Rider
Average
87kg
Currantly ride 06 Octane's
Bar / Lines
Rev 9mtr - Bar felt a bit thinker and softer then 07 fuels. The center insert is one solid piece of stainless not just a push in insert (these wore out and damaged the chicken loop line on 06 - 07 Slingshots). Safety is same set up as 07 but doesn't have the cleat to trim the fifth line safety (not needed with new kites). I had to ride with the stopper ball aprox 200mm down for any further up you get the poo man stance.
Atom 9mtr - Very similar to 07 bar and lines, has a softer feel to the grip (I think this will wear out with lots of use). Lighter bar feel then the Rev which made it feel as though you had less bottom end but it doesn't you just fly on your harness more. The lines have two length options which I like but if your in a rush to set up these aren't easy run out fast.
RRD type 9 - Best bar set I've ridden with yet! Very simple and well made. Chicken loop has plastic cover, depower strap is easy to reach and no plastic bits to get brittle and break. Only thing is the feel of the bar, it's hard and square very little comfort here and gives you sore hands.
Waroo 9mtr - Good grip, I loved the finger groves you know which way it is with out looking for colors. Don’t like the depower set up (same as the Atom) to much going on you have to be careful and can easily pull the wrong tab if not looking. A little bit more off and on power then the others more of a bow feel.
Kite
Rev 9mtr - Same good quality we are used to from Slingshot. Has a new safety over the dump valve and the stitching is all to notch. (Colors are bad!!! Slingshot needs to get some new ideas with the color schemes / some are just dam ugly)
Atom 9mtr - Another good quality kite. Bridle ropes are nice and supple. They have a high wind and low wind setting which is easy to change and makes big difference in power. Once again colors are same as last year good and simple, only 3 to chose from.
RRD type 9 - Not as good as Flexifoil and Slingshot but is finished well with some good little bit's with nice attention to detail.
Waroo 9mtr - Again not as good as Slingshot and Flexifoil. I think with a kiter who rides lots this kite will be pretty worn after a season or 2. Lots of pulleys but seems all good quality stuff.
Flying
Rev 9mtr - Fast! But not too fast. Very stable feel and soaked up the gusts well. On the beach it sits above your head and waits for instructions on the water it was sweet, had surprising bottom end and good lift with jumps (I didn't fully work the jumps out I think I was sending it a little bit to much I only had 45mins ridding)
Atom 9mtr - Safe! Does nothing you're not expecting but still turns well when you want it to. Has good bottom end, handles gust well and jumps good with fun hang time. Going down wind chasing waves the kite will just hang in the zone till a slight pull and turn and it's back on.
RRD type 9 - Great bottom end, the best of all the kites I have tried so far. It's a bit fast for and a all round kite. Would excel as a wave kite but for freestyle I think you would take some beatings from unexpected loops.
Waroo 9mtr - Slowest of 4 kites. Good jumping kite. Very stable feel and you hardly even feel the gusts. Kite was always in the right spot and went up wind well.
Comments
I'm looking for new kites so I've tried everything I can Slingshot, Flexifoil Atom & Inon2, Best, New (all shop demo kites) , Sigma, North & RRD type 9 (friends kites).
I'm looking for an all rounder, waves and flat water so I know I'm going to have to sacrifice on some positives to stay away from negatives. Coming from C's I am keen to keep that feel, up until trying the new 4 line kites I though that I would stuck with Fuels or similar but the these kites are all over the old style and going back onto my Octane's now after trying a 2008 kite feels like I go back in riding ability? I never liked the off / on feel of a bow kite, these kites don't have that feel at all.
I rated these kites as follows
1. Rev (very hard to pick between Rev and Atom)
2. Atom (I think the sizing is a bit restricting and the bar is not as good as the Rev)
3. RRD
4. Waroo
I think my new quiver will be 7, 11 & 13 Rev's
Thanks to Choice kitesurfing for the demo Slingshot, Flexifoil, Best & New Kites
Gerard.
omg, some one who has demoed more 08 kites than me!
you still have to try the fone bandit to get a head around everything that looks promising.
totally agree with Rev over atom and then everything else but i think the rev was the only clear favorite, the rest were all pretty good and would suit different riders.
ive tried both and i would go for the Rev,
it has lighter bar pressure, faster turning, better turning (C kite like), better construction
they both have good relaunch and wind ranges but the Bandit might have a better bottom end but barely.
If you compare the kites for free ride, waves and wakstyle the Rev just seems to excell that little bit more. Have a try at both, there both excellent kites
