Hi, I am just starting out at Kitesurfing coming from a strong windsurfing background and was looking to purchase a good all rounder kite. I am currently travelling so only have space for one kite. I need it to have very good wind range, be reasonably safe (I will be kiting on my own alot) and exciting eough that I wont outgrow it in a year. I am looking to get heavily into waveriding once my skills have progressed enough but right now will be out in all conditions as my location changes regularily.
I am currently considering either the Switchblade IDS 10m or Eclipse Nano 11m (or maybe the 9?).
Any thoughts on these kites or other options would be most appreciated.
For a go everywhere, do everything kite that has great relaunch, big wind range and awesome safety features - Go for the Switchblade IDS...
One of the best kites of 09 hands down
Read Funksters detailed review on his Nano
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51438
Thanks for you help, I am now also considering the 10m Crossbow IDS. I have heard that it has more wind range but how does it stack up in the waves compared to the switchblade? is it worth the extra $150USD?
Thanks for your help.
I haven't tried the Crossbow so not to sure how that stacks up,but have flown the Switchy and the Nano, they are both very good kites, easy to fly, relaunch etc.
If waves is your thing though I think the Nano would be the way to go.
I can see myself being heavily red thumbed here because there are way more Cabrinha owners out there but I wonder how many have actually tried the 09 Nano's in the waves?
Just looking at the two kites in regards to travelling - I think the Nano would be better as it has three struts on the 9m ( not to sure about the 11m) where as the Switchblade has 7, I think.
The Nano will pack smaller and lighter than the Switchblade (except for the 07 Cab range that seemed quite light for their sizes).
Just my thoughts.
Cheers
Rich
The switchblade is an awesome kite
Great range, grunty, fast and well made. Very nice kite for waveriding.
It was my 2nd Fav kite of the year last season.
The 8m was just something special such a great kite
Eclipse have yet to produce anything that gets me as excited.
Demo them both first.
I heard the Nanoblade is where it's at, from reports ive heard you have to stack them to get the best out of them.
Why all the Eclipse love
You guys aren't sponsored or getting free gear or selling them per chance
Balance is what its about
I'm still waiting on the wind to try this Kima i've got on lend
Last Eclipses i tried were the first made batch of Thrusters and Nano's
They were hardly inspiring.
Crap materials, crap chicken loop, crap response, slow etc....Thruster was phenomenally grunty tho
I hope that the Kima changes my mind. I do really
However after trying the Switchy last season and since it started well i reckon it would be tough to beat especially by any kind of eclipse.
But prove me wrong please...i love being proved wrong.
BTW Have you seen the new LF envy now that looks insane 
just giving my 2c as I'm bored at work. 
I say we take a bunch of kites and head to that reef break down your way next week Sam
Whatcha reckon
^^^ Blatant BS and sure to dent (any) credibilty of the poster!
For a start the 08/09 Nano has diff wing tips etc etc. In truth the 08 Nano was modified to become the new 09 Kima and the 09 Nano is a significantly differant (new) design.
These are two very diff kites so a bit like oranges and apples. Still.. here goes..
Simply put, they are both very good kites - but geared differantly.
Switchy equals higher performance - this is not neccesarily going to be useful to you until your 2nd season though. Anyone who suggests you will be kitelooping and pushing the envelope in your beginner stage is full of cr@p. Many folks on this site (and other forums) completely and utterly forget what a beginer needs from a kite and can only think about what they (after 2-3 seasons) are looking for themeselves when giving advice. However, switchy's are very good, well loved kites that don't seem to have any bad habits and are made well from all reports.
The Nano is not as high performance but an ideal beginers to intermediate kite - no two ways about it. The Nano is significantly cheaper, to the point that you could maybe afford 2 kites (and one bar) for not much more than one Switchy. Having the right size kite (of any brand) for the conditions beats having the coolest brand - although incorrect sized - kite for the conditions hands down, it is also heaps safer too. I guess you are stuck with one for travelling though so look for the best windrange. My Nano 9m has a very good windrange that is do-able and fun from 15 knots and super fun from 20-30kts (on a twinny and i weigh 85kgs). Dunno about the switchy's range - it is probably pretty similar as they are said to have good bottom end.
My $$$ went on a Nano recently but I don't have a prob if your on any brand kite as I don't stand to lose any sleep/$$ over it. I am not affiliated in any way - unlike some posters (or imposters).
FYI gisy $$ was a factor in my decision and if I had oodles of $$ I may well have bought a Switchy/Ozone/etc etc. For me at the intermediate level cruising cr@ppy waves and doing downwinders, getting the Nanos is not going to cramp my style at all and they are very very well behaved kites that I wished I had learned and progressed on.
Finally if you peruse some of the loudest Nano critics previous posts (not PR - he is just an angry funny talking fella
) he seems to have a distinct (almost financially competitive) dislike for Eclipse (wassallthatabout??) so i'd be wary of any advice re: Eclipse from that angle.
Competing brands retailers and barrow pushing.. sigh.. When will a noob be able to get good unbiased advice.
Either way you go you will be getting a very useable, good behaved kite. Best of luck.
It is super important to consider resale if $$$ are an issue for you.
You might have to pay a bit more up front for a good kite but if it is a recognised brand and a recognised good kite of that brand then you will save more money getting the more well recognised kite when you consider net cost after resale.
i sold 3 Switchblade IDS kites on Seabreeze in the last 3 months and got great prices and they went quick cos everyone knows it is a good product.
One of the kites sold to a newb whose mate told him he couldn't go wrong with Cab Switchy's.
Dont reckon you would have the same luck with Eclipse. I have never ridden an eclipse so no comment on how they compare in the air.
Yep - Wall makes a valid point there. The only thing is it costs a lot more to get in with the SB to get a bit more back on the way out. Probably evens out in the end? Either way to get any real $$$ back fro your kite you would want to sell them in one season or 2 at max to get anything more than beer money..
gisy - seriously demo the kites and try to ignore graphics/bling etc and go with the kite you feel more secure etc on.
One thing no-one has mentioned I think (?) is bar feel. Whatever kite you get you don't want a super heavy or super light bar for various reasons. I think both of these numbers fit the middle of the road there.
BTW Rellie - do you always bag the cr@pper out of kites that you have sweet talked into trying - before you have tried them? No soup for you! We can't all sell the spare Range Rover to kit out on gold leaf flecked uber-kites you know.
No soup for you! We can't all sell the spare Range Rover to kit out on gold leaf flecked uber-kites you know.
Sawright big guy - at least you have tried some of their kites.
I have only had a quick squirt on the 9m Kima, but me thinks you will like the speed and turns for the waves. Noice little rocket ship, again with impressive bottom end. I went for the Nano as it is a bit better suited to boosting/freeride and, I guess, twinny riders.
In truth there is only nitpicking between most comparable kites out there.
There are still kites designed as oranges and those designed as apples though.
Hi Guys, Thanks heaps for your imput, It helped alot although I actually ended up getting an 11m Nomad. will recieve it in a week or so.
Im sure that this kite will be a little less forgiving to learn on than the switchblade but sounds like a very exciting kite thereafter especially for where I want to go in kiting.
Sorry to all those Eclipse lovers out there but it was really the saftey systems on the Cabrinha and the wind range that sold me. Not to mention the the resale value. But then how many Cabrinhas do you see for sale? maybe theres a reason for that? I got a great deal on it and figure it will hold its value for a long time as it is a 2010 kite.
Thanks again everyone, I welcolme any further comments.
Gisywaterboy.
Bah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
How many questions from punters do you see like this asking about oranges vs apples?? Then after much well intentioned advice and input, from all n sundry, the poster goes and buys a cumquat anyway! Sigh..
Oh well gisy - good luck and we will look forward to future posts requesting advice on injury recovery (hope not though).
I think the Cab was probably a good choice in this case.
I own a Kima, but i think Eclipse still have a few things to iron out before they are really up there with some of the more established brands. Only this week i've heard from a friend riding Thrusters, who's 09 bars have corroded to the extent he had to pry the safety open on one with a screwdriver. Major safety issue on a 3 month old bar and therefore i couldn't recommended them to a learner until i know this has been resolved.
Well, Is it any different or more dangerous than the old C kites most of you no doubt learnt on?
Ha ha..... onya F5 top post. have had a few myself.
And gizy, you made the right choice......a kite
