Sonic or Soul for foiling progresion

[JoseTumaco]

Need advice from foilers that tested Soul and Sonic in light wind. I want it for foiling, just for fun, not for competition, I foil 1 year ago, just jybing yet, not tacking. I have an Hiperlink v1 UL 12m, 2 years ago, now quite damaged,. .. and I am thinking in a 15 M Sonic or Soul. In one hand I am thinking in Soul because I normaly kite alone at the beach (500 M far maximum, that is not to much to swim back when my Hiperlink colapse, did it few times ), and I heard Soul has Best in relaunching than Sonic, and it is more stable, so for security reasons Soul could be the Best option, (but is too similar to Hiperlink, and would like something to improve a bit),... IN THE OTHER HAND, I like SONIC because its better performance, I imagine is like a second stept/level in foil kites and I am very tempted to it, ¿Should it be too much dificult to use? I am already very used to Hiperlink with Moses 91 mast, 550 wing. I almost kite every Day, at the see, not lakes, in stabke and not gusty winds, Most of days in 10/11 knots, some of them 8 knots. I also TT in LEI kites 4 years ago. Thanks for your help!
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[dave1986]

I cannot answer your question about Soul vs Sonic, but as you already own an Ozone Hyperlink, I can highly recommend a Ozone Chrono V3 as a higher performance freeride alternative. The Chrono is extremely stable and easy to use, but higher performance than the Hyperlink (but not as high performance as race kites).

It comes in either standard fabric or Ultralight fabric. I would definitely recommend the Ultralight fabric if you plan to regularly use it in under 10knots.

[Nem0]

If you have constant wind and like more performance and have enough experience with foil kites go with Sonic3

[Regularkiter]

for recreational foiling soul is hands down a better choice! 10m is all you need with a big and small wings. Sonic doesn't loop as good, that's its problem, also too much performance, so if you are not racing, no point of it.

[JoseTumaco]

for recreational foiling soul is hands down a better choice! 10m is all you need with a big and small wings. Sonic doesn't loop as good, that's its problem, also too much performance, so if you are not racing, no point of it.

Thanks! What fo you mean with too much performance? I understand you that Sonic is much more difficult to loop, to gybe/tack, and it is no much benefits if you dont want to race, and as you noticed I really dont mind going a bit more upwind, or going a bit faster because I just want to have fun, but in the other hand, if the difference is huge then I could trie,... Is the difference so huge?

[Jyoder]

I foil 1 year ago, just jybing yet, not tacking. I have an Hiperlink v1 UL 12m, 2 years ago, now quite damaged,.

Why is the hyperlink damaged? can it be repaired? That’s already a good kite for learning. Save money and get it fixed up and tuned. Wait till you’re better at foiling to buy a new expensive kite.

Don’t get a 15m foil kite without demo’ing it firsts. 15m turns much slower than 12m and takes longer to accelerate, can actually be harder to keep in the air in light winds.

[JoseTumaco]

Thanks for that good info about 15m foils @Jyoder. My Hiperlink is breaking in the inside buffles,... till now five times, and been repaired 5 times, I think is now old because of 3 days a Week kiting for two years but still works, I could wait some extra time. I need something in good materials for kiting every week, for example race kites are very frágile, you know if Sonic is the same as Soul or Hiperlink in durability?

[BOEMIX]

I have both soul and hyperling, 15m and 9 respectively, and soul is the best foil kite I have ever flown, is insanely sable, so you can jump with 0 bow tie worries. It' so powerful also maybe too much for my taste sometimes, because paired with a foil you can ride until nobody is left on the beach and my only complain is that I find it difficult to backstall land, even in light wind, so I only use it if there are gilrfriend or mates arround.

[Adventure Logs]

Having both the Soul and Sonic id recommend the Soul for you. Since you are still learning a lot hydrofoiling, you want a kite that is very stable and does it’s job(you don’t need to worry about the kite while you are worrying about making your next transition etc). Not to say the Sonic3 isn’t great, it is. But you are going to have more slack line issues while you learn and the Soul is MUCH better at that. Also it does relaunch better, behaved better in unstable conditions, and is cheaper.

What’s your weight/equipment? I ask because the 15m most likely is going to be a little too big for hydrofoiling. You are going to become over powered very quickly and the wind window for hydrofoiling is pretty small. I would recommend either the 12 or 10 Soul. With longer lines the 10m Soul will do you well but the 12 will give you a easier bottom end. What other kites are in your quiver. Could help determining the correct size.

=Jason-

[Nem0]

I find it difficult to backstall land, even in light wind, so I only use it if there are gilrfriend or mates arround.

Try to shorten Backlines round about 5cm and backstall landing would be no problem anymore!