Just wanted to say a huge thanks again to everyone who watched, shared, liked, and commented on my videos. I’ve recently got some exciting news that a couple more brands are keen to get in the mix so stay tuned, a couple of the most requested 2023 big air kites are coming to my channel in a few weeks for a full review 🤘
It's so good to hear a raw independent kite review like this. Thanks dude! If I ever do get kites that cost that much - I will be asking the wider community for their recommendations on reliable insurance companies haha! PS - you know you're living the kite dream when your quiver costs more than your car!!! 🤘😎😎🤘
That is EXACTLY the kind of review I want. 'If your not at least this good, you'll probably find the Rebel/Orbit better fun until your skills progress'. Spot on!
That depends on the wind conditions as well. I kite in an area with lower winds - average 12-18 knots most of the time. Flown mainly evo sls, rebel and tried xr7s. In larger sizes, prefer evo dlab to rebel and core xr as the kite is much quicker. I weigh 78 kg and have a 13 and 11 dlab. The 13 m is much quicker than a 12m rebel and 12m xr7. And when you move this kite above you, it really acts like a wing
You’re the only one doing videos like this. I can’t stand seeing shops do “reviews” that are really just ads. Please keep making these. Would be interested to see you on the new cabrinha, seems like the only one you haven’t gotten to try yet.
Another legendary comparison for the masses by the internets #1 independent kite reviewer. Happy I got 11/9 orbit after your clips and also happy it sounds like there is no pressing need to get the 23 versions after this video. 🏅
Those 2022 are excellent kites, and if yours are still in good nick, they're still going to be mighty close to the newer ones. As I mentioned, for some reason it's the 10m that got the most benefit from the '23 lighter material for me.
Really appreciated this in depth analysis of the rebel and dlab evo. So refreshing to hear an independent voice give objective reviews. Thank you Jason! keep it up!!
I have flown all these kites and agree with almost all of ur opinions. The only thing I would add is that while the d lab turns fast it has the power of a size up. 9m d lab easily has same if not more power than a 10m orbit. That’s what makes it such an incredible kite. Usable power. I have a 9m n just bought a 10m. Literally everyone whom I have let try it has bought one. Incredible kite. I also have about 40 hours on my 9m already n it shows zero signs of wear. Just need a sandbag to hold it down so it doesn’t slide. Cheers 🍻
Thanks, CK, that's kind of what I was referring to with the low end, I think a 10m will do the job of a 10 and 11m of say an orbit. and in terms of boosting scores/power, I gave it the highest rating of all the kites I've reviewed.
Great video and very interesting! Thanks! Please make follow up videos every once in a while with the latest kite models. Suggestions for next video: XR8, Cabrinha Nitro, supermodel htf
I'm afraid I can only review kites I have access to, in all these videos I was borrowing friends kites, and the reason it took ages to include Duotone is because we don't have them where I live. All of the brands you just mentioned are also not in NZ, and would have to be ordered from overseas so it's very unlikely that I'll review them anytime soon
Loved your previous kite review, so was very pleased to see you do another. Your balanced approach to kite assessment in the advanced rider class is very much appreciated (although I have 2021-2022 7/9/12 pivots). I have started looping and am happy to find out the hard crashes are not necessarily my fault🤣. Your review will help me plan my next quiver. Thanks heaps and keep up the excellent work.
Nice review, best ones you can find! Really liked prevois one also! You're review was one of the factors I got 9m Orbit. Now riding 9 &11 Orbits and loving these kites. Progressing into kiteloops and way easier than it was on my previous Naish Pivot & Eleveight RS.
LOL, At first I thought you were doing "I landed it! gangster Stank hands/wrist curl" but then realized you're checking your watch. lol. Differences in culture... Great video Jason.
Thank you! At last a review of such kites by someone at the intermediate/advanced amateur level, without all the marketing b.s. Super useful, great job on the actual video too, nice easy narration - spot on mate :)
You´ve got yourself another subscriber, Jason. This it the kind of review that many are looking for. Your asset is your independent, very honest opinion on the kites and ability to test them properly in high winds. Keep it up.
Haha, thanks Sam… but this is certainly not your regular Evo… I’m not sure how the usual ones gob these days, but what they have done with aluula is magical
@@jasonofmontreal in my experience trying both the d lab and the sls evo, they are similar enough to not warrant the price difference for the average rider. I would say the d lab goes a bit higher and catches a bit faster, but only marginally. Worth it if you have the cash to spare, but the sls evos will give you a VERY similar experience
Awesome reviews Jason, I love your view stand point re “for progressing loops” and “for woosting”, gives us a great perspective. They say the Evo DLABs are great for surf and foiling, which would be a game changer for me, having a single model kite that excels in most specialties… and allows me to pump a single kite on the day!
I've only done a little bit of surfing before while on holiday in Mauritius, and I used to foil a bit a few years ago, so I can't really say how it compares for those disciplines, but it very light and maneuverable so it would be better than most of the other kites I'm testing.
Duotone Neo D-Labs arrived today 8&10m they are super light weight. Looking forward to first session on them, click bar and Slingshot hopecraft foilboard too. Great review, really informative
"one kite stand" haha .. such a good comparison video! One small suggestion for next time: maybe create a simple 'comparison table' at the end of the video to summarise your scoring of all the kites reviewed. I was scrolling back and forth to the end of each segment to see where they stood against each other.
Excellent review as always! If you can get your hands on the new Ocean Rodeo Flite 5s Aluula 10m i would really like to hear how it stacks up vs your evo dlab🤙
I think your reviews are pretty much the best. You do such a good job of detailing pretty much every aspect of the kites! I don't have anywhere near your level, even though I have been kiting since 2008, so I could not make as good an assessment of the kites as you do, and I don't really have access to them for such comparison. I would love for you to get your hands on some Slingshot Machines, and share your take. I have a 9 and a 12, I bought them primarily because I wanted good boosting kites and they were available at a much lower cost than such as Orbit, Xr, Edge etc.
Really hoping someone would let you borrow the slingshot machine and code and the airush lift over there one day! Would be very cool to keep this series going :)
This was a devilishly advertising review.😂 Duotone have to pay you now for it. Btw I think North will do some changes to aluula materiel next year. Or may offer a new kite model with it in 2 years, depends on there marketing strategy. Great video, bunch of thanks
It was hard to do in many respects, I was joking with my friends after trying both of them that I felt like I was joining the team Globo Gym Purple Cobras endorsing duotone ;)
Hi Jason... i think you made an excellent job in this compared review.. i myself have an 8 mt rebel sls and a 10 mt evo Dlab and i agree with most of what you said... i did expect the 10 mt dlab to be a hair quicker on the loops but after all i do love the large sweep you get from its natural shape... also you can force it to be pretty much more pivotal if you wish so by hard steering ... I'm not very expert on the orbit... i think i tried the 22 version ( possibly a 10 mt) and it felt very very pivotal on the loops... just giving a hint of steering would result in "autoloop " :) it almost seems it just need the start of the steering to continue looping... opposed to the evo Dlab ( or sls also ) where you relly have to beg the kite for completing the loop by keeping to steer until the end... Not sure i made sense :)
Yeah I get you, I noticed that as well and touched on it a bit in the video. That’s why I would still recommend the orbit for most people wanting to get into loops and progress to larger ones or loops with rotations.
Nice input! Been hearing so much about increased wind range on the Evo Dlab. Do you find the Rebel 8 and Evo Dlab 10 to be a good combo or do you use the DLab most of the time?
@@kimsrensen6884 so I only have ever ridden the rebel sls 9m, but it was so easy and handled so much wind comfortably. I think the 8 would be spot on for me in over 35 knots. I think the 10m dlab is my favourite so far after riding it 9/10/12, the smaller sizes get a bit trickier to use, so an 8m rebel sls would go great with a 10 dlab for most ppl
@@kimsrensen6884 Hi if u ask me i actually use a lot rebel sls 8 mt... i'm light weight and like fast loops so i can loop better on 8 starting from 25 kn... not getting that height but still great fun... i only use evo dlab in the 12 to 20 ish knots... it can handle much more if u like being overpowered.. i'd say i can hold the 10 dlab up to 30... also the rigid frame helps a lot in that
Same here, I am contemplating buying a duotone d-lab juice 13 with 30% off, but I am a core guy and I know core kites last for years. Not sure about duotone quality
@@dajobra the xr8 pro will apparently be priced just below the evo-dlab, so around 45% more than a regular xr8 and as far as I know the biggest size will be 12m, should come out end August/start September, Judging by how good the regular xr8 is, the pro will absolutely incredible, but obviously at a price, low end and high end as with all the Aluula kites will be better, so you can have a quiver with less kites but still cover the same or even more wind range,
Hi Jason. Great review, I got the Dlab 12m and I can agree with you it’s a dream but so aggressive. I tried my buddies Rebel SLS today and for a beginner/intermediate level I agree with you. A 10m Rebel SLS is probably a better choice. Felt a lot more confident boosting. I am also based in Auckland. Hope to see you in the water 🤙🏻
Superb video Jason! And thanks for your feedback too Andreas! I have a quiver of 2020 evos (8,10,12) and wanted to upgrade. Was thinking just to get a 10m dlab (keep my 8 and get rid of 12) and just foil when it's too light, but what you say about the aggressiveness has me rethinking. My jumps max out at 8m, so I want something that can help me progress, so maybe for my level the dlab isn't appropriate? Was also thinking 2024 rebel sls but also wanted to learn loops and I hear the rebel loops are pretty aggressive? I hate to leave duotone but from your video sounds like the Orbit is the way to go?
Very good stuff! Funny you point out the "hard to pack" and "drifts away on the beach" aspects of the DLab. I got the 17 Juice DLab and it is IMPOSSIBLE to pack for all the reasons you mentioned :D. I just stuff the thing in the bag and hope for the best :D. Other than that I stick to my "old" 2021 classic Rebels. I feel like they got more power than the SLS and still loop reasonably fast. Great Review :) Greets!
@@jasonofmontreal It´s all preference of course. I didn´t like the Rebel 2020. I love the 2021 with the adaptive tips. 9qm and smaller loops really well. 12qm and up not too much :D. SLS feels lighter, a little faster, and like you say: disguises more. Classic Rebel just feels a little more grunty and boosty, which I personally like for jumping high and all those sliding tricks. Maybe when I finally start tricking more while looping (like you do) I´ll reevaluate :D.
Good review man , I gave you a thumbs up. It is good to have someone neutral and objective Just about the price, in Europe 9m orbit is 1700€ and evo d lab 9m is 2850€, that's a 68% increase in price not 25-30% 😉 You'll tell us about durability on the d lab fabric !
Cuzzie Bro :) great review and very helpful for avoiding the Brands normal Spew lol. Please make a strong wind review if you can... us fallas in West Straya are watctching- Cheers
The honest and complete review I was looking for! Really fantastic video! Now I'm even more undecided than before 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks Jason and looking forward for more reviews, maybe when they all come out with 5 strut aluula kites Good winds!
There used to be a Duotone/Cabrinha one here, but they went out of business, and now everyone just gets North kites because they are based here, they're amazing for the price, and they're really helped the level of all the local big air riders go up a lot.
After having the EVO D/Lab 10M for 4 months. I prefer this EVO D/Lab over NEO D/Lab for Strapless wave and freestyle. Strapless jumps are easier, it has more float, you can lose the kite while wave riding, have to keep it in front of the wave and tension the steering lines before the turns. but it's more do everything than NEO D/Lab. (I bought this kite to be 1 kite quiver for the wife but decided to keep it for myself. I'm such a bad husband!)
Thanks as always, great review! I would love to see you ride RRDs. Not sure they sell them in NZ but I switched from RRD to North/ Duotone an am considering switching back tbh!
Love the reviews! Please keep them coming! I got a great deal on 22/23 8m and 12m Evo SLS kites and am curious to see how they stack up against the DLAB (which admittedly I almost bought). The comparison between the the SLS and DLAB seem mixed with some people seeing a much bigger difference between SLS and classic than SLS and DLAB while others saying the opposite. P.S. I think Maui would make a lot of sense for a kite trip. It should only be around an 8hr flight from NZ which is comparable to the 6hr flight time from the West Coast of the US. The wind is super strong and consistent (hard to get skunked during windy season) and you should be able to try any and all kite models while out there.
I've been to Maui 3 times and the wind is great for sure, the only problem is that it's crazy expensive with our dollar in the toilet these days. The water quality isn't the best though as it's mostly ocean chop, except a few areas where you can find some flats into goofy ramps over the more shallow reef areas. It's probably more amazing for wings and foiling.
The only SLS I've tried is the Rebel, and it's bloody awesome as I mentioned, I'm sure the Evo is great too, but I don't think it can compete with the DLab
@Jason Montreal Good points. The Maui chop is definitely gnarly and jumping over shallow reef (and 🐢) is not ideal. I tried both winging and kiting there. Crosschop is pretty hard to surf and shallow reef makes foiling precarious. I'd recommend my local spot, Hood River but it's a long flight from Auckland.
@@mikhailgurtovoy6950 I might be in hood for a few days in July actually, been twice before in July, but always get screwed with the wind... the first trip I got one epix 10m session, and then 2 more super gusty 12m days, then last time I went I only got to foil the 3 days I was there...
@@jasonofmontreal July is definitely the best time to visit! The wind in the gorge can be a bit fickle sometimes but you could almost always find wind if you're willing/able to make the drive (ie. Lyle & Rufus usually have better wind than Event Site, Jones Beach often blows strong when Gorge shuts down due to heat, Rooster Rock on Easterlies, Viento in the early AM is sometimes really good when the rest of the gorge isn't forecasted to have wind). There should be plenty of opportunities to try out kites there at the local shop but I'd be happy to ask some of my buddies or the community if there are any particular kites you would like to test but can't get your hands on!
I own rise and d lab and have flown the nitro. Nitro feels like slower orbit. Rise is a loop specialty kite. 9m d lab has same power as 10m rise. If all u wanna do is loop the Rise is unmatched. D lab better for everything else.
Yeah I’ve loved mine too for the last couple years, it’s just not the friendliest kite for progression or kiteloops when you compare it to some of the more recent kites on the market
That bar flutter is a bit of a bad habit from doing powered loops on 10/11/12m kites. Those are the sizes I tend to ride more and sometimes you need to do the to help get the kite back up to 12 faster
Could you break down what you do with the bar once you sent the first loop to the left for example and what you trying to have the kite do or go? Thank you. Really enjoy the detail reviews.
Unfortunately, the only way to get them here in NZ would be to buy one from overseas, so probably not going to be anytime soon. I was a bit put off as well that they were comparing it to a 12 year old kite rather than the previous model, that kind of tells me they haven't done much with it since the last one. Hopefully the Aluula versions later this year really work with that design!
@@jasonofmontreal yeah, it’s tricky for me to get my hands on things too. Didn’t watch that particular review but I think I saw that thumbnail , but agreed comparing it to such an old kite is super useful. Either way, thanks for the helpful videos, really well thought out
@jasonofmontreal not sure why gethighwothmike reviewed an old xr with the latest?! I had the XR7’s, just collected XR8 today so will be testing tomorrow & Monday 🙂
@@jasonofmontrealthat comparison was just for a bit of fun, The xr8 is faster and lighter than the xr7, the 9m xr8 loops and catches better than the 8m xr7, Definitely worth trying,
I watched all the videos in your kiteloop comparison series. Fantastic and unbiased videos. I’m wondering for a lighter person (65kg), would it make more sense to learn kiteloops on a North Reach than an Orbit. Isn’t the 3-strut reach supposed to turn even faster than the orbit
I’ve not used a reach much, but I got one for my wife and they’re really forgiving and easy to loop so that’s not a bad move if you otherwise have the right conditions, probably an 8 or 9m in 18-25 knots
I ride the Atmos Carbon (have done last few years), 138, with feet on the middle attachment at the standard angle. In winds under 20 knots where I still want to throw some loops, I ride the 145 Trace board.
I am thinking of going down to a lighter 136 with my next board though to put some time into board-offs, as I have some hand issues from breaking fingers in other sports so my grip isn't the best for my size.
@Jason Montreal thanks! What do you couple the trace with in terms of kite sizes and wind ranges? Most of the winds here where I kitesurf are in the 15-20 knots range and I weigh around 105 as well.
Awesome video again! Thank you so much for doing this, your comparative reviews are simply awesome and help inform my buying decisions. One clarifying question. In your score rating of Boost, does that also equal hangtime, or is it pure height by what you mean? I see you rated Evo dlab at 9.5, and the XR at 9 in regards to boost, is the Evo dlab in general going to unseat the XR as the go-to woosting kite? In your ratings I would love to see one for bar pressure as that is a pretty big factor for me and would love to see how the big air kites stack up to each other on this metric.
I didn't ride the Dlab and XR on the same day, but in relation to how I boosted with the Orbit on the same day, I'm pretty confident you will jump a little higher on the dlab than the XR, and I mentioned in the video, I think most people will jump higher on a Rebel SLS as well. The XR and Edge have the heaviest bar pressures, the Orbit and Rise probably the lightest, Dlad is very similar to the Orbit, the Rebel SLS has slightly more, but no where near as heavy as the XR
Omg, great video again. Thank you! I am still in choosing mode. I had orbit 9 22 as my first kite. I still don’t send it, only start heliloop. I like their style a lot. But that bug that appeared on 23 makes feel unsafe. And also aluula cuts off 30% weight. Also I don’t won’t more then 1-2 kites. And also orbit low end is a bit high. Maybe I’ll go 9 Evo dlab till orbit go to aluula idk
The dlab is quit a challenging kite to progress on at your level, as I suggested in the video, I would probably recommend the orbit or rebel sls to help you improve with confidence.
Dice rider here. I have flown the Evo and hated the way it felt. The on-a-wingtip turn of the Dice is what I am addicted to, the pivot-about-the-center feel of the Evo just felt wrong. I noted you categorized the Rise along with the Pulse and Dice in the last video, and then also referred back to the Rise in this video as a hauntingly lovely experience. But you bought the Evo DLAB. Does the price throw you off, or do you think you just value the outright performance of the Evo DLAB over the feel of the Rise?
Hi, just to chip in. I flew dices and now on evo dlab and even though I think I liked the dice for loops so much. Just like you. I don’t think the evo dlab is that much off. It’s not really an evo, they modelled it after the juice. My highest loops on the dice were around 13m on the dlab I didn’t have conditions to go that high yet just around 10m so far but eagerly awaiting some good storm to try. Rises look amazing too but never flew it.
The OR is a lovely kite, and super fun... but it doesn't have the same power, speed, boosting ability, or hangtime as the evo dlab. it's possibly just better for loops, but the dlab is better for almost everything else. You can't compare any previous Evo to this I'd imagine... this is a whole other thing really.
I would like to understand if a evo dlab could be compared with a dice sls in terms of turning speed loop etc. About boost i think that evo boost much more for the shape.
@@lucajacquemet7415 I didn’t think my evo dlab is turning as nice (has little different pull) as my former dice sls in the same size. But still very enjoyable pull and the catch is just like the dice, so always there.
Unfortunately we don’t have Duotone where I live so it’s really hard to get hold of their kites I’m afraid. I used to ride the dice until 2018 as I was progressing and I’d actually love to know what the current ones feel like
Right on, man. I'm just learning to loop on a 2023, and my buddy goes pretty hard on the 10m. Loving the channel man you're easily my go-to youtube kite reviewer 🤙
I think regarding performance for big air the flite in 5 struts from ocean rodeo is going to be even better than the evo dlab... Maybe you can find one to test it!
I don’t think you need five struts when you have fabric as stiff as aluula tbh… the rise v1 I tested in the previous video was definitely better for looping, but the dlab has it on most other areas (boosting/lift/hangtime/low end). If I can get my get hands on a 9/10m flight I’ll definitely review it though
So far great vide, I am myself 130kg rider and losing wieght but I’ll be always on heavier side. And in my country 25 is quite rare especially 30. I see you really recommend orbit for progression to jumps loops etc, how is the 12m orbit did you fly it, and how is orbit compared to eleveieght XS Thanks
As a heavier rider in lighter winds, progressing to powered loops will be quite challenging, as you really want to be doing your first ones on a smaller size (8/9m size). If I were to pick the ideal kite to do this in only 18-25 knots at your size, it would probably be the 10m Ocean Rodeo rise first, then probably the 10m Orbit or Dlab. The rodeo will loop fastest, the orbit will catch the best, and the dlab will give you the best over all power/low end while stilling looping quickly. I would certainly hold off on looping until you are consistently jumping over 10m, have your heli loops and sent jumps super dialled, and definitely don't be on a kite larger than 10m for your first loops.
Great review! Keep them coming! If I could ask for a recommendation. I weight about 64kg and ride/love my 7/9/12 Dices. What size evo d-lab would be the best for me to have one for learning to loop?
As I mentioned in the video, I'm not sure the dlab is going to be the best kite for learning to kiteloop. I actually did my first kiteloops in 2018/19 on my 2014 Dice 8m, and progressed with them on my 2018 Dice 10m. I started to get better and go higher with them first with a 2019 9m evo, then the breakthrough in quality and consistency came with my 2020 orbit... so you probably have an ideal couple of kites already in the 7/9m if they are fairly recent models, and I'm not sure the added expense of the dlab will be worth it at your level.
Thank you for this video ! Between the rebel and the orbit, which do you think is the kite that has the most bar pressure, that pulls the most on the arms?
I’ve never flown naish phoenix but some mates have and they didn’t like it at all. Terrible for looping, but it’s more of a learners kite for getting better at jumps I think. The edge is very fun, I reviewed it in my other video.
Good morning, I have a question for you. I understand that every year you change the kite. But, the quality of the materials, which gives it more years of life? Between Core xr or Duotone rebel? Where I live kites are very expensive. My current kite is a rebel from 2013. From already thank you very much.
Thanks a lot for the review! Which kite would you recommend for someone who is around 100 kilo. Looking for free ride/some tricks and jumps. I already have a 9m evo from 2018 and look for a bigger kite around 11-12m. I just sold my 13m north reach 2020 because it was too slow for my taste. The ideal kite would be one that is responsive, has enough power to drag me over the water and lift me in the air while being reasonable stable. Thanks in advance!!
I kite surf already for some time but still beginner stage, I can go upwind and start to jump but I only land around 50-70% and I do not jump very high yet
@@Forestmaker at your level I would actually recommend the reach, I got them for my wife who loves them, although she is a bit behind you though skill wise. Otherwise the big factors to consider is the most common wind range you can ride in… I used to love my 11m north orbit when I had them for 3 seasons in a row, but it needs more wind for sure
Thank you. The average wind is around 12-20 kn I would say. So you would go with the reach? 13m? I would prefer a smaller kite. I heard the newer ones have more power even in smaller sizes ~11/12m. Like evo or dice sls e.g.?
@@Forestmaker Im 100kg and need at least 15knots to ride my 12m dlab, and I would need more to ride an 11m orbit/reach… if you’re not getting more wind than 18-20 knots I’d suggest you stick with the 13m
Jason! I see you flew Dice's as well. Could you expand a bit on how it compares loop wise to a supermodel? I fly a Cabrinha FX but am too scared to loop it still :P bought a supermodel 8m to start kitelooping with a bit more ease. Wondering cause I believe the Dice pretty much compares to the FX :)
My last dice was a 2018 10m… I’ve not tried any of these kites in the last few years except the SM which I mentioned in my last video. Any of these kites though would loop very nicely in an 8 or 9m. They will turn on a nice tight axis if you are jumping vertically (and not travelling downwind) and have plenty of line tension. if you are just getting into loops, I would stick to only looping the 8m Reedin for now, until you are super dialled into the movement. I do a little video on what steps you should be proficient in before you get into bigger loops
@@jasonofmontreal thanks a ton bro! Good tips! Sent jumps with backhand heli's are going great in 6-7m jumps. Landing 10/10. Same for 1-3m kiteloops. I remember those steps in your last video :)
hey jason, very informative and authentic videos! can you help me out on a specific matter. im considering a dice sls 8m (180cm - 75kg) as a hybrid for looping and strapless . , how would you rate the dice sls in terms of boosting, looping, etc? cheers from austria, domi
Hi Jason, First of all thank you very much for you epic kite-reviews (IMO the best and most honest ones out there!). Do you maybe have some guidance for me, as I´m currently deciding on my new quiver. My main goal is to getting into kiteloops this year and you pretty much sold me on the North Orbits (I can also get some pretty good deals on the 2022 models) What 2-3 kite-quiver would you recomend for a guy like me (90kg) - the winds at my homespot are mostly between 15-30 knts (but mostly around 20knts)? Currently riding switchblades and the 12m is my most used kite (but I doubt that a 12m Orbit will be a good choice for getting into looping).
You could get away with 9/12 to be honest. The 12 from 15-22ish, then the 9 on top of that. You want to be practicing your progression to loops in 20-25 knots on the 9. 8/10/12 is a more versatile quiver but really you won’t need smaller than a 9 if you’re not getting up to 35 or more.
@@jasonofmontreal Thanks for your reccomandation. Would you then maybe also prefer a 13m "lightwind-ish" kite (e.g. 13m North Rach) instead of a 12m Orbit - since I wont be doing kiteloops with the 12m anyways. And I´m a bit worried about the 12m Orbit´s lowend.
@@stefanwolf7006 9/11/13 is an awesome quiver if you get a lot of lighter days, although in 13m the orbit is a bit heavy, so it's almost worth considering a reach because it's only 3 strut. You can learn to loop on the 9, then still loop on the 11m once you get consistent at them... ruclips.net/user/shortsDTvNBNKCpoc?feature=share
Thanks for your reviews. Seen them all. I’m thinking of switching from my 2024 orbits to Evo D/lab. Unfortunately we don’t have a lokal store that run test sessions on this kite. I have had orbits since 2 version. I’m 85kg and have 6/8/10/12. Jumping to around 15m and looping from 8-11m. Fooling when it’s marginal with my 12m. Question is which sizes to get. Spoke to a 9m owner(my size) and he stays with only that one as he’s foiling when the wind is less than 14 knots. A friend of mine has the OR Flite(5strut) which I tested yesterday. A really good kite as well with a quick and smooth catch. He also stays with only the one kite. So, question is, do I go for a 9m and keep the 6m orbit? Or should I go for a 8/10 combination? Guessing the 10 might cover my 12 and the 8 would at least go as high as the 6 orbit wind wise. Thanks for your thoughts and reply.
@@ThomasLundNielsen it depend a bit on what kind of wind you get and kite in the most… I’d consider 8/11 to cover a similar wind range, but the 8 will take a bit of getting used to because of how fast and powerful it is… not having a local store can be an issue with duotone gear as you will likely need certain parts replaced every few months
@@jasonofmontreal Thanks. We have a “local” store +5 hours away so I’d be safe regarding spare parts. They just don’t do tests on the D-Lab’s. The SLS would be able to test but doesn’t really give the right impression. Wind wise we get speeds from almost nothing to high peaks of 50knots with the main average from 16-38knots making the 9m a good choice if I look at the duotone windsheet. Just thinking it would be better with 8/10 although the 8 loops extremely fast and as you said: “will get som getting used to”. A 10m would probably keep me flying just as long as my current 12m Orbit, or? Usually I can fly my 8m Orbit I low wind with the foil. It’s quick and works okay from around 10/11 knots. With spare parts, you refer to bar parts? I saw a video where you mentioned lines snapping and wear and tear. Is there something other than that to be concerned about?
@@ThomasLundNielsen the bar is the main things, lines and centre piece inserts, but myself, and all the local riders here who got dlabs have also had to replace the bladders after about 6-8months. Apparently this is common with first gen aluula kites
@@ThomasLundNielsen in regard to kite sizes, go a size lower with dlab for almost the same power/performance, the low end 8m will be about same as 9m orbit. So 8/10 is a sick combo if you’re keeping your 6/12 as well
Thanks again for your honesty regarding the equipment and the small issues there is or have been. My north pro bar “ejected” in the QR in a loop. Luckily nothing bad happened. It was the V1 which I got replaced. Regarding the bladder in the Evo? Was it the release valve that was the main issue for you needing to switch it out? I’ll try to get my ass to a dealer that has the D-lab for demo. If I end up going with a 8/10 combo I might not need the 12m Orbit. Hoping to decide this during my summer holiday. I love the forgiveness in the orbits and hope the Evo is not going to kill me if I switch that way. By the way, I heard a rumour that North is bringing an Aluula model this year. That’s kind of exiting to. Again, thanks for your time and you opinions and honesty regarding the Evo’s.
Awesome review dude! Have you ever tried the Duotone Dice SLS? Curious what your opinion is on that kite, I ride a 7/9 and 12 myself and love them for looping. Do think they jump a bit lower than all the other kites mentioned as its not an only big air focused kite.
I used to ride Dice until 2019, and they were always great, but I’ve not tried since I’m afraid. A high level rider can certainly go high with them, but most of us would struggle to get as high on a dice as we would with the kites mentioned.
Just wanted to say a huge thanks again to everyone who watched, shared, liked, and commented on my videos. I’ve recently got some exciting news that a couple more brands are keen to get in the mix so stay tuned, a couple of the most requested 2023 big air kites are coming to my channel in a few weeks for a full review 🤘
Ocean rodeo Flite 5s 10
@@fribbe9 unfortunately we don’t have an OR supplier down here with the full range, so I don’t have access to these
It's so good to hear a raw independent kite review like this. Thanks dude! If I ever do get kites that cost that much - I will be asking the wider community for their recommendations on reliable insurance companies haha! PS - you know you're living the kite dream when your quiver costs more than your car!!! 🤘😎😎🤘
Luckily the dlab’s wind range means I’m replacing two kites 😂
That is EXACTLY the kind of review I want. 'If your not at least this good, you'll probably find the Rebel/Orbit better fun until your skills progress'. Spot on!
Cheers, hopefully it’ll help a few enthusiastic spenders save some money too 😂
That depends on the wind conditions as well. I kite in an area with lower winds - average 12-18 knots most of the time. Flown mainly evo sls, rebel and tried xr7s. In larger sizes, prefer evo dlab to rebel and core xr as the kite is much quicker. I weigh 78 kg and have a 13 and 11 dlab. The 13 m is much quicker than a 12m rebel and 12m xr7. And when you move this kite above you, it really acts like a wing
@@cangogus3269 great to hear, the kites low end is very impressive too
I love your reviews, because youre not a "fanboy" of one brand.
Many information in a short video.
Perfect!
thanks, ill fly anything at least once :0
You’re the only one doing videos like this. I can’t stand seeing shops do “reviews” that are really just ads. Please keep making these. Would be interested to see you on the new cabrinha, seems like the only one you haven’t gotten to try yet.
unfortunately we dont have cabrinha down here so might be a tricky one,
Another legendary comparison for the masses by the internets #1 independent kite reviewer. Happy I got 11/9 orbit after your clips and also happy it sounds like there is no pressing need to get the 23 versions after this video. 🏅
Those 2022 are excellent kites, and if yours are still in good nick, they're still going to be mighty close to the newer ones. As I mentioned, for some reason it's the 10m that got the most benefit from the '23 lighter material for me.
Really appreciated this in depth analysis of the rebel and dlab evo. So refreshing to hear an independent voice give objective reviews. Thank you Jason! keep it up!!
Thanks, will keep doing them anytime I get access to new big air kites, and the right winds to fly them properly 🤘
I have flown all these kites and agree with almost all of ur opinions. The only thing I would add is that while the d lab turns fast it has the power of a size up. 9m d lab easily has same if not more power than a 10m orbit. That’s what makes it such an incredible kite. Usable power. I have a 9m n just bought a 10m. Literally everyone whom I have let try it has bought one. Incredible kite. I also have about 40 hours on my 9m already n it shows zero signs of wear. Just need a sandbag to hold it down so it doesn’t slide. Cheers 🍻
Thanks, CK, that's kind of what I was referring to with the low end, I think a 10m will do the job of a 10 and 11m of say an orbit. and in terms of boosting scores/power, I gave it the highest rating of all the kites I've reviewed.
Great video and very interesting! Thanks! Please make follow up videos every once in a while with the latest kite models. Suggestions for next video: XR8, Cabrinha Nitro, supermodel htf
I'm afraid I can only review kites I have access to, in all these videos I was borrowing friends kites, and the reason it took ages to include Duotone is because we don't have them where I live. All of the brands you just mentioned are also not in NZ, and would have to be ordered from overseas so it's very unlikely that I'll review them anytime soon
@@jasonofmontreal bummer! hopefully somehow you will get your hands on those kites as well ;-) Anyways thanks for the great videos so far 🙂
@@stefanhaghofer6745 cheers
Loved your previous kite review, so was very pleased to see you do another. Your balanced approach to kite assessment in the advanced rider class is very much appreciated (although I have 2021-2022 7/9/12 pivots). I have started looping and am happy to find out the hard crashes are not necessarily my fault🤣. Your review will help me plan my next quiver. Thanks heaps and keep up the excellent work.
The pivots are fantastic kites for a bit of everything, just not perhaps the easiest loopers
Nice review, best ones you can find! Really liked prevois one also!
You're review was one of the factors I got 9m Orbit. Now riding 9 &11 Orbits and loving these kites. Progressing into kiteloops and way easier than it was on my previous Naish Pivot & Eleveight RS.
That’s awesome to hear, that feeling of improvement in kiting is bloody magical 🤘
LOL, At first I thought you were doing "I landed it! gangster Stank hands/wrist curl" but then realized you're checking your watch. lol. Differences in culture... Great video Jason.
I only throw gang sings when’s it’s 40 knots 😂
@@jasonofmontreal LOL
Thank you! At last a review of such kites by someone at the intermediate/advanced amateur level, without all the marketing b.s.
Super useful, great job on the actual video too, nice easy narration - spot on mate :)
cheers
You´ve got yourself another subscriber, Jason. This it the kind of review that many are looking for. Your asset is your independent, very honest opinion on the kites and ability to test them properly in high winds. Keep it up.
cheers, will keep testing whatever i can get my hands on
Agree! Great review
@@truekejner thanks
Big respect to this great honest review. Most reviews are sponsored and hide the negative aspects.
I’m only biased about my cocktails… which are awesome of course 😂
Soo stocked you made this! been waiting for an evo orbit comparison. Also this is looking good for your resume to be on Colins blank kite test haha
Haha, thanks Sam… but this is certainly not your regular Evo… I’m not sure how the usual ones gob these days, but what they have done with aluula is magical
@@jasonofmontreal in my experience trying both the d lab and the sls evo, they are similar enough to not warrant the price difference for the average rider. I would say the d lab goes a bit higher and catches a bit faster, but only marginally.
Worth it if you have the cash to spare, but the sls evos will give you a VERY similar experience
Excellent video cheers , i found the DLAB so fast i had to recalibrate my carve to match it , awesome kite
Great and constructive review. Not sponsored in depth info. Congrats. 👏
Thanks, if you enjoyed there are a few more on my channel you might like
You did an amazing job thanks!!! I had 13-11-9-8-7 meter Rebel SLS and now I have 12-10-9-8 meter Evo DLab. I fell the same.
Haha, nice
Awesome reviews Jason, I love your view stand point re “for progressing loops” and “for woosting”, gives us a great perspective. They say the Evo DLABs are great for surf and foiling, which would be a game changer for me, having a single model kite that excels in most specialties… and allows me to pump a single kite on the day!
I've only done a little bit of surfing before while on holiday in Mauritius, and I used to foil a bit a few years ago, so I can't really say how it compares for those disciplines, but it very light and maneuverable so it would be better than most of the other kites I'm testing.
Really enjoyable and thorough dude, nice job & thanks for creating this and putting it out there!
Cheers, my pleasure
Keep them coming, nice comparison video, and I liked that it was blunt honest.
Cheers
Nice review ! Just tried a DLab myself, amazing kite, surely the best but not so different from the Evo SlS or Supermodel HTF
That's interesting, I haven't tried either of those so it's good to hear other kites are putting the pressure on to keep improving.
Duotone Neo D-Labs arrived today 8&10m they are super light weight. Looking forward to first session on them, click bar and Slingshot hopecraft foilboard too. Great review, really informative
Nice
Awesome review mate, love your videos..! I just bought a 10m EVO D/Lab but haven't had any wind to put it up yet, looking forward to the boost..!
it's a wild ride!
"one kite stand" haha .. such a good comparison video!
One small suggestion for next time: maybe create a simple 'comparison table' at the end of the video to summarise your scoring of all the kites reviewed. I was scrolling back and forth to the end of each segment to see where they stood against each other.
thats a good idea, thanks
This is a sick video - thank you for posting!!
Cheers David, got hold of a couple other kites too so version 3 coming soon
Epic video, Jason! Keep up the great work 🙌
Cheers woo, couldn't have done it without you 😂
oh man, I saw you at the spit a couple days ago, didn't realize it was you, you're sending it big time!
cheers, we got the best wind today actually, some fun clips for the insta :P
@@jasonofmontreal 40kt gusts are too much for me LOL
@@Plutoniummatt not sure it got above 35 in the gusts, but with that chop it’s hard to hold an edge in anything over 25 😂
Excellent review as always! If you can get your hands on the new Ocean Rodeo Flite 5s Aluula 10m i would really like to hear how it stacks up vs your evo dlab🤙
I don’t think we have them in New Zealand unfortunately, but they do look awesome. I reviewed the Rise v1 last video which was an awesome kite!
Just watched again, great review bro. Looking forward more when possible 😊
Thanks
thank you for that review! its really helpful. please turn the music a little bit more quiet, because for me it was difficult to understand sometimes.
Thanks for that feedback, I also would suggest turning on the Closed Caption option as they tend to be pretty accurate
I think your reviews are pretty much the best. You do such a good job of detailing pretty much every aspect of the kites! I don't have anywhere near your level, even though I have been kiting since 2008, so I could not make as good an assessment of the kites as you do, and I don't really have access to them for such comparison. I would love for you to get your hands on some Slingshot Machines, and share your take. I have a 9 and a 12, I bought them primarily because I wanted good boosting kites and they were available at a much lower cost than such as Orbit, Xr, Edge etc.
Thanks very much, Unfortunately we don’t have slingshot when I am so I’ve never tried any of their kites
Thank you so much for all these reviews.
my pleasure
Really hoping someone would let you borrow the slingshot machine and code and the airush lift over there one day! Would be very cool to keep this series going :)
I don’t think they exist down here I’m afraid, but I’d love to do a video on them if I can get a hold of them in the right conditions
This was a devilishly advertising review.😂 Duotone have to pay you now for it. Btw I think North will do some changes to aluula materiel next year. Or may offer a new kite model with it in 2 years, depends on there marketing strategy.
Great video, bunch of thanks
It was hard to do in many respects, I was joking with my friends after trying both of them that I felt like I was joining the team Globo Gym Purple Cobras endorsing duotone ;)
Hi Jason... i think you made an excellent job in this compared review.. i myself have an 8 mt rebel sls and a 10 mt evo Dlab and i agree with most of what you said... i did expect the 10 mt dlab to be a hair quicker on the loops but after all i do love the large sweep you get from its natural shape... also you can force it to be pretty much more pivotal if you wish so by hard steering ...
I'm not very expert on the orbit... i think i tried the 22 version ( possibly a 10 mt) and it felt very very pivotal on the loops... just giving a hint of steering would result in "autoloop " :) it almost seems it just need the start of the steering to continue looping... opposed to the evo Dlab ( or sls also ) where you relly have to beg the kite for completing the loop by keeping to steer until the end...
Not sure i made sense :)
Yeah I get you, I noticed that as well and touched on it a bit in the video. That’s why I would still recommend the orbit for most people wanting to get into loops and progress to larger ones or loops with rotations.
Nice input! Been hearing so much about increased wind range on the Evo Dlab. Do you find the Rebel 8 and Evo Dlab 10 to be a good combo or do you use the DLab most of the time?
@@kimsrensen6884 so I only have ever ridden the rebel sls 9m, but it was so easy and handled so much wind comfortably. I think the 8 would be spot on for me in over 35 knots. I think the 10m dlab is my favourite so far after riding it 9/10/12, the smaller sizes get a bit trickier to use, so an 8m rebel sls would go great with a 10 dlab for most ppl
Thanks @@jasonofmontreal 😃
@@kimsrensen6884 Hi if u ask me i actually use a lot rebel sls 8 mt... i'm light weight and like fast loops so i can loop better on 8 starting from 25 kn... not getting that height but still great fun... i only use evo dlab in the 12 to 20 ish knots... it can handle much more if u like being overpowered.. i'd say i can hold the 10 dlab up to 30... also the rigid frame helps a lot in that
bro, i fucking love your vids, that is all.
Have a great day
Haha, thanks 🤘
Congrats on your new purchase! Real interested to hear how you get on with the dlab in terms of durability. Especially if you need a patch!
Yeah, certainly a bit of a worry but I guess if you guy a lambo, you're going to struggle to get parts when it breaks down
Same here, I am contemplating buying a duotone d-lab juice 13 with 30% off, but I am a core guy and I know core kites last for years. Not sure about duotone quality
@@dajobratry the new xr8, loops much better than the xr7
Or wait for the xr8 pro version to come out this summer, it will be Aluula
@@vikingh3008 xr8 13.5 and new 2022 dlab juice 13 is the same price right now. xr pro will be 40-50% more I think
@@dajobra the xr8 pro will apparently be priced just below the evo-dlab, so around 45% more than a regular xr8
and as far as I know the biggest size will be 12m, should come out end August/start September,
Judging by how good the regular xr8 is, the pro will absolutely incredible, but obviously at a price, low end and high end as with all the Aluula kites will be better, so you can have a quiver with less kites but still cover the same or even more wind range,
Great review. Thanks for putting all that together
Cheers
Hi Jason.
Great review, I got the Dlab 12m and I can agree with you it’s a dream but so aggressive. I tried my buddies Rebel SLS today and for a beginner/intermediate level I agree with you. A 10m Rebel SLS is probably a better choice. Felt a lot more confident boosting.
I am also based in Auckland.
Hope to see you in the water 🤙🏻
With so few Duotones around you won't be too hard to make out on the water, see you when it's windy!
Superb video Jason! And thanks for your feedback too Andreas!
I have a quiver of 2020 evos (8,10,12) and wanted to upgrade. Was thinking just to get a 10m dlab (keep my 8 and get rid of 12) and just foil when it's too light, but what you say about the aggressiveness has me rethinking.
My jumps max out at 8m, so I want something that can help me progress, so maybe for my level the dlab isn't appropriate?
Was also thinking 2024 rebel sls but also wanted to learn loops and I hear the rebel loops are pretty aggressive?
I hate to leave duotone but from your video sounds like the Orbit is the way to go?
super nice video, nice job🙌🙌 can´t wait for the next one
cheers, ill keep testing any big air kites i get my hands on
@@jasonofmontreal How about testing the flysurfer stoke?..Seems to be a good looping kite!
@@stevesee7505 there’s a local kid who’s amazing on it, but I thought it was a wave kite, not a big air kite tbh
Lol a 20k bonus ))))
They have the kites for it... I bet the younger riders would do it if the older ones told them it was 'cool' to :P
Very good stuff! Funny you point out the "hard to pack" and "drifts away on the beach" aspects of the DLab. I got the 17 Juice DLab and it is IMPOSSIBLE to pack for all the reasons you mentioned :D. I just stuff the thing in the bag and hope for the best :D. Other than that I stick to my "old" 2021 classic Rebels. I feel like they got more power than the SLS and still loop reasonably fast. Great Review :) Greets!
Thanks Sticky. That's interesting about the Rebels, the SLS was the first I'd tried in years and it was such a pleasant surprise!
@@jasonofmontreal It´s all preference of course. I didn´t like the Rebel 2020. I love the 2021 with the adaptive tips. 9qm and smaller loops really well. 12qm and up not too much :D. SLS feels lighter, a little faster, and like you say: disguises more. Classic Rebel just feels a little more grunty and boosty, which I personally like for jumping high and all those sliding tricks. Maybe when I finally start tricking more while looping (like you do) I´ll reevaluate :D.
Phenomenal review….Phenomenal performance….Duotone ‘One Kite Stand’…😂 Don’t go falling in love….
haha, living up to the hype is sometimes hard to admit...
Good review man , I gave you a thumbs up. It is good to have someone neutral and objective
Just about the price, in Europe 9m orbit is 1700€ and evo d lab 9m is 2850€, that's a 68% increase in price not 25-30% 😉
You'll tell us about durability on the d lab fabric !
Cheers, re prices, I don't know what the prices are around the world, only what I could get them for down here.
Awesome review. Thanks a lot!
Thanks
Best review ever! Thanks!
thanks jay
@@jasonofmontreal please review the new 5 strut OR A-Flite in 10m. Thanks
@@collegepros I’m afraid we don’t have those here either
Cuzzie Bro :) great review and very helpful for avoiding the Brands normal Spew lol. Please make a strong wind review if you can... us fallas in West Straya are watctching- Cheers
cheers
Haha! Nice man! Ordered a Ferrari ❤
It's an amazing kite, just be mindful of issues with durability, I've detailed some of the problems I've been finding on my instagram.
Ps I absolutely loved this review because it’s gonna help me a lot choosing a kite for me.
Really glad I was able to help!
The honest and complete review I was looking for! Really fantastic video! Now I'm even more undecided than before 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks Jason and looking forward for more reviews, maybe when they all come out with 5 strut aluula kites
Good winds!
ill test whatever i can get my hands on
Good review. Weird you guys don't have a duotone dealer. Hope you can get your hands on the xr8 for a upcoming review, keep it up
There used to be a Duotone/Cabrinha one here, but they went out of business, and now everyone just gets North kites because they are based here, they're amazing for the price, and they're really helped the level of all the local big air riders go up a lot.
After having the EVO D/Lab 10M for 4 months. I prefer this EVO D/Lab over NEO D/Lab for Strapless wave and freestyle. Strapless jumps are easier, it has more float, you can lose the kite while wave riding, have to keep it in front of the wave and tension the steering lines before the turns. but it's more do everything than NEO D/Lab. (I bought this kite to be 1 kite quiver for the wife but decided to keep it for myself. I'm such a bad husband!)
It’s the thought that counts 😂
Great review Jas
Thanks
Thanks as always, great review! I would love to see you ride RRDs. Not sure they sell them in NZ but I switched from RRD to North/ Duotone an am considering switching back tbh!
I don't think they are in NZ I'm afraid.
Love the reviews! Please keep them coming! I got a great deal on 22/23 8m and 12m Evo SLS kites and am curious to see how they stack up against the DLAB (which admittedly I almost bought). The comparison between the the SLS and DLAB seem mixed with some people seeing a much bigger difference between SLS and classic than SLS and DLAB while others saying the opposite.
P.S. I think Maui would make a lot of sense for a kite trip. It should only be around an 8hr flight from NZ which is comparable to the 6hr flight time from the West Coast of the US. The wind is super strong and consistent (hard to get skunked during windy season) and you should be able to try any and all kite models while out there.
I've been to Maui 3 times and the wind is great for sure, the only problem is that it's crazy expensive with our dollar in the toilet these days. The water quality isn't the best though as it's mostly ocean chop, except a few areas where you can find some flats into goofy ramps over the more shallow reef areas. It's probably more amazing for wings and foiling.
The only SLS I've tried is the Rebel, and it's bloody awesome as I mentioned, I'm sure the Evo is great too, but I don't think it can compete with the DLab
@Jason Montreal Good points. The Maui chop is definitely gnarly and jumping over shallow reef (and 🐢) is not ideal. I tried both winging and kiting there. Crosschop is pretty hard to surf and shallow reef makes foiling precarious. I'd recommend my local spot, Hood River but it's a long flight from Auckland.
@@mikhailgurtovoy6950 I might be in hood for a few days in July actually, been twice before in July, but always get screwed with the wind... the first trip I got one epix 10m session, and then 2 more super gusty 12m days, then last time I went I only got to foil the 3 days I was there...
@@jasonofmontreal July is definitely the best time to visit! The wind in the gorge can be a bit fickle sometimes but you could almost always find wind if you're willing/able to make the drive (ie. Lyle & Rufus usually have better wind than Event Site, Jones Beach often blows strong when Gorge shuts down due to heat, Rooster Rock on Easterlies, Viento in the early AM is sometimes really good when the rest of the gorge isn't forecasted to have wind). There should be plenty of opportunities to try out kites there at the local shop but I'd be happy to ask some of my buddies or the community if there are any particular kites you would like to test but can't get your hands on!
Oooh man thats a review am waiting for thanks alot verey helpful, at least not (biased)
my pleasure
likely you don't have a opportunity but would be very interested in you trying the new nitro or one of the ocean rodeo aluula kites
I loved the Ocean Rodeo Rise V1, it’s reviewed in my last comparison
We don’t have cabrinha here unfortunately so not likely I’ll get hands on a nitro though
I own rise and d lab and have flown the nitro. Nitro feels like slower orbit. Rise is a loop specialty kite. 9m d lab has same power as 10m rise. If all u wanna do is loop the Rise is unmatched. D lab better for everything else.
@@corpuskiter that's what I'd heard about the Nitro too actually, and do agree with your feelings on rise, lots of fun, but not as powerful for sure.
Excellent review!
cheers
have xr7 and i love the kite beast for boosting and the hangtime uffffff
Yeah I’ve loved mine too for the last couple years, it’s just not the friendliest kite for progression or kiteloops when you compare it to some of the more recent kites on the market
very nice video and very informative, tks for data and your opinion
No problem
Why do you give the bar a few short pulls while in the air? Does that make the kite fly forward faster? Or slow it down or something?
That bar flutter is a bit of a bad habit from doing powered loops on 10/11/12m kites. Those are the sizes I tend to ride more and sometimes you need to do the to help get the kite back up to 12 faster
Could you break down what you do with the bar once you sent the first loop to the left for example and what you trying to have the kite do or go? Thank you. Really enjoy the detail reviews.
Great review!
Thanks
Great review, thanks 👍
cheers
Epic video!
Cheers
awesome video!
thanks
Gotta ride the XR8, guys I saw riding it said it was quite different, but never got a chance to try myself. I’m also not looping…
Unfortunately, the only way to get them here in NZ would be to buy one from overseas, so probably not going to be anytime soon. I was a bit put off as well that they were comparing it to a 12 year old kite rather than the previous model, that kind of tells me they haven't done much with it since the last one. Hopefully the Aluula versions later this year really work with that design!
@@jasonofmontreal yeah, it’s tricky for me to get my hands on things too. Didn’t watch that particular review but I think I saw that thumbnail , but agreed comparing it to such an old kite is super useful. Either way, thanks for the helpful videos, really well thought out
@jasonofmontreal not sure why gethighwothmike reviewed an old xr with the latest?!
I had the XR7’s, just collected XR8 today so will be testing tomorrow & Monday 🙂
@@jasonofmontrealthat comparison was just for a bit of fun,
The xr8 is faster and lighter than the xr7, the 9m xr8 loops and catches better than the 8m xr7,
Definitely worth trying,
@@jacobryder Any comparison of xr7 vs xr8? 😂
great comparison
thanks stas, looking forward to bringing it state side, might be first time I'll only need to travel with one kite 😂
@@jasonofmontreal looking forward to it
I watched all the videos in your kiteloop comparison series. Fantastic and unbiased videos. I’m wondering for a lighter person (65kg), would it make more sense to learn kiteloops on a North Reach than an Orbit. Isn’t the 3-strut reach supposed to turn even faster than the orbit
I’ve not used a reach much, but I got one for my wife and they’re really forgiving and easy to loop so that’s not a bad move if you otherwise have the right conditions, probably an 8 or 9m in 18-25 knots
Looking forward to ur 2024 orbit review
hopefully we get them in NZ soon!
awesome test
thanks
video of the year
haha, thanks, got at least a couple more coming before the year is out so stay tuned!
Another great video! Interested to know your board size and model as well as your binding positions and angles on it. Thanks!
I ride the Atmos Carbon (have done last few years), 138, with feet on the middle attachment at the standard angle. In winds under 20 knots where I still want to throw some loops, I ride the 145 Trace board.
I am thinking of going down to a lighter 136 with my next board though to put some time into board-offs, as I have some hand issues from breaking fingers in other sports so my grip isn't the best for my size.
@Jason Montreal thanks! What do you couple the trace with in terms of kite sizes and wind ranges? Most of the winds here where I kitesurf are in the 15-20 knots range and I weigh around 105 as well.
@@nirde2561 I tend to ride it with my 11m orbit if it’s under 18 knots. I do have a 14m kite as well though
Have you reviewed airush lift? I wonder what your thoughts are
Awesome video again! Thank you so much for doing this, your comparative reviews are simply awesome and help inform my buying decisions. One clarifying question. In your score rating of Boost, does that also equal hangtime, or is it pure height by what you mean? I see you rated Evo dlab at 9.5, and the XR at 9 in regards to boost, is the Evo dlab in general going to unseat the XR as the go-to woosting kite? In your ratings I would love to see one for bar pressure as that is a pretty big factor for me and would love to see how the big air kites stack up to each other on this metric.
I didn't ride the Dlab and XR on the same day, but in relation to how I boosted with the Orbit on the same day, I'm pretty confident you will jump a little higher on the dlab than the XR, and I mentioned in the video, I think most people will jump higher on a Rebel SLS as well. The XR and Edge have the heaviest bar pressures, the Orbit and Rise probably the lightest, Dlad is very similar to the Orbit, the Rebel SLS has slightly more, but no where near as heavy as the XR
Omg, great video again. Thank you!
I am still in choosing mode. I had orbit 9 22 as my first kite. I still don’t send it, only start heliloop. I like their style a lot. But that bug that appeared on 23 makes feel unsafe. And also aluula cuts off 30% weight. Also I don’t won’t more then 1-2 kites. And also orbit low end is a bit high. Maybe I’ll go 9 Evo dlab till orbit go to aluula idk
The dlab is quit a challenging kite to progress on at your level, as I suggested in the video, I would probably recommend the orbit or rebel sls to help you improve with confidence.
@@jasonofmontreal thank! I’ll stay with orbit though
Why do you think, that the evo dlab is not so comfortable riding?
It’s very fast, and powerful, so can be quite challenging
Best Review!!! Thanx👍
Thanks
Dice rider here. I have flown the Evo and hated the way it felt. The on-a-wingtip turn of the Dice is what I am addicted to, the pivot-about-the-center feel of the Evo just felt wrong. I noted you categorized the Rise along with the Pulse and Dice in the last video, and then also referred back to the Rise in this video as a hauntingly lovely experience. But you bought the Evo DLAB. Does the price throw you off, or do you think you just value the outright performance of the Evo DLAB over the feel of the Rise?
Hi, just to chip in. I flew dices and now on evo dlab and even though I think I liked the dice for loops so much. Just like you. I don’t think the evo dlab is that much off. It’s not really an evo, they modelled it after the juice. My highest loops on the dice were around 13m on the dlab I didn’t have conditions to go that high yet just around 10m so far but eagerly awaiting some good storm to try. Rises look amazing too but never flew it.
The OR is a lovely kite, and super fun... but it doesn't have the same power, speed, boosting ability, or hangtime as the evo dlab. it's possibly just better for loops, but the dlab is better for almost everything else. You can't compare any previous Evo to this I'd imagine... this is a whole other thing really.
I would like to understand if a evo dlab could be compared with a dice sls in terms of turning speed loop etc. About boost i think that evo boost much more for the shape.
@@lucajacquemet7415 I didn’t think my evo dlab is turning as nice (has little different pull) as my former dice sls in the same size. But still very enjoyable pull and the catch is just like the dice, so always there.
@@Jakkillah how is the bar pressure of the Dice sls compared with the evo dlab bar pressure?
Hey Jason, would you consider doing a review of the Dice SLS? Curious where that one fits against the others
Unfortunately we don’t have Duotone where I live so it’s really hard to get hold of their kites I’m afraid. I used to ride the dice until 2018 as I was progressing and I’d actually love to know what the current ones feel like
Right on, man. I'm just learning to loop on a 2023, and my buddy goes pretty hard on the 10m.
Loving the channel man you're easily my go-to youtube kite reviewer 🤙
@@mieblock4856 the first kites I tried powered loops on were my 2018 Vegas and dice… the dice was a lot friendlier of the two 😂
Really enjoy your reviews! For Cape Town this summer at 85kg and progressing into loops do you think 8 or 7m rebel sls?
Let me add I also have a 9m evo so wanted something for the stronger breeze days
You won’t get a lot of 7m days, but if you already have a 9 it makes more sense to go 7 probably
I think regarding performance for big air the flite in 5 struts from ocean rodeo is going to be even better than the evo dlab... Maybe you can find one to test it!
I don’t think you need five struts when you have fabric as stiff as aluula tbh… the rise v1 I tested in the previous video was definitely better for looping, but the dlab has it on most other areas (boosting/lift/hangtime/low end). If I can get my get hands on a 9/10m flight I’ll definitely review it though
Great review.
Thanks
Yeaaah!!!
So far great vide, I am myself 130kg rider and losing wieght but I’ll be always on heavier side.
And in my country 25 is quite rare especially 30.
I see you really recommend orbit for progression to jumps loops etc, how is the 12m orbit did you fly it, and how is orbit compared to eleveieght XS
Thanks
As a heavier rider in lighter winds, progressing to powered loops will be quite challenging, as you really want to be doing your first ones on a smaller size (8/9m size). If I were to pick the ideal kite to do this in only 18-25 knots at your size, it would probably be the 10m Ocean Rodeo rise first, then probably the 10m Orbit or Dlab. The rodeo will loop fastest, the orbit will catch the best, and the dlab will give you the best over all power/low end while stilling looping quickly. I would certainly hold off on looping until you are consistently jumping over 10m, have your heli loops and sent jumps super dialled, and definitely don't be on a kite larger than 10m for your first loops.
Great review! Keep them coming! If I could ask for a recommendation. I weight about 64kg and ride/love my 7/9/12 Dices. What size evo d-lab would be the best for me to have one for learning to loop?
As I mentioned in the video, I'm not sure the dlab is going to be the best kite for learning to kiteloop. I actually did my first kiteloops in 2018/19 on my 2014 Dice 8m, and progressed with them on my 2018 Dice 10m. I started to get better and go higher with them first with a 2019 9m evo, then the breakthrough in quality and consistency came with my 2020 orbit... so you probably have an ideal couple of kites already in the 7/9m if they are fairly recent models, and I'm not sure the added expense of the dlab will be worth it at your level.
@@jasonofmontreal I see. Thank you for the advice!
Thank you for this video !
Between the rebel and the orbit, which do you think is the kite that has the most bar pressure, that pulls the most on the arms?
The rebel by a little bit, they were both pretty close though when I tested them back to back
I weigh 90 kg and I am an intermediate level. In Uruguay 18 knots is the average. I was thinking of an 11 or 12 kite
12m for sure imo
Very useful video. Thank you.
I wonder what your thoughts on Naish Phoenix and Ozone edge in relation to these kites? Thanks.
I’ve never flown naish phoenix but some mates have and they didn’t like it at all. Terrible for looping, but it’s more of a learners kite for getting better at jumps I think. The edge is very fun, I reviewed it in my other video.
Good morning, I have a question for you. I understand that every year you change the kite. But, the quality of the materials, which gives it more years of life? Between Core xr or Duotone rebel?
Where I live kites are very expensive. My current kite is a rebel from 2013.
From already thank you very much.
I have had a lot of problems with duotone since I bought dlabs in July… my core kites from 2021 are still in great shape
@@jasonofmontreal excellent. Thanks for your answers!!
Thanks a lot for the review!
Which kite would you recommend for someone who is around 100 kilo. Looking for free ride/some tricks and jumps. I already have a 9m evo from 2018 and look for a bigger kite around 11-12m. I just sold my 13m north reach 2020 because it was too slow for my taste. The ideal kite would be one that is responsive, has enough power to drag me over the water and lift me in the air while being reasonable stable. Thanks in advance!!
I kite surf already for some time but still beginner stage, I can go upwind and start to jump but I only land around 50-70% and I do not jump very high yet
@@Forestmaker at your level I would actually recommend the reach, I got them for my wife who loves them, although she is a bit behind you though skill wise. Otherwise the big factors to consider is the most common wind range you can ride in… I used to love my 11m north orbit when I had them for 3 seasons in a row, but it needs more wind for sure
Thank you. The average wind is around 12-20 kn I would say.
So you would go with the reach? 13m?
I would prefer a smaller kite. I heard the newer ones have more power even in smaller sizes ~11/12m. Like evo or dice sls e.g.?
@@Forestmaker Im 100kg and need at least 15knots to ride my 12m dlab, and I would need more to ride an 11m orbit/reach… if you’re not getting more wind than 18-20 knots I’d suggest you stick with the 13m
Epic Review 💥🙌💥
Cheers 🥂
Jason! I see you flew Dice's as well. Could you expand a bit on how it compares loop wise to a supermodel? I fly a Cabrinha FX but am too scared to loop it still :P bought a supermodel 8m to start kitelooping with a bit more ease. Wondering cause I believe the Dice pretty much compares to the FX :)
My last dice was a 2018 10m… I’ve not tried any of these kites in the last few years except the SM which I mentioned in my last video. Any of these kites though would loop very nicely in an 8 or 9m. They will turn on a nice tight axis if you are jumping vertically (and not travelling downwind) and have plenty of line tension. if you are just getting into loops, I would stick to only looping the 8m Reedin for now, until you are super dialled into the movement. I do a little video on what steps you should be proficient in before you get into bigger loops
@@jasonofmontreal thanks a ton bro! Good tips!
Sent jumps with backhand heli's are going great in 6-7m jumps. Landing 10/10. Same for 1-3m kiteloops. I remember those steps in your last video :)
@@sanderpsychologie beauty, sounds like you're ready to move up and send it 👌
Thank you!
No problem
hey jason, very informative and authentic videos! can you help me out on a specific matter. im considering a dice sls 8m (180cm - 75kg) as a hybrid for looping and strapless . , how would you rate the dice sls in terms of boosting, looping, etc? cheers from austria, domi
The last time I tried a Dice was 2019 I’m afraid
Thank you for the helpful and honest review. Im looking to buy the orbit and i was wondering which north bar size you're using?
I just use the default one, 45-50, it's a great feeling bar
@@jasonofmontreal thanks fr the quick reply
Hi Jason,
First of all thank you very much for you epic kite-reviews (IMO the best and most honest ones out there!).
Do you maybe have some guidance for me, as I´m currently deciding on my new quiver. My main goal is to getting into kiteloops this year and you pretty much sold me on the North Orbits (I can also get some pretty good deals on the 2022 models)
What 2-3 kite-quiver would you recomend for a guy like me (90kg) - the winds at my homespot are mostly between 15-30 knts (but mostly around 20knts)?
Currently riding switchblades and the 12m is my most used kite (but I doubt that a 12m Orbit will be a good choice for getting into looping).
You could get away with 9/12 to be honest. The 12 from 15-22ish, then the 9 on top of that. You want to be practicing your progression to loops in 20-25 knots on the 9. 8/10/12 is a more versatile quiver but really you won’t need smaller than a 9 if you’re not getting up to 35 or more.
@@jasonofmontreal Thanks for your reccomandation. Would you then maybe also prefer a 13m "lightwind-ish" kite (e.g. 13m North Rach) instead of a 12m Orbit - since I wont be doing kiteloops with the 12m anyways.
And I´m a bit worried about the 12m Orbit´s lowend.
@@stefanwolf7006 9/11/13 is an awesome quiver if you get a lot of lighter days, although in 13m the orbit is a bit heavy, so it's almost worth considering a reach because it's only 3 strut. You can learn to loop on the 9, then still loop on the 11m once you get consistent at them...
ruclips.net/user/shortsDTvNBNKCpoc?feature=share
Thanks for your reviews. Seen them all.
I’m thinking of switching from my 2024 orbits to Evo D/lab. Unfortunately we don’t have a lokal store that run test sessions on this kite.
I have had orbits since 2 version. I’m 85kg and have 6/8/10/12. Jumping to around 15m and looping from 8-11m. Fooling when it’s marginal with my 12m.
Question is which sizes to get. Spoke to a 9m owner(my size) and he stays with only that one as he’s foiling when the wind is less than 14 knots. A friend of mine has the OR Flite(5strut) which I tested yesterday. A really good kite as well with a quick and smooth catch. He also stays with only the one kite.
So, question is, do I go for a 9m and keep the 6m orbit? Or should I go for a 8/10 combination? Guessing the 10 might cover my 12 and the 8 would at least go as high as the 6 orbit wind wise.
Thanks for your thoughts and reply.
@@ThomasLundNielsen it depend a bit on what kind of wind you get and kite in the most… I’d consider 8/11 to cover a similar wind range, but the 8 will take a bit of getting used to because of how fast and powerful it is… not having a local store can be an issue with duotone gear as you will likely need certain parts replaced every few months
@@jasonofmontreal Thanks. We have a “local” store +5 hours away so I’d be safe regarding spare parts. They just don’t do tests on the D-Lab’s. The SLS would be able to test but doesn’t really give the right impression. Wind wise we get speeds from almost nothing to high peaks of 50knots with the main average from 16-38knots making the 9m a good choice if I look at the duotone windsheet. Just thinking it would be better with 8/10 although the 8 loops extremely fast and as you said: “will get som getting used to”. A 10m would probably keep me flying just as long as my current 12m Orbit, or? Usually I can fly my 8m Orbit I low wind with the foil. It’s quick and works okay from around 10/11 knots.
With spare parts, you refer to bar parts? I saw a video where you mentioned lines snapping and wear and tear. Is there something other than that to be concerned about?
@@ThomasLundNielsen the bar is the main things, lines and centre piece inserts, but myself, and all the local riders here who got dlabs have also had to replace the bladders after about 6-8months. Apparently this is common with first gen aluula kites
@@ThomasLundNielsen in regard to kite sizes, go a size lower with dlab for almost the same power/performance, the low end 8m will be about same as 9m orbit. So 8/10 is a sick combo if you’re keeping your 6/12 as well
Thanks again for your honesty regarding the equipment and the small issues there is or have been.
My north pro bar “ejected” in the QR in a loop. Luckily nothing bad happened. It was the V1 which I got replaced. Regarding the bladder in the Evo? Was it the release valve that was the main issue for you needing to switch it out?
I’ll try to get my ass to a dealer that has the D-lab for demo. If I end up going with a 8/10 combo I might not need the 12m Orbit. Hoping to decide this during my summer holiday. I love the forgiveness in the orbits and hope the Evo is not going to kill me if I switch that way.
By the way, I heard a rumour that North is bringing an Aluula model this year. That’s kind of exiting to.
Again, thanks for your time and you opinions and honesty regarding the Evo’s.
Keep going
When I get access to new kites I will 🤘
Awesome review dude! Have you ever tried the Duotone Dice SLS? Curious what your opinion is on that kite, I ride a 7/9 and 12 myself and love them for looping. Do think they jump a bit lower than all the other kites mentioned as its not an only big air focused kite.
I used to ride Dice until 2019, and they were always great, but I’ve not tried since I’m afraid. A high level rider can certainly go high with them, but most of us would struggle to get as high on a dice as we would with the kites mentioned.
@@jasonofmontreal ah cool, yea they changed the dices alot since 2020 they are super quick which I love