Strutless Gong Kite Reviews?

[richy-c]

Anyone tried one?

[jumptheshark]

Some info here

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2392920&hilit=gong

[lightwind]

http://www.gongsup.com/forum/viewtopic. ... start=1065 Here as well. It’s in French language but you can translate. Try searching this forum there’s couple more posts.
I was researching this kite for longer time and this is what I found out for foil riding:
- excellent upwind due to high aspect profile
- foiling dedicated kite
- flies in very low wind
- with line extensions and good technique could get you going early in light wind
- bad highend since is strutless
- good build quality
- slow turning in bigger sizes
- tricky relaunching
What I would like to know:
- how much flutters in turns and when trimed
- what is the bar quality

[dkazhdan]

it flutters quite a bit in turns but i think so do the BRM kites?

[br44]

- bad highend since is strutless
- good build quality
- slow turning in bigger sizes
- tricky relaunching
What I would like to know:
- how much flutters in turns and when trimed

I have 3 Gong Strutless, 9m (v1), 12m & 17m (v2). Taking your points in order:
- Bad high-end: True but only if you are on the wrong size. I had one such session, 12m in 20+ mph. I hated the fluttering, but at the same time it was perfectly fine/safe to keep going. It was user error: I should have brought a smaller kite.
- Good build quality: Definitely
- Slow turning: the 17m seems fast to me, for its size
- Tricky relaunching: It really depends. I've experienced this in light winds but the issue may have been my skills. In stronger winds, no problem. Back line relaunch is fantastic, works great because the kite is very light, and saved me once from what could have been a long swim (and even loss of kite).
- If it flutters, you are on the wrong size. When you are on the correct size, you don't need to trim and it does not flutter more than other kites. In other words, plan for 2+ sizes and "trim" that way.

My take is, the Gong Strutless are great, and also considering the price (and their built-in advantages and disadvantages - as designed), you cannot go wrong with them.

[lightwind]

[/quote]
My take is, the Gong Strutless are great, and also considering the price (and their built-in advantages and disadvantages - as designed), you cannot go wrong with them.
[/quote]

Do you use it for foiling? Can you please comment on the low end of the kite?

[br44]

Do you use it for foiling? Can you please comment on the low end of the kite?

Yes but I have limited experience in very low winds. For foiling you likely want the 6m and 9m. The 12m and 17m - sure if you also ride TT and SB, or for the really light days. Your mileage may vary.

[jyka]

I have gong v2 12m strutless and I'm happy with it, using only it for foiling and winter(snow) light wind days. Good build quality and good kite in every way.
Relaunch in light winds is hard but sure it's with every LEIs. This flies in lighter winds than normal strut kites, if you drop it in marginal wind and kite gets wet..

[nayy]

I have one, bought it at the end of last season.

Unfortunotely only flew it once on the beach and used it once on the foil, the end of last season was very windy and that's the reason I did not use it more.

I bought this kite specialy for it's low end, my biggest kite was my ozone catalyst 12m² (2014). Although ozone are light kites, they don't fly well in wind under 10 knots. I was searching for a good lowend kite, the ram air kites are very good (tried the ozone hyperlink 12) and it was perfect, but the high price tag held me back.

The strutless flys very well in low wind. with 7-8 knots it flys and does not drop out of the sky... very very stable.

With my ozone cat with limit winds 9-10 knots a little wave that causes slack lines with the kite at the zenith and the kite drops out of the sky... the catalyst just falls back in the window... extremely stable.

I used it once on the foil with 15-16 knots very gusty winds, the wind was dropping during the session but remained very gusty. Although the gusty wind i had a good session, and in these conditions it flew better than my friend his hyperlink UL 12m².
15-16 knots is too much for my weight (83 kg) on the foil.
The kite is probably a little faster than my ozone catalyst 12. When you depower it flutters a bit, but this is not noticable on the bar. When you use it with the right conditions, no flutter...

It's light 2.7 kg, compared to my ozone cat 12m² 3.2 kg

For extreme low winds, I bought 6 meter extensions to fly it on 30m lines, but did not try it yet...still waiting for some warmer water (7°C now) I don't want to have a swimming session in such cold conditions.
With long lines, it should get me going in 7-8 knots on the foil I think...

Building quality of the kite is good... and the price is unbeatable...
I did not try the relaunch on the water, but on the beach I backlanched it... very easy.

here is a nice review:


For use on the foil, I don't think you can go wrong with this kite, bot don't go bigger dan 12m².

Nayy

[lightwind]

For use on the foil, I don't think you can go wrong with this kite, bot don't go bigger dan 12m².

Nayy

Hi Nayy, what do you think, for the 75 kg rider is 12 too much for foiling? I got some recommendations to take 10. I plan to use it from 7 - 12 knots.

Thanks