered girl kite" :)
The only thing I'm a bit concerned about is that you can sometimes feel the vibrations of the tips in the bar. Weird! I can't say it affected the performance of the kite in any way but I wonder if they will vibrate a lot more if/when you have a small leakage in the big bladder. If the big bladder isn't really stiff it might affect the performance of a kite with this construction. (I'm not sure but I have this feeling.)
Some thoughts on the M5:
I'm really happy I changed my M5 14m to the Impact 13m. I thought the M5 felt very heavy. The depower of the M5 is OK when the fifth line is tightened. The adjustible fifth line was nice in a way, but I did never really understand how to use it when rideing un-hooked. And that's when you would like the fifth line to be tight as the M5 was turning faster that way. The M5 is turning OK (nothing like the Impact though), when pulling really hard, but I felt it was reacting with a strange delay. And the M5 is, in my opinion, not very forgiving if you do mistakes.
I don't want to say that M5 is a crap kite, though. I've had the best hangtimes and the smoothest "old-school rotations" ever with that kite.
I'm really sorry for writing all this crap. But I promise it's "honest crap". After two sessions with the Impact 13 I have a really, really good feeling about it.
Now I trust F.one but I'm trying to decide wether to buy an Impact 9m or a Tribal 9m (whenever it comes). If anyone has some experience, please tell me. Does the "stop and go"-system work? Is it OK un-hooked? etc.
how would you compare the wind range of the m5 to the impact for the 4 and 13 meters ?
I had the feeling that the M5 14m has a better lowend. At least it's pulling harder at light wind. On the other hand I think the Impact 13 flies closer to the edge of the window and it's definetly faster. So with a bigger board I think you can go upwind earlier with the Impact. I just sold my 18m Rhino4 (wonderful big kite whitch I've been mostly using during the winter) to afford a lightwind board.
In strong winds you can in my opinion definitely go further with the Impact. Better de-power. It might not be that funny to be out in 18+ knots but I would guess that you can still ride with it in 25+ knots. The strongest gusts I had were around 22 knots (I would guess) and it felt really easy. (I'm 68 kg)
got to try out my 9m in a stronger breeze (about 12knots through to 22 knot gusts on a 5 minute cycle!).... was very impressed with the depower...
there is no way i would have been able to fly my 8m that day, in the gusts i would have been lofted for sure and no way would i have been able to hold my ground and when the wind dropped off there is no way i would have been able to get going...
this kite is so nice to fly...
i hope that i will need another size though because i really want to buy another one lol
yet to try it out on one of our magical seabreezes but i know its going to be good...
gave 11m impact a bash
impressed with it, alot of depower, flies fast, jumps well
stable in gustly winds
only issue curved tips seem to flare in and out a bit - maybe why vegas 6 has got batten there
but why 20m lines???
had lots of fun with the impact over the weekend... it flys unbelievably well... if you are looking to buy a new kite it is definately worth having a demo of the impacts
in regards to the short lines i LOVE them (meant to be great for waves)i have such good control of my kite and it is so responsive...
very quick to turn...i always know where my kite is when im crashing... (i love crashing woo hoo)
and i love relaunching it, very quick to get it it flying again
the only times the tips really flare is when a gust initially hits (say 15 knots gusting to 22 knots)
and the kite is quite basic which i think is great as it keeps the kite extremely light
now i need to get myself a 7
Glad to see you are loving the Impact Nonickers.
The Demo 13 I had is on it's way to Mambo, so anyone going should book a ride of it.
Every single person who I gave a go to, absolutely had the same reaction as you.
If only Mambo was still a few weeks away, I could have brought it to perth with me this weekend.
best winds
Tony L
