Hi everyone,

I've been doing a lot of reading on these kites (due to the fact that i have no way of testing them), forums, reviews, tests et and there's a statement that i have read many times: "if you ride a 12m kite, then you will be ok with a 10m bws....if your size is a 10m, then 8m bws and so on"

how is this possible? i mean, have the bws team come up with such a good design that you can obtain same power with an smaller kite presumably a faster kite too?

Or is it just that the so called 10m is actually a 12m (similar dimensions and behaviour)?

Do you all (bws noise users) use a bws noise kite one size smaller than you used to for the same conditions?

All this is driving me mad I must admit...i weight 85kg and ride strapless surfboard, and really don't know whether a 10m is enough for say 12knots or i shoudl go for 12m....but will the 12m be that slow compared with the 10m?

thanks everyone!!!

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arenasj said...



Or is it just that the so called 10m is actually a 12m (similar dimensions and behaviour)

you nailed it there.

I test rode my mates 10m 2011 noise yesterday in 28knots, and it was WAY WAY overpowered.

All depends on what wind range you want to be out in.
My thoughts are that its a really well built kite. bar looks a little cheap though!

ive had the 6 and 8 and im 70kgs strappless rider.
The 6 got me out on days when the average kite size out there was 10 and the 8 got me out on days when the average size was 12. (im light with a surfboard)
I found the sizes to be a too much of an overlap.. i wish i had bought a 6 and 10.

So my answer is: yes they are grunty for their size

(ive never seen anyone ride a 12m bws)

I ride the 10m noiSe in 13-18kn with a surfboard and I'm 75kg.
It's the same amount of area as most other brands 11's.

if you do decide to go down the BWS road....

make sure you opt for the new 'above the bar depower'.. (see their website)

The under the bar one is very difficult to move after a few sessions. Jams up/gets stuck and the teeth in the cleat are real sharp. Run your finger over them and see for yourself..

I have nothing against BWS at all.... Just observed that this is an issue.

See...so everyone agrees to them being grunty and the "i use one size smaller than i used to in other brands".


my only concern is between the 10 and 12m. Where i ride, i need a 12m or to loose weigth - i know there are differences between brands but a 12m... not a 14m.

I dont really care about the number it says on the wingtip (as most of people i guess), i only care about how they peform, and specially on these big kites, their turning speed.

So if the bws 12m, turns like 14m...well that's me done with the idea of buying a 12m. But if the 12m, turns like a 12m or around that mark and it's only the it pulls like a 14m, then i'm happy. Can anyone please provide any input on this?

Thanks a lot everyone!!

85kg .....10m switchy ,pulls like a 12m turns like an 8m, just got to
know how to fly it and be impervious to tree hugger jokes

mmm doesn't Keahi ride them

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RPM said...

if you do decide to go down the BWS road....

make sure you opt for the new 'above the bar depower'.. (see their website)

The under the bar one is very difficult to move after a few sessions. Jams up/gets stuck and the teeth in the cleat are real sharp. Run your finger over them and see for yourself..

I have nothing against BWS at all.... Just observed that this is an issue.

thanks a lot for the advise mate!!! i thought the below the bar depower was probably better just for being more at hand, but i think now it's probably best to have it out of the way - after all you're not constantly depowering or powering.

Have ridden an 8 and 10 and then were great kites - plenty of power and turned well. Rode a 12 and hated it. Was real doggy and def felt like a 14. If you are after a normal sized 12 I'd look at something else or aim up at a 10mtr BWS.

was it too slow? what was it that you hate? windrange & weight? thanks mate!!

Sizing reports are about right - layed out, cloth for cloth they are bigger than most by (on average) about 1M but performance is probably closer to somewhere between 1M & 2M depending what ur comparing it to.
Bottom end on the 6M is insane. Not game to report what Ive found for fear of being slammed. They are available for demo - try for yourself.

thanks!! i wish i could try them out but i dont know of anyone that has them

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puppetonastring said...

Sizing reports are about right - layed out, cloth for cloth they are bigger than most by (on average) about 1M but performance is probably closer to somewhere between 1M & 2M depending what ur comparing it to.
Bottom end on the 6M is insane. Not game to report what Ive found for fear of being slammed. They are available for demo - try for yourself.

re: the 6 low end, true.... i had the same with mine, but the top end???? uncontrollable considering it is a 6 and made to use with a surfboard

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arenasj said...

was it too slow? what was it that you hate? windrange & weight? thanks mate!!

Thought the 12 was really slow and unresponsive (compared to other 12s)

Once again I think the smaller sizes are great but I prefer Slingshot rally especially in the 12.