Hi All,

I had my first opportunity to ride the new production model 10 Airush Vapour yesterday. Although conditions weren't exactly perfect for it, it was a good test none the less.

Kite : Airush Vapour 10m
Location : Pinnaroo Point, W.A.
Water Conditions : Very rough and choppy
Wind speed : 30 - 35 knots Southerly
Board : Airush X-Pact 132
Rider Weight : 85 kgs

The kite is Airush's first one pump kite and it inflated nicely at the recommended 7psi, everything is labeled and it is really a no brainer. I'm not a big fan of one pump or 5 lines but they were easy enough to setup and everything is labeled as I said to make it easy.

The kite feels light to steer and only has moderate bar pressure, a lot less than the Flow SLE I am used to. The safety syetem is simple and connects to the 5th line. The first thing I noticed was how smooth the kite is and how easy it was to fly, despite being massively overpowered the kite was still easy enough to control. I was able to walk against the wind on the beach with the kite at 12 and fully depowered.

First run was to get used to the trimming and feel of the kite then a few quick jumps. Unfortunately the kite was slightly out of tune and had a very slight tendency to turn left. This wasn't enough to come in and try and sort it out but did effect my session a little.

After I got used to it, the kite was really good fun and behaved a lot better tyhan I expected in the insane conditions. Boosts were high, in fact quite high but the hangtime was amazing. The whole flight was very smooth, no violent jerk off the water and smooth landings as long as the timing was right for the redirect.

Landings were quite fast though due to the take offs in super overpowered and rough conditions which led to massive downwind flights. Observers on the beach suggested 40-50m downwind jumps which was a little disconcerting because you need so much clear area to really send it to not take others out.

First impression was that I like the kite but really need to ride it again in more reasonable conditions to get a true feel for it's potential.

I'll post again after a decent ride in better conditions.

Good winds,

ARGH!! You suck....send it over here so I can have a go next! No-one around here is going to have them to demo

Hey Kitehard.
I rode the vapor 10M last weekend too. Wasnt the best conditions either, not enough wind. I'll agree with the bar pressure. After coming from the flow, which pulls like a truck, the absence of bar pressure was a relief. I read that the vapour is supposed to be in between the Flow and the Reactor in performance. I can see that. It wasn't as stable as the flow in that you had to be weary of your hand movements when riding along. But the responsiveness of it was much like the Reactor. You pull the trigger and over she comes.
The only downside i saw (and is probably related to the lack of wind) is that i had to constantly work the kite. It didn't want to park'n'play. Did you find this also? I'm curious because this was the only fault i could see.
I think a few more demos are gonna be needed before i can confidently make the switch. And i'm looking forward to some higher wind to get the boosts dialled in. I didnt get a chance to un hook as i didnt have time to tune mine either. Did you unhook and if so, how was it?
Staying tuned.
J.

I've had a few rides on the vapor now, Darren's comments are spot on.
Light bar pressure and smooth. VB has been fairly happy with the bottom end,the kite does seem to like a bit of apparent wind.
I don't unhook much but it felt fine unhooked, Darren might be able to offer more info.

Boosts were different, appears you can get floaty jumps with lots of hangtime by jumping it like an 07 Flow, but if jumped like a c kite you get more of a vertical pull(straight up then down with less hantime) kite could be redirected very late for soft landings.

Kite:Vapor 10m
Location: Swanbourne to Mullaloo(donwinder)
Water Conditions: Very choppy, small beach breaks
Wind Speed: 18-20knots
Boards: Airush Protoy 135
Weight: 75 kgs

Thanks
Matt

I am an Airush pimp and have my hands on a 7 & 10 Vapor.

I hated it the first time I rode it. Coming from Lifts, the bar pressure was too light and I couldnt feel where it was.

Now I am a convert and have my skirt on.

I fly both with a 45cm bar and dont think you need a bigger one for the 10. Being a flat kite they have the low end of a kite a size up, as long as you keep it moving. And a top end arguably that of a size down due to the depower and the smooth delivery of power through the window.

I rode the 7 last sunday and think that kite rocks. It has some serious float for a small kite, I only had soft landings after some decent boosts.

The depower really helps with controlling your speed, especially during bottom turns when its windy when you would normally race past the section. I ride a Twin Tip, but think it would be unreal for unstrapped surfboards.

I unhook quite a bit on waves, there is a danger of it falling out of the sky if you dont have enough depower on and you go towards it. Ive got the depower setting sussed now and havent had a problem since. It doesnt float backward down wind at all, but as long as youve got it pointing forward its all good.

It definately doesnt have the dramatic power boost during loops as a C kite, It has a constant pull all the way through.

Like I said at the start, I am a pimp, but I would go and buy one of these. I think it is one of the best Hybrid kites I have flown, That and the Norths. The Norths having more bar pressure.

But get your hands on one and take it for a test run. Thats the best way to work out if its as good as the hype.

I am really keen to get a demo of one of these, is there a 14m and has anyone flown it ? I have 05 rhinos at the moment and want something that will pull me around with grunt still. I am 105 kg and ride a 133 sol.

As far as I know the only demos around are 10m's. Reviews should be available when they come into stock later this month,
Thanks
Matt

Hi Guys,

(to be read in conjunction with the first review)
I've now had time to test the Vapor in a variety of conditions from ballistic (30-35kn) in big crazy chop, to glassy 400m long offshore speed runs (15-20 knots), and off to crossoff shore glassy surf (15-20kn + 2m surf). I've started to get a good vibe from the kite now with 6 sessions under the belt.

Firstly minimum wind speed for me (85 kg) on a 132 X-Pact and holding ground upwind is 15 knots and 14 knots on an 06 Exile (according to wind instruments on yacht). This gives me a useable windrange of 15 to 35 knots. At the low end of the range the kite has to be worked, but being as quick and as smooth as it is, it really takes no effort. Just build a little speed and on comes the power!

What I did like:-
Super light bar pressure - really easy to sheet in and out with one hand.
Super light and super responsive steering.
Fast turning and fast through the air
Great upwind ability, better than most other kites I have ridden it against.
Big floaty smooth boosts
Big depower range
Total plug and play rigging.
Flies well unhooked if you trim it down a little - no different to any other kite when unhooking.
One pump was pretty sweet.
Good stability
Just bloody good fun and super sweet to fly!

What I didn't like:-
5th Line - It's just an added hassle when rigging IMHO
Lack of static grunt - to be expected with a higher aspect fast kite that develops power from speed through the air.
No strong downwind pull when kitelooping.

Not sure of:-
How well it will go in side shore waves - I think tha Flow or DNA will be better suited to this application.

Overall, I reckon it is one of the sweetest kites I have had to play with in a long time. I think that the majority of riders who try this kite will fall in love with it, as have the guys who have had a go on the kite I have been using (10m). Especially freestylers. Pure wave kiters will like it, but may be better served by Flow or DNA.

Thanks for reading. Good winds,

got to use a flow for the first time the other day and in comparison, flow is a dog: way to much bar presure and not real stand out performance.

remember i said "in comparison"...

you say no pull when kitelooping when I tried it with the stopper pulled down so you cant sheet out and dump the power it had more than enough pull.