switch kite alternatives

[lightwind]

Gong is made from the same materials you would expect to see on any other kite brand. Very good build quality and amazing costumer service. I own strutless model and I’m super happy with it.

[Donniehall14]

If you're not set in any certain brand just shop around. I ended up getting a sweet deal on an Ocean Rodeo Razor and will probably buy another if I can get anywhere close to the same deal as I love the kite. So many good kites out there and good deals. Too bad Switch switched directions as I would have continued to buy kites.

[Matteo V]

Too bad Switch switched directions as I would have continued to buy kites.

Ya, I have seen some Switch Kite users kind of baffled of late. Still, I like some of their old models. And Felix will get things back on track. R&D is pretty difficult when you have to move away from what worked well, to.........something different.

What is your take on the new designs since Bill left?

[ShaveTheWhales]

Well I just bought a Pansh A15 12 metre... Damn good free ride old school,
jump, hangtime and reasonable turn speed as my low / medium wind kite if yor into foil kites.
I won't mention the price - you might flat line Haaa

[Toby]

What are the direct to consumer alternatives to switch kites? They seem to be doing a Best and ditching their direct to consumer approach with increased prices and an as to unannounced distributor.

Zian kites? Any reviews of the Hantu?
Gong kites, any reviews of the Freewave?

Who else am I missing that I should be checking out?

Cheers

Switch keeps placing ads on here with massive sales...are you aware of it?

[Faxie]

What are the direct to consumer alternatives to switch kites? They seem to be doing a Best and ditching their direct to consumer approach with increased prices and an as to unannounced distributor.

Zian kites? Any reviews of the Hantu?
Gong kites, any reviews of the Freewave?

Who else am I missing that I should be checking out?

Cheers

Switch keeps placing ads on here with massive sales...are you aware of it?

Are you aware that the base prices were standard discounted, that discount went away and the 'massive sale' got back, essentially giving you a 15% sale, with which you end up with the same price as the past models? Don't forget the taxes are not included anymore.

[kjorn]

I've been using Zeeko Rev-s in smaller sizes since 2016 - that is side by side with Airush and Ozone kites - and honestly - Zeeko gear was on pars and sometimes better in terms of flying characteristics and build quality. Especially vs last years Ozones - which fly great, but at the expense of very light and less robust materials.

Just FYI, there is no difference between Ozone materials and construction from last year and the year before. Ozone is built as light as possible but not at the expense of durability. Ozone uses Teijin D2 cloth, they have been approached by Teijin to use the more expensive tri and quad thread versions of the same cloth. Ozone did their own durability testing and found there was no advantage, but the cloth weighs more and costs more, so they said no. The leading edge dacron is the same as at least 50% of the main brands, its made by Teijin too. Bladders are the same PU, lines and bridles are all very high quality too, and from manufacturers that already supply line to the paragliding division.

Well, I dunno, Edges seem to break all the time. My mate has busted his a few times and has moved away from Ozone. Enduros look OK though, not heard of any issues with them.

[Toby]

What are the direct to consumer alternatives to switch kites? They seem to be doing a Best and ditching their direct to consumer approach with increased prices and an as to unannounced distributor.

Zian kites? Any reviews of the Hantu?
Gong kites, any reviews of the Freewave?

Who else am I missing that I should be checking out?

Cheers

Switch keeps placing ads on here with massive sales...are you aware of it?

Are you aware that the base prices were standard discounted, that discount went away and the 'massive sale' got back, essentially giving you a 15% sale, with which you end up with the same price as the past models? Don't forget the taxes are not included anymore.

So it's the same price like past models.
Ok tax not included, but gear gets more expensive every year...with all brands.

Won’t get cheaper. Fact.

[Faxie]

Switch keeps placing ads on here with massive sales...are you aware of it?

Are you aware that the base prices were standard discounted, that discount went away and the 'massive sale' got back, essentially giving you a 15% sale, with which you end up with the same price as the past models? Don't forget the taxes are not included anymore.

So it's the same price like past models.
Ok tax not included, but gear gets more expensive every year...with all brands.

Won’t get cheaper. Fact.

It's not a massive sale. Fact.

[alexeyga]

Just FYI, there is no difference between Ozone materials and construction from last year and the year before. Ozone is built as light as possible but not at the expense of durability. Ozone uses Teijin D2 cloth, they have been approached by Teijin to use the more expensive tri and quad thread versions of the same cloth. Ozone did their own durability testing and found there was no advantage, but the cloth weighs more and costs more, so they said no. The leading edge dacron is the same as at least 50% of the main brands, its made by Teijin too. Bladders are the same PU, lines and bridles are all very high quality too, and from manufacturers that already supply line to the paragliding division.

Oh you really shouldn’t have opened that door… ))))

Here’s the list of Ozone kites that I owned:
2006 Original Instinct – 0 issues
2007 Edge – 0 issues
2008 Edge – 0 Issues
2010 C4 9m – 0 Issues
2010 C4 12m – picked it up used, abused, beaten, repaired and re-repaired – 0 issues, flew straight and strong
2010 C4 15m – 0 Issues
2011 C4 12m – Most fun 12m I ever owned – 0 Issues
2011 C4 15m – Worst year to year upgrade I’ve ever made – fun and light all rounder has became a fat pig with idiotic bar pressure – 0 Issues with quality and construction though

Test drove a coupe of 2012 C4-s in different sizes and that was the end of Ozone for me at the time. A bookcase example on how to screw up a perfectly good kite.

In 2018 I've picked up a 1st gen Enduro 12m. Flew great initially, very close to the original C4 – albeit – with higher bar pressure.
But then with time it developed some issues:
-These damn webbing strut reinforcements – they do shrink from UV exposure - hence shrinking and cork-screwing the struts.
-The whole canopy got twisted to one side.
-Had a few leaks, thus I had become really good at removing and re-installation of the whole main bladder - and some of most notable points come down to:
1)Bladder material that current Ozone kites use – is thinner than the “standard” and as a consequence – a lot easier to damage. A few large-ish grains of sand inside a bladder can really screw up you kite trip if you use Ozone kites…
2)The way how main bladder’s tips are folded and secured – when compared with other brands – makes no sense what so ever. Neither from durability or serviceability view points.

To Ozone’s credit – they were quite helpful with the whole “twisted canopy” thing and I’ve got a replacement Enduro V2 – which I absolutely love flying and boosting the crap out of it (bar pressure still being too high) – and I’m going well above and beyond to maintain it properly, but ask me if I’m confident about Ozone’s quality and robustness Today vs what Ozone kites used to be back in 2008-2010.

As a parallel story: among my friends we have a local mega-looping and boosting star who's main kite for a period of time also was the 1st gen Enduro 9m. Granted that this kite has been pushed to its limits (for a relatively short period), but at some point it has became really poor at boosting and wouldn't catch the owner anymore after a real kite loop. Canopy stretch - was the verdict. Nothing to be done - the bird was dead.