Rider: Weight 93kg,
Level intermediate
Style: Freestyle
Weather: varied
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 8/10
Disclosure: None

My Comments:
I'm too lazy to make this long or make up sentences, so it will be in bullet point:
- Light bar pressure, medium turning pressure.
Float
- In light winds 16-18k this kite has great floaty lift. Definitely better than my Best HP Nemesis
- In 18-22k it still has excesive float in the jumps. Lots more than any other 12m I've ridden!
- In 22+K it seems pretty standard flaotwise.

Jumping
- Doesn't quite have the extreme pull off the water as HP Neme, but not bad, and in most conditions the float more than makes up for it.
- In 22+K it still jumps high if you really nail the timing.

Movement
- Is best when worked hard and kept active in the window. ie it has a sharp gradient when it goes out of the window and has good apparent wind effect. If you want an agressive kite for an aggressive riding style then this is a good one.
- Turning speed is pretty good (although a little slower the the HP Neme on the fastest setting), with average pull in the turns for this kind of speed.

Relaunch is no problems

Love the bar and especially the bag.

Overall, if you're after an agressive freestyle kite with light bar pressure and lots of float then this is a good one.

Mal

Ok, I was looking forward to this review. How does it compare to 12m HP in terms of low end ? Unhooking ? Did you try various settings (slow/fast or wake/freeride) and if so, how different were they ?

Hi Pemba

Low end is comparable, although I'd say it's a fraction less than the HP. Sorry, I'm old school and so don't bother with unhooked. Haven't had a chance to try different settings, although I will soon. Not much more info for you there mate, sorry.

Hi malfi,
Regarding your comment "it has a sharp gradient when it goes out of the window":
- sometimes kites that behave like this, are not very good when performing old school tricks...for example...if you perform a vertical front flip (using one hand) AND HOLDING THE BAR NOT FROM THE MIDDLE BUT SLIGHTLY FURTHER FORWARD, the kite makes an aggressive move and dives/turns fast forward dangerously.... IS THIS THE CASE WITH THIS KITE? Is it really sensitive on the bar when you perform huge aerial tricks?
usually c-shape hi-depower kites don't do that....when you perform a trick, and you are ready for landing, then you have to pull the bar harder to come forward for landing. this is very a thing because you have a total control of your kite AND ALSO YOU DONT HAVE TO HOLD THE BAR FROM THE MIDDLE ALL THE TIME (it gives you more options on positioning your hands o the bar)

Waiting for your comment?

p.s: Do you also have a smaller size of vapor x? The "issue" am describing above usually happens with smaller sizes. the 12m is too big to be too aggressive anyway.

Hi Raw

I know what you mean, but it definately doesn't make those aggressive moves that I believe you are referring to. What I meant in my comment was that the kite just likes to be driven hard for it to perform how I think it should. MAybe it's a bit about my style too, I don't know. I suppose it's like most kites, but maybe a bit moreso on this one, that it's a bit slow to get back into a good power window once it goes out. I think this is also a characteristic linked to this kite having a better than average apparent wind effect. I love doing all my tricks, so It's not overly sensitive on the bar by any means.

I haven't ridden a smaller Vapor X, so what you say about the smaller version could be right, not sure.

Hope this helps
Mal

thanks for the answer.
i guess yes I should ask someone that rides 8m vapor x in order to get a definite answer