Whats the difference between these kites?

Is the Vapour I just the '07 model?

Hey General Dude - the main difference is the amount that you can now tune the kite by - there have been some improvments in other kite features such as mini battens etc but the main difference is how much you can adjust the kite to suit your style nad requirements.

Nice kites to fly - as are a lot of kites out there - I really appreciate the ability to modify bar pressure and turning speed very quickly.

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general_dude said...

Whats the difference between these kites?

Is the Vapour I just the '07 model?

The Vapors launch timing is a bit skewed to the rest. The Vap I came out in late 06/early 07 if I recall and the VapII came out in March this year. The rest of the Airush kites are released around August the year before. ie 08 models came out around Aug 07.

Great kites though - I now have the 12 and 8.5 Vap II's. the 12 is awesome and hopefully we will have 20kts this afternoon and I will try the 8.5 for the first time

Ive seen you PNG folk lazing around on boats, kiting idyllic places and keeping it all to yourselves...

Nearly time for a trip

No Lance it is terrible up here. I mean we had at least 2-3 days in the last fortnight that dropped below 18kts. Sunday was one and we had to use our 12's!!

We did get 20kts yesterday, 4 of us took off at 3.30 (board meetings) and got a good couple of hours in. So we are a bit buggered - especially after the big kiting weekend we had. Fortunately the next 7 days is lit up like a Chrissie tree as well. JayP has already booked in Board meetings for Monday and Wed!!

I took the 8.5 Vap for a spin yesterday, and yes, everything you would expect. Fast through the window and in turning, easy to put where you want it, great in the waves and handles the gusts with ease. I was even surprised with the boost - I had some huge height and we were really at it's low end for my weight.

Another surprise is the relaunch the Vaps have. Generally by the time I have come back up for air after a ditch, the vap has sat itself on its edge and is nearly flying again...a quick pull on the bar and it is off. It made the difference in the waves.

Yeah told you the vapors were super quick to relaunch - and much appreciated in the surf several times already...

Dont know about these board meetings though - I hope you dont have Bilko out there with you...

lots of info here....
kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesurfing/the-new-vapor-ii-second-generation-flat-5-from-airush-22320

Yeah - great thread.

I had not realised the Vapors were a UK design origin.

Seriously good kites though, hard to know how they will improve on it.

by taking away the insane amount of tuning available. just set it up with 3 good settings for surf wake and freestyle.. all the insane little adjustments u can make are crazy! but i liked the kites apart from that, straight out of the bag they are nice and got a good feel, tighten fith line to get more of a flow feel or loosen for mor c ish feel.. i did one of my highest kiteloops ever on the 8.5,

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Charl dv said...

by taking away the insane amount of tuning available. just set it up with 3 good settings for surf wake and freestyle.. all the insane little adjustments u can make are crazy! but i liked the kites apart from that, straight out of the bag they are nice and got a good feel, tighten fith line to get more of a flow feel or loosen for mor c ish feel.. i did one of my highest kiteloops ever on the 8.5,

But you have said it yourself - straight out of the bag works great. you don't have to play with the tuning if you don't want to - pretend the options aren't there.....

Also, peoples preferences are always different even for the same style. I think the options for turning speed and bar pressure are the best way to go, and are easy and quick to change. The stability option is a bit more complex and was set up because the UK guys have such gusty conditions and wanted it. I can't see myself using it unless I am really pushing the low end.