Rider: 50kg, intermediate
Style: Freeriding, Freestyle
Weather: 15 - 25 knots
Build Quality: ?/10
Satisfaction: ?/10
Disclosure: prone to be indecisive when it comes to deciding what kite to get...
Okay, I'm looking for a new kite, having been riding starkites for 3 years, and I'm leaning towards North Evo or Vegas - the thing thats put me off vegas is the 5 line which I'm unsure if I'll like. I've tried out the switchblade 8m in about 15 knots and again about 20-22 knots and wasn't impressed by that at all, hated the really light bar pressure (even lighter than my starkites) which seemed to go from nothing to pulling, compared to my starkites which have a steady pull. Also thought it felt like a crap low end. Have also flown best nemis, love the 10m, hate the 8m much too twitchy and imo have the worst low end! In saying all this, it's hard to really judge a kite from just a couple of sessions.
So I'm after a kite with good wind range - good low end especially seeing as I'm in Brissy and I like going out when it's lightish; quick turning but not as twitchy as 8m nemesis; light to medium bar pressure; good with beginning unhooking and looping - I'm only dabbling at the moment and probably won't be getting into that quickly but want to be able to try - good relaunch and good safety... Oh yeah and dont forget awesome jump ability!
I ride a 128 toyboy, and am thinking an 8m kite would be good, but thinking the evo might be too much when it gets around 20knots, have been reading it really pulls when powered... The vegas, hows the windrange on that?
Will appreciate all constructive comments!!!! Thanks heaps in advance!!
vegas, is a sick kite. fantastic for everything really. and it is really easy to relaunch.
I own Ozone C4's 2012 (5,8,10) and I weigh 55kg so about the same as you.
I can use the 8m from 12knots but the fun starts when it's around 20 knots.
The bar pressure is good and it has settings for a higher bar pressure.
For kiteloops the C4 is really good, it's a quick kite and the pull in the loop is good.
I think the wind range of the C4 is great, I can use the 8m from 12knots and when it's 30 knots or more I use my 5m , I once used the 8m in 35 knots but that was just because the wind picked up and I had to go back up wind, but I was surprised that I could hold it 
.
Unhooking on the C4 is good as it was made for freestyle. ( My level in unhooking isn't that high, I can do a railey, s-bend and railey to blind.)
It has a nice hangtime and lift, so big jumps isn't a problem.
The quality is (almost) perfect.
Relaunch is super easy, just pull one line and it flips over.
The safety... I like it because it's simple and easy to use, but there are many people that don't like it because it isn't a Push Away system so it's maybe the weakest point of the C4.
I ride the 7, 9, 12m Vegas and they are sick kites! 5 line only is a problem in the waves. I kite both waves (when ever we get them in Perth) and freestyle (only when theres no waves) and the Vegas does it all. Unhooking and loops this kite rocks.
blueseas, I demo'ed both the vegas 2013 and evo 2013 twice. Although the Vegas is amazing for loops and great for unhooking (I'm just novice at this) and relaunches very easily for a C-shape I found the bottom end and the upwind performance were not so great. You also get less hangtime than most non-C Shape kites, but can get great boost with the right technique. That being said you have the advantage of being a very light rider, this way you can probably get going great on a 8m vegas starting at 15 knots.
I think you would need various sizes of vegas to get the full benefit of the smaller wind range they offer.
As for the Evo 2013, it's a kite that does a bit of everything good but doesn't excel in anything in particular in my opinion. The upwind riding, hangtime and bottom end is definitely better than the Vegas, but you get more bar pressure, slower turning, poorer kiteloops and harder to unhook...
At the end of the day I think it's all about compromise, which ever kite you decide to buy. If you want to get full on into freestyle and unhooked riding, Vegas is the way to go if you can afford at least two sizes, preferably 3.
Otherwise if you want to do a bit of everything, the Evo can be a good choice and only two sizes would do for 15-35 knots range.
Best thing is obviously to get a chance to demo them and make a decision from there.
Hi, thanks so much guys for all your advice! I hate to be one of those people who asks for advice then does something completely different anyway (haha) but I did just that! Just bought myself a 9m drifter and what can I say? I luuuuurve it!
I know I'm not going to become a freestyle goddess anytime in the near future, so a kite purely for freestyle prob not for me. I was contemplating the c4s as well, but have yet to demo, so went with the drifter, which I am thinking is going to give me a huge wind range - I'm estimating about 12 to 20 - and moves quick and steady, even when fully depowered as I rode it today 
Had the rellies over today so just went for a quick blatt, but can't wait to take it out tomorrow and try out a 5.5 as well.
Good buy, thanks KITEPOWER! 
Should have got the 9m Evo, Would have been perfect for what you were asking in your original post.
