I have been looking on the flexifoil website and the windrange stated for there Atom 08 and Ion2 kites are as follows.

ATOM 08
7m 18-35kn
9m 13-33kn
12m 12-25kn

Ion2
6m 22-42kn
8.5m 19-36kn
10.5m 16-32kn
12.5m 14.5-28kn

I know these wind ranges should be taken with a grain of salt. But does this mean that the 9m atom has better low end than both the 10.5m & 12.5m ion??????.

Has anyone ridden both atoms & ions. How would the low end with say the 9m atom with a 10.5m ion compare??

I rode the 9m Atom 08 a couple of weeks ago, and normally ride a 10.5m Ion2, the Ion2 definitely had more grunt, suggesting it would have more lower end.

Windranges are highly variable and totally depend on the rider and the board more than the kite.

The Ion2 wind ranges are aimed at the more advanced rider who needs power to do tricks etc, hence the higher top end.The Atom is an all round kite and hence is aimed at beginners too, so the windranges are shifted to the low end.

The atom 08 is great kite and can work in low wind but it is down to the riders weight, board size and skill to get the most out of it. I'm heavy (130kg) and need at least 14kn to get going upwind on a skimboard with a 12m atom 08. If i was lighter I could kite in lighter winds.

My favorite kite is the 10.5 and I use it down to 18kn on a 130x40 board on the same board i can use a 12m atom 08 at 17kn, so to me there really is not much difference in the low end.

Comparing the 9m atom 08 and 10.5 ion2 i would say assuming you are a skilled rider that the top end would be bigger on the 9m atom 08 and the bottom end should be the 10.5m Ion2. (Using the same sized board etc.)

I would try them to find out which one suits your style better.

sorry fellas I am not supplying a gear review I am asking a question?

Next time I will move it to the other page to keep the forum nazis happy

Holly crap that was a quick answer. Cheers

I have demo'd both these kites. I was lucky enough to have them both for a bout 2 weeks! So I got to try different conditions. I had the 9 &12mtr Atom and the 8.5 & 10.5 Iron. I was originally leaning towards the Iron for I liked the sizes better (I thought 8.5, 10.5 & 14.5mtr would be a good quiver). However after riding them I ended up liking the Atoms heaps more. I don't know what it was with the Irons but I could never just make it feel sweet, jumps etc.

This is how I saw them

Atoms - 9mtr 18 to 30ktns
- 12mtr 14 to 23ktns

Irons - 8.5mtr 20 to 30+ktns
- 10.5mtr 16 to 25ktns


I ended up getting Rev's this year. I was lucky enough to have the 9 Atom, 9 Rev & 9 Waroo on the beach on the same day and the Rev came out on top IMO anyway. I think the main thing that turned me away from the Atoms was the bar.

Hope that helps.
Gerard.

meerkat said...

Bigwavedave said...

meerkat said...

Can you go an pimp your kite somewhere else? Or at least stick it in the gear section?

Question was asked, answers given. That's what forum is about. Outofashion is new to SB. Give him a break.

if this is an honest question then i am very surprised, does seem like a fairly informed question for a new guy, but thats just my opinion.

They got some of the posted info from the felxifoil website and a new forum poster is not necessarily a newbie kiter....many experienced kite surfers who have been around a very long time in the sport don’t come on the forum.

I couldn’t care either way, just bored atm!

It should have been posted in the review section but ya get that just like ya get all the other off topic dribble in the general kitesurfing forum!

BTW outofashion check out my rebel review, a much better kite - because i say so! lol