Review Switch Nitro 2011/2012

chop, small-waves, big-waves  

From 15 knots up to 30

30 

08m 

disclosure: I am part of the Switch Kites ambassador program.

At the time I bought this kite I was just freeriding with a twin tip most of the time, and surfing waves with strapped surfboards from time to time. The kite was the perfect match for my use: great upwind ability, extremely stable in gusty wind, good bar pressure so you know at all times where the kite is.
I have not used my twin tip for a few months now, and the only boards I ride are strapless surfboards. The kite remains a great surfing kite, powerful when needed. It drifts reasonably well and it is a comfortable and reliable kite in the surf.
All in all a great allrounder. I have used it intensively for one year now and I am very satisfied with it. 

flat, chop, small-waves  

From 9 knots up to 18

10 

16m 

Disclaimer : I'm a switch team rider. I don't get paid, though, just have a small discount because I let try other people my kites. I'm not a very experienced rider : I start to jump unhooked and to land backrolls.

I review this 16m² V1 after a year of use and many saved light wind sessions. This was my first switch kite : I wanted a low wind kite but the usual suspects are way too pricey in big sizes. I paid full price for this one, and boy it was a useful expense.

The setup is simple and fast for a big 16m² : one pump big valve = 1 minute pumping. There was only one rear line attachment point in this V1, bar pressure is adjustable for the newer v2. There is two options for the front lines : long and 10cm shorter, but in fact I only use the long setting. I use it with 28m lines : it benefits from being far away, with 23m lines it's a bit crunched.

Relaunch is OK, pull with a rear line and it will move on the side, but since I use it in light wind, it could be stuck on the water if wet. When standing, it can be reversed launch in 8-9 knots though. But the kite is very stable, even in light winds you can talk with someone else on the beach without looking at it and always moving it.

Its low end is great : I can ride a TT from 9 knots, and stay upwind from 10! on the other side, it's manageable til 18, 20 in gusts, but at this moment you really should have switched to a smaller size :)

The depower is good, though it's designed to still have some tension when released to put it back more easily and ride more, but it's not 100%, it's a bit like suicide but not so intimidating for beginners. There is also a 100% depower with a "flag it" handle, but that's when things are getting ugly only: lines will tangle, like other 100% depower systems. Having both is best.

Upwind is excellent : you can go fast and wind angle is really good, I'm often 10° to 20° closer than the others. The only time I had to walk back was because the wind had rotated at least 45°!

Bar pressure is a bit high, not that bad for a lightwind machine, but is adjustable in the new V2. The Kite isn't a supertanker in the air : of course you won't get the mosquito flying characteristcs of a 6m², but it's still responsive and can cross the wind window in 3 seconds at most. If you can anticipate the movements, lift could be pretty impressive.

It isn't intended for waves, but if you have some, its behaviour is OK. You have to anticipate more, it came close to backstalling but was still flying. With its bar pressure, you always know were it is.

The construction is well done: stitches, fabric, lines, reinforcements are neat. As far as I know, prices are unbeatable given the switchkites business model. 

After extensive testing my new nitros 8m & 12m in Egypt I want to share my impressions.
I don't want to loose too many words about unpacking impressions. There are a lot of reviews about the quality of the material in the web. Feedback from the guys at the spot was that regarding the quality, stitching,... the kites doesn't have to hide from the well known brands.
As it was a NKB station remarks on the similarities of the switch bar could not be avoided.

Tested the 12m at my homespot for landboarding in gusty conditions as usual about 8 to 16kts with several lulls two days before going to Egypt. Because of the crappy conditions I couldn't test it much but I was little bit outraged as it tended to overfly me anytime I tried to park the kite in the zenith. So far so good.

First day in Egypt - holding my 12m Nitro in the air at about 15-20kts. The first time it felt as the kite doesn't have enough outline. Coming from deltas I must admit that it took me a short while to understand the Nitro. I felt that the Nitro needs to get blown (sry for my English - German word is "anzustroemen") more sensitively, it's not a kite you've just to lift and cruise around without thinking. The Nitro is more like a performance / high performance kite. It turns gusts immediately into power.
Well, after I understood that I've to fly the Nitro more active as my former deltas (and of course my KF Psycho) the Nitro really impressed me.
The kite turns fast. On my first jumps I steered the kite backwards - as always - the kite was already far beyond the zenith and lifted barely.

I'm 75kg and was riding only my 135cm Underground FLX there.
Conditions ranged from 10kts riding my 18m Kitefactory Dragster to gusty 30kts having fun with my 8m Nitro on short lines. Further out waves up to 2m (swell).


Characteristics hat impressed me:

- feels to have top notch stuff in hands, also the accessory e.g. bag is manufactured as well as with FS and North, didn't need to buy a Kitefix kit if I had such a repairkit before.
- nice outline
- upwind abilities. Going upwind with the Nitro is a charm. It goes very far to the edge of the wind window. The first times retrieving my board I was even too far upwind when looking for the board

- Lift and hangtime. Smooth lift and huge hangtime. If you want to go high and far - Nitro is your choice.
- turns fast
- quickly on the edge of the wind window, fast driving speed
- stable in the air, turns gusts into power
- easy relaunch. Never had any issue with starting the Nitro. All of the tricks I know to relaunch worked on this kite. In stronger winds only had to pull on one line, no difference to my former "auto relaunch" deltas.
Nevertheless maybe I'll attach a 5th for snowkiting as I'm used to start with the 5th line, maybe not.

Things that leave space for improvement:

Well, I cannot find anything on the kite, only the valve is matter of taste.

- Bag size. I loved the NKB bags for the expandability to carrot bags. Remedied that issue with laundry bags.

- Bar. The bar is well designed, no doubt. As I mentioned I couldn't deny the relationship to the North bar.
- The Bar feels heavy, not a big issue.
-Grip. The grip is very rough. It's ok when snowkiting but in the water my fingers were excoriated after first session.
- Chickenloop line. After a few sessions the line looks really shitty. Not happy with this.
- Rust. Parts (Chickenloop) are already rusty . And yes, I washed and immersed it into fresh water after each session.

Of course I'm in the purchase/ demo circle like many others here, but I'm not willing to accept any compromises or lose my credibility because of a discount. After testing the kites extensively in Egypt I'm really impressed, not only me, but also the guys I gave it to (if I can believe them).

Well, all in all I'm happy with my purchase. My doubts have gone - I must admit I was not so happy buying a pig in a poke. If you consider to get a switch kite - just contact one of us for demoing. Or just ask if you see a guy with a switch kite at the spot. 

Have been riding 10m and 14m nitro for about 4 months now and have been finding them to be a great kite! when you first get them appear to be slightly bigger then your average sizing this is because they are true size, alot of kites are under size.

The build quality of the kites is really good comparable to anything else on the market, the pricing is cheap aswell.

When I first starting riding the kites I did find them abit different to what I had been riding, not in a bad way just needed to get dialed in. Once riding these kites had a wicked low end and charge upwind, I can get going in 13knots on a twin tip on the 14m (I weigh about 80kg and ride 132 x 40 cardboard kiteboard) and under 20knots on the 10m. But they both handle very well in the higher wind ranges with good control through out.

I find them very stable in the air with heaps of boost, I ride them in both waves and flat water and have had no problems. I really like these kites, you should go and try them! 

Tested 10m Nitro
nice and stable, medium barpressure, a lot of power and lift, good depower and lowend, fast turning circle, easy to build up the pressure in the kite. one pump, easy set up and is well finished.
Conclusion. Quite fast kite and great for racing / freeride and big air fans