FEEDBACK: LOWKITE NEUTRA LIGHT V3

First downwind and first complete pack-down with the new Neutra Light V3.

Foiler: Mathieu, GONG team rider, on a Cruzader Diamond FSP Pro, Neutra Light V3 lowkite, HM mast, and Veloce V3 foil.

A 3 m and 4.5 m Neutra lowkite quiver, straight into the water!

"This weekend I had the chance to test the new Neutra 3 m and 4.5 m LowKites in ideal conditions for both sizes!

Saturday conditions for the 3 m: 18-35 knots

Xiggy 6'8
HM77
Fluid M
Tail M
Hyper Trail M

Sunday conditions for the 4.5 m: 11-18 knots

Xiggy 6'8
HM77
Veloce HDW L
Tail M
Hyper Trail M

First impression on the beach: light, incredibly light, flying in almost no wind, stable, well built, a very strong first impression!"

Packing the Neutra Light into the waist pack

"I should mention that I was using a V2 bar because I hadn't received my V3 bars yet, so I wasn't quite running the optimal setup.

The packing belt is simple, efficient, and lightweight. It rotates smoothly. I managed to pack and unpack every time without any difficulty. It takes a bit of practice, and you need to read the water well so you deal with it at the right moment! I even managed to fit the 4.5 m Neutra Light into the 3 m belt. It's tight and you need to take your time, but it works!"

The feeling on the water

"On the water, it's absolutely brilliant. The Light kite stays airborne in very little wind. It's extremely stable both at the low and high ends of its wind range. The depower is highly effective, there's no flapping, and it inspires confidence from the very first runs!

In terms of power and upwind ability, it's excellent as well. I was able to go upwind without any issues, using the harness to put weight into it and increase my angle!

It requires more precise handling than a Plus, but once you get the hang of it, it's even more efficient!

I tried several times to completely let go of the kite while hooked into the harness, and it was able to fly almost by itself without any assistance. I didn't push it too far, though! But one-handed control without any effort is incredibly enjoyable! 😁

I didn't experience any issues with line tangles either. Once again, you just need the right method and to stay organized. Most line-tangle problems come from user handling rather than the kite itself! 😊"

Downwind mode activated!

"I was able to do several-kilometer downwinder with the kite packed away. Having the kite on your back is pure freedom, nothing getting in the way... The belt features a large drainage opening underneath, and because the kite is packed while still flying and therefore almost dry, the weight is not bothersome at all!

I also loved the launch process, with the belt on my back allowing me not to worry about the kite at all. I could go straight into pumping, stop at the shoreline, grab my board, and just like that, the kite was already packed away and ready for the next session!

A small safety note: I tend to ride without a board leash, and when crashing with the kite packed on my back, I no longer have any source of pull to help me reach the board more quickly. On top of that, swimming with the belt on your back is really not practical, and you're much slower! I therefore recommend using a leash to prevent the board from disappearing at full speed!" - Thanks to Tytouan for sharing this feedback on the GONG Galaxy.