Opinions wanted Switch Helium2

[paulOz]

Hi People,

I want a bottom end light wind kite for my hydrofoil (Zeeko Back White - wonderful)
Currently biggest kite is 2010 Crossbow 13 and I an actually happy with it ,, but too heavy (the kite).Me also in fact at > 90 Kgs..
So staying in the sky, drift and relaunch is bad (required for my mostly unsuccessful transitions)

I am looking at the the Switch helium2 15.5 because a few local riders have the switch (elements) and are very happy.
I believe I would be happy and maybe prefer a 13-14 but they don't make them in the smaller size.
I am short on bucks so Switch is very attractive. I am just 'not' going to spend $1,500-$3000 on a kite.

Any one have experience with this specific model?
Feel free to private message me if you don't want to get into a public bagging or otherwise.

Feedback appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

[Rasmus Nygaard]

Go get you self a Storm Voyager instead. They are even cheaper, and build for the purpose. They don't have struts, thus weighting very little. I'm super happy with mine. Very stable and predictable in the lightest of winds.

[SparD]

I don't know about the Switch Helium v2 15.5 but I tested the v1 18m and did not like it for hydrofoiling. It was too powerfull and not flying to the edge of the window when sheeted out so no good for foiling.

If you can get a good deal on a OR Flite Gen4 14.5, go for it !

It's almost as light as the Storm Voyager but way more performant as it has 3 struts that keep the profile.

The Voyagers have a terrible high end and when you depower them they flutter and lose all of their performance.

My 14.5 Flite stays in the air easily in 5-6 kts but as I weigh 90 kg also I need 8 kts to ride.

The high end is also amazing, if I am on "race" mode (only upwind and downwind riding), I can hold it in 17-18 kts on my hydrofoil.

[SimonP]

I wouldn't recommend a Helium for foiling. It is not a super efficient high aspect race kite but rather a powerful kite for getting high drag boards onto the plane in minimal wind. It tends to sit quite far back in the wind window once planing.

[Eltreato]

You should know that Switch is planning to release a smaller single strut kite in 11 and 13m sizes intended for foiling. Bill Hansen mentioned it a few weeks ago on the Switch forum. With that said though, no ETA has been announced. I'd be wary of going with something as big as the Heliums for foiling.

[paulOz]

Thanks Rasmus - I have followed strutless and decided I want at least one strut.
Thanks Spard - the flight is on my list - see if I can find a second hand one
Thanks SimonP - I can see that and understand your point.
Thanks Eltreato - Good to know.
PS.. Anyone had experience with Airush Vantage 13 for foiling?

[Thecopterdr]

I haven't tried the 15.5 but the 18 was a big sluggish kite that flew in very light wind.
I agree with the strutless idea and have been using Clouds for the last year or so - Having 100% depower available makes life a lot easier especially when learning.

[dylan*]

The 15.5 would probably be fine for foiling but the problem is that any tube kite isn't going to fly in the winds you'll get the most benefit from a 15m kite. So you will end up flying it from maybe 9 knots at a minimum and then being overpowered around 11 kts.

[bouclette]

I've been using Airush VXR v2 13m which is the generation before vantage and it does the job very well. Flies in 8kts no problem but might be a bit underpowered for your 90+kg...