Has anyone flown both of these kites? I know HiFi is not strictly C kite, but more of a SLE/Hybrid type kite, but still, i'm curious if anyone had experience with both?

I've used Fuel for last couple of years, but read some good reviews on HiFi, but just curious what are the subtle differences between the two since considering getting HiFi for my next kite...

thanks, cheers

cant really compare the two as i havnt ridden them back to back. but the hifi is a pretty sweet kite for unhooked freestyle and stuff and its pretty predictable.

Yeah i love my 2009 12m HiFi Comp. do a forum search for hifi; you will find a fair bit of info recently discussed on the hifi and hifi comp kites.
If you like the hifi, you'll love the comp. All the things you admire about the hifi is stepped up a few more notches with the comp. Freeken Awesome.

Seriously ive riden my 12m hifi comp from bout 10knotts through to 32knotts. Massive windrange compared to a normal C kite, or any kite for that matter.
Water relaunches quick and easy; better then a C.
5th line bar, with direct pigtail attachments to the kite (no complicated bridal system).
Allows full depower as it is a SLE kite.
The Hifi Comp also has different attachment points to vary the turning speed and bar pressure..

Go demo a hifi or Hifi Comp; if you ride Fuels, ya gonna love the hifi comp

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Hayman said...
Seriously ive riden my 12m hifi comp from bout 10knotts through to 32knotts. Massive windrange compared to a normal C kite, or any kite for that matter.

Go demo a hifi or Hifi Comp; if you ride Fuels, ya gonna love the hifi comp

Bull plop. Liquid Force HiFi have the worst low end. Its terrible.
As for the kite, its an O.K kite, nothing great. But I wouldn't buy one.

And FYI, I havent ridden a Fuel

Sorry for my ignorance, but IMHO if you can go upwind on 12m kite IN 10 KNOTS the low end is amazing not TERRIBLE. tHE high end looks awsome as well since I can only ride 7m CORE kite in such wind and on top of that it must be fully depowered, Im sorry now that I wasnt aware of such great kite as HiFi.

Skiddz, im talking bout the hifi comp. it has a thinner LE than the standard hifi; thus has a better low end. Did i mention im only 63kgs.
Besides, hifi's can be worked heaps fast in the low stuff, so once you have it moving, its sweet.

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Hayman said...

Skiddz, im talking bout the hifi comp. it has a thinner LE than the standard hifi; thus has a better low end. Did i mention im only 63kgs.
Besides, hifi's can be worked heaps fast in the low stuff, so once you have it moving, its sweet.

If you're 63 then I'll call bull**** on the 32 knot top end. Are you honestly saying you ride the kite when the wind is 32 knots consistently? or when its gusting to 32? There is a big difference. You can't claim top end if its gusts. I'm willing to pay money that the 32 knot top end is bull**** for a rider of 63kg's in 32 knots of consistent wind. I'm 78kg's and I'll battle to hold a 12m in 32 knots of consistent wind, never mind someone who is 15kg's lighter.

it is impossible to ride a big kite (11m+) in winds 30kn+.
get a wind metre and you will be suprised how windy 25kns actually is.

Didnt you notice the guy is 63kg thats plenty of weight for 12m in 32 knots, Im 83 what means this kite is right for me in 40 knots plus WOW!

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Saffer said...

Hayman said...

Skiddz, im talking bout the hifi comp. it has a thinner LE than the standard hifi; thus has a better low end. Did i mention im only 63kgs.
Besides, hifi's can be worked heaps fast in the low stuff, so once you have it moving, its sweet.

If you're 63 then I'll call bull**** on the 32 knot top end. Are you honestly saying you ride the kite when the wind is 32 knots consistently? or when its gusting to 32? There is a big difference. You can't claim top end if its gusts. I'm willing to pay money that the 32 knot top end is bull**** for a rider of 63kg's in 32 knots of consistent wind. I'm 78kg's and I'll battle to hold a 12m in 32 knots of consistent wind, never mind someone who is 15kg's lighter.

no offense saffer but i had an 11m fuel in 37knot winds...because it was an inland lake it would drop down to like 10-15knots and at other times it would pick up strong and stay for a few minutes, it was recorded at 37knots and not just a gust coz as i said before it would stay like that for a while....im 55kg btw!

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superlizard said...

Has anyone flown both of these kites? I know HiFi is not strictly C kite, but more of a SLE/Hybrid type kite, but still, i'm curious if anyone had experience with both?

I've used Fuel for last couple of years, but read some good reviews on HiFi, but just curious what are the subtle differences between the two since considering getting HiFi for my next kite...

thanks, cheers

the mans after a comparison, not a whos got the biggest cock contest.[}:)]

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C Kiter said...

Saffer said...

Hayman said...

Skiddz, im talking bout the hifi comp. it has a thinner LE than the standard hifi; thus has a better low end. Did i mention im only 63kgs.
Besides, hifi's can be worked heaps fast in the low stuff, so once you have it moving, its sweet.

If you're 63 then I'll call bull**** on the 32 knot top end. Are you honestly saying you ride the kite when the wind is 32 knots consistently? or when its gusting to 32? There is a big difference. You can't claim top end if its gusts. I'm willing to pay money that the 32 knot top end is bull**** for a rider of 63kg's in 32 knots of consistent wind. I'm 78kg's and I'll battle to hold a 12m in 32 knots of consistent wind, never mind someone who is 15kg's lighter.

no offense saffer but i had an 11m fuel in 37knot winds...because it was an inland lake it would drop down to like 10-15knots and at other times it would pick up strong and stay for a few minutes, it was recorded at 37knots and not just a gust coz as i said before it would stay like that for a while....im 55kg btw!

Of course that depends on where the wind meter is, if its up on top of the hill, then you could talk about a difference of 10-15 knots in the actual wind speed. If its on the ground where you're kiting, then I'd say bull**** again, and I'd challenge you to prove it the next time the wind hits 37 in Melbourne.

I've launched a 9m in 35-40, its overpowered and that's a bow kite not a C. My bow kite has more range than your C. If you have a wind meter on the ground and launch your 11m fuel in 37 knots, you'd know all about it, because you wouldn't even be able to stand upright. Ruben Len10 rides a 7m in 35-40, watch him launch his kite and see how overpowered he is, he virtually gets dragged to the water, and then does 60 foot jumps...thats on a 7m. Unless you're some sort of godly walking on water kiter, I'd say the chances of you riding consistent wind of 37 knots on the ground (or even a sustained gust) would be zero to nil. I've had a sustained gust of 45 knots on a 12m when a squall hit. I had to ride to shore with my kite past the stopper just to survive and when I hit land I could not stand on the ground without being dragged and my kite max depower.

On the issue of our guy claiming 10-32, then I'd say it can't be inland, because i've kited at altitude and although you get more top end, you wouldn't get 10 knots on the low end, so you generally test top and bottom end in the same conditions.

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cezary said...

Sorry for my ignorance, but IMHO if you can go upwind on 12m kite IN 10 KNOTS the low end is amazing not TERRIBLE. tHE high end looks awsome as well since I can only ride 7m CORE kite in such wind and on top of that it must be fully depowered, Im sorry now that I wasnt aware of such great kite as HiFi.

These kites have adjustment on both back, front and 5th lines. I had some issues with the low end till one of the guy's at the beach told me his settings for light winds to get more power, the difference is huge, hence why the wind range is so good. The other noticeable thing is the kite flys really well in all settings unlike kites I've had in the past. You put them in the depowered setting and they would tend to luff and have terrible steering. I ride a 138 board and compete in the heavy weight division at 100kg, can stay upwind on the 12m in 13-15 knots which IMO is prety good. 25 knots is still controllable but when it hits 18-20 knots I'm on th 9m.

Sorry I can't personally compare them, but I know a fuel rider that swapped over and he's more than happy from what he's told me.

Hey Superlizard, before this thread takes a wrong turn. I have ridden and still own a 2005 Fuel (not that it gets dragged out anymore) and ride the HiFi Comps now. I haven't ridden the standard HiFi enough to really give any feedback.

I will point out though that whilst LF themselves throw it out there as an SLE/Hybrid I can assure you the Comp is nothing short of a true C kite.

Anyway, the HiFi Comp and the Fuel both have similar characteristics, bearing in mind my comparison is with the 2005 Fuel, and whilst this was considered one of the better years for the Fuel, the 2009 Comp obviously beats it hands down for relaunch and wind range given the advancements that C kites in general have made since 2005.

So, notwithstanding those factors the actual feel for the kite, unhooked ability and stability are all very similar. My personal opinion is that unless you are an absolute connisseur or just talking smack, the differences in performance don't really amount to much these days, so long as you are comparing apples and apples, as in this case.

What I can say is that the 09 HiFi Comp has excellent build quality, very good bar setup and that many tuning options that you can tune it to exactly how you want it. Hope this helps a little.

Woah this forum if full of chumps! Hydra you are the only guy with a comment thats on the money

I have flown both of these kites. Have been flying 03 fuels for years, had a go on a mates new hi-fi. Felt pretty weird to me cos was used to my old school fuels, I was still spinning out about flying a kite that actually had depower! It was a nice feeling kite, only had a couple of quick runs on it but thought it went pretty good, seemed to have plenty of power and turned good. I reckon it could be a good investment if youre looking to buy only one kite, has a better wind range than a fuel i think, however cant really comment on fuels post 03! (they have probably got a bit more user friendly over the years?)

i had 08 hifi's the comment about low end is spot on.. its crap.. but you dont want to ride performance kites under cooked anyway i needed a solid 25 to be well powered on my 7m and i could ride that thing in anything haha i hav never touched its trim and ever felt uncomfortable on it.. they are nice kites i miss em but there are better kites out there.

I' flown them back to back and I used to be sponsored by Slingshot so I've had the Fuels from 05-07, and tried the 08 (which was almost like the 07) and the 09 which is a step up in C kites!!! It is like the 05 version in userfriendly really! Power and control do not go to often hand in hand!!!

I got the Hi-Fi's as a rider for scks and really liked them, very userfriendly, and very, very forgiving (so good to learn new stuff) and very powerful kiteloops too! But despite that it can"t match the Fuel09, which just has a more constant pull, is more powerfull (exept Kiteloops), is more responsive! Very typical C and the Hi fi is a nice Hybrid, but a hybrid!

But I got the HiFi Comp when it came out and WOW, very nice kite and after the Fuel 05, 07 and the Vegas 05 it has definetly deserved a place in the hall of fame!!!
The best kite I've ever ridden, and in my opinion better than the '09 Fuel.

However the leading edge is VERY thin (which gives it better low end and cuts more into the wind- better upwind performance...competition attributes) But even with 9 psi in in it folds very easy when dopped somehow unlucky and is hence often a hard to relaunch.... problem in currence etc. But if this doesn't happen it almost relaunches like a bow- very impressive!

So my fazit is..

beginner in C kiting or kiteloopfreak; Hi fi $1849.95 (12m)
freestyler with ambition (perfomance meets safety etc.) Fuel $2349,95 (11m)
Advanced, exeprienced, wakestyler Hi fi comp $1949.95 (12m)


My advice is Demo both!
cheers Henning

Awesome. Thanks everyone for the feedback. Especially sckitesurf.

The main reason i asked this is because i do'nt want to pass an opportunity to grab a new 08 HiFi for exactly half the cost. And the tail edge fabric on my 07 Fuel is totally wasted... it's just all ripping apart...(??) so i 'm just looking for something urgent and cheap (economic crisis ) to replace my 13m Fuel (which is also a great kite). I don't care too much about a knot difference in windrange here and there. And so far, 99% of the feedback for HiFi was good (including other sources but this forum). So that tells me i won't be really wasting my money. I also read that 08 HiFi was very grunty and that's the reason they made HiFi Comp in 09 model, and then mellowed down the basic model in 09 version...

Anyways, cheers. I'm happy with this info. Also, i'm not really keen nor have much expectation to have heaps of fun flying in 10 - 15 knots anyway. So as long as it will fly fine 15-23 knots... and i'm paying half price for a new kite, than it's a great deal.

Cheers everyone

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superlizard said...
I also read that 08 HiFi was very grunty and that's the reason they made HiFi Comp in 09 model, and then mellowed down the basic model in 09 version...

Oh so you read it, then it must be true!

honestly, take it from someone who has ridden the kite in light winds. It was a shocking low end, the 08 is not a grunty kite! I am much more powered up on my old 12m Naish Boxer 07 than the 12m HiFi. You need atleast 15 knots before it starts getting fun.

Btw I weigh 70kg and ride a 131 Naish Thorn 08.

And whats all this crap about making the leading edge smaller largely increases the low end?! Without a doubt the Bandit Dos is on of the more powerful kites you can buy and it has a pretty large leading edge! I call marketing BS

Good to see you have made the choice superlizard; to go the 08 Hifi.

Saffer - Yeah long gusts to 32 knotts (used the redcliffe, BRISBANE wind beacon results to see what the wind was that day; bout 2months ago...wasnt a pleasant ride, but i was desperate for a kite).
I can ride in solid 25knott winds coz i keep the kite low and sheeted out; plus i ride slow/ upwind heaps, so when a gust comes through it doesnt pull me off an edge.

For me fun riding is 13- 22 knotts on the 12m hifi comp. Ill change to a 9m hifi at bout 18 + knotts sometimes if its gusty.