Hi
It could be nice to share which light kites we know, and what their characteristics are
Foil kites are a different thing, and I think many of us knows these very well - but what about LEI kites ?
For hydrofoiling particularly when freeride and waves, we want a light kite, as we ride in much less wind with the same sizes as racers or those wanting to go fast mostly.
Some of us uses the same kites for waveboards and/or TT's.
Current good allround and wave kites are most often "bombproof" strong and works awesome for that, or freestyle.
F.ex a Naish Pivot, or a Takoon Furia - both turns excellent, stable and drift well, and strong as hell, depower great - perfect for what they are aimed for
But for hydrofoiling they are heavy, and with a 7 or 9m2 they can be impossible to relaunch because of that, if out in the lower end of a specific size, thus the light LEI kites are interesting !
Two different types (at least), the higher AR ones that turns slower (meant for racing), but still has okay depower and could work in the smaller sizes as faster.
And the general ones lower AR, "allround" types.
Important that they are light in the smaller sizes too IMO - and as most use a foil kite for marginal wind, we are talking about 12m2 and more likely smaller sizes.
Boardriding Maui Cloud C2 and C5
Strutless and light, can depower on the spot by means of luffing all over, great.
It flutters loudly when turned sharp or looped, thats the downside - or you have to get used to it.
LF Solo
1 strut and light, depowers okay almost as the Cloud I imagine.
Same flutter sound of course.
Zeeko Notus Air
1 strut, not tested by us users yet I assume.
North Mono
is another, not tested yet.
Naish Ride
Two strut kite - characteristics ?
Naish Trip
Strutless - characteristics ?
Ocean Rodeo Flite Gen 4
Three strut, more stable when overpowered, and not much flutter sound. Most likely not as fast turning as some of the other lower AR ones.
Other characteristics ?
Best Roca
Three strut kite with lots of grunt/power, on cost of depower.
Other characteristics ?
Cabrinha
- could not find any light kites ? (except for the way too big Contra's, not really for hydrofoiling)
F-One
Not really any as only one LEI kite...
Takoon
Not really any either...
Please comment away, and add others - just remember, you can not get it all so when you have a positive feature, it will have a corresponding negative one too of course, and add that side too
PF