Vapor III.... it's looking like the year of the Vapor again

[12Flow]

I got a 10 and 7m VIII when they came in, but the wind has been non-existent on the south coast this season, especially on weekends, so this review will be relatively short.

My previous quiver was the VI 7 and 12 which I rode for almost two years. Since these kites had almost everything that I loved in a kite, I did not spend much time evaluating other kites when I started reading about the VIII characteristics.

Firstly, I have ridden the 10m about 3 times in 15-22knots and it is a sublime, accurate kite. The magazine reviews are spot on: heart stopping boosting; powerful kiteloops; huge improvement when unhooking; super quick relaunch and fast! A kite for the intermediate to advanced rider. As this size is generally the one that gets reviewed most, I will spend my time writing about the 7m. The construction is finish is excellent. I feel the new bar design for the the front lines connections and chicken loop is so also much better.

The VI 7m was a kite from heaven for me and I rode it solid for the 18 months. If you have not ridden the VI 7m then I would describe it as being fast and powerful leading to the most memorable boosting and kiteloops I have ever had. The low-end is phenomenal as it easily got me going in 19knots. The downside was that the performance dulled in winds stonger than 33knots, although it was flyable up-to 42 knots. Jumping would not be great and follow the kite waveriding stopped being an option, but then what kite does perform well super strong conditions? The unhooking performance was not that good so I never bothered trying it too much when hooked in was so good. I have ridden the 7m VII once and that was in 35-40 knots. It was a much better kite in these conditions when compared to the VI.

With this in mind I got the VIII 7m to replace the VI 7. This VIII 7m by all accounts was going to be fast; have better strong wind performance; better unhooking and pop.

Unhooking - whilst I am just starting out with unhooking, I could absolutely feel the difference with the is kite, as well as the 10m, when compared to anything else that I had ridden in the past. What a breeze to unhook and pop a railey without getting my arms ripped out of their sockets, or start getting dragged downwind! The pop that the kite generates is a huge improvement too.

Waveriding - The VI 7m was no dog in the waves, particularly 20 - 28 knots it is a gem. My wavering style is "follow-the-kite", turn for turn, and not "park 'n ride". The VIII is absolutely fantastic since it is incredibly FAST and stable! Now, I like fast kites with little bar pressure which I can throw around, but this one takes the cake and has spanked me twice when I was not paying enough attention whilst turning it during a gust. The one waveriding session I had was in about 25-30 knots and I could feel that this is a much better high-wind kite than the VI. Another big improvement was that this kite did not tend to "stick" when it got to 12:00 when I wanted to redirect it.

Wind range - The first time I flew it was about 19-23 knots and I felt that the 5th line needed to be shortened by +-10cm to get better low end feel. I got going upwind and did some jumps before the wind dropped off and I came in to swap it for the 10m. Unfortunately, at the moment I feel that the VIII 7m has less low-end than the VI. How much less, I don't exactly know as I have not kited that much this year and also it flies very differently to the VI. At a guess, probably 3-4 knots and you need to work it more compared to the VI. I will be flying the 7 VI and VIII back-to-back when the wind is 19-25 knots for better comparison.

Jumping - Because this kite is so different to the VI my timing is completely out. I think this is largely because it flies so far forward in the wind window. Sometimes I get a freaking amazing boosty jump and float; then the next one is mediocre. I seem to recall having a similar problem in the beginning on the 7m VI, compared to the VI 12, but not 100 % sure. It will take a few more sessions for me to get my timing right so I will give a further update then.

Kiteloops - Unfortunately, because of the gusty wind conditions; my timing being off, and having being spanked twice, I did not feel too inclined to do any kiteloops. I expect that it will be an excellent kite for loops, but at this point time I don't have any comments. I will provide further updates on the looping characteristics once I get my timing dialled and have better conditions.

My impressions so far is that the 7m is a more technical kite to fly - compared the the 7m VI and 10m VIII - and with it being so quick it would be more suited to the advanced intermediate and advanced kiter.

Hopefully I will get good winds sometime soon so I can put this baby through it's paces.

[Spineless]

Nice review dude! Had I the cash I would be quickly selling of my Vapor 1 quiver for a new set of V3's!

[gmh21]

Hi
Has anyone got more details/pics of the new bar and 5th line setup on the VIII s.

[12Flow]

Hi
Has anyone got more details/pics of the new bar and 5th line setup on the VIII s.

Hi

I don't have a picture, but could take one it that will help? I like the cleat system, but the bar does come with the pull-pull straps.

The cleat system makes the bar super clean. The front-line to chicken-loop line attachment is simple larks-head, and there is a nifty stopper for the keeping the 5th line tension equal with the front-lines. Not a piece of metal in sight except for the chicken-loop line pulley.

[gmh21]

wouldn't mind seeing a pic.
I currently have the VIIs (nice kites) but I'm not a huge fan of the big lump of stainless steel the front lines attach to and the 5th line runs through.
Also the swivel on the VII aint up to much. If you make a number of rotations in the air in the same direction you then have to throw a few in the opposite direction to untwist the front lines. Simpler seems better i.e. VIII setup

[12Flow]

wouldn't mind seeing a pic.
I currently have the VIIs (nice kites) but I'm not a huge fan of the big lump of stainless steel the front lines attach to and the 5th line runs through.
Also the swivel on the VII aint up to much. If you make a number of rotations in the air in the same direction you then have to throw a few in the opposite direction to untwist the front lines. Simpler seems better i.e. VIII setup

I don't think swivels work well on any bar, at least I don't know of any nor do I hear about people not having issues. The VIII bar has a thick, shock cord which takes up the twists. The fifth line then goes through a loop at the end of the shock cord and is kept in place with a stopper. All very clean. I will take a photo and post it over the weekend.

[12Flow]

wouldn't mind seeing a pic.
I currently have the VIIs (nice kites) but I'm not a huge fan of the big lump of stainless steel the front lines attach to and the 5th line runs through.
Also the swivel on the VII aint up to much. If you make a number of rotations in the air in the same direction you then have to throw a few in the opposite direction to untwist the front lines. Simpler seems better i.e. VIII setup

Here are the pic's. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7397746@N04/sets/72157619650132611/

[bulletprooffool]

Vapor III.... it's looking like the year of the Vapor again

> When was the other year of the Vapor?

That said, the second gen ones did look decent kites - though I will not be buying - especially when kites are over £1000!

I can appreciate the pound has dropped, but according to:
http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory the GBP-EUR exchange has only dropped from:
06/14/2008 1.26640
06/14/2009 1.17390

So only 7% change.

As for the dollar,
06/14/2008 1.94640
06/14/2009 1.64490

So this time 18% change

In the mean time, people in the UK are battling for jobs and kite prices seem to have gone up 30%?

Buying a 10m complete costs:

USA
$1,529.00 (https://www.airushkiteboarding.com) (first on list of suppliers in US off official site - http://www.airush.com/company/distribution.html)
At the current exchange rates as above, that is
£932.32.

UK
£1 199.00 (airbossworld and s2as come up first in a google search)

Of course, some may start rambling about import costs but it is important to note that these kites are not from the states - in fact the headquarters are in Thailand (according to http://www.airush.com/company/distribution.html)

Comparison from GBP to Thai baht says:
06/14/2008 64.93830
06/14/2009 56.92770

so 14% change in currency?

Since this thread started, we see the following changes in currency:

GBPEUR
04/08/2009 1.10360
06/14/2009 1.17390
(up 6.5%)

GBPUSD
04/08/2009 1.47050
06/14/2009 1.64490
(up 11.8%)

GBPThai Baht
04/08/2009 52.11940
06/14/2009 56.92770
(Up 9.22%)

Does this mean that we can reasonably expect to reductions of price by between 6.5% and 11.8%? Or do price changes only work in one direction?


(sorry . . just disgruntled that there is no wind AND I also can not afford to support the local shops and will have to wait until I travel to buy kites)

Incidentally the higher prices in the UK compared to the US seems to apply to most sports equipment . . not just kites - though other sports equipment (in particular golf clubs) have come DOWN in price in the UK over the past year relative the cost in the US.

back to the Vapors, they look like super kites, the reviews around the world are good and everyone I know that flies a Vapor loves it.
I will try get a test ride on one of the new ones and around mid season, when some second hand ones start appearing and the new prices drop . . who knows what will happen?

[Mike B]

The Vapor III's were bought at 1.45 USD to the £, and the production costs went up 15%,

The Dollar dipped to 1.35 at one point, hovered at 1.4 for a while. We put off buying the kites for 3 months, then we had no choice....

The maths cannot be cheated. If I could make them cheaper I would. They are very good kites this year as well.

[www.airforce.uk.com]

The vapor is back! Been out on the version 3 recently. But first a brief vapor history…the v1 was quick ,precise handling with a raw power delivery. The canopy flapped a bit sometimes .It turned at warp speed and went high with massive hang time. It was one of the best hybrid kites at the time. The vapor 2 …the flapping canopy went ,along with it the sharp aggressive handling, The kite became more refined, smoother, some might even say docile. The powerful lift and glide remand.The bottom end was phenomenal as was the top end ( I sailed the 10m from12kts upwards hanging on at 25knts) For me it was a 1 kite quiver! BUT….it had lost something in the mix.
Enter version 3 The bar has been cleaned up… gone the front line swivel that never worked. Simple clean and easy to use. The safety is the same as in previous years with small updates to the 5 the line attachment. Works well.. Always releases…easy to reset. Some complain it is too easy to release but I have never found this to be a problem! This year the bar comes with an trim strap adjuster option included as well as the cleat fitted as standard. So you can customise the controls to you own preference!
The kite has plenty of tuning options for bar pressure, turning speed etc.All these setups are printed on the kite….good thinking! As I always seem to get the paper manuals wet then they self destruct .
The v3,s rapid acceleration soon has you moving…..it does not seem to pull excessively but it does get up to working speed very quickly; In the air the kite is quick if fact I would call it fast!!!…..turning has the speed of the v1 with the smoothness of the2 carrying the speed through the turn. The v3 reacts very quickly and precisely to bar movement not some thing you want to mess up with else you will be in trouble! Power delivery is super smooth and just keeps coming! Unhooked the kite excels feeling the same hooked in or not. Maybe it would make a wave kite?? Stability when sailing directly in to the kite is superb ….although some kites drop back lower in the window to achieve stability the v3 is just as happy sat higher or lower with no wobble or dodgy tendency’s. Lift and glide is fantastic as has all of the vapor range…..no change here. I’ll write some more in the next couple of days as it’s windy!!!! Try a v3 it is up there with the fuel and vegas as a fast powerful 5 line freestyle kite for the hooligan in us!

[www.airforce.uk.com]

Going to have the vapor 3 out this week ....next couple of days at the wirral country park http://www.wirral.gov.uk/LGCL/100006/20 ... 01012.html . Bonnie scotland over the weekend west coast don't know where yet but any suggestions welcome ( i am going to a wedding in scotland congrats tom and isla!!!!) Pembrokshire the week after. http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/ Give me a shout and i'll get you a try on it. my number is 07973216502

[John.B]

Going to have the vapor 3 out this week ....next couple of days at the wirral country park http://www.wirral.gov.uk/LGCL/100006/20 ... 01012.html . Bonnie scotland over the weekend west coast don't know where yet but any suggestions welcome ( i am going to a wedding in scotland congrats tom and isla!!!!) Pembrokshire the week after. http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/ Give me a shout and i'll get you a try on it. my number is 07973216502

Scotty - where is Scotland you going to be? If you are near to Troon and we have wind then I can do a swapsie for a session and I can try the Vapor and you can go on my T5 :o)

Not looking great wind wise just now, but hoping that changes?