Hey guys got my 10m Demo and have had a few sessions over the last month to get a feel for it. I'm 100 kegs, kiting since the start, love all styles. Ridden most bandits and other kites, F-One Dealer.

Kite still feels like a bandit which will keep bandit fans happy. If you haven't flown one yet best to get on it and see for yourself.

Pumping up- finally a large inflate but rather than go with the standard they have stepped it up a level. Reactor valve is basically an ISUP valve adapted to kiting. Benefit are pump hose locks in and seals, no popping off or pre-twisting hose issues. Deflate is quick too, press buttton - easy as.

Colours- Different to standard and generally bright so you will standout on the water. Black fans may not be happy, lol

Construction- Solid and some nice attention to detail on all the little things this year

Flying- Fast dynamic flying with responsive steering. Generally can race around while going upwind definitely nice forward pull. Have had out in 30kts and still nice and comfortable and had some of the biggest boosts i can remember in a looong time. Plenty of float and can loop any which way you like.
What you don't notice is the gusts, it's super smooth and an improvement over previous editions.
Power is still there though i have often been on a smaller kite while being the heaviest rider. Even in 15 can still go fine is needed.
Canopy is very stable, very little signs of flutter.

Surf- Had out in cross on both a little underpowered and well powered and it behaved well. Kite is fast as this year and i have been using a small bar. Can put it whever you like fly it backwards, loop and still be it the right spot. I think some wave crew would be stoked on it for sure.

Bar- Simple, nice sticky grip and narrow profile. Being a solid machined piece helps keep it strong, responsive and also very light compared to some.
New swivel works very well, front leaders are beefed up and easily changed for high/ low v. Bar length can be changed quite easily.
Above the bar depower i like and works well with no an overly long throw. Chickenloop could maybe a bit bigger for freestylers but i'm sure that will be a spare part if needed. Single line flag now too.

Relaunch - super easy

Unhooking- Notice more pop for sure, and easy on arms. Prob not same slack as the new wtf c but very good . I'm heavy handed so may be best to slow down a bit on bar or kite. Otherwise pass completion has been high for a small kite so pretty stoked. Tuning is good, no signs of stall but i do back off my lines a couple knots so little tuning for perfect unhooked trim and nice close sweet spot.

Anyway enough talking, best to get out on the water and try one if you can.
One of top allround kites for sure, any tech questions hit us up.
My kites available for demo.
If you ever around Elliott Heads hit me up.

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undertow said..
Hey guys got my 10m Demo and have had a few sessions over the last month to get a feel for it. I'm 100 kegs, kiting since the start, love all styles. Ridden most bandits and other kites, F-One Dealer.

Kite still feels like a bandit which will keep bandit fans happy. If you haven't flown one yet best to get on it and see for yourself.

Pumping up- finally a large inflate but rather than go with the standard they have stepped it up a level. Reactor valve is basically an ISUP valve adapted to kiting. Benefit are pump hose locks in and seals, no popping off or pre-twisting hose issues. Deflate is quick too, press buttton - easy as.

Colours- Different to standard and generally bright so you will standout on the water. Black fans may not be happy, lol

Construction- Solid and some nice attention to detail on all the little things this year

Flying- Fast dynamic flying with responsive steering. Generally can race around while going upwind definitely nice forward pull. Have had out in 30kts and still nice and comfortable and had some of the biggest boosts i can remember in a looong time. Plenty of float and can loop any which way you like.
What you don't notice is the gusts, it's super smooth and an improvement over previous editions.
Power is still there though i have often been on a smaller kite while being the heaviest rider. Even in 15 can still go fine is needed.
Canopy is very stable, very little signs of flutter.

Surf- Had out in cross on both a little underpowered and well powered and it behaved well. Kite is fast as this year and i have been using a small bar. Can put it whever you like fly it backwards, loop and still be it the right spot. I think some wave crew would be stoked on it for sure.

Bar- Simple, nice sticky grip and narrow profile. Being a solid machined piece helps keep it strong, responsive and also very light compared to some.
New swivel works very well, front leaders are beefed up and easily changed for high/ low v. Bar length can be changed quite easily.
Above the bar depower i like and works well with no an overly long throw. Chickenloop could maybe a bit bigger for freestylers but i'm sure that will be a spare part if needed. Single line flag now too.

Relaunch - super easy

Unhooking- Notice more pop for sure, and easy on arms. Prob not same slack as the new wtf c but very good . I'm heavy handed so may be best to slow down a bit on bar or kite. Otherwise pass completion has been high for a small kite so pretty stoked. Tuning is good, no signs of stall but i do back off my lines a couple knots so little tuning for perfect unhooked trim and nice close sweet spot.

Anyway enough talking, best to get out on the water and try one if you can.
One of top allround kites for sure, any tech questions hit us up.
My kites available for demo.
If you ever around Elliott Heads hit me up.

How would you rate the forward pull as opposed to sideways compared to last years model ?

Forward pull on 2018 is a noticeable improvement in smoothness and my upwind angles and riding speed also ( can ride fast while still pointing high) compared to 2017 10m. I know they say it's better every year but you can tell they have fully been over the kite/bar this year even though it still feels/ looks like a bandit. In overpowered sessions still feels really manageable, so as wind increase it must go forward more rather than just deliver more grunt. Even small kites and surfboards could not beat me upwind on my twinny, some could be my technique though. Closer to perfect trim out the bag too, the better forward flying makes it less sensitive to oversheeting or incorrect trim. I'm pretty fussy in trimming settings on my kites.
The power is still there though maybe less noticeable , when powered you just go bigger. Underpowered can still go upwind, In marginal conditions last session i could explore downwind and get back when light riders were still stuck on the beach. I'm 100kg. So range is huge
Unhooked is where you notice it too, sometimes when wind picks up solid 10m can be quite powerful unhooking still, with a little trim is still fine and unhooked bar pull is still nice and light on your arms. Canopy is definitely tighter and more responsive when running in top end this year. Can't wait to get my woo working again.

Thanks, sounds good this year.

Has anyone tested the 12m, especially interested in the lowend and the speed of the kite (board speed it generates)?

Bit more testing ;) today. Gave some other guys a run and feedback was good. See if can get them to give their thoughts.

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omg said..
Thanks, sounds good this year.

Has anyone tested the 12m, especially interested in the lowend and the speed of the kite (board speed it generates)?

not a 12m (which i am trying to wean off) but demoed the 10m first time today, gusty as se 20-28 knots, had a twinnie sess then strapless surf...
overall stoke was how the kite absorbed the crazy gusts and remained tight, smooth and totally usable, no stop start, no uncomfortable pulling or effort, just raw power and more speed to enjoy the ride particularly on the surfboard. bar pressure was light but responded predictably when sheeting in, no need to keep hauling to maintain momentum like the reos i have been riding...
so totally agree with undertows comments with front line pull, allround ease of use, marked improvement from previous models, and more dynamic excitement...
had so much fun on the 2018 model I just bought it!!

I had a go of the 10m over the past couple of days and it's performing better in almost every way over my 10m Bandit 2016.
Went out in 25-30Kn through the surf and it kept a lot more stable in the air through gusts and cutting up over waves. Boosts were some of the biggest I've done with a lot confidence in the kite on the way down. The standout feature was the depower though. It feels like the throw on the new bar is a little longer than before and the kite deforms better in the air to give more fine-grained control through the bar. Dumping power was far easier in that amount of wind.

Finished off the session with a little bit of flatwater boosting in a small channel:





Next day I ran my Bandit 10 2016 back-to-back with the new 2018 model in 20Kn and the difference was more than anticipated. The smoothness was there again, but the drive off the water and float was the standout. Came in feeling that the old 2016 might need to be put out to pasture ...

+2 for smooth grunty speed this year, better canopy so much faster than my pure surf kites, have ridden the 10 now from 16 to 30 kts, pulls just as hard as my 12 reo in lower wind so 10 will become my biggest kite 85kgs 25L, will try 8m next