Eolo Radsail Pro

This is my review of my Radsail Pro 2006 6m kite. I'm writing this not only as a review of the kite but also the observations I have made in the transition from my Beamer2 3.6 metre kite up to this mid aspect monster! This is to aid other people in the upgrade process.

Background
I'll review the VFM for this kite based on the cost of a new one, but I bought my example off the dreaded Ebay. I paid less than £100 for this kite, which came with Flexifoil handles & Kite Killers. The Kite is the 2006 version and is still crispy. I know these kites take a lot of 'flying in', and I think the previous owner did this for me as the kite flies very sweetly. This has actually taken a lot of the pain of buying this kite new as I have not got to fly it in, or buy decent handles etc. My only worries were the kite came to me quite dirty (dirtier than my year old Beamer), but this has disappered a bit as the wind has blown the dust off. Secondly and more worryingly, I found a 4 inch rip in the back skin of the kite which I did not notice when I inspected the kite (it was a pick-up only auction). The rip was easily repaired with flexifoil clear tape, and considering I flew the quite about 4 hours without noticing it I don't think it is serious. I'll be keeping an eye on it though...

The Kite
OK so I did the respectful thing and unpacked it in my flat as soon as I got home. This kite is HUGE compared to the Beamer. The colours (red white and black) and the general design are very imposing. The bridals are in luminous colours and somehow look less complicated than the ones on the Beamer. The bag, as always on budget kites is cheap and crap, but frankly this doesn't matter at all to me. It works. The kite came with it's original handles and the aforementioned Flexifoil items. We all know how good Flexifoil control gear is and they are very comfortable with good padding and nice and thick. Nuff said really. The Radsail ones looked EXACTLY the same as my Beamer ones to be honest, I would say they are the same items. The end winders probably work well but I've never used them, I always parapack. The lines are acceptable but are already showing signs of wear. They are the original items but they don't stretch and feel solid. The vendor had lost the manual and sticker etc so I didn't get these, but he gave me the CD and that's quite good. I've watched it once through, and has not taught me anything new. The package I personally got was outstanding because of the FF merchandise, and the handles have made a massive difference to my flying experience. I think considering that these kites are circa £200 new and don't come with a ground stake, I'm not entirely sure the new package is very brilliant, but that's nitpicking.

Flying, first impressions
Even in light winds there is a sense of trepidation when you get this out. It looks pretty big to my eyes. Anyway, grab the handles give it a tug and WHOOSH up it goes. The power in the wind window is huge, this is a serious kite. It absolutely domintes the window and everything about it, the shape, colour and size is intimidating. I've had a quick fly on a 6m Samurai and was expecting an absolute Barge, but this kite is fast, smooth and turns on a six pence. It is appreciably slower than the beamer but much quicker than I was expecting. The kite luffs a lot less than the Beamer and when it does it does not Bang open in the power zone in the same way. It has very smooth power delivery, it's not snatchy and the kite lets you know when the serious power is coming. The best thing is the turning. I fly with pretty tight brakes and the kite loves to brake steer. I would say that by watching the wing tip you can see it spin on the tip, but it can actually spin around the flying lines, thats how tight it can turn. It's an absolute joy to fly statically.

Flying, light wind
Ok this is the real test for any kite larger than 5m, and the main reason why I bought it, more power in summer! The thing you have to concentrate on is keeping the kite flying forwrd. It will just fall out of the sky if you let it stop moving, it needs the momentum of the wind over the wing. In fact it's in these winds that the main drawback of the kite comes to the fore. The kite material is very heavy. You can feel the weight on the lines. having said that I have had it flying (and pulling and lifting) in a gnats fart of wind as long as you can keep it moving. Another thing is this kite likes to crab. It can fly sideways if you fly it to the edge of the window and then don't concentrate on getting the forward momentum agin. It will fall back into the window sideways and sit there until you tip it on its wingtip and get it moving.

Flying, medium wind
This is the ideal windspeed I found, obviously. The kite has power but it's controllable as long as you have reasonably strong. I find the lift very predictable, you can feel when it's coming and when it does it's considerable. It also has a decent amount of float, meaning that this kite is very nice to jump with, although you don't find yourself in the air as much as with say a blade 4.9. The pull is huge and any sort of foray into the power and you're off downwind at a rate of knots. I found that the kite is tolerent of gusty winds, although it doesn't like them much all the same. It sits at the edge obediently and doesn't luff anywhere as much as the Beamer I also have. My other half prefers to fly this as even though it's a far more physical fly it is actually much easier to fly. It turns well, not snatchy, doesn't luff and is not too slow.

Flying, Heavy wind
Never taken it out in anything over 20mph. I have the Beamer for this. I like an adrenalin rush but I doubt I could land it in this wind. I also like my limbs and skin and minor stuff like that and I don't bounce. So it stays in the bag. One for the Brave(er than me).

Boarding.
OK now we're talking. THIS KITE IS AWESOME ON A LANDBOARD. It has lift once you get it moving. It get's you going seriously fast. I think the key is the lift. You can really lean back on this because of the large canopy above you. Keep the kite high and you can go where you want, the upwind ability is incredible. In anything over a knats fart you can park the kite very nicely and it yanks you upwind brilliantly. Have I mentioned the speed? I think the only problem is that if you let the kite kite get low and you don't brake turn it is very easy to dump the kite on the ground due to it's size.

Conclusion.
You may have guessed that I'm finiding it hard to fault this kite. Remember that I got mine at an incredible price for this kite (even if slightly used) so I'm still buzzing off the back of the bargain I suppose. I also wanted something that I can fly in very little wind, but not kill me (Blade). It ticks all the right boxes for me I suppose. Some may want even more lift, buy a Blade or Riot. THis is a great half-way house for me until I get a Blade myself. Some might want more speed, buy a race kite. Some may may want a high-end brand, buy a Flexi or Ozone or similar.

The kite looks great, is easy to fly and has loads of power. It lacks in build quality, some stitches arn't straight and the handles are cheap and nasty, like a Beamer's. They are the main bad points. It handles brilliantly and is a Blast on my Landboard. It's easy to get it up (stop sniggering at the back). It does everything I want it to, and the other half likes my new muscle bound arms!

By : panthro