I know the GTS4 has been out for a while but I am sure some people will still be interested in buying one in the future. I have been riding them for quite a few months now.

Build Quality 8/10
So far these kites have been bombproof. Personally I like pumping my kites above the recommended PSI, these kites have taking hard hits and hours sitting on the beach in the sun and sand, so far I have had no issues with the triple rip stop material. As far as the bar goes, I am personally not a big fan of how thin the bar is, it feels a bit unnerving and after a long days session I usually have quite a few blisters. Never had any serious issues with the bar but a friend of mine had his core bar snap. However I can't fault the depower system and quick release system that Core use.

Handling 7/10
These kites have a great high end. I weigh about 70kg and have used the 12m in 30 knots, 9m in 40 knots and 7m in gusts of over 50 knots. In these conditions I haven't found another kite that handles as well as the GTS4 and feel so controlled. They loop and boost well. All kiteloops I have done in this kite have been on 22m lines. I am sure if you switch down to 18m or 20m lines you will easily be able to go level with this kite. I find the low end on this kite slightly disappointing but I guess most c kite shapes don't have a great low end. If I had the option, I would have bought a slightly higher aspect ratio 12m and kept the 7m and 9m GTS4.

Comparison to the FX
Before riding Core, I used to ride the FX. To be honest, I think they are very similar in most ways. However, there are a few things I prefer about the GTS4. First of all is the graphics, I think the GTS4 looks great and is very distinct on the water. Second is turning speed, the GTS4 is a lot more nippy and can loop faster than the FX. Thirdly is the set up. The GTS4 gives you a lot of different options for how to set up your kite, and each time you change the setup the GTS4 feels like a different kite, however on the FX, the only option I remember having was changing the location of the pigtails from A to B.

Hi, I'm just confirming that you're 70kgs and using a 9 in 30-40knots?
Do you have a 17 in your quiver for 10-15knot days or just use you 9 still..? So not good for bottom end...
Where do you get 30-40knots often? Cause I'm moving there asap!

Vid was filmed at Lancing UK . Nice review James . Those figures 8/10 and 7/10 are so much more realistic than the usual BS 10/10 and 9/10 I see on here. Thanks for keepin it real.

Going by those stats and I'm 110kg, I'm guessing I should've been using my 12 GTS in 35-40 kts

I found with this kite that I could have easily gone up a size (i.e. 14) to try and give me the equivalent bottom end I get on my 12m XR4.

Been very happy with the quality of these kites, what bar did your friend snap JamesGibbons, the carbon one?.

For any of the lighter riders that are interested in this kite here's a great buy

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing-Kites/~v34rj/2017-Core-Gts-4-12-metre.aspx?_page=1&search=qah8RAr%2BUEA%3D

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Fly on da wall said..
Hi, I'm just confirming that you're 70kgs and using a 9 in 30-40knots?
Do you have a 17 in your quiver for 10-15knot days or just use you 9 still..? So not good for bottom end...
Where do you get 30-40knots often? Cause I'm moving there asap!

Yes, I'm 70kg and have used the 9m in 40 knots, but a 7m would have probably been better and more fun in those winds. No 17m, my biggest is the 12m, i usually don't bother unless the wind is at least 18 knots, although it will get me going at 15. As 'teabaggin' said, the spot was Lancing, on the South Coast of the UK. We usually get a few 40 knot days a month from November to February

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Ashley27 said..
Going by those stats and I'm 110kg, I'm guessing I should've been using my 12 GTS in 35-40 kts

I found with this kite that I could have easily gone up a size (i.e. 14) to try and give me the equivalent bottom end I get on my 12m XR4.

Been very happy with the quality of these kites, what bar did your friend snap JamesGibbons, the carbon one?.

For any of the lighter riders that are interested in this kite here's a great buy

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing-Kites/~v34rj/2017-Core-Gts-4-12-metre.aspx?_page=1&search=qah8RAr%2BUEA%3D

You could try, would be interesting to see how a 12m would handle in 40 knots!
No, the bar he snapped was just the standard sensor 2 version

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Comparison to the FX
Before riding Core, I used to ride the FX. To be honest, I think they are very similar in most ways. However, there are a few things I prefer about the GTS4. First of all is the graphics, I think the GTS4 looks great and is very distinct on the water. Second is turning speed, the GTS4 is a lot more nippy and can loop faster than the FX. Thirdly is the set up. The GTS4 gives you a lot of different options for how to set up your kite, and each time you change the setup the GTS4 feels like a different kite, however on the FX, the only option I remember having was changing the location of the pigtails from A to B.

Great review. You have mentioned aspects of the GTS that you prefer over the FX, but are there any aspects of the FX that you prefer over the GTS?

Any chance you are able to compare the GTS with the North Dice? From what I can see the GTS, FX and Dice are fairly similar.

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CJ2478 said..

Comparison to the FX
Before riding Core, I used to ride the FX. To be honest, I think they are very similar in most ways. However, there are a few things I prefer about the GTS4. First of all is the graphics, I think the GTS4 looks great and is very distinct on the water. Second is turning speed, the GTS4 is a lot more nippy and can loop faster than the FX. Thirdly is the set up. The GTS4 gives you a lot of different options for how to set up your kite, and each time you change the setup the GTS4 feels like a different kite, however on the FX, the only option I remember having was changing the location of the pigtails from A to B.

Great review. You have mentioned aspects of the GTS that you prefer over the FX, but are there any aspects of the FX that you prefer over the GTS?

Any chance you are able to compare the GTS with the North Dice? From what I can see the GTS, FX and Dice are fairly similar.

One thing that I liked about the FX over the GTS4 is that I found the pull from the FX more consistent while the GTS was a bit more on and off, which I guess is good if your into handlepasses, but I'm not. I also thought the FX handled gusty conditions slightly better.

Coincidentally, 2 years ago I was deciding on whether to go for a dice, FX GTS, so asked which one to go for on this forum. In the end I went for the FX before switching to the GTS. Here is the post www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/North-Dice-Cabrinha-FX-or-Core-GTS3?page=1

Firstly I really like the clip and will happily disclose your jumping skills far outweigh my humble attempts. Yes the review was cool and realistic compared to so many we get on here. BUT 50 knots - I watched that video several times and I really question your estimate of the wind speed. This topic of wind speed rears its head from time to time and I am going to call BS on 50 knots in that video clip. Also your quote,"I weigh about 70kg and have used the 12m in 30 knots, 9m in 40 knots and 7m in gusts of over 50" and feel so controlled. Hell that's strength and skill beyond any thing I have witnessed. Can it be done - yes, but with a tonne of trim not control.
Guess it is time to face the music
Happy for you to prove me wrong.

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2old2quit said..
Firstly I really like the clip and will happily disclose your jumping skills far outweigh my humble attempts. Yes the review was cool and realistic compared to so many we get on here. BUT 50 knots - I watched that video several times and I really question your estimate of the wind speed. This topic of wind speed rears its head from time to time and I am going to call BS on 50 knots in that video clip. Also your quote,"I weigh about 70kg and have used the 12m in 30 knots, 9m in 40 knots and 7m in gusts of over 50" and feel so controlled. Hell that's strength and skill beyond any thing I have witnessed. Can it be done - yes, but with a tonne of trim not control.
Guess it is time to face the music
Happy for you to prove me wrong.

50 knot gusts definitely.. Look at the way the kite flies forward in the window in a gust. Look at thye way the spray blows off the waves, look at the water near the horizon and see how choppy it is.. It's definitely up there. He is also going pretty high on an 8m, so if gusts were 50knots, average wind is 35-40.

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2old2quit said..
Firstly I really like the clip and will happily disclose your jumping skills far outweigh my humble attempts. Yes the review was cool and realistic compared to so many we get on here. BUT 50 knots - I watched that video several times and I really question your estimate of the wind speed. This topic of wind speed rears its head from time to time and I am going to call BS on 50 knots in that video clip. Also your quote,"I weigh about 70kg and have used the 12m in 30 knots, 9m in 40 knots and 7m in gusts of over 50" and feel so controlled. Hell that's strength and skill beyond any thing I have witnessed. Can it be done - yes, but with a tonne of trim not control.
Guess it is time to face the music
Happy for you to prove me wrong.

I will admit the 50 knots in the title was partly clickbait. However, at the spot we have a pier with a pretty accurate anemometer, it was reading a sustained 40-45 knots with the highest gust reaching a sustained 52 knots as shown in description while i was out there. The footage you see was not from when the winds gusted over 50 as i was hanging on for dear life when that wind hit and was not jumping. The only time i was jumping when the wind was more like 40-45.

Some awesome fun jumps in that video - great spot nice little flats - my dream wind and wave directions

Nice video! I love my gts4 kites! If I had perfect water and kicker waves like that I'd be going 15m+ all the time. They also handle wind extremely well. I'm about 70kg and I'm mostly on my 9 and usually switch over or go with the 7 around 30ish kts but I can hold the 9 a fair bit longer. It's mostly due to slippery grass and ****ty wave/wind directions making it impossible to walk out or in unless you got the kite at 12. Which I always do but you need to know the wind and there's always a small risk to get lifted so I'm staying a little off the max limit

12m in 30 sounds a bit silly though

So what is low end of this kites then?
would I be able to go out on 10m TT in 15 knots?

Hi james you review is very interesting. I current ride 12 FX and 9-7 switchblade which has been great for boosting. I want to get into Kitelooping I like the look of the gts 4s are they really worth me spending the money on. Would you say the jumping was better then the FX many thanks

nice video mate, the kite looks loads of fun!!

heres a recent shot of steven on the same kite

www.instagram.com/p/Bn6ZLPQCp42/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=us6ueq5pjyd0