Can anyone provide some insight into how durable Aluula kites are?
In particular I am interested to know
- can they handle self beach launches (dragging across sand with the occasional shell or stick)?
- do they deform over time?
- and the main question.... are they really worth 2 x a non-aluula kite? Or are they a one or two season only kite (I have seen quite a few newish aluula kites come up for sale - love to know the real reason why)?

Thanks
Tim

Hi Tim

As far as I know, there are 3 versions of Aluula materials used in kites so you can't put them all in same category when comparing performance and durability. Those materials are constantly evolving and there have been durability issues reported with the older (first) version. Personally, I've never owned an Aluula kite so can't comment about durability issues.

I've been using Hookipa kites (Airush equivalent Ultra PE material airush.com/hookipa-ultra-pe/ ) for the past 3 years or so. Some of those kites I haven't replaced since they are still performing very well. My experience with this material is more durability and better resistance to abrasion (self-launching/landing), despite inflating the kites well over 10 PSI each time. Also haven't notice them deforming over time and they remain very rigid.

As far as performance for high-end materials (Aluula, Hookipa, H2, etc) I can tell you it makes a noticeable difference in stiffness, responsiveness, aerodynamics (most have thinner diameter leading edges compared to Dacron kites), weight, and overall performance. You just have to demo a kite using those materials and you will see for yourself.

When comparing Dacron kites vs high-end material kites, it's exactly like comparing Aluminum bike frames vs Carbon ones or Aluminum foils vs Carbon foils. Are these upgrades worth the big price jump ? Yes, if your main goal is to get the absolute best performance possible out of a kite and you can afford it. If you don't need or can't justify having the best performing kite out there or if you can't afford it, then it's probably best to stick to Dacron kites which still perform very well, especially when they are new or in good condition (Haven't been left flapping on the beach for 1H +each day of kiting).

Lots of kiters use their gear for a very long time and don't notice that the performance of their kite is decreasing over time as it usually happens quite slowly (much faster if the kite is left flapping for long periods of time before/after each session). Just replacing your favorite kite that has had 100+ Sessions on it with a brand new one of the exact same year/model/version would make a very noticeable difference in performance.

hope this helps

Christian - KiteBud

Just to add to this great reply, the original OR Aluula kites seemed to suffer with poor bladders. Just anecdotal evidence, I don't work in a shop have just seen some friends struggle with inflation issues.

Aluula the material has now thoroughly outgrown Ocean Rodeo and is used by 16 brands last time I counted. That should tell you what the manufacturers feel about it.

Hookipa has been excellent material in my experience as well, stiff strong and light, allowing for very thin leading edges. The 2025 9m Ultra leading edge is approximately the same thickness as the 2025 9m Duotone Mono centre strut - I was comparing them the other day..

If you can afford/justify a kite with next gen materials then you won't be disappointed with the performance.

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KiteBud said..
Hi Tim
Personally, I've never owned an Aluula kite so can't comment about durability issues.

Enough said.

OP -
The OG Aluula had some issues, as a lot of first gen productions do, but as said Aluula has outgrown OR and is used extensively in the kiting and wing market by multiple brands, which should answer your question on durabilty atm.
Aluula will still be damaged when launched over a stick, shells or dragged across the cement same as any other material - so Aluula is not bullet proof and this was a marketing error when the material first appeared that led people to believe that it was indestructible.
It is also easily repaired.

Deformation over time is not an issue I am aware of.

KB - bladder issues are unrelated to Aluula. Just the never ending chase of the lightest kites led to thinner bladders and there were some issues with bladders on kites and wings (as there sometimes is and will be again) that were experienced across multiple brands - even those not using any Aluula.

See if you can demo an Aluula kite.

And yes its way better.

Having been an alulla user, and having used most all the types of alulla since prototype phase, there is a lot of misunderstanding about the material.
The gold Alulla in its first iteration had bonding issues with the Gold outer covering. This gold material is not alulla, the alulla is the clear material under that.
I have an A-series alulla 4m that has prob over 150 days and 4 years on it. Its still stiffer than than any brand new dacron wing.
I have a AA series 4m that has 4 years on it too. It was one of the first wings produced past protype phase. The thing is incredible and with well over 120 days on it, it still performs better than any other wing ive tried.
I have a number of cuts in the LE and canopy.
They are easy to fix by sewing with a hooked needle. The thing about alulla is it will puncture but will not catastrophically propagate, so as ling as you protect the bladder your good to go.
From a performance standpoint, there isnt anything even close. Durability, not indestructible but incredibly durable. I've wrapped my canopy on my AA around my stab a number of times amd all I did was lift it off and carry on.
The Bladders on the early versions were an attempt at creating the lightest wing possible, atvthe expense of durability. That isnt relevant to the question about alulla itself imho.
Cost u a pretty penny no doubt. I would suggest finding a lightly used one, of any make. Saves a **** tonne of cash and use it for years.
I even had the dacron canopy replaced on one of mine - it was well worth it.

There's also that other side to Aluula..
The reality is, that if your an average rider - Aluula is not going to make you any better.
Weight for weight negligible difference unless you compare against Original Ocean Rodeo Aluula kite.. my 12m flite weighs 2.2kg.. New other 8 & 9m Aluula kites 2.4 -3kg.. Something went wrong there lol.
Stiffer material better than standard ?
The amount of kites I've launched made of both - that have not been inflated properly, stiffness made No difference there...
And yes - every single person thought they had pumped their kite up 'properly'.

Taking some lessons with a good jump / trick coach will make you better, quicker on a standard kite that Spending a ton on essentially a bling kite..
A lot of people gone back to standard once they figure out 'their performance' to price.

Select to expand quote

SaveTheWhales said..
There's also that other side to Aluula..
The reality is, that if your an average rider - Aluula is not going to make you any better.

Etc
Well said

'i've had a go on a few alullas (thanx action sports Darren for one of them)...
And to be honest I just thought it was the same old sh#t really but am nowhere near being an expert to comment on them but I like the advice above!!. but the ones I've seen...the first ones . they always had constant problems of some type such as said above..wings included.. .. early ones kites 2020 etc pretty bad..they are ok now though by the way., ....later wings 23/24 some brands still pretty bad ..seams .. bladders popping etc..but generally in warranty etc.
..but I really don't know enough about the wingding thing ....

it's the same ole' very expensive headache

Never pump mine up full anyway as I always remember with the heat they pop all the time with heat expansion especially in areas like Dubai thevanard Island etc also you need some flex if they happen to get smashed on a wave so they don't break

On saying that the range of duotone sls etc has blown me away don't care if it aluula or not I think it is ..

Hey Tim they probably come up for sale as people realize they are just a very expensive gimmick that are only going to get ruined or deteriorate as all other things will maybe..maybe wrong

Things like the happy Mondays stone roses and the beatles never deteriorate though

Same ole'.

Anyway..that's my spiel here's the technical stuff ....

Here's what I do know about ..
In answer to your questions ..
a)no
b) yes
c) totally no &totally yes ...for this reason .
... one decent &highly technically designed alulla can make up for the range&performance of two or even three 'non alulla etc' kites.. easily.. bear that in mind ...that one is completely ambiguous and your choice ......
this is the reason why...
...If you mess up with your 1 alulla you won't have a spare ....
Personally I am of the view that you should only have one of these 3200$-700$ alullas if you are very advanced and not prone to mistakes.....of any kind....such as save the whales.....(&such as most of the 'sponsored' people I know. ..unless your rich kid parents buy it for you in the land of nepatism ..or if the dealer instantly replaces it for you straight away because of your brilliant 'mugshots' holding it and the fact that you love being the centre of attention. etc)..
...for exactly that reason..the cost and hassle of repairs &the losses occurred.. and especially&mainly the fact that you won't have a ### spare ####

If not you may as well just get a couple or three that might cover you on that particular day & heaps of other days instead of one that you destroy instantly after buying brand new etc ...
That's what I do . I often get offered goodies first dibs before they ever go on the marketplace etc&only stay this way because I've seen people with 3 $2000 alulla kites break them anyway .
So what's the point?...
I'd rather have a joint and listen to Beethoven ..

Goodluck

Padi = put another dollar in
Boat =. Bring on another thousand
Alulla = a lovely underrated light lifting approach

Sorry..apologies.... can't edit

And after all that I spelt aluula wrong ..
Aluula =a lovely underrated ultimate light alternative

A)no and yes
Same as normal things apply twigs prickly grubs bladder repairs sticks through the canopy and probably the gold material too wouldn't see why not
Christian says his hookipa etc withstands abrasion more that's interesting......... someone else would know more about gold like chap above I have only used a gold aluula one once

B) yes same as any

C) yes and no in that highly enlightened envision said above.. the performance and range due to weight etc and technicalities is a level above

As you can see the people giving advice on aluula&advanced products are very advanced riders who know their stuff &arn't specifically trying to sell you stuff...&as save the whales said don't bother unless you are v advanced that's my take... ..for reasons I rambled on and on about above In point 'c'....
..you will damage it anyway and you could have three for the same price as one . That's my take

!! !! There's heaps of advanced riders I know who arnt bothered specifically about aluula..I know one perfectly happy on his two 2013/15 cabos even now that did his best to save a life at sea(Midwest WA)..I know some on north carves&bandits/drifters I don't think that is aluula?.... think it's a high tech dacron...and they knock the socks off nearly everybody ...
I think you are pretty advanced ..

Know when the wind is changing ..read weather patterns and gusts like the back of your hand ..know when to come in before it gets too dangerous...know the safe exit points and launch points and shadows . Are able to navigate precisely around other riders obstacles or boaters windsurfers wingers &slightly annoying learners with a camera in their mouth doing the same ole' videos etc without causing a problem..never cross lines fall off a board or loose it&be able to retrieve it or at least get back in with it in the air
Mainly..never drop a kite in a tumble or smash &have an aluula catastrophe...bye bye aluula ..etc etc etc...,

Au revoire
Ciao
A bientot

Goodluck

Aluula =a lovely underrated ultimate light alternative

Select to expand quote

martyman said..
Having been an alulla user, and having used most all the types of alulla since prototype phase, there is a lot of misunderstanding about the material.
The gold Alulla in its first iteration had bonding issues with the Gold outer covering. This gold material is not alulla, the alulla is the clear material under that.
I have an A-series alulla 4m that has prob over 150 days and 4 years on it. Its still stiffer than than any brand new dacron wing.
I have a AA series 4m that has 4 years on it too. It was one of the first wings produced past protype phase. The thing is incredible and with well over 120 days on it, it still performs better than any other wing ive tried.
I have a number of cuts in the LE and canopy.
They are easy to fix by sewing with a hooked needle. The thing about alulla is it will puncture but will not catastrophically propagate, so as ling as you protect the bladder your good to go.
From a performance standpoint, there isnt anything even close. Durability, not indestructible but incredibly durable. I've wrapped my canopy on my AA around my stab a number of times amd all I did was lift it off and carry on.
The Bladders on the early versions were an attempt at creating the lightest wing possible, atvthe expense of durability. That isnt relevant to the question about alulla itself imho.
Cost u a pretty penny no doubt. I would suggest finding a lightly used one, of any make. Saves a **** tonne of cash and use it for years.
I even had the dacron canopy replaced on one of mine - it was well worth it.

Genius..

Select to expand quote

timmybuddhadude said..

SaveTheWhales said..
There's also that other side to Aluula..
The reality is, that if your an average rider - Aluula is not going to make you any better.

Etc
Well said

'i've had a go on a few alullas (thanx action sports Darren for one of them)...
And to be honest I just thought it was the same old sh#t really but am nowhere near being an expert to comment on them but I like the advice above!!. but the ones I've seen...the first ones . they always had constant problems of some type such as said above..wings included.. .. early ones kites 2020 etc pretty bad..they are ok now though by the way., ....later wings 23/24 some brands still pretty bad ..seams .. bladders popping etc..but generally in warranty etc.
..but I really don't know enough about the wingding thing ....

it's the same ole' very expensive headache

Never pump mine up full anyway as I always remember with the heat they pop all the time with heat expansion especially in areas like Dubai thevanard Island etc also you need some flex if they happen to get smashed on a wave so they don't break

On saying that the range of duotone sls etc has blown me away don't care if it aluula or not I think it is ..

Hey Tim they probably come up for sale as people realize they are just a very expensive gimmick that are only going to get ruined or deteriorate as all other things will maybe..maybe wrong

Things like the happy Mondays stone roses and the beatles never deteriorate though

Same ole'.

Anyway..that's my spiel here's the technical stuff ....

Here's what I do know about ..
In answer to your questions ..
a)no
b) yes
c) totally no &totally yes ...for this reason .
... one decent &highly technically designed alulla can make up for the range&performance of two or even three 'non alulla etc' kites.. easily.. bear that in mind ...that one is completely ambiguous and your choice ......
this is the reason why...
...If you mess up with your 1 alulla you won't have a spare ....
Personally I am of the view that you should only have one of these 3200$-700$ alullas if you are very advanced and not prone to mistakes.....of any kind....such as save the whales.....(&such as most of the 'sponsored' people I know. ..unless your rich kid parents buy it for you in the land of nepatism ..or if the dealer instantly replaces it for you straight away because of your brilliant 'mugshots' holding it and the fact that you love being the centre of attention. etc)..
...for exactly that reason..the cost and hassle of repairs &the losses occurred.. and especially&mainly the fact that you won't have a ### spare ####

If not you may as well just get a couple or three that might cover you on that particular day & heaps of other days instead of one that you destroy instantly after buying brand new etc ...
That's what I do . I often get offered goodies first dibs before they ever go on the marketplace etc&only stay this way because I've seen people with 3 $2000 alulla kites break them anyway .
So what's the point?...
I'd rather have a joint and listen to Beethoven ..

Goodluck

of course its not going to make someone better who is beginning, he asked about durability lol.
Having seeing allula from its inception or close enough, you cannot even compare stiffness, straight material science fellas.
That's said- the gallery is right- not a good choice for 1st wing or kite unless money is not an object.

Select to expand quote

martyman said..

timmybuddhadude said..

SaveTheWhales said..
There's also that other side to Aluula..
The reality is, that if your an average rider - Aluula is not going to make you any better.

Etc
Well said

'i've had a go on a few alullas (thanx action sports Darren for one of them)...
And to be honest I just thought it was the same old sh#t really but am nowhere near being an expert to comment on them but I like the advice above!!. but the ones I've seen...the first ones . they always had constant problems of some type such as said above..wings included.. .. early ones kites 2020 etc pretty bad..they are ok now though by the way., ....later wings 23/24 some brands still pretty bad ..seams .. bladders popping etc..but generally in warranty etc.
..but I really don't know enough about the wingding thing ....

it's the same ole' very expensive headache

Never pump mine up full anyway as I always remember with the heat they pop all the time with heat expansion especially in areas like Dubai thevanard Island etc also you need some flex if they happen to get smashed on a wave so they don't break

On saying that the range of duotone sls etc has blown me away don't care if it aluula or not I think it is ..

Hey Tim they probably come up for sale as people realize they are just a very expensive gimmick that are only going to get ruined or deteriorate as all other things will maybe..maybe wrong

Things like the happy Mondays stone roses and the beatles never deteriorate though

Same ole'.

Anyway..that's my spiel here's the technical stuff ....

Here's what I do know about ..
In answer to your questions ..
a)no
b) yes
c) totally no &totally yes ...for this reason .
... one decent &highly technically designed alulla can make up for the range&performance of two or even three 'non alulla etc' kites.. easily.. bear that in mind ...that one is completely ambiguous and your choice ......
this is the reason why...
...If you mess up with your 1 alulla you won't have a spare ....
Personally I am of the view that you should only have one of these 3200$-700$ alullas if you are very advanced and not prone to mistakes.....of any kind....such as save the whales.....(&such as most of the 'sponsored' people I know. ..unless your rich kid parents buy it for you in the land of nepatism ..or if the dealer instantly replaces it for you straight away because of your brilliant 'mugshots' holding it and the fact that you love being the centre of attention. etc)..
...for exactly that reason..the cost and hassle of repairs &the losses occurred.. and especially&mainly the fact that you won't have a ### spare ####

If not you may as well just get a couple or three that might cover you on that particular day & heaps of other days instead of one that you destroy instantly after buying brand new etc ...
That's what I do . I often get offered goodies first dibs before they ever go on the marketplace etc&only stay this way because I've seen people with 3 $2000 alulla kites break them anyway .
So what's the point?...
I'd rather have a joint and listen to Beethoven ..

Goodluck

of course its not going to make someone better who is beginning, he asked about durability lol.
Having seeing allula from its inception or close enough, you cannot even compare stiffness, straight material science fellas.
That's said- the gallery is right- not a good choice for 1st wing or kite unless money is not an object.

Thanx xxx sorry
Your the genius

I did go on about it a bit about not having a spare and only v advanced etc
(they are so good ..but how good are you?..etc) ...

....but it was getting late and I was starting to miss getting in the water &getting seaweed in my sandals .....and then I couldn't edit it....
There's no chance of me going out again at s/p etc in these hardcore storms..my brilliantly advanced super durable aluula would end up on a rock!....

Your the genius on aluula no doubt about that
I learnt something there myself
Many thanks for all I learnt there ...

Aluula =a lovely underrated ultimate light alternative

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SaveTheWhales said..
There's also that other side to Aluula..
The reality is, that if your an average rider - Aluula is not going to make you any better.

Yeah. But no really. I instantly jumped higher changing from SLS to Aluula. Same brand. Same bar. Same kite designer. +1 or 1.5m in the same conditions. If you measure progress using electronics, you could say it will instantly make you better.

I have a pretty stoney and shelly beach launch and I self launch about 50% of the time as I'm usually getting out at lunchtime during the week when there aren't many people around. So far the kite is looking pretty fresh. Its a duotone so the canopy coating looks faded as ..., but the leading edge gold is still fresh. I tend to only drag launch in less than 25 knots though so I can control how easily the kite flips over so I'm not dragging it very far during a typical launch. Sample of 1 admittedly but the other Aluula kites at my beach (mostly ocean rodeo and Core) seem to also have lasted pretty well

Moving from 2023 drifters to Neo Dlabs this thread is spot on for me.

The lightness has more impact with the larger kites in lighter winds, although I did try a 7m in 25kn and was blown away.

I like my kites pumped up hard so the stiffness of aluula will be great (I am sick of reading that overinflation will reduce life of the kite).

Not sure what material the 2025 drifters are using, does any one know?

btw OG don't think too hard or long about it, I picked up a 9m and 11m in last couple of weeks.

Skip the Alula - and buy two or three kites for the price of one. Unless you're absolute leading edge skill wise-you won't have any appreciable benefit.

save the money

I'm just wondering if the extra cost is due to self rescue handles, dump valve and complex inflation system. But I could not find the mobile phone holder?

IMO, if you kite in light wind areas, or where relaunch is difficult this is where they can shine. Generally the kites can have far thinner bladders with less drag, giving much quicker reaction ( handy with large kites in light winds ).

They probably continue the responsiveness in smaller sizes in stronger winds, but in stronger winds generally responsiveness and relaunch is not a problem.

Got a 2019 - no issues with it.

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dachopper said..
Generally the kites can have far thinner bladders with less drag

I think you meant to say smaller leading edge diameter instead of thinner bladders.

Many kite manufacturers have experimented with thinner bladders with poor results. The conclusion is the pros (weight saving) do not outweigh the cons (fails easily).

Select to expand quote

KiteBud said..

dachopper said..
Generally the kites can have far thinner bladders with less drag

I think you meant to say smaller leading edge diameter instead of thinner bladders.

Many kite manufacturers have experimented with thinner bladders with poor results. The conclusion is the pros (weight saving) do not outweigh the cons (fails easily).

Yeah - my bad - changes were to all of the above, thinner bladder material, dimensionally thinner struts and smaller bladders, thinnerleading edge, = fantastic light wind handling. Makes a 12 meter single strutt feel like train in comparison.


I agree most manufacturers have come to that conclusion, and you can see the effect - most kite manufacturers who switched to Aluula didn't get a massive reduction in weight, not in the same league as what Ocean Rodeo did ~ 7 years ago ! They are roughly 30% less weight than the nearest other brand Aluula kite today.

Duotone Vegas 12m Dacron 3.81 kg
Edge VT 12 meter- Dacron 3.5kg
Edge VT 12 meter Allula 2.8kg
Ocean Rodeo Roam 12 meter Aluula 2.17 kg

That puts the 12 meter well into the weight category of most 6 / 7 meter kites.


I wouldn't necessarily say the majority of the other kite manufacturers have a handle on bladders yet either, case in point I've just had to replace my 2018 ozone edge bladders due to leaks, when my 2018 A - Roam with light weight bladders are still going strong without issues or any repairs.

Having said all that above - I'm sure that is not the case with all Aluula kite brands and models.
They are not all are created even, but when looking for a light wind kite, Aluula is a good starting point, provided the weight of the kite reflects it.

Thanks all for your responses.
I picked up a 2nd hand 2024 Duotone Juice 15m D/Lab to try it out. While it has very good performance (for a 15m), TBH I haven't found it as super amazing as I have read in terms of performance - based on reviews of Aluula I was expecting to be blown away. As mentioned above I think they missed an opportunity to reduce the LE diameter.

Likewise I have read many articles about how you should not beach launch and basically need to treat aluula like a princess (don't pack with any sand on it, no moisture, rinse after every use, need to fold it in a specific way etc etc) - all of which is frankly a serious turn off. So the performance would have to be mind blowing to justify - but even then you have to live with a princess... that takes the fun out of a session and makes it hard work. Not to mention you have to pay 2-3 times the price for the privilege.

I love the Duotone SLS build (I have a 2021 Evo SLS) and Ozone with their non-aluula Ultra-X (I have the v7 Reo Ultra-X) - they perform very well and have held up to the usual kite treatment (packed with some sand on, or slightly damp and beach launches etc). These, to me are the pinnacle of kite design.. high performance and durable enough to be fit for purpose.

If anyone from Ozone is listening... please do what Duotone have done with SLS and make more/all of your kites in the non-aluula Ultra-X (like the Reo) materials. I am looking at the Enduro and Edge VT.... but Aluula is too pricy and waaay too much hard work to look after. I would go for another Evo SLS except for......

And Duotone.... unrelated but worth mentioning again, I stopped buying your kites years ago because of the crappy air-lock valve (which is a pain to use, and often leaks and does not like sand at all (for a beach product it is definitely not fit for purpose) and your dump values (which have nearly killed me twice because bridles keep catching on it when beach launching and they often break - I've met several owners who have glued them shut). You make amazing kites, and I love that you do each in 3 levels of performance, but these two absurd features let them down to not be worth buying. I've switched to Ozone and they are so much easier to set up and pack down - saving me a lot of time and hassle. It's night and day in terms of ownership and use. Their simplicity of design is exactly that kites need. Less is definitely more. Yes I bought the 15m Juice recently... but as soon as I went to inflate it I totally regretted it.. likewise pack down is so frustrating with Duotones.

Are there any other brands that make non-Aluula higher-performing kites?

+1 for the idea of Ozone making non-AluulA Ultra-X versions of Enduro and Edge! As a Reo UX and Enduro UX(AluulA) rider I can say price/performance is waaaay better on Reo UX!

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thuffam said..
Thanks all for your responses.
I picked up a 2nd hand 2024 Duotone Juice 15m D/Lab to try it out. While it has very good performance (for a 15m), TBH I haven't found it as super amazing as I have read in terms of performance - based on reviews of Aluula I was expecting to be blown away. As mentioned above I think they missed an opportunity to reduce the LE diameter.

Likewise I have read many articles about how you should not beach launch and basically need to treat aluula like a princess (don't pack with any sand on it, no moisture, rinse after every use, need to fold it in a specific way etc etc) - all of which is frankly a serious turn off. So the performance would have to be mind blowing to justify - but even then you have to live with a princess... that takes the fun out of a session and makes it hard work. Not to mention you have to pay 2-3 times the price for the privilege.

I love the Duotone SLS build (I have a 2021 Evo SLS) and Ozone with their non-aluula Ultra-X (I have the v7 Reo Ultra-X) - they perform very well and have held up to the usual kite treatment (packed with some sand on, or slightly damp and beach launches etc). These, to me are the pinnacle of kite design.. high performance and durable enough to be fit for purpose.

If anyone from Ozone is listening... please do what Duotone have done with SLS and make more/all of your kites in the non-aluula Ultra-X (like the Reo) materials. I am looking at the Enduro and Edge VT.... but Aluula is too pricy and waaay too much hard work to look after. I would go for another Evo SLS except for......

And Duotone.... unrelated but worth mentioning again, I stopped buying your kites years ago because of the crappy air-lock valve (which is a pain to use, and often leaks and does not like sand at all (for a beach product it is definitely not fit for purpose) and your dump values (which have nearly killed me twice because bridles keep catching on it when beach launching and they often break - I've met several owners who have glued them shut). You make amazing kites, and I love that you do each in 3 levels of performance, but these two absurd features let them down to not be worth buying. I've switched to Ozone and they are so much easier to set up and pack down - saving me a lot of time and hassle. It's night and day in terms of ownership and use. Their simplicity of design is exactly that kites need. Less is definitely more. Yes I bought the 15m Juice recently... but as soon as I went to inflate it I totally regretted it.. likewise pack down is so frustrating with Duotones.

Are there any other brands that make non-Aluula higher-performing kites?

I was a bit dubious of the Juice DLAB, the minute they released the marketing which was along the lines of " Up to 30% lighter "
15m 2023 - 3.43kg
14m 2025 DLAB - 2.97kg ( 13% reduction and minus 1 meter )

14m OR ROAM 2.5 kg..... another 19% reduction on the DLAB. Both 3 strutt, both 14m.


I know OR were saying the 1KG kite wass possible, and then they branched out to Winging and developed the ultra light weight rip stop replacement material.... but it may have proven too rigid for kite use, or they just ran out of development time when they wound up.

1KG light wind kites... bring it on !