The eternal quest for a better light wind wave kite. Haven't seen much written about this kite but lighter has to be way better in light air. Has anyone got experience to share?

I have a 12m Mono. Its very similar in feel to my friend's 12m Neo. I'd say it will stay in the air in the lulls a little better than the Neo and it has maybe a 1knot on the low end better but the trade in is you probably lose 2-3 knots on the high end. Its relatively fast turning (but still obviously a 12m) but its not a 9m. If you are coming off Rebels/evos then it will feel fast and responsive. If you are coming off Neos/dice then its probably much of a muchness.

For my conditions (and at 80kg), I use it for 12-20knots on a shinnster. Beyond that it's a bit much for me unless I switch to a twintip (but I'd rather change down to a smaller kite). Local conditions (and higher skill than I have) may make it more/less suitable (with a helpful tide I've had it out in 10knots (once) but its pancake flat on that tide state so read into that what you will).

I don't think its quite as powerful as the liquid force solo 12m - but that's way to slow for a wave kite. The 12m is cheaper than the equivalent Neo which is a plus - but if you were offered last years Neo at a good price........

Don't get me wrong. I really like the Mono (so much so that I have sold my Solo 12m and my Evo 12m) and its a good kite. I just can't help thinking you are still going to need bigger sizes to get you out when its really light. Possibly the Pivot 14m?

Hi weebitbreezy Do you think the Mono 12 has equal power to the Solo 12 meter kite?

I'd say the solo possibly has a fraction more power - but its a pretty close thing and difficult to say because they have different flying characteristics. The Solo handles more like the North Evo and the Mono like a Neo. Because the Mono is so much quicker turning, its easier to generate a little extra apparent wind to get you up to speed.

However, laying them out one on top of the other, the Solo is a bigger bit of fabric (2-3 cm bigger all round the leading edge curve) so you'd expect it to be a little more powerful.

Unfortunately I didn't ever get round to flying them back to back on the same day before I sold the Solo (was under pressure to create more space in the garage - and they sold quickly).

A lot depends on what you want to use it for really. Surf, the Mono is hands down the winner (although I couldn't say its better than other dedicated surf kites). If you ride primarily North kites (like me) then I suspect you'll also prefer the Mono because it has that common North feel to it.

thank you for the information.

Well this kite is certainly brilliant for the lightweights, girls and kids. My 11 yo 39kg son had an absolute ball, kiting the 5m for 4hr in 20 knot. Its the 1st time I had the confidence to just leave him to it and head out on my own kite, 8m Reo. He's had a fair bit of time trying to sort it on a 6m Rally 2011 and my 8m 2014, but on this kite he just took a giant leap forward. It does relaunch incredibly well, and it does look solid in the air. It flutters quite a bit if you fly it fast, sheeted out, but otherwise it's perfectly behaved, quick and forgiving. Thanks heaps Dave from Kite & Sup.
I also had a bit of a go on the 9m Mono comparing it directly to my 2014 10m Reo, in ****ty and shifty gusty wind. Even though the website says you can go 1 to 2 sizes smaller, I thought the 9m felt like a 9m, and it didn't really feel quicker turning than my 10m(bit of a shame). But what a difference the loss of 2 struts makes in its easy flying. When it turned offshore and my 10m was falling and landing at my feet the mono still behaved itself without any concern. Once again, it'll be brilliant for the lightweights. On the water (sideshore 15-18knot) it actually felt very good, I felt immediately at home, I was surprised how easy it went upwind.

Can anyone tell me what the low end for the 12 mono would be? At the moment I'm riding Evos and I think the 11m (my largest) on 24m lines needs at least 13knots maybe even 14 on a foil for me. I find the evos are not great for the lighter stuff (heavy) but I do love them on a twinny at the top end. Is there a big enough knot gap between the 12 mono and 11 evo to add one to the quiver for light wind foiling from 10 or 11 knots?

Cheers

hi,

I am a NEO fan (have 5 ,7 9 and 12 meter 2015) and also had demo the 12 meter Mono kite. This kite is for surf or hydrofoil. If you are riding a twintip you want a kite that has punch when is light below 12 knots. When I am kiting in light wind conditions is see some kites and the kite surfer flying high using 15.5 meter Boots from Flysurfer. Also the Ozone edge and zephery. The NEO has a very good low and high end. YOu will loose the high end with the Mono. Also I own a solo 15.5 and 12 meter. They have a lot more punch than NEO but they will junk of your board when stranpless. Also the leading edge is so narrow when crashing on the waves it become time consuming to relunch. On the surf you want a kite that can keep the shape and relaunch ASAP. Note I am currently using the slingshoot SST wave kites. It is amazing kite but the NEO has better low end , doesn't pull to much when looping and goes upwind better. cheers

Hi Peeps,

My first fly of the Mono's was a real eye opener. I was quite impressed with the performance delivered by a single strut kite. The Mono is far more than a learner kite, although we use them with tremendous success in our kite school. The light weight and stability make it easy to fly in conditions other kites just wont fly in.

On my recent trip to Mauritius, I decided on Mono's and packed the 12m, 9m and 7m. I'd never really put much though into them as a wave kite, but after talking with Marty and hearing the boys at Margies are all riding Mono 7's, I thought I'd take a punt taking advantage of their light weight which allowed me to bring an extra surfboard without going over weight for the plane trip.

The Mono's are GRUNTY. On my surfboard at 96kg, I was keeping upwind on my 9m whilst many other smaller riders were riding 10-14m sized kites. I had one particular day where I was on the 7m in what felt like around 18 knots where I was out pointing and riding past guys on kites almost twice the size.

On one particular day whilst out the back of Manawa (outside the gap in the reef) at Mauritius, the wind was dropping whilst wave riding. The two guys on Reo 10m's (quite responsibly so) turned and headed back in towards the lagoon. I decided I could eek out one more wave and turned to head back out again in what would have been 12 knots. Half way out the wind dropped to ~10 knots and I thought it would be prudent to head in too. I tried to gybe onto a wave face to give me a bit more of a chance to build apparent wind and ride across the reef. I missed the wave as the wind faltered. This was then followed by a large hole and I started limping straight downwind across the gap heading for a gnarly "A" frame waver that signifies the downwind entry to the gap. If I missed it, it would mean coming in over "One Eye" in low tide and no wind. As I made my way 2-3 m at a time with every swoop of the kite, I was becoming concerned. This was not helped by watching both of the Reo's drop into the water in the outward bound current. I couldn't help them even though I passed within 20m of one rider but I was struggling to keep the Mono in the almost non existent wind.

As I approached the right hander, I dived the kite hard in a last ditch attempt to get onto the right and milk the wave for all the upwind ground I could muster. It worked, I was able to ride the right, into the lagood and into the upwind current which was enough to get me all the way back upwind. During this time, the wind picked up a few knots and allowed me to crank it upwind to make it back to kite beach despite the downwind current which stopped most riders.

I tell this story because there was a team of riders all sitting on the beach betting on whether I'd make it back or not. The Mono blew mine, and everyone else's mind that day and held it's own amongst the worlds best wave kites when it was "on". I absolutely made the best choice on this trip.

The North Mono deserves a decent test ride If you are uncertain of the performance and how it may help you.

I am a recent convert with it's lightwind and wave performance.

@noodlesrominov Yes, the Mono will be an excellent foiling kite and will run circles around the Evo in light wind performance, power, upwind and simplicity.

DM

I cant speak for the 12m mono as i've just got one and have yet to fly it but i know that the 7m is the best surf kite i've flown to date.
Its hard to define the reason for this but after you fly it in surf it just feels so right, almost intuitive. Everyone down our way that flew a 7m immediately switched over. Its a demo thang for sure.
Some dont like the way it flutters when sheeted out but thats easily fixed.....sheet out a bit less and keep some wind in the kite
when gybing, which is the most common time for it to occur.
IMO thats a small consideration with all the upside this kite has, the future for sure.

Select to expand quote

ActionSportsWA said..

On my recent trip to Mauritius, I decided on Mono's and packed the 12m, 9m and 7m. I'd never really put much though into them as a wave kite, but after talking with Marty and hearing the boys at Margies are all riding Mono 7's, I thought I'd take a punt taking advantage of their light weight which allowed me to bring an extra surfboard without going over weight for the plane trip.

I took four Clouds (5.5, 8.5, 10.4 and 13.4) over to Mauritius. I was out first nearly every day and avoided quite a few boat rescues because they fly in next to nothing. Awesome place to kite!!

That's an awesome write up on the mono guys, it's definitely got me excited.

I wonder if anyone could comment on the comfortable top end for wave riding on a 7m mono?

Just ordered a 12m for foiling in (hopefully) 8-14 knots, and waveriding on a surf in 13-16 knots.

All this positive feedback from the smaller sizes gets me wondering if I should also get a second smaller one? What size would be best for the "next leg up" for foiling in 14-18 knots, and waveriding in 16+ knots (up to 22ish)? A 7 or a 9? I weigh 76kgs.

I do already own a 10 and an 8 but these are not wave-specific kites at all...

Hi Strekke,

You would be well powered on the 9m and probably reaching for depower and perfectly powered on the 7m. It is a grunty little beast. I'd definitely go with the 7m.

We have some ex-demo 7's and also 9's for sale currently in very good nick.

DM

I have the 2016 Mono in 7-9-12 and this season so far only used these kites.( except an old RRD 9m I just retired, that I've been foiling on a lot) ) I'm foiling noob and strapless surfboard, 80kg, old Bastard, kiting 16 years, last 4 on Core XRs. I wanted a lighter,softer less aggressive kite.
Foiling range 12m - 9-14 knts , 9m 12-17 knts 7m 16-22 knts.
Surfboard 12m 9-18, 9m 15-22, 7m 20-25. I've not had the 7 out in overpowered yet. I generally don't go out in more than 25 knots.

I find them quite powerful for their size, quick and nimble with lite steering and bar pressure. They give a good power kick on down stroke and up stroke. If the wind is too light they fall back on TE and stall. Never hindenburg.

Disclaimer : I've only about 15 sessions on all 3 kites together.

The only real flaw of the kite is that it has a high tendency to invert when it hits the water. I would say that the reason for this is that without the extra struts ithas a lower profile you can see it when it just lies on the beach. Apart from this the kite flies very well drifts very well - over all I love the kite

The only real flaw of the kite is that it has a high tendency to invert when it hits the water. I would say that the reason for this is that without the extra struts ithas a lower profile you can see it when it just lies on the beach. Apart from this the kite flies very well drifts very well - over all I love the kite

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delta designs said..
I cant speak for the 12m mono as i've just got one and have yet to fly it but i know that the 7m is the best surf kite i've flown to date.
Its hard to define the reason for this but after you fly it in surf it just feels so right, almost intuitive. Everyone down our way that flew a 7m immediately switched over. Its a demo thang for sure.
Some dont like the way it flutters when sheeted out but thats easily fixed.....sheet out a bit less and keep some wind in the kite
when gybing, which is the most common time for it to occur.
IMO thats a small consideration with all the upside this kite has, the future for sure.

Select to expand quote

bigtone667 said..

ActionSportsWA said..

On my recent trip to Mauritius, I decided on Mono's and packed the 12m, 9m and 7m. I'd never really put much though into them as a wave kite, but after talking with Marty and hearing the boys at Margies are all riding Mono 7's, I thought I'd take a punt taking advantage of their light weight which allowed me to bring an extra surfboard without going over weight for the plane trip.

I took four Clouds (5.5, 8.5, 10.4 and 13.4) over to Mauritius. I was out first nearly every day and avoided quite a few boat rescues because they fly in next to nothing. Awesome place to kite!!

When I went to Mauritius I got solid wind everyday all day. Kited every day sometimes twice... even got a sneeky 9am session on the day I left to go home. On that holiday everything synced!