The Best Lightweight Kite and Wing Canopy Materials

[@MACkiteboarding]

Related-check out this video from "Reece's Shred Lab," where he performs various stress tests on Aluula materials: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYq8onmaqMmDqc0

[@jensmeggers926]

Aluula does not get enough credit here. Nothing really compares. You need to fly the Aluula Roam to understand it better. Also, compare bag size and bag weight for the same size kite. Aluula is not just much lighter, but also much smaller. Overall size matters quite a bit, not just for flying the kite but also for travelling. That is where Aluula is unbeatable.

[@obvioustrash7833]

Flying the unit dlab its actually unreal yeah. I havent tried the others though, but the dlab is miles ahead of dacron

[@GaetanoCrisci]

Jens, I still have not understand, the canopy of the Ocean Rodeo A series is made also from a derivative of the Aluula?

[@jensmeggers926]

@@GaetanoCrisci , the canopy is not made of Aluula. From what I can tell, the video is confusing the struts, leading edge and canopy material and don't make a big differentiation. Anyway, from the weight savings with Aluula it seems that the leading edge and the struts are the bigger deal and have the highest impact.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Good one, Jens. 🤙🏽 OK, I promise to have a go on an Ocean Rodeo Aluula kite ASAP. Maybe we do a pack-down and weight comparison for travel purposes? Thanks again, my friend. -Aaron

[@collegepros]

Very informative! Thanks! Love my Aluula Flite!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thanks Jay the flite is an epic LW kite Pat

[@mrmonkeboy]

Interesting, but I'd like to know a couple of things. When we they remove bladders? When will they weld the seams? Could they 3D print the leading edge? Would a SUP like drop stitch inside the LE change the profile from circular to something more like a normal wing?

[@MACkiteboarding]

All great questions, guess we'll have to wait and see. - Tucker

[@kst157]

What about material strength & durability? Two key areas any buyer would want to know about? Do they rip more easily? Will they last half the time? Or the opposite? These will impact value for money during life span of the kite. Personally, I’d be happier with a heavier material (& likely cheaper) if it doesn’t break as often and if it lasts much longer which equates to overall cost versus lifetime quality. :)

[@MACkiteboarding]

Awesome points, KST. 🤙🏽 Please see the pinned video in the comments above for some durability answers. I share your opinion about finding the right balance between performance and durability, my friend. Good winds! -Aaron

[@Baptiste_L]

I think the name of the new material for the Eleveight kite is the Dynatex

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you, Baptiste. 🤙🏽 Eleveight R&D always comes up with such great designs. -Aaron

[@OutForIt]

Thanks for the discussion and for providing numbers! I agree with many other comments, the ALUULA experience is great. I would only have Ocean Rodeo A-series kites if they weren't x2 or x3 times more expensive than competitors' models. Suggestion for a future video: It would be nice to see a review on all aspects of these materials, i.e., weight, strength, price tag, and longevity. Many thanks again!! :)

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you, Stefanos-great suggestions. 🤙🏽 I'll add your ideas to our video content discussion. Good winds, my friend. -Aaron

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Great info. Thanks guys!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Hey, Kyle-thank you, my friend. 🤙🏽 Hope all is rad in your world! -Aaron Viewers-go check out Kyle over at "The OK Kiteboarder." He's an OK dude that always shares the stoke! kzbin.info

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

@@MACkiteboarding thx Aaron. All is well.

[@raghuram2815]

Very informative video. Thank you both. Wished you talk a little more about the need and/or experience if these lightweight materials for WINGING especially.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Hey Raghu, Thanks for the feedback we typically go more into the experience in our actual product reviews. This was more of a break down of the available fabrics in the industry. Cheers, Pat

[@ShaharBenDavid]

Great video guys, so informative! Aluula Roam is the best foiling kite I've tried, with endless drift and power release of a single-strut kite, boxed in a sturdy three-strut kite. The Neo SLS is a good competitor but personally, I like the Roam's much lighter bar pressure. Will surely try the Code Zero when it arrives for demos at our local dealer.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you, Shahar Ben-David. 🤙🏽 Glad that you've been able to get out there and demo some of the various materials that are available. The Code Zero will probably put a smile on your face as well. Good winds! -Aaron

[@larsw.larsen4173]

Sailing Aluula, my experience is better low wind perforfance, much better high wind performance = much better range. Much more stable in gusts - and much faster kite responce, a 12” aluula is like flying a 9 dacron kite.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for your insight, Lars. 🤙🏽 Many riders appreciate and comment about the flight characteristics of larger Ocean Rodeo Aluula kites flying and reacting like much smaller ones. Good winds to you! -Aaron

[@larsw.larsen4173]

@@MACkiteboarding like Stefanos cooment, if price was not an issue - I would also have more Allula kites. That said, you can actually settle for a two kite (12” and 8”) only quiver, since range is so much bigger or their Hybrid Dacron/ Allula series do give a lot of the same benefits, but to a much more budget friendly price.

[@jeffgaufin2606]

This was awesome.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thanks Jeff!

[@GaetanoCrisci]

guys what about the canopies? are lighter also?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for asking, Gaetano. 🤙🏽 The main canopy material (not the leading edge or struts) with most kite and wing designs is still mostly comprised of Ripstop Nylon. This is probably an effort to keep the retail prices as low as possible while still affording a major boost in performance. You will start to see some exciting new canopy tech for 2023 but sadly it is only in the upper echelon of kite/wing prices. -Aaron

[@ianbisson9669]

@@MACkiteboarding What I find hard to get my head round is until they change the canopy material, I don't see the point in buying a frame that lasts longer. You'll end up with a bagged out canopy still so the resale value won't be great or the performance canopy wise will bring it down over time. Surely you need both updated for a more expensive kite thats lqsts longer and therefore makes it worth buying?

[@MACkiteboarding]

@@ianbisson9669 Hi Ian, The canopies are improving as well but one thing to consider is that the stiffer the frame is the less stress the canopy takes. A softer frame will lead to more twisting and focused tension in certain areas and cause the canopy to bag out much sooner. We've been seeing significantly longer canopy longevity in the Aluula, D/lab, Hookipa, N-weave, ect... - Tucker

[@ianbisson9669]

@@MACkiteboarding Fair dooos - good to know

[@GreKno63]

@@MACkiteboarding - sure about kite canopies being made from ripstop nylon ? I'm almost certain that Teijin T9600 ( the original single-ripstop kite canopy fabric ) is a polyester ripstop, and D2 along with all the multi-strand ripstops that followed are all polyester.