Hey guys,

I've been reading a few reviews about good Tube light wind kites, and there seems to be a lot of praise for the north mono for

- being able to stay airborne in almost nothing,

- having excellent light wind relaunch

- pulling like the next size up

- the reviewers say excellent for foiling.

So my question - has anyone here ridden it for foiling specifically in light wind, and why / why don't you like it

Is it any good for freestyle. There are almost no comments on this, so I am guessing the answer is a big No - but then again what kite is good for freestyle in light winds.

I used to have a Mono (12m) that I used whilst starting learning to foil. It was the 2017 (1st Gen) so read into that what you will with subsequent model changes since then.
It has gentle power increase whilst sheeting, drifts well, relaunches okay (its still pretty heavy for a single strut kite) and has good build quality. I didn't like it near the top of the wind range - felt more grunty than someone of my weight would need but it would depower well. I'd say its a decent choice for beginners and learner foilers - as the gentle power doesn't pull you off the foil and the heavy build quality would survive a few good crashes (and yes my idiot mate did tomahawk mine into the beach once when he got a paddy on whilst learning to foil)

It has little pop so would be 'challenging' for freestyle. Airush ultra has lots more pop so would be significantly better.

I don't think the big sizes are particularly big for size (12 was on a par with similar style kites) . I think this tends to be seen more in the small sizes.

I sold mine as it wasn't all-round enough (bit dull on a twin tip) and I realised I wasn't good enough to be pushing the low wind limits on a foil anyway as I don't enjoy swimming (10m is the biggest kite I go to now and I stick to 10+ knot days).

The kitefinder.com guys are more experienced than me and have a decent mono review on their youtube site that may be useful.

Hope that helps.

I've been foiling on my 2016 Mono 12-9-7 for a year. I also use a surfboard on them. I think they are great kites .
They are not good TT kites, but work fine if your mowing the lawn.
They fly in super light winds.
Once I tried to use the 12. It was so light I couldn't keep it static on the beach, had to keep it moving or it back stalled down. A guy had a FS 17m foil kite and he couldn't even get his kite in the air.
Either of us went out.

They have a lot if power due to deep profile, and generate a lot if power in down and up stroke. So it's easy to get going in light wind.
The power is not on/off. It is progressive. Which us good on foil.

The only negative is due to powerful profile, apparent wind creats a lot if power and it's easier to get overpowered and you have to sheet out and let kite flutter. You can still steer the kite at this point though.

I'm 78 kg and riding what I'd call " powered Freeriding ". Moses Foil using 550 and 590 Freeriding wings.

I've ordered an Ozone Hyperlink UL 9m to replace the Mono 12 for foiling ,but i'll not sell it. Will still use it I suspect in situations I don't want to risk the HL, on the surfboard and my boy is learning to kite now and he'll put it to use.

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weebitbreezy said..
I used to have a Mono (12m) that I used whilst starting learning to foil. It was the 2017 (1st Gen) so read into that what you will with subsequent model changes since then.
It has gentle power increase whilst sheeting, drifts well, relaunches okay (its still pretty heavy for a single strut kite) and has good build quality. I didn't like it near the top of the wind range - felt more grunty than someone of my weight would need but it would depower well. I'd say its a decent choice for beginners and learner foilers - as the gentle power doesn't pull you off the foil and the heavy build quality would survive a few good crashes (and yes my idiot mate did tomahawk mine into the beach once when he got a paddy on whilst learning to foil)

It has little pop so would be 'challenging' for freestyle. Airush ultra has lots more pop so would be significantly better.

I don't think the big sizes are particularly big for size (12 was on a par with similar style kites) . I think this tends to be seen more in the small sizes.

I sold mine as it wasn't all-round enough (bit dull on a twin tip) and I realised I wasn't good enough to be pushing the low wind limits on a foil anyway as I don't enjoy swimming (10m is the biggest kite I go to now and I stick to 10+ knot days).

The kitefinder.com guys are more experienced than me and have a decent mono review on their youtube site that may be useful.

Hope that helps.

I was loaned an Airush Ultra 9m to have a ride on. I flew it with a foil, a skimboard and crazyfly door.

It is a grunty little breast with quite good turning and some serious power. Had no issues flying on the foil in 10 to 12 knots and drifts well, is easy to turn and easy to generate power. My only criticism is it was hard lose power and this can be a bit of pain on a foil.

On the skim board and TT, this kite was really awesome. The lack of huge de-power was no issue when you can bury an edge and push upwind. Jumps really nicely as well with floaty landings.

Looking forward to trying this little beast on a surf board.

It's appears to be a great crossover kite for freeride, foiling and I suspect surf.

I quite agree. I 'personally' prefer the Ultra to the Mono but they are similar products with the same design brief and I don't think you would get a huge advantage of one over the other in practice for foiling or surfing. My mate with the Ultra has flown it down to 8 knots and I have seen him relaunch at low wind speeds. There is a small weight advantage to the Ultra but I suspect the reality of that is negligible until you have good foiling skills

Realistically I suspect it was the size of my mono that got to be a problem for me first. I used my 12m a lot in the initial learning stage as a big kite allowed me to ride slowly with the kite above my head which helped. Even at my low skill level my technique has adapted to ride with a smaller kite better so I just don't need something that large anymore. I suspect that as I progress I will once again start looking for bigger kites as I start to chase the low end of the wind but until I start completing flying gybes I'm sticking to 11knots plus (which should give me enough leeway to get back to shore if the wind lulls without having to swim)

Its like people say. You don't need a foil specific kite to learn as its more difficult to learn in less than 13 knots anyway. Its only once you get the skills that you can start pushing those headline grabbing low wind speeds. All you really need is something that will turn sweetly at its low end.

The North Mono would be my second choice as a Freeride foiling kite(naturally).
but interestingly on the North marketing blurb it devotes only 3 words to foiling, which sort of points to what the designer was thinking when coming up with it.

essentially if you have a kite that works in waves, loves to drift, steers at near full depower, has fast enough turning to make up for using long lines, and light weight to fly in lighter winds and relaunch in those winds.
Then you will be happy.

I have a 7 and 9 ultra. Awesome kite. 7 i foil on in 12 knots and 15knots on the surf board.

The Mono has been the pick for most of the guys foiling up here, anyone who wants a dedicated foiling kite anyway. They do a 15 but the 12 is really as big as most people are going to need for foiling. Makes for a great light wind surfboard/downwinder kite too, got a few guys who normally ride Neos & Dices etc. who have picked up a 12 Mono for light wind, can get away with a DW on the 13-15 knot days with a surfboard.

Most of the single strut kites work really well, but the Mono seems to have the best range out of any of them. Have had the 9m up in 30 knots! (on a Twintip) A bit of flutter as you'd expect but it still performed surprisingly well.

Haven't tested the Ultra yet, have used a lot of the other single strutters though. Will have to get a go on one and compare!

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Adventure Sports Noosa said..
The Mono has been the pick for most of the guys foiling up here, anyone who wants a dedicated foiling kite anyway. They do a 15 but the 12 is really as big as most people are going to need for foiling. Makes for a great light wind surfboard/downwinder kite too, got a few guys who normally ride Neos & Dices etc. who have picked up a 12 Mono for light wind, can get away with a DW on the 13-15 knot days with a surfboard.

Most of the single strut kites work really well, but the Mono seems to have the best range out of any of them. Have had the 9m up in 30 knots! (on a Twintip) A bit of flutter as you'd expect but it still performed surprisingly well.

Haven't tested the Ultra yet, have used a lot of the other single strutters though. Will have to get a go on one and compare!

Have you tested a Cloud D or D1 ie the lastest versions?
If not you should so you can provide a wider comparison on both strutless and single strut.

Agree with the idea of actually detailing the "all other single and no strut kites" before making claims

Bit the bullet, and went for the 12 meter :) It was that or the 15, but was a little worried about the 15 top end

How did you go with the 12? How heavy are you and what is the lowest wind you can foil in?

Well - I took out my foil last weekend in virtually nothing. I mean there was utterly zero chance of getting up on a normal twintip and my 12 meter kite - it was 6 to 10 kts. My mate never even managed to 'get out' He crashed the kite twice while walking out and then gave up, It barely relaunched the first time in knee deep water the second relaunch never happened.

I took the Vegas 12 meter out +24m lines, and got up upwind, with a substantial amount of kite skill needed to stop it falling out of the sky. - the Vegas is too heavy and unresponsive for that sort of light wind job in under 10 kts IMO

Based on me getting up with a 12 meter vegas, I don't think I'm going to need another 3 meters of kite. Also - the North Mono designer wrote on the website that they recommend the 15 meter be used in 5 kt consistent breezes, with gusts to 10 kts for foiling. I would like a little more crossover than that - as I want to go from the mono to one of my vegas kites - so 12 meter it is, also they were 40% off.

It will take a while for the kite to be delivered here, so won't be able to give a review any time soon. I do have a proper light wind kite that I'm also awaiting delivery on which should arrive first, 88kgs.
Nick

I've been looking at the Mono for a while but 40% off! Wow - which shop
has that special? Cheers, Jon

Google north mono sale - it's the first website that comes up

Hi guys,

I think you'll find most Australian retailers will match that price and then you get local support and extended warranty. Support your local, or at least give them the chance to match before sending your dollars overseas.

DM

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ActionSportsWA said..
Hi guys,

I think you'll find most Australian retailers will match that price and then you get local support and extended warranty. Support your local, or at least give them the chance to match before sending your dollars overseas.

DM

Good point from ActionSportsWA, retailers will sometimes pricematch, other times will be slightly more, but if you factor in postage and possible customs duty, then balance with support as stated, it can be about equal.

In my case I have no kite retailers in my country, so I have to import and pay duty on everything anyway.