NEO SLS - Get a mullet and some rum in ya.
Been hanging out to try the NEO SLS.always have been a fan of the NEO. (Although I do ride a Core nexus quiver, will give a bit of a comparison for this also).
Me 90kgs Dad bod, ride strapless in waves only these days. I only tried the SLS 7m in 17-20 knots.
Unpacking and pumping up it looks neat and tidy as one would expect. Feels lighter to hold as the SLS trims some weight from the kite.
Lets talk weight.there is all this yabber that the lighter the kite the better especially in light wind it is. I have flown all the light kites in the market and while they are light and possibly stay in the air in light wind a bit better. They do have less power on the swing in light wind (less throw weight less power.just ask neuton). Thats ideal for foiling but for wave riding in light wind you want swing weight power. Well while this might start an internet fire with all the forum jockeys.my opinion is that there's a right weight and then there's to light light or to heavy.
I like the weight on the SLS as its got feel and power but the weight loss has given it a snappier more performance feel.
How it flies .well its smooth n grunty like a nissan patrol.its a go anywhere beach buggy.low think and less input means its one of the best plug n play kites on the market. It doesn't have the turning performance of a REO or Nexus.but for surfing waves this can actually mean you are able to concentrate on your surf more than managing exactly where your kite is. Me personally I like my Nexus because its like a Ferrari its got speed and precision(but it requires more timing and input sometimes).
The NEO suits IMO guys n gals that are getting into their surfboard riding and crew who like a dependable fly anywhere kite.its not a newbie kite per say,,,,but it does suit a new rider too which is a credit to its design.
Being the market leading brand your resale value is also protected.
I used the click bar which is really well put together and a pleasure to use.but by no means a must have.
Its relaunch is is super fast due to its D shaped leading edge. 10/10 Wind range is great too due to de power of the delta shape 9/10 Turning speed is smooth though it does pause at 12 (mainly i think for the freestyle jumps the champs like James are pulling) 8/10 Power is grunty and smooth (ride a size down if you are under 80kg) 9/10
Summary
My Karen moments are >>.the 2 way twist valve does **** me a little bit probably because not used to using it and the exclusive pump connection is annoying when you don't have your own pump.yadaya.
Pos- After a plug n play make you smile kite that will go in all conditions..you found it.

Great Review

Spot on. Only thing I don't agree with 100% is "It doesn't have the turning performance of a REO" That's only true is you go size for size, but you can ride the NEO smaller and get the same power. I've switched from REO's to Neo SLS, where before I used the REO 10 as my light wind kite I now use a NEO 9, I noticed that the 9 has more power then the 10 REO, for kite that definitively feels smaller and faster.

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AndreC said..
its smooth n grunty like a nissan patrol.

my Nissan patrol was neither smooth nor grunty

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marty72 said..
Spot on. Only thing I don't agree with 100% is "It doesn't have the turning performance of a REO" That's only true is you go size for size, but you can ride the NEO smaller and get the same power. I've switched from REO's to Neo SLS, where before I used the REO 10 as my light wind kite I now use a NEO 9, I noticed that the 9 has more power then the 10 REO, for kite that definitively feels smaller and faster.

I love the way Andre (OP) compares it to the Ozone Reo . The reason you can ride a smaller Neo is that the Neo is a physically bigger kite than the number on the side suggests, compared to most other brands surf kites. I kite with Neo owners and have compared them size for size.
Size for size the Neo is still heavier than a Reo, there is a lot of unnecessary stuff on the Neo kites including that very heavy valve. I have seen the valve at a kite repairers and was shocked at how bulky it is.

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Ozone Kites Aus said..

marty72 said..
Spot on. Only thing I don't agree with 100% is "It doesn't have the turning performance of a REO" That's only true is you go size for size, but you can ride the NEO smaller and get the same power. I've switched from REO's to Neo SLS, where before I used the REO 10 as my light wind kite I now use a NEO 9, I noticed that the 9 has more power then the 10 REO, for kite that definitively feels smaller and faster.

I love the way Andre (OP) compares it to the Ozone Reo . The reason you can ride a smaller Neo is that the Neo is a physically bigger kite than the number on the side suggests, compared to most other brands surf kites. I kite with Neo owners and have compared them size for size.
Size for size the Neo is still heavier than a Reo, there is a lot of unnecessary stuff on the Neo kites including that very heavy valve. I have seen the valve at a kite repairers and was shocked at how bulky it is.

I know .. that valve .. It's a big problem.. it's certainly absolutely shocking. We're frothing about the sls kites up here .. but we would prefer Reos if only they made them bigger.

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eddiemorgs said..

Ozone Kites Aus said..

marty72 said..
Spot on. Only thing I don't agree with 100% is "It doesn't have the turning performance of a REO" That's only true is you go size for size, but you can ride the NEO smaller and get the same power. I've switched from REO's to Neo SLS, where before I used the REO 10 as my light wind kite I now use a NEO 9, I noticed that the 9 has more power then the 10 REO, for kite that definitively feels smaller and faster.

I love the way Andre (OP) compares it to the Ozone Reo . The reason you can ride a smaller Neo is that the Neo is a physically bigger kite than the number on the side suggests, compared to most other brands surf kites. I kite with Neo owners and have compared them size for size.
Size for size the Neo is still heavier than a Reo, there is a lot of unnecessary stuff on the Neo kites including that very heavy valve. I have seen the valve at a kite repairers and was shocked at how bulky it is.

I know .. that valve .. It's a big problem.. it's certainly absolutely shocking. We're frothing about the sls kites up here .. but we would prefer Reos if only they made them bigger.

Ha, just fly a bigger one, but in saying that they are not undersized compared to the rest of the surf kites on the market, its just that the Neo is oversized in comparison
The other kite that I really rate for bigger riders and as a light wind option for smaller riders wanting a good wave kite is the new Enduro V4 14M, crew were doing very well on it at the Merimbula Classic last week.

Hi,

I am wondering if real life wind range of Neo sls differs from what Duotone says. On their website, for a 65kg rider, a 6m is suitable for 16/20 knots. It looks a bit too optimistic to me. Any opinion from Neo users? Thanks!

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Ozone Kites Aus said..

eddiemorgs said..

Ozone Kites Aus said..

marty72 said..
Spot on. Only thing I don't agree with 100% is "It doesn't have the turning performance of a REO" That's only true is you go size for size, but you can ride the NEO smaller and get the same power. I've switched from REO's to Neo SLS, where before I used the REO 10 as my light wind kite I now use a NEO 9, I noticed that the 9 has more power then the 10 REO, for kite that definitively feels smaller and faster.

I love the way Andre (OP) compares it to the Ozone Reo . The reason you can ride a smaller Neo is that the Neo is a physically bigger kite than the number on the side suggests, compared to most other brands surf kites. I kite with Neo owners and have compared them size for size.
Size for size the Neo is still heavier than a Reo, there is a lot of unnecessary stuff on the Neo kites including that very heavy valve. I have seen the valve at a kite repairers and was shocked at how bulky it is.

I know .. that valve .. It's a big problem.. it's certainly absolutely shocking. We're frothing about the sls kites up here .. but we would prefer Reos if only they made them bigger.

Ha, just fly a bigger one, but in saying that they are not undersized compared to the rest of the surf kites on the market, its just that the Neo is oversized in comparison
The other kite that I really rate for bigger riders and as a light wind option for smaller riders wanting a good wave kite is the new Enduro V4 14M, crew were doing very well on it at the Merimbula Classic last week.

You plug ozone on every post about any experience , review or anything kite.

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peppedurso said..
Hi,

I am wondering if real life wind range of Neo sls differs from what Duotone says. On their website, for a 65kg rider, a 6m is suitable for 16/20 knots. It looks a bit too optimistic to me. Any opinion from Neo users? Thanks!

Not real keen on the interactive results. But from the chart, for me at 75kg on a 5'3"whip, 2021 model kites. 12m is optimistic at 10 knot, and also it's just too big and powerful to be considered a true wave kite. 9m is perfect, 14knot start. 7m I say starts at 17knot where chart says 18. Chart says 24knot for 5m but that's ridiculous, it starts at 21. I'm not qualified to comment on top ends cause I don't go there, and that's a lot more personal anyway. Also I should mention I'm very experienced with good kite skills, and would say the starting strength is where you really need to work the kite but you can hold your ground and also surf the wave down the line.
Hope you can get something out of that.

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Tightlines. said..

Ozone Kites Aus said..

eddiemorgs said..

Ozone Kites Aus said..

marty72 said..
Spot on. Only thing I don't agree with 100% is "It doesn't have the turning performance of a REO" That's only true is you go size for size, but you can ride the NEO smaller and get the same power. I've switched from REO's to Neo SLS, where before I used the REO 10 as my light wind kite I now use a NEO 9, I noticed that the 9 has more power then the 10 REO, for kite that definitively feels smaller and faster.

I love the way Andre (OP) compares it to the Ozone Reo . The reason you can ride a smaller Neo is that the Neo is a physically bigger kite than the number on the side suggests, compared to most other brands surf kites. I kite with Neo owners and have compared them size for size.
Size for size the Neo is still heavier than a Reo, there is a lot of unnecessary stuff on the Neo kites including that very heavy valve. I have seen the valve at a kite repairers and was shocked at how bulky it is.

I know .. that valve .. It's a big problem.. it's certainly absolutely shocking. We're frothing about the sls kites up here .. but we would prefer Reos if only they made them bigger.

Ha, just fly a bigger one, but in saying that they are not undersized compared to the rest of the surf kites on the market, its just that the Neo is oversized in comparison
The other kite that I really rate for bigger riders and as a light wind option for smaller riders wanting a good wave kite is the new Enduro V4 14M, crew were doing very well on it at the Merimbula Classic last week.

You plug ozone on every post about any experience , review or anything kite.

thats why the other brand distributors post his house in lennox on wikicamps as a nice place to stay if your working in byron bay.