North launches all-new Code Zero Performance Foil Kite

[Azzieo]

"One of the lightest single-strut kites ever designed – engineered using the lightest materials and minimalist design"

WEIGHTS OR GTFO

Hi Everyone.

I only have a 7m production kite here. It currently weighs about 1.8kg (My lines are still attached and there is a bit of sand in the kite in the picture). I think it was 1.75kg when it was new out of the bag.

Code Zero 7m weight.jpeg

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Gunnar

Just for a reference this is the same weight as a 9m A-Roam, which is a 3 strut wave\foil kite...

[gmb13]

"One of the lightest single-strut kites ever designed – engineered using the lightest materials and minimalist design"

WEIGHTS OR GTFO

Hi Everyone.

I only have a 7m production kite here. It currently weighs about 1.8kg (My lines are still attached and there is a bit of sand in the kite in the picture). I think it was 1.75kg when it was new out of the bag.

Code Zero 7m weight.jpeg

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Gunnar

Just for a reference this is the same weight as a 9m A-Roam, which is a 3 strut wave\foil kite...

Just for reference, the Code Zero costs just about half of an A Series Roam and is made from normal matierials and as such is more durable and less complicted to repair in case you damage it.

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Gunnar

[Archer77]

for what can matter to me seams a good kite, I like didn't have pulley too, also if for the moment I prefer more cross over kites
Is also on the same weights of the Alpha V2 that's among the lightest kites without aluula or wipika

[nothing2seehere]

Just for reference, the Code Zero costs just about half of an A Series Roam and is made from normal matierials and as such is more durable and less complicted to repair in case you damage it.

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Gunnar

Are they really normal materials?

I was under the impression that lightweight dacron was used (DLE 140 which is the same stuff that Slingshot use on the UFO). Is the lightweight dacron really more durable? Aluula made a big song and dance about the tear resistance in comparison to the 200g dacron so it seems unusual that the lightweight dacron has better tear resistance than the fabric used for strong winds (e.g. the Orbit kite) as surely you'd want your strongest material on that range?

I understand your point though that the marginal gains might not be worth the expense for the average person and that the overall design is more relevant (aspect ratio, how far forwards/back it sits)

[Azzieo]

Hi Everyone.

I only have a 7m production kite here. It currently weighs about 1.8kg (My lines are still attached and there is a bit of sand in the kite in the picture). I think it was 1.75kg when it was new out of the bag.

Code Zero 7m weight.jpeg

--
Gunnar

Just for a reference this is the same weight as a 9m A-Roam, which is a 3 strut wave\foil kite...

Just for reference, the Code Zero costs just about half of an A Series Roam and is made from normal matierials and as such is more durable and less complicted to repair in case you damage it.

--
Gunnar

All the bragging points so far have been about weight and speed etc, which all are well under the A-Roams... Innovation -wise? Really? The light weight Dacron is more durable than Aluula? Do we really know that for a fact? I don't...(Please supply references)

The fact of the matter is that the only real innovation when it comes to light wind and foil kites has been the Aluula, and all stupid marketing like "one of the lightest on the market" is bs...

Prices - totally different subject. Yes, it may turn out that Code Zero is the best "budget" light wind foil kite.. who knows, but let's try to keep it real, until we have some more collective experience around it..

[nothing2seehere]

Don't forget though that kite design is all about compromise.

If you really want light weight then you need to look at something without bladders - like the flysurfer peak. Want a bit more performance and the lightweight double skin kites like the Hyperlink 3 come into play. Aluula is an innovative process of materials manufacturing but companies like Best have used cutting edge materials in the past (sadly without success).

What will be interesting is whether the design lends itself to hydrofoiling. Most kite designers claim to use the lighter dacron because it allows a little more twist in the leading edge for responsive steering but interestingly Airush have gone the other way and gone for stiff fabric for the Ultra Team because they can then use a much thinner leading edge and reduce the drag. Those are the two models I'd be keen to see a back to back between because they have the same target but a completely different approach to achieving it.

My personal feeling is that the Roam is a wave kite so whilst exhibiting desirable attributes it shouldn't be in the comparison any more than the Neo D-lab

[Azzieo]

Don't forget though that kite design is all about compromise.

If you really want light weight then you need to look at something without bladders - like the flysurfer peak. Want a bit more performance and the lightweight double skin kites like the Hyperlink 3 come into play. Aluula is an innovative process of materials manufacturing but companies like Best have used cutting edge materials in the past (sadly without success).

What will be interesting is whether the design lends itself to hydrofoiling. Most kite designers claim to use the lighter dacron because it allows a little more twist in the leading edge for responsive steering but interestingly Airush have gone the other way and gone for stiff fabric for the Ultra Team because they can then use a much thinner leading edge and reduce the drag. Those are the two models I'd be keen to see a back to back between because they have the same target but a completely different approach to achieving it.

My personal feeling is that the Roam is a wave kite so whilst exhibiting desirable attributes it shouldn't be in the comparison any more than the Neo D-lab

All good points. What I was trying to say, I guess..is yes, light wind foil market is opening up, Aluula has a great opportunity to make a dent, North is the Giant in the room so let's keep them both in check, otherwise people consistently get entangled on "brand loyalty programs" which always and only benefit the "brand". And I may be wrong, but I think North is waaaaay bigger than OR, with waaaaay more resources to devote to R&D, but yet the real innovation came from a small BC company... So again - on an open forum like this - let's try to keep it real..

[Azzieo]

Don't forget though that kite design is all about compromise.

If you really want light weight then you need to look at something without bladders - like the flysurfer peak. Want a bit more performance and the lightweight double skin kites like the Hyperlink 3 come into play. Aluula is an innovative process of materials manufacturing but companies like Best have used cutting edge materials in the past (sadly without success).

What will be interesting is whether the design lends itself to hydrofoiling. Most kite designers claim to use the lighter dacron because it allows a little more twist in the leading edge for responsive steering but interestingly Airush have gone the other way and gone for stiff fabric for the Ultra Team because they can then use a much thinner leading edge and reduce the drag. Those are the two models I'd be keen to see a back to back between because they have the same target but a completely different approach to achieving it.

My personal feeling is that the Roam is a wave kite so whilst exhibiting desirable attributes it shouldn't be in the comparison any more than the Neo D-lab

All good points. What I was trying to say, I guess..is yes, light wind foil market is opening up, Aluula has a great opportunity to make a dent, North is the Giant in the room so let's keep them both in check, otherwise people consistently get entangled on "brand loyalty programs" which always and only benefit the "brand". And I may be wrong, but I think North is waaaaay bigger than OR, with waaaaay more resources to devote to R&D, but yet the real innovation came from a small BC company... So again - on an open forum like this - let's try to keep it real..

[leeuwen]

My personal feeling is that the Roam is a wave kite so whilst exhibiting desirable attributes it shouldn't be in the comparison any more than the Neo D-lab

The roam has actually printed freeride foil/surf right on the kite.
So discounting it as a wave kite rather then a foil kite doesn't really reflect reality IMHO.
I would also wager that over 90% of these kites are sold to people who primarily foil with them rather then people on a surf board.

The only valid question if it can be compared is due to the costs.
But do note that the Roam kite seem to hold up really well in a huge wind range.
If you start to compare 2 aluula kites vs 3 one strut dacron kites the monetary difference is not that big anymore...

[IDAVIS]

Ufo v2 9m is 1.9 kg, so 200 gr difference is huge!

The Airush ultra team in 9m is 1.98kg

Same weight thank UFO but one more strut