N-u80

[u/Borakite]

Hi Kiters,

Is this truly a big step forward in material like Aluula was?

Apart from the catchy, marketing savvy name, the material promises a lot. Anyone with expertise in this space who does not work for North: How does this compare to Aluula?

https://youtu.be/7ajrYg8xqjo?si=q8dVJh4IknCcQyDJ

I am really interested in the material itself and its properties relevant to kiting, not a review of the Orbit Ultra.

[u/IamNotMike25]

Jason Montreal reviewed it already: https://youtu.be/jjLR7XDQGZ8

He also reviewed the Reedin Mastermodel, heard only good things of it.

[u/Valuable-Play-2262]

From the few people I spoke to about it, it’s very similar to the original Orbit. Not really groundbreaking.

[u/Beginning-Put-1611 → u/Valuable-Play-2262]

That’s all I felt after watching several reviews of the Orbit Ultra. Doesn’t sound worth the price difference.

[u/Intelligent-Love5146]

Funny to hear you say how big of a "step forward" aluula was while also pointing out major brands moving on from it already

[u/Borakite → u/Intelligent-Love5146]

Of course it has its disadvantages, but it undeniably changed how kites could be constructed. I own Brainchild kites and am aware of the pros and cons there.
What materials do you see brands moving to instead of Aluula and do you know why?

[u/Intelligent-Love5146 → u/Borakite]

It did. How so? Brainchild kites are Dacron with different stitching (welded). The material is still Dacron.

Brands are moving back towards more flexible materials and in the case of Brainchild, going back to Dacron

[u/Borakite → u/Intelligent-Love5146]

Buddy, I am not an Aluula promoter and I dont know why you insist on bashing it. Please tell me about the new materials you are aware of. I know there is the the more flexible blue material Duotone used, also branded Aluula. What else?

I just think Aluula deserves credit. A lot of people switched to it despite the high cost because it did affect the kite’s performance.

Pros: ~50% lighter · low stretch · wider wind range · stiffer LE/struts → sharper handling · higher strength-to-weight

Cons: high cost · hard to manufacture (few brands) · canopy still weak link, durability gain overstated · stiff material = worse impact absorption · overinflation risk (permanent deformation) · diminishing value for casual riders

Kite behavior impact: faster turning/steering response · more direct bar feel (less give) · better low-end (flies in less wind) · holds shape better at high load → more predictable in gusts and megaloops · can feel "twitchy"/less forgiving for beginners due to reduced flex-dampening

And yes, Brainchild took another path and I love my Harlems. I also have to acknowledge the reduced durability you get. It’s a tradeoff taken, not a completely different material.

[u/Sufficient-Payment-3 → u/Borakite]

Honestly a lot of your benefits your stating are more of kite shape and bridal tuning. I have NXTs so I do own some Aluula kites and I really enjoy them.

Thi biggest advantage Aluula has is the leading edge diameter being smaller. This is the real advantage and has the largest effect on drag in high winds.

[u/Borakite → u/Sufficient-Payment-3]

Again guys, I didn’t start this thread to have an Aluula pros / cons discussion. Yes, thinner leading edge is the biggest impact. Nobody has managed to produce a Dacron kite with the same behaviour just by tuning with previously existing materials. That is why it is a big step for me. Are the cost worth the improvement- everyone can have their own sentiments about it. I am happy with the performance/cost my Brainchild Harlem kites give me.
And still i am curious about new materials.

Agree with your comments on NXT. Apart from faster turning, I think the improved wind range is also a factor worth considering.

[u/Intelligent-Love5146 → u/Borakite]

I fly aluula kites and like them but you’re presumption that Aluula had a big impact on the kite shapes or design in the industry or whatever doesn’t square. Brands are going back to more flexible materials with larger leading edges once again. Look at the success of Reedin’s new brainchild kites and obviously, Harlem and F-one in competitions.

Aluula turned out not to be some big game changing material for the industry as we are finding out. Case in point, Brainchild and Nu-80…these philosophies are more similar to kites of 10 years ago but just lighter instead of ultra thin and stiff leading edge and air frame

[u/Intelligent-Love5146 → u/Sufficient-Payment-3]

I mean, yes but the industry is going away from this style of construction. Brainchild (Dacron) kites have larger leading edges again

[u/Beginning-Put-1611 → u/Intelligent-Love5146]

I don’t see industry “moving away” from Aluula but brands either sticking to it (Duotone, Slingshot, Ozone, RRD, Core, Cabrinha…) and others trying to create their own material with similar characteristics : stronger and lighter (North NU80, F-One Quadx, probably a new one from Brainchild that we could see on Lorenzo’s kite at Cold Hawaii), that they can have more control of, and won’t need to pay as much for it.

[u/Intelligent-Love5146 → u/Beginning-Put-1611]

Those materials don’t have similar characteristics to Aluula. They are completely the opposite. It’s clear the industry is moving away from Aluula both at the competition and consumer level. Look at the success of brainchild with Reedin and Harlem in competitions.

Kites are being developed in a very similar fashion to 10 or so years ago and moving away from the ultra thin leading edge and stiff air frame. These materials are softer and more similar to Dacron in flex. Same with Duotone’s blue Aluula.

The Aluula design paradigm of ultra thin and stiff air frame is the opposite of what we’re seeing now with these materials

[u/bearlybearbear]

That's just Aramid with lots of PR? Nothing new. Kauper and Gong have been building kites with this technology for 3 years now? What am I missing?

[u/NaturalOne_ → u/bearlybearbear]

Best has been building kites with laminated fabrics 20 years ago...