I layed a current Reo over a current bws. Both 10, both the same size (give or take).
I think they have both gotten bigger and smaller respectively over the past few years.
Food for thought.

BrisKites said..

What is true to size?? Is there an international standard kite against all others are tested? All kites make different power and make it in different ways.
I look at it this way-
When a kite is a 10 but pulls like a 12m some manufacturers would advertise it as "powerful with great bottom end" the thing is if it also turns like a 12m and has the top end of a 12m then it might as well be a 12m! The BWS was a prime example of this.

How can you get around this? Other than trying every kite for yourself in the same conditions you can ask the advice of somebody who has. Unfortunately there is no other way as I don't see the manufacturers coming together any time soon to create a standard.

Totally agree, BWS seemed to just print a number 2m smaller than what the sail size was when they first came out and Ozone the opposite with the Reo... Looking at that photo above with the Neo and Park, one of them has clearly gotten the size wrong... it is pretty frustrating to try explain to customers when brands do this.

Hopefully they will work it out one day.

edit: what I meant by true to size is, when you get to the beach and everyone is riding 12m wave kites, you don't go putting up your 10m because its "grunty" (read: a 12m sail with 10m printed on it) that is unless they are all on 2012 Reo's or BWS's

Should be a simple standard , m2 of material = size, all this bul**** better bottom end is mainly down to false size statements, as for the neo/ reo debate I'd say these kites prefer different wave / wind directions

This topic is starting to smell abit.

Send them both to me for a month or so and I'll demo them for you and give feedback.

Does anyone think North is doing with the Neo the same BWS did with the Noise classic (first Noise)? Is the "buy one or two sizes smaller" just marketing for waveriders (of course, as a waverider, if someone offers me a kite that is supposedly smaller, and therefore, normally, turns faster, and has the same power, I will be immediately interested)? Or are the kites truly smaller and more powerful? I have an 8 and a 10 BWS Noise and they effectively pull like a 10 and a 12 but it turns out they are not really the size they claim to be. IMO this is just making things confusing and buying decisions harder, so we, as customers should really start demanding that the manufacturers provide a spec sheet with their kites and magazines actually measure sizes with a standard procedure the way they do with volume in windsurfing board tests.

DLT said..
Does anyone think North is doing with the Neo the same BWS did with the Noise classic (first Noise)? Is the "buy one or two sizes smaller" just marketing for waveriders (of course, as a waverider, if someone offers me a kite that is supposedly smaller, and therefore, normally, turns faster, and has the same power, I will be immediately interested)? Or are the kites truly smaller and more powerful? I have an 8 and a 10 BWS Noise and they effectively pull like a 10 and a 12 but it turns out they are not really the size they claim to be. IMO this is just making things confusing and buying decisions harder, so we, as customers should really start demanding that the manufacturers provide a spec sheet with their kites and magazines actually measure sizes with a standard procedure the way they do with volume in windsurfing board tests.

Its all marketing hype. If one kite is has good low end for its size.... then surprise surprise its top end isn't as good...... Its just a bigger kite! If one turns faster for its size surprise surprise its probably smaller that the stated number on the side.

A couple of years back we chucked a 6m bws on top of my 8m catalyst. Exactly the same size. But he bws was a really powerful 6m!

Hi Peeps,

I finally got a chance to ride the new Ozone Reo yesterday afternoon in 20-25 knots on a Shinnster strapless wave sled (my term). I have also been flying North Neo's for a couple of years.

The answer to the question of which is better is going to be different for everyone, it greatly depends on what you weigh, the board you ride, the wind direction and also your riding style.

In short, without writing a tome about intricacies of each kite that few riders will be able to discern in any case, the North Neo is going to suit heavier riders due to it's low end power. The Reo is going to appeal to lighter riders due to its top end and lesser power. In my opinion, Neo is perfect for riders over 85kg, Reo better suits riders 80kgs or less and riders between 75 and 85 could go either way.

The steering and responsiveness and also drift are similar in both kites when set up similarly. The North has slightly greater bar pressure than the Reo which also works well as most "bigger" blokes are a little stronger (generalizing, sorry ).

Neo's, having greater power also makes them a good freeride and boosting kite. Both bars are great and function well. The Ozone bar did p1ss me off a bit when trying to get the line keepers over the wound up bar. I used some pretty colourful language getting this over the bar ends, that aside, it was a nice bar.

Both kites are sensational for wave riding and it will be personal preference only for specific characteristics that make the choice easy .... but you have to decide

DM

DM, can you quantify the difference between 2015 Reo and this years? Cheers

no probs IanR...I am looking for feedback from those who have ridden both. I liked last years Reo, and am very keen on what this years kite will be like. Websites only provide so much info. Cheers.

thanks for the input, looking forward to trying them :)

Does anyone have experience with Cabrinha DRIFTER and he could compare it to mentioned here kites. Thank you in advance.

3 nice days with 2016 religion 6 and north proseries 5,11 2014 .20 to 25 knots, one to 3 mt waves,75 kg, one front strap only.
I try to imagine 0 seconds turning delay for reo .....0,5 for religion .....1,8 for neo.....2,2 for rebel.
upwind 100 for rebel....90 for religion ....90 for neo....... 60 for reo last year model.
low end 110 fo neos ...80 for religion ....70 for rebel .......no need to say for reo!
no wind for high end .....think rebel is far away from all.
quality ,contruction ,material ,inflate deflate ,lightness, I miss neos.
drift ,floating in the air ,power ,park and drive style ....neos make best job but their turning delay is an offence to wave kite category, best could be from north define them a category apart .
still I like and prefer north but I have to use religion to have complete fun for turn to turn style .
absolutely personal impressions!
ciao

Piccio.................................................nice review

That's interesting JB.

Id trade some low end for faster turning, particularly with the 10. You can also use a bigger / flatter board to improve low end. Am happy with my 2016's but am looking forward to the upgrade to 2017's.

I've flown both kites a fair bit. The Neo slightly more to be fair, but i think its a better all round kite. The Neo has more bottom end power, it turns faster, and drifts with great responsiveness. The Rio is a sick kite to, feels lighter on the bar, needs a little more kite flying skill. The big thing to consider is kite size. The comparable size rule between the Rio and Neo is to go One or Two sizes SMALLER. I ride a 6m Neo in 17-30knots on my directional (85kg). Awesome Kite

For more info/deals http://www.oceanaddicts.com.au/shop/kiteboard/2016-north-neo-kite-buy-online/