Strutless is one of several next evolution steps in kite design. I'm sure it has it's downsides. But, weight savings without sacrificing durability and simplicity are important variables in my opinion. If it needs battens forget it in my opinion. If it only does one thing well so be it. If it doesn't easily relaunch when wet in light winds then that is also and issue. The variable are endless.
Prototype kites are the only way to make incremental improvements in a new experimental kite design. I wish I could ride more of the strutless prototypes I've seen. Wish I could say more and was better informed about the work being done. I hope the research continues and a superlight good performing production kite comes to market.
grantman54 wrote:The Airush One leading edge is huge! Maybe thats a good thing for slowing down the kite if you want a park and ride kite but to me it seems like you will be creating a dead space on the canopy right behind the LE, especially when the kite is at the top of the wind window. Thus losing lift.What you save on 2 small bladders you pay on an oversize leading edge.
I haven't tried it, so maybe the One would actually blow my mind but looking at it from a distance gave me a bad impression.