I have flown Slingshots for years starting with the Turbo2's and moving to Turbo3's. They pulled like trucks but always had me worried when the wind got up. When one went bang on the beach due to old age last summer I looked around for a 4 line replacement and learnt to ignore 99% of the advice I was given settling on a North fuse 14m to replace the 14m TD that went bang. My kiting improved exponentially as it goes upwind really well and it jumps big and floaty and is easy on my old footballers knees. I decided to get rid of my remaining 11m and 17 m TD and buy more fuses. Don't know why but North don't make them any more. To cut a very long story short I ended up with a Zephyr as my big kite and it is as amazing as you say. Turns like my old 11 gets my 90kg going in l10 knots on a TT and is very comfortable in gusty conditions up to 25 knots and is kind to us old guys.

The Evo is a pig of a kite pulls too hard and horrible to ride. Do yourself a favour and trade it in. Demo as many kites as you can switchblade, catalyst, rpm, park, lithium to name a few would fit the bill.

Zepher has a good range and easily held at 20 kts. Means you could cover 13 to 40 kts with a twintip and s 3 kite quiver.

I use a 2012 zephyr and smaller 2010 2012 switch blades and the love combination.

The switchies are a bit different to the zephyr. Yes it is true the zephyr is a great kite with surprising control in higher winds. As a bigger person I love it especially 15 knots on a twin tip and up which surprises some people. In higher higher winds it pulls really well without feeling out of control and plenty of depower if you need it. The way it feels to me is that when apparent wind kicks in the zephyr gives you strong but smooth power. The smaller switchies give more immediate but less smooth power than the zephyr. Let's say more sporty in a good way. Also great kites and also good depower. The zephyr turns almost as well as the old 12 Switchblade. The newer switchblades apparently are bit different but I haven't tried them yet.

The Zephyr is an amazing kite, there's one in my van all the time! There is also a 12M catalyst, and my smaller kites are reo's, I recommend you give the catalyst a try. Similar feel and has lighter bar pressure on the lightest setting.

Kitepower Australia said..

The Zephyr is an amazing kite, there's one in my van all the time! There is also a 12M catalyst, and my smaller kites are reo's, I recommend you give the catalyst a try. Similar feel and has lighter bar pressure on the lightest setting.

A bit of a Random question here but why do you have the reo's as your smaller kite preference and not the smaller catalyst?