Are Switch kites getting any better?

[Marno]

... I'd like to know from a technical perspective how this kite jumps so well and supposedly drifts amazingly?? There is usually a trade off there, but has switch discovered the Holy Grail?? I've read the reviews, but I'm wondering how the kite does this from a design pov ??? Hope I get a decent response there... , cheers mike.

[_Jakobie]

... I'd like to know from a technical perspective how this kite jumps so well and supposedly drifts amazingly?? There is usually a trade off there, but has switch discovered the Holy Grail?? I've read the reviews, but I'm wondering how the kite does this from a design pov ??? Hope I get a decent response there... , cheers mike.

I would not count on getting any inside information about how they did the design.. It would be like Gordon Ramsey letting all of his recipes go public.

[mr_daruman]

Alright, Ive been riding the new E6 for a week now. 6m2 and 8m2. Just strapless surfboard. 20m lines , 65 kg.
Previously riding the E5. I thought it was one of the best onshore wind surfkites around. Good float, power through turns , great lowend, upwind and drift.
Also lots of bridle wrapping during self-launch, with some close calls. I think the kite was still just a bit too heavy in the sky.

The E6 is a different beast...
it feels light and flies /turns fast.
It has smoother power curve than the E5 which is great for learning. It is gentle in turns. And so for me that is the main problem. I like raw power and want that snappy power when turning....For me this is the main negative point. This "power sink" when turning the kite and changing directions...maybe due to the 6 pulleys??
Bar pressure is spot on and adjustable with the different front/back line settings.
Jumps and float is amazing. Really amazing. Super nice to land nearly almost all my strapless surf jumps.
Upwind...This is tough. I feel the E5 was slightly better but both a really similar.
Lowend is great. In 20knots I was using going upwind fine with the 6m2...For my weight in 30 knots though, I wish there was a 5m2 available...
No line wrapping. Solid construction.

These are my first impressions for now. I really want to make sure I get a feel for the kite before writing a full review.

[marlboroughman]

Finally people are talking about onshore kite characteristics like it is an actual thing. Too bad we lost two kites in last 3 years. E5 and Ozone Catalyst <2015. I hope Bill H. comes back. He is sitting on a incredible niche in the market with both E5 and Nitro6.

[lewmt]

1st day out on snow on 12M new E6. Very light wind today - guessing 8-15. I only flew the kite for a few minutes & smooth is a very accurate description. Wife - who is a beginner - had a much easier time flying & relaunching the kite in such light winds than she'd had previously on E-5's & E-3's. Kite stays up so much better & turns so much smoother that she had a great session where days like today were usually frustrating for her. Haven't yet had a chance to get a sense of boost & hang time or drift. No problems with wing tip wraps or pulley issues - in fact they seem to add a really positive dimension to the flying characteristics. She remarked enthusiastically how much easier she went upwind.

Not trying to be a Switch fanboy here - if it wasn't good I'd be more than willing to say so. So far though - I can't find any negatives.

[alford]

Lewmt, just curious, why an inflatable for snow?

[alford]

Nice report mr_daruman. Please keep us posted as you spend more time on it.

[lewmt]

Lewmt, just curious, why an inflatable for snow?

I've had foils - just seems inflatables are much more fun. Especially in gusty mtn conditions.

[Kamikuza]

... I'd like to know from a technical perspective how this kite jumps so well and supposedly drifts amazingly?? There is usually a trade off there, but has switch discovered the Holy Grail?? I've read the reviews, but I'm wondering how the kite does this from a design pov ??? Hope I get a decent response there... , cheers mike.

Cab Drifter jumps pretty well, but doesn't glide will, so it's not unprecedented

[Lanc]

... I'd like to know from a technical perspective how this kite jumps so well and supposedly drifts amazingly?? There is usually a trade off there, but has switch discovered the Holy Grail?? I've read the reviews, but I'm wondering how the kite does this from a design pov ??? Hope I get a decent response there... , cheers mike.

Cab Drifter jumps pretty well, but doesn't glide will, so it's not unprecedented

Pivot is also a good jumper and drifts well.