Comments on Naish Cult kites (10.5M or 12M)?

Bigbeezer · Since 31 Aug 2008 33 Posts Portland, OR

Anyone have some comments (good or bad) on Naish Cult series kites? Thinking of either a 10.5M or 12M for light wind days. All my kiting is in Oregon and California right now. I am on the lighter side (160lbs), so not sure if 12M is too big...

Mark · Fri Sep 26, 08 3:41 pm

The 2009 Cults are very good kites. A little refinement over the best selling 08.
How light is light? I use the 12 as my big kite. I will use a surfboard and can ride pretty light winds. The 09 Cults are much faster especially in the bigger sizes.

With the info you have given... I would get the 12.
hope that helps.
mark

Nak · Fri Sep 26, 08 5:16 pm

I have a 7.5 08 Cult. Very nice kite, lots of range. At 160 I would think a 12m and a good light wind board would take you into pretty light winds. 10 mph with the right board probably...

snowsurf · Since 08 Nov 2007 13 Posts Hood River

Been very happy with my 12 meter 08 cult. I weigh 190 and with a surfboard or skimboard I am able to have fun in wind down to 12-13 mph. I ride it up to 19-20 ish average. The cults are great kites. Good range, easy relaunch, fast (good for a 12 m), sweet for riding waves/swell (stable), but fast and boosty enough to be real fun for freestyle. One thought though, from what I have heard the 09 kites are not a whole lot changed from the 08 (why change a good thing), and they are, along with everything else in the consumer world, going to be more expensive. Good deals to be found now and soon on the leftover 08's. Just a thought

railgrab · Since 29 Mar 2005 177 Posts Seattle, WA Stoked

The new bar that comes with the Cult is the best one I've ever used and is well worth considering, too. I found the bar pressure on the 10.5 (2009) to be very similar to my SS bar/10m Bularoo setup. I was more comfortable trying unhooked maneuvers with the Cult than my Bularoo because of the ease in depowering. The bularoo feels like it still has a bit more grunt when I sheet out in similar conditions. I think my 10m Bularoo rides like a slightly bigger kite than the 10.5 Cult. Thanks for letting me test it out last week Bam!

Ethan

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

hey the 10.5 is a super nice kite IMO. I have not tried the 12, but for me the 10.5 is the go to kite, even on Oahu.

I wouldn't use it as a low wind kite, unless you have a foilboard.....or a super big surfboard, but for light winds, the 12 must be better..hmm, but then again, I am 200lb
I would not worry about the high end of the kite though. You can probably take the 12 to over 20 mph. I've ridden the 08 12 helix to way over that..way way over and the cult is more stable than that kite. Now you know your limitations better than me, so I can't say anything about the wind range for you.

I'd say this is a question of what type of riding you do. If you ride surfboard, in waves, go for the 10.5 if you do TT's, but not do hardcore kitelooping, go for the 12. It has a little more low end.
The 10.5 though, turns fast, and is to me a perfect join between a fast turning small kite, and a powered larger kite.

What is the wind like where you ride?

a.

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

there good kites. they don't have a lot of range in my opinion, but there fast and responsive. if your are kiting lighter winds i would go with the bigger of the two. but if you can wait to get the 09' i think they are better.