F one Bandit 7 Vs. 2014 North Rebel

[moontribe]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a new 9m kite that boosts high jumps and hang time + is responsive.

Should I go for the 2014 Rebel or wait for the B7 to come out?

Thanks!

[iroddy]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a high performance kite.

Should I go for the 2014 Rebel or wait for the B7 to come out?

Thanks!

Picture this:

You arrive at the beach with your mate, just the two of you. You both have 9m kites (26-28knots), no way to self launch whatsoever and no way to launch whilst your mate has his kite up.
He has the new Bandit 7 (4 lines) and you have the new Rebel (5 lines). Who can set their kite up quicker? Have fun watching him from the beach.

[icebird]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a high performance kite.

Should I go for the 2014 Rebel or wait for the B7 to come out?

Thanks!

Picture this:

You arrive at the beach with your mate, just the two of you. You both have 9m kites (26-28knots), no way to self launch whatsoever and no way to launch whilst your mate has his kite up.
He has the new Bandit 7 (4 lines) and you have the new Rebel (5 lines). Who can set their kite up quicker? Have fun watching him from the beach.

He'll come back overpowered and offer a launch after having his kite secured on the beach. Then He'll watching the new king of the air champion having fun as the wind picks up further.

Seriously, high performance kite doesn't make sense - there is too much competition to allow for low performance kites. If you ask about intended uses, experience etc. some might be able to offer some useful advice..

[alexeyga]

You might want to define what the term "high performance" means for you. Otherwise your question doesn't mean squat.

[moontribe]

You might want to define what the term "high performance" means for you. Otherwise your question doesn't mean squat.

Alright, alright...... my bad.

Let me be more specific.

I'm looking for a responsive kite that can boost high jumps and hang time.

My riding style is mainly hooked in tricks (board offs etc..) and some raileys and S-bends. I might like to try some more un-hooked tricks in the future.

[alexeyga]

Well, under that angle Bandits are a lot more "performant" than the Rebel. Even though Rebel will jump higher, Bandit is much more suited for everything else on your list. Can't vouch for the 2014 ones though, basing my feedback on previous years. Got a B6 10m recently, really nice kite, although it's not the most responsive one out there either, hence I really like it for practicing freestyle tricks - can be really sloppy with the bar without getting spanked.

[moontribe]

Well, under that angle Bandits are a lot more "performant" than the Rebel. Even though Rebel will jump higher, Bandit is much more suited for everything else on your list. Can't vouch for the 2014 ones though, basing my feedback on previous years. Got a B6 10m recently, really nice kite, although it's not the most responsive one out there either, hence I really like it for practicing freestyle tricks - can be really sloppy with the bar without getting spanked.

Thanks

[Dan-at-Duotone]

The Rebel does not compare directly against the Bandit. The Bandit compares much better against our Evo (or, in a month, our Dice). The delta shape is an all-rounder meaning it can do freeride, waves, or freestyle. The Rebel is pretty specifically a performance freeride kite, and (in my opinion) will be the better kite for general comfort while riding, more responsive especially when depowered, and bigger jumping/hangtime. While you can unhook on the Rebel for basic unhooked waveriding or raileys, the delta shaped kites such as the Bandit or Evo tend to sit deeper in the window and give you a steadier kite for unhooking, with a little more slack after your pop to make aerial handlepasses easier.
Also realize that delta kites have more grunt and less top-end... Rebels tend to give up just a little bit on the low end grunt but you get significantly more top end out of them, and they perform better when depowered.

Hope this helps, but as always, you're best off demoing gear if it's possible.

-Dan

[Westozzy]

Well said Dan, agreed. Don't compare them, different use, different market really.

[CapatainJ]

I did a similar comparison before I bought some Wainman Rabbits.

Ultimately I think it comes down to the simple question; which kite is the most fun to use?

For me I decided not to buy the 2014 Rebels. I wanted a kite with a bit more guts low end but still had great top end and great all round ability whilst being super safe and easy to use.

If you get the chance I'd demo the B7, both kites are different, BUT they are both designed to put a smile on your face.

I think many of today's manufacturers are guilty of developing so many different kites which ultimately can end up confusing the consumer.

I'd look at North EVO, Bandit 7, Naish Park and Wainman Rabbit.

Look at the depower assembly, the bar and the QR, all of these can effect your descion too.