We have had some request about the Bandit 3, and its features. So we thought we would run the gauntlet and put on the forum.

Rider: 85 kg
Style: Freeriding,
Weather: 12kts 34kts

Disclosure: A1 Kiteboarding; We Stock and use Fone in the our school and online shop

My Comments:

I was recommended the Bandit 3 10m from M8, they promised the 10m would do the business....
We have had the kites in stock for a few weeks now and have tested the kite from about 12kts right upto 35kts.

Out of the bag, the kite looks and feels small. The bridle is very compact, and the "one pump" make things simple. Rigging is a simple 4 line process.
The line adjustments are done at the bar, not at the bridle. We like this.

The 10m will get you going from about 11-12kts on a twintip , but you will be walking upwind. From about 13-14kts your powered up and killing it

We found the kite to have a nice even power all the way through the ark of power. The kite dose fly a long way round in the window, this can mean the kite can be a bit unpredictable at 12o'clock. By just resting the kite at 11 or 1 o'clock will solve this problem.

The best thing about the Bandit 3 is the wind range. We have used the kite up-to about 35kts and felt totally in control. At this time we had the kite de- power by about 2/3rds. I believe the kite can fly in bigger winds , but only time will tell.

My suggestion, if you are around the 85kg mark, go with the 10m. One of the people who we sold a kite to was using a 12m Bow, his new bandit 3 10m is giving him the same power.

To be fair there is one thing we found we did not like. 10psi is the recommended inflation... that's a forearm burning pump-up. But small sacrifice for such a lovely fast turning kite.

if you have the opportunity at you home city, give the kite a go! and see if the kite is for you

Not everyone will agree to our comments, and not everyone will like the kite. But if you would like to have a try, contact A1 or any FOne dealer.

No spam i like it.

Very simple review though, i got a kite and i rode it in some different conditions but didnt like that i had to pump it up so hard.

Just one thing, i wouldnt recomend adjusting the power at the bar as all you will achive is powering up the kite and make it back stall badly, there is an adjustment up on the centre line moving this setting towards the bar just one knot depowers the kite makes a huge differance, i have never had to depower more than on knot.

Ben you will definatly get a bit more topend out of your 10m and you are on the money recomending them to 85kg ridders or less as a one kite quiver but any bigger and go the 11m unless you dont really care about the bottom end.

Ive been having a blast on the B3 for the last few months and it is one great kite for freestyle, wakestyle, speed and big air. If you rode the bandit DOS and didnt like that intimidating feel of power it would be worth re trying the B3 as everything is a lot smoother, the new bar setup this year is bullet proof with the re designed chicken loop,ups, which locates in the bar making un hooking easy as you allways know where it is when hooking back in the donkey dik is a lot better being a swing around design so it wont get in the rode and the plastic bit that they had problems with is completely re designed, the safety line now runs through this and makes it a lot simpler just be carful to not allso hook your leash to the chicken loop hanger as it is fairly easily done. The bar presure is a little lighter and the initial feel is a little indirect as there is a bit of a dead spot in the middle making small movements have no affect on the kite ideal for wakestyle, but turn tha bar a little more and the turning speed is a lot quicker than the DOS. With the indirect feel of the bar in the middle you would expect the kite to wander a bit but it doesnt it just flys perfectly not wanting to go up or down, and i have found that if i have lost where the kite is and just jet go of the bar it will just sit where you left it. This years kite doesnt have a tendancy to fall out of the sky un like the dos where you land a bit hot and ride towards it the B3 is verry happy to just drift backwards where as the dos would just hindenburg. The b3 soaks up the gusts a lot better allmost to the stage where you dont even notice them, the only time you know its gusty is when people on the beach are complaining about it. The kite itself is a lot better built a shorter bridle this year with 3 pullys each side watch the white ones if your kite has them as one of mine has started showing signs of rust. The strut scuff gards are intergrated so no more pridles getting caught and pulling them off, both the leading edge and trailing edge are made of a heavy duty material which makes the B3 one of the heaviest kites on the market, but allso one of the tougthest. The wing tips now turn up at the end which has solved the problem of them snaging the bridles on relaunch which use to cause the dos to loop even once you had pulled the safety. The new leash is really nice a vast improvement on the last one its like a better quality slingshot leash which is push release not pull so it wont accidentaly release while trying to learn handle passes like the ss ones. The bag is a little cheaper not quite as good as last years it is verry tight fit putting a kite with the struts up in but i have seen worse. Not as much white on this years bag making them a little more hardy IMO.

Definatly worth giving one a demo if you think this kit might suit you.

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A1 said...


We have had the kites in stock for a few weeks now and have tested the kite from about 12kts right upto 35kts.

The 10m will get you going from about 11-12kts on a twintip , but you will be walking upwind. From about 13-14kts your powered up and killing it

We have used the kite up-to about 35kts and felt totally in control. At this time we had the kite de- power by about 2/3rds. I believe the kite can fly in bigger winds , but only time will tell.

So, the manufacturers have understated the wind range? That would be an industry first! Really and truly you expect people to believe this poop? Killing it in 13 knots and totally in control at 35!?

Look, I have no doubt it's a great kite, and if I found four grand somewhere tomorrow I'd probably buy a couple, but I know enough about aerodynamics to be pretty sure that 13-35 knots as an effective range on the one kite is a load of crap.

Waxman, you saw no reason to question this wind range claim? It seems a little out of line with what you've claimed?

35knots on a 10? not for us lightweights

are there any demos available on the perth northern beaches?

ok.... so 11m b3 and a 70kg body + 6 foot surfboard i should have no probs powering up wind to the line up in a puffy 12k to 15k thats what i want to know???

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djdojo said...

... Killing it in 13 knots and totally in control at 35!?

13 to 35 knots sounds like a big claim, I hope its true and we all can have one kite instead of 2 or 3.

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Poida said...

...are there any demos available on the perth northern beaches?

There is a shop in West Leederville "Surf Sail", they are the F one dealer.
I bought my first harness from them years ago and they were pretty cool people.

I give the new Deltas a tick for massive wind range.

I've ridden both a Bandit 3 and a Core GT (both 9's) in the stated wind ranges (dont own a surfboard, only a twin tip, I weigh 82kg). The Core goes a little lower in the wind range, I've ridden it (ie can ride without losing ground) in 9-13knot conditions through to 28 -32 knot conditions (bar really starts loading up at the top end , I think 35 would be the MAX).

The Bandit3 required 13-15 lowend equivalent but was a lot easier on the bar at 28-33 (top end max, who knows ??).
So yes you could definately get away with one kite, but I think comfort and the ability to unhook at either extremes of the windrange would suggest a 2 kite quiver would be the way to go.
Though since I ride a 9m GT in nothing and Waxie unhooks on a 13m Bandit 3 in 25+ knots we probably arent the best ambassadors for 2-3 kite setups.

Sorry as far as a comfortable wind range for most people probaly not but for the people that want to test the limits than yeah they will do it 85 kgs in 35kts on a B3 isnt that big of a claim IMO as fone state the wind range for the 10m is 12-28kts for a 75 kg ridder so at 85 kgs an extra 7 knots is easily achivable for experienced ridders(not average wind speed but max gust).

Would you believe 50kts on a 9m probably not but fone have tested the 9m in these conditions, team ridder Alex Caizergues 3 x world speed record holder 2007, 2008 and 2009 helps the R&D team tunning the top end of the kites to make sure thay have no issues with deforming etc. but i wouldnt try it myself.

For me i use my 13m in light stuff but 15-23kts is where i like it the best then 23-30 kts i will use my 9m and every thing above that is just ridding and not as enjoyable, some big jumps etc but thats about it.

Wind range is allways going to be different for everyone as style, weight, water conditions, and a heap of other things will affect it. As long as you are still comfortable in the conditions you are in is the most important thing, dont listen to advice on wind claims and think that you will be fine in the same conditions, try to stick to the manufactures charts and slowly work up if you find you are handling it ok. Its not much fun when you have to have someone holding you and you cant grab your own board and you allready have the kite fully depowered just to get on the watter but some people do it.

So remember play it safe an stick to the wind range chart and find out what works best for you

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spot1 said...

ok.... so 11m b3 and a 70kg body + 6 foot surfboard i should have no probs powering up wind to the line up in a puffy 12k to 15k thats what i want to know???

What do you use in those conditions at the moment? The 11m is one size that i havent ridden yet but i would say you would get away with the 10m maby in those conditions if your board has a bit of float about it as it will turn a bit quicker, i am no expert on surf but have read most guys prefer the smaller kites especially for unhooking in the surf. im a good 25kgs heavier than you and would probably take my 13m out in those conditions but my board is a little smaller as well 5,11 but it is verry floaty.

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Wisha said...

I give the new Deltas a tick for massive wind range.


Though since I ride a 9m GT in nothing and Waxie unhooks on a 13m Bandit 3 in 25+ knots we probably arent the best ambassadors for 2-3 kite setups.

My arms are a lot longer now, i dont recoment trying it would have been a lot more fun on my 9m. Who am i trying to kid i was having a blast, its like being straped to a rocket, one of those experimental ones that you never know where its going to land.

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waxman said...


Would you believe 50kts on a 9m

50knots equates to 57.6 Miles per hour.
Thats a big ass wind
Beaufort wind scale describes this wind as

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55 - 63mp/h Seldom experienced inland; trees uprooted; considerable structural damage.

On a 9m?
Keep it real eh?

Just re-read some of these posts...... 35knots on a 9m?

At 35knots i am looking at a 5m and am still very powered.

Either 35knots is different outside of WA but these claims just reek of BS.


Disclaimer - Waxman is a shop rider for A1 Kiteboarding.

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waxman said...

spot1 said...

ok.... so 11m b3 and a 70kg body + 6 foot surfboard i should have no probs powering up wind to the line up in a puffy 12k to 15k thats what i want to know???

What do you use in those conditions at the moment?

he uses a 7.5m2 B1 in 15knots and still gets further upwind than anyone else
its downright embarassing for everyone else

The b1 7.5m is one of my all time farourite kites the range is amazing i use to be able to ride my tt board in 16kts easily when everyone else were on there big kites.

Sorry Poor Relative not a shop ridder for A1, as you can see i have been ridding bandits since they were released and A1 has only just started selling them. i do ride for a shop that sells them, dont work for them and it is my choice what i choose to ride there are a lot of good kites i have tryed this season but i like to ride deltas the most.

.www.bandit3.com/

Check out this site, Pump the kite to 10psi, click on the sighn post LABO, click on the roller door and then click on the while board. This is fones R&D team explaining there development and Raphaele Sales claims 10-50kts testing the 9m.

Im not saying go and buy one and see if you can hold down that much, im just trying to show how much efort these guys have put in to making sure there kites can handle extreme conditions.

Dont believe me check the site out.

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poor relative said...

Just re-read some of these posts...... 35knots on a 9m?

At 35knots i am looking at a 5m and am still very powered.

Either 35knots is different outside of WA but these claims just reek of BS.


Disclaimer - Waxman is a shop rider for A1 Kiteboarding.

You must be a small dude, but its not really about how much power a kite has its about the depower and how well the kite behaves it the top end that makes the differance.

The wind range on the 9m off there chart is 15-30kts for a 75kg ridder go down to the 8m and its 18-38kts any smaller than that and they dont state a top end for obvious reasons being it would be in the extreme region where just having a good wind range wont save you its more experience that counts.

I cant comment on the wind in WA but i would guess that it is the same wind we get over here in whyalla. And yes its been one of the windiest starts to a season i have seen in a few years.

I recomend you try one out for yourself you may find that a 7m may replace your 5m and you would find it a lot smoother and easyer to ride IMO.

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waxman said...


You must be a small dude,

Flattery will get you everywhere

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waxman said...

Raphaele Sales claims 10-50kts testing the 9m.

So i claim had a threesome with Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton with Brittany spears videoing.
Doesn't necessarily mean its true.

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So i claim had a threesome with Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton with Brittany spears videoing.
Doesn't necessarily mean its true.

True, Iv'e seen your head

But yes 30knt can offer differing power depending on your lattitude in AUS.
30knt on a 9m is common here in Brissy

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poor relative said...

...
So i claim had a threesome with Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton with Brittany spears videoing.

So you claim that you have a good collection of STDs?

Does it help to ride in 50 knots?

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So i claim had a threesome with Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton with Brittany spears videoing.
Doesn't necessarily mean its true.

Did Brittany lip sink?

Gusting to 30-35 odd knots isn't that bad on new kites as the bridles are always moving to adjust. I'm guessing the 50 knots would mostly be in a downwind direction. Plenty of new kite demos around these days, give them ago.

Have you seen this you tube clip of the Luderitz speed chalenge apparently they had a couple of 50kt days.[}:)]

after having been to whyalla on a couple of occasions, i can honestly say that the big southerlie they get is pretty full on, really dense cold air coming up from antartica way and it hits hard. They guys there go hard and they ride 8m or 9m kites well into the 30knots. Rumour is that some lads there have even cracked the 50knot mark... so who knows what the limits are...

I think the ridder is the limit, there are allways going to be people pushing the limits, but it not for everyone if it doesnt feel good bail out, stay safe and continue to enjoying kiteing.

I allso think the average whyalla kitter is a bit heavyer set than most. if you live in a place with a lot of wind make chips and gravy your friend. You will thank me latter for the good advice[}:)]

nah, just strap on a 20kg bag of cement

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waxman said...

Have you seen this you tube clip of the Luderitz speed chalenge apparently they had a couple of 50kt days.[}:)]

That clip is insane.
....but not 50Kt. The reports say 30-40

Probably should clarify the general consensus of the Whyalla wind speeds.

BOM records max gusts as an average over 3 seconds, and wind speed is the 10min overall average.

If its a windy day and bom records consistent max gusts of 30knts, we will usually claim "man it was bloody windy out there, blowin 30knts" When actually the average wind speed was 20knts.

I have the feeling you WA boys would claim 20knts on that particular day??

i.e. over the weekend we got a howling westerly gusting consistently to 40knts. Safe to say we were all claiming riding in 40knts when the average wind speed was really 30knts.
Only 3 of us stayed out on the water and had a ball, it was too windy for the rest. The other 2 had 9m bandit3s and were killing it. The 9 Octane loved it too

Then for the 50knt claims, we have an offshore beacon, which I assume it records instantaneous gust speeds instead of a 3 sec average. The wind gusts recorded here are always much higher than BOM.

Hope that clears up any confusion and saves a few cat fights

If WA guys are claiming there arerage wind speed as there max they must not have gone to school. You may as well start claiming your minimum wind speed, and then acuse everyone that understrands the words Max, Min and average and use these words in reviews full of BS. so then you can continue to ride in your maxinum(minimum) 20 kts just so you have enougth fingers and toes to keep track of how windy it was.


Most people who write and claim a wind speed eg i was out ridding today in 22-27kts. I would assume that the average wind speed was 22kts gusting to 27kts not that they were out in an average of 22kts and an average of 27kts i dont really see why people get so upset about these numbers when normally they are just coppied off of the BOM site and this is the way in which they write them as well but i can only assume a lot of people must think that there full of BS as well

Most companies wind range charts state a maximum and mininum wind range as in lulls/gusts so when they say there top end is 30kts that is in gusts not average wind speed.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS POOR RELATIVE!

And if you dont think that that vid was shot in way over 40-50kts max gusts you must really have no idea. You guys must have a lot of tyres down the beach so you can rig up your lines in 30-40kts. The official report did claim the event was held in 30-40kts but wasnt epic. This is because they had a lot more wind in the previous days when this vid was taken.

Kites don't do 50knots
50 knots causes significant structural damage to homes.
It uproots trees.
Kites don't do 50knots.

Until i see it i call BS

PR and waxy, perhaps you guys should get a room, as it seems that this may not get sorted out any other way. But...

In case this helps, I understand that the course angle at Luderitz is a fraction over 100 degrees off the wind. If so, any kiter doing 50 knots will have an apparent wind speed of more than 50 knots. Seb Cattelan has peaked over 60 knots there, so even if the actual wind is a mere 40 knots, at a course that close to the wind the apparent wind will be massive.

That's not exactly what you're discussing, but it does prove that kites can have 50 knots flowing over them (at low angles of attack mind you) and survive.

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poor relative said...

Kites don't do 50knots
50 knots causes significant structural damage to homes.
It uproots trees.
Kites don't do 50knots.

Until i see it i call BS

Yes they do!
Yes they do!

Did some one forget there Tourette's midication

Dont get so upset because they do, they do.

They do
They do
They do
They do

Dont worry abouy the Trees and Houses because this is a warter sport?

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waxman said...
midication

warter

Warter - Water.
midication - Medication.

I don't think i need to go on.

Fore some one that can pick spelling mistakes, its verry supprising you dont seem to know ****.

And, yes they can. 50kts budy in your face!