Soul has much better low end and more power. Upwind angles are crazy better. Downwind drift is better. Quicker setup and easier self launch in light winds.SolarSet wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:21 pmHey I'm looking for some advice on getting my next foiling kite. Currently I have XR6 8/11m which kinda sucks for foiling and Soul 15m which is way better.
Could someone put bullet points for pro/cons of getting Souls vs Airush Ultra or single strut Contra? I'm considering Soul 9 or 10m to be added or Airush ultra in size 9m?
Currently I have Zeeko Blaster which is 750cm^2 front wing and I'm starting to learn gybes, next year probably would go with Onda
I'm familiar with flying close cell kite mainly on TT and I ridden it only 5 times on foil but I understand its headaches, never ridden single or strutless kite,
I was keen on Soul but on my home spot most people ride Onda or other foils with DT Evo/Neo and it makes me think if everyone else rides LEI hydrofoiling instead of closecell foil kite maybe it's not worth the hassle to get Soul in smaller size?
One strut LEIs are more nimble and don't generate as much lift. This feels easier as a learner sometimes as the wind picks up. Relaunch is familiar in technique but low end of relaunch is worse and point of no return probably happens quicker too(if it rolls trailing edge down then its time to start swimming). Pack and swim in is simpler though.
I can't decide which I like better. I have both and see the benefits of each. I think a single strut LEI is easier to fly and the power delivery can be a little easier when learning new skills - but this might be also the result of flying the LEI at the low end vs the Soul in the middle of the power band. If you go with the Airush ultra you should invest in line extensions. I run 28m for my Ultra 9m and that gets a comfortable low end of 10 knots.
From my point of view if you like speed and boosting big then the Soul will be for you. If a surf style and lots of quick manoeuvres are your end goal (based on the Onda) then a one strut LEI will make things easier to learn