Kitesurfing Kites Reviews
North Kiteboarding Code Zero
This is a new kite from North Kiteboarding, and we were excited to get it on the water. One strut kites have always been a bit of an anomaly in the past, great in light winds but with a poor top end wind range. Would this be the holy grail we've all been looking for? The design team have stripped…
Cabrinha Moto X
New for 2023, the entire Cabrinha range has had a lot of work put into it, and the Moto is no exception. It's the three strut do-it-all kite in the Cabrinha range and is perfect for the rider who wants to ride a twin tip, foil and surfboard and not be held back by their kite choice. Cabrinha has been…
North Kiteboarding Orbit
Returning with a new update for 2023, The North Orbit continues to be a dominant player in the Big Air field. With podium finishes at the King of The Air, this kite of kings (Marc Jacobs in 2021 and Jesse Richman in 2020) has been proven since the beginning. It fires from all cylinders and sends you to the MOON!…
DUOTONE Neo D/LAB
The all-new Duotone Neo D/LAB has finally arrived! Kiters who love the Neo are going to be interested to see this new iteration of the kite featuring the new Aluula material. The kite has also been redesigned around this new material to ensure it achieves the ultimate flying characteristics. It's still a three-strut wave kite designed to offer the ultimate…
Ozone Enduro V4
A mainstay of the Ozone Kites lineup, the 4th version of the Enduro has undergone a big redesign using Ozone's latest design technology. Still coming into that 3 strut performance all round category, the Enduro V4 has been designed for intermediate to advanced riders who demand a kite to keep up with all conditions and all disciplines thrown at it.…
Airush One V2
This is the 2nd generation of the One from Airush, just released in September 2021. Our South African based test team were lucky to get their hands on it so early, being a hop, skip, and a jump away from Airush headquarters, located in the surfside town of Muizenberg. The One V2 has been designed with simplicity, usability, and durability…
Harlem Kitesurfing Go V5
The Go has been Harlem's quintessential all-around kite since the start. Harlem calls it their high-performance all-arounder, designed for your everyday session and able to do just about everything you need it to... except get you beers! The most successful kite in the Harlem range, the recently released Go V5 is the best yet. Harlem has always done things a…
North Kiteboarding Orbit
Since the Orbit hit the kiteboarding scene, it's done nothing short of thrive within The Big Air scene. In 2019/20, North's Jesse Richman took the first edition Orbit to a podium finish at the King of The Air, with Marc Jacobs recording the highest jump over the course of the competition. Fast forward two, the all-new 2022 North Orbit carried…
Airwave Kiteboarding Koala
Airwave has a long history of producing products that show a true passion for flying. In the '80s, they made their first hang gliders before starting Airwave Paragliders. Now, the team has tapped into their skills and knowledge in aerospace engineering to design and release the Koala, a ram air foil kite. The Koala is a stable, lightweight foil kite…
Cabrinha Switchblade
Back in 2006, the first Cabrinha Switchblade was launched. Fast forward to today, when, after 16 years of progression, research and development, the 02 Switchblade has been released. This kite has helped riders achieve world records, world championships and push the limit of the sport. For instance, in 2017, Nick Jacobsen jumped 210M off the Burj al-Arab in Dubai on…
Cabrinha Contra 1 Strut
The Cabrinha Contra 1 Strut is the second iteration of this kite. In a unique approach, Cabrinha has split the Contra range into two, with smaller sizes (up to 11m) available as the Contra 1 Strut, and the larger sizes (13m+) in a 3 Strut version, designed to keep the structure of the larger kites more intact. Back in 2020,…
DUOTONE Evo SLS
Duotone has a fantastic and comprehensive quiver of kites available to their users; there truly is something for everyone in all disciplines of kiteboarding. The Evo is marketed as the most all-around kite in the range and comes in both the standard and SLS (Strong, Light, Superior) construction. The SLS materials give this kite a much sharper, premium feel compared…
DUOTONE Dice SLS
With a large range of kites to choose from in the Duotone range, you can certainly be assured that there's a kite for exactly what you're looking for. The Dice has been a staple kite for many years, packed with performance and aimed at the more experienced rider who enjoys freestyle and aggressive loops while still having the ability to…
North Kiteboarding Reach
In 2022, we saw North Kiteboarding bring the 3rd edition of the Reach to market. Your 'Desert Island Kite' is the go-to kite in the range that does everything exceedingly well. It's a lively and playful three strut kite with exceptional wind range, it shoots upwind, and it is now lighter than ever before. For 2022 North has introduced a…
Cabrinha Moto
The 02 Moto from Cabrinha is the newest iteration of the much-loved Moto. Cabrinha has been one of kitesurfing's longest and most well-respected brands since 1999, originally headed by kiting pioneer Pete Cabrinha. Based in Maui, which is considered by many the Mecca of kiting, Cabrinha has been developing kites right at the epicentre of innovation. Cabrinha is also trying…
Ozone Reo V6
The Reo is the dedicated wave kite from Ozone, perfect for the rider who wants an uncompromising tool to maximise every session. Ozone is known for only releasing new products when it is ready, and the new Reo V6 comes with updated material technologies and tweaks to the design to further improve the flying characteristics. We've long been fans of…
CrazyFly Hyper
The Hyper 2022 is CrazyFly’s big air machine. A 5 strut kite offering great loft and hang time, 2022 saw adjustments to the previous years giving this kite an extra edge. The design is a 5 strut, delta bow shape offering lots of depower yet boosting capabilities. CrazyFly has been a leading kite manufacturer since 1999. Based in Europe, the…
Slingshot UFO V2
Slingshot’s UFO (Ultimate Foiling Machine) is in its second generation and has had quite the overhaul, to say the least. You may remember the days of the older Slingshot kites which had a tendency to be heavy, but were also known to be bombproof. The UFO V2 is the absolute opposite end of that spectrum, and a sign of changing…
Cabrinha FX2
When Cabrinha released the 02 Collection at the start of the year, we were excited to see the brand's continued evolution. With some star-studded additions to the team (Hello Hannah!), a change of ownership in 2020, and the recent return of legendary designer Pat Goodman, this might be the most exciting Cabrinha era yet! We got our hands on the…
Flysurfer Stoke
It's been a little while since we have had an upgrade of this popular 3 strut kite from FLYSURFER, and once again, it is a marked improvement on its predecessor. Designed as an all-rounder, the Stoke takes decades of design knowledge from FLYSURFER's successful foil kite range and puts it into the 2 kite LEI offering. The Stoke is billed…
Ozone Enduro V3
The Enduro has been part of the Ozone line up for a while now, it’s a three strut do it all machine that is the go-to kite in their line up for riders who don’t let a particular style of riding define them. It’s designed to be able to perform at the highest levels for wave, freestyle and freeriding. Twin…
F-ONE Kiteboarding Bandit
The Bandit returns for its 14th edition for 2021. Last year saw F-ONE split the Bandit into 2 categories, The Bandit and the Bandit S (for wave riding and freeride) and both kites have received amazing feedback. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the 9m and the kite from the year before it feels like F-ONE have…
North Kiteboarding Orbit
For the past two years, the North Orbit has thrived within The Big Air scene. North's Jesse Richman took the 2020 Orbit to a podium finish at The King of The Air contest with Marc Jacobs recording the highest jump over the course of the competition. There's no denying that this kite boosts and performs to the highest level. The…
DUOTONE Neo SLS
The Neo has ben part of wave kiting folklore for so long now it is hard to remember a time without it. For 2021 this iconic kite sees some major updates designed to tempt even more riders into the fold. The big news is the new SLS moniker that has been added to the name. SLS stands for Strong, Light,…
Cabrinha Contra
Here we have it, the new 2021 Cabrinha Contra, a light wind foil machine! The Contra is a primary kite within the range and has been now for quite some time. For 2021 Cabrinha have added an all new 1 strut size in the smaller kites, and kept the Contra 3 strut design in the larger sizes. You’ll see from…
Cabrinha Switchblade
The Switchblade has forever been a go to kite for both freeride performance and big air riding. Although Cabrinha cater it as their freeride and big air kite, it really does have a great all-round performance that near all riders will find enjoyable. You’ll see from the images the Switchblade features a 5-strut design, allowing the kite to really load…
CrazyFly Sculp
The CrazyFly Sculp is a staple kite within the brands quiver. ‘One World, One Kite’, this is CrazyFly’s do it all kite. Freeride, freestyle and foiling can all be easily achieved when using this kite on a session – a fantastic all-rounder. Looking at the kite design, it features a 3-strut build with an all-new Hybrid Delta Bow shape. This…
F-ONE Kiteboarding Bandit S2
Last year F-ONE split their mainstay, the Bandit, into two versions: the 2020 and the S. This year, we see the same, with the more freestyle/big air inspired 2021 and the Surf inspired S2 series. Both similar at their core; we had the S2 on test this issue in some wintery swell and winds. The Bandit S2 is a 3…
Ozone Catalyst V3
Ozone's ever-popular Catalyst is back for its third incarnation with a new shape and less struts than before! Designed as the easy to use first kite we all need when we start out, the Catalyst is simple, lightweight and fun. New for this third version, the Catalyst has changed from the 3 strut more delta-shaped kite of the V2 to…
Slingshot Rally GT V2
Slingshots Rally GT V2 is an update on a loved classic. A tried and tested design, it has been revamped for 2021 to ensure a longer lasting kite with a bigger wind range and more usable performance. A 3 strut future Retro-C design, it is a proven shape to get the most out of all conditions with versatile performance for…
Flysurfer BOOST
The age-old saying goes, don’t change a winning formula. Although I have seen this classic phrase abused in every aspect, you can absolutely apply it to great kite gear, and rightfully so! With FLYSURFER’s commitment to only release new products when the potential to improve the design calls for it, we’re always excited when news of a new release arrives.…
Ozone Alpha V2
With many people wanting to get more time on the water (even in light winds) and the travel restrictions making places with consistently strong winds harder to access, the popularity of single strut kites has increased exponentially. As most kiters’ local spots do not have as consistent a breeze as they would like, people are looking for a “do it…
CrazyFly Hyper
The Hyper 2021 is the newest edition of the renowned big air machine from CrazyFly. The kite design is a 5 strut, delta bow shape, which translates to great hangtime and boosting capabilities! CrazyFly is a leading kite manufacturer since 1999. Based in Europe, the brand is known for having the longest warranty in the kite market: 3 years which…
North Kiteboarding Reach
2021 sees North Kiteboarding bring out their second model of the Reach. Your ‘Desert Island Kite’ is the go-to kite in the range that does everything exceedingly well. This kite has no boundaries. A playful kite that boosts well and shoots upwind while also having the ability to drift nicely in the waves and be accessible for all levels. Looking…
North Kiteboarding Pulse
2021 has seen North bring out their second model of the Pulse. Already a favourite amongst freestyle riders, the Pulse is North’s freestyle/wakestyle kite providing the rider with explosive pop, sharp turns and quick steering, precisely what you want when busting those moves. This hybrid C kite consists of a 3-strut design with a pulley-less bridle system. The new improvements…
Nobile Kiteboarding V-Ride
The 2021 Nobile V-Ride is Nobile’s Freeride/Wave kite. What they’ve done is take their knowledge and experience from earlier models and given the kite a proper makeover. Not so much the kite for Freestyle or Wakestyle, but the V-Ride certainly delivers for big air, wave and freeride rider styles. It’s a 4-line kite with pulleys on the bridles; there are…