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UPWIND
TURNING RADIUS
DRIFT
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Technical Specifications
Everywhere, anytime, in every condition
The new BANDIT puts the joy of riding at your fingertips. This BANDIT 18 delivers the same unmistakable sensations and versatility that have made it legendary, only now optimized and fine-tuned to put performance within every rider’s reach.
Our ambition was simple: to make every move easier and more natural for all riders in all conditions. By refining power management and depower capacity, we slightly reduced the riding speed to deliver more control and comfort.
Based on the design and success of our last BANDIT, this new edition inherits all its key strengths: Staggered Seams for a perfectly smooth profile and outstanding stability in the air, optimized fabric distribution for the ideal balance between performance and comfort, and its trustworthy Delta C-Shape. It also incorporates a new 160 g Dacron on the leading edge, which is stronger and more durable, to support its performance and ensure increased longevity.
As a result, this new BANDIT delivers consistent, controlled speed, direct and intuitive handling, and the most comfortable ride yet, even when conditions get demanding.
On the water, everything feels easier: choppy waters are smoother to navigate, edging becomes more natural, and jumps are more accessible. Power control in the high end is outstanding, allowing for longer sessions without feeling fatigued. The planing start is instantaneous, bar feel is precise without being tiring, and maneuverability is excellent, whether riding a twintip, surfing strapless, or trying your first kite loops.
From your first sessions to your most ambitious maneuvers, the BANDIT instantly gives you confidence and supports you as you progress.
SAIL ENGINEERING
Sail engineering is the science of controlling our design and it's behaviour while flying. These features have been created with one goal in mind: Mastering the kite's loads to maintain the desired shape for the longest time.
1 – WARP TENSION LINE
Woven fabrics feature a longitudinal 0° yarn (Warp) and a transversal 90° yarn (Weft). Therefore, a fabric has great elongation resistance and strength capacities if you apply tension at 0° or 90° along the yarns. But it will deform and stretch when tension is applied at, let’s say, 45°.
2 – LOAD CONTROL PANELING
When engineering the load control paneling, we make sure that fabrics panels are warp/weft oriented, meaning that the load path runs through the yarns. Fabric and seams are then in the best position to receive tensions and maintain the original kite shape.
3 – STAGGERED SEAMS
Most of the kite’s back lines tension is distributed through the trailing-edge panels and seams. As seams are significantly stiffer than the fabric they join, they tend to strain under loads and therefore deform the profile. The staggered seams break that line of tension by balancing the stiffness between seams and cloth, which helps distribute the load over a wider area and maintain the original shape even under high loads.
4 – FABRIC WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Our sails feature four different cloth weights, from 52 up to 155gr/m². Sail engineering allows us to control our shape and drive load tensions without using heavy fabrics or bulky designs, therefore we can reduce fabric’s weight and use. It results in a lighter, optimized kite.
DELTA C-SHAPE
DELTA C-SHAPE technology design offers unmatched stability and steering response when fully de-powered, with the possibility of connecting the front lines higher on the leading edge of the kite.
DELTA C-SHAPE is a patented design used by F-ONE on all kites for the past 15 years.
This shape was the result of a design research towards maximum optimization of the aerodynamic performances of the kite and of its depower. It gives the possibility to fit more canopy area in the middle sections to create more projected area while the C Shape makes sure the kite remains responsive and fluid.
AUTO RELAUNCH
F-ONE’s auto relaunch is quick and easy and releases the kite from the water with the perfect amount of traction.
Once the kite is sitting with the leading edge flat on the water, its C-Shape associated with the Delta Pivot allows the kite to automatically roll over onto one wing tip.
The kite will then glide towards the edge of the window, ready for quick and easy water relaunch.
3 struts
Three struts offer an excellent balance between stability and responsiveness, making this construction highly versatile. The central strut provides stability, while the two outer struts support the canopy for precise steering.
Three-strut designs make the kite nimble and relatively light, with a great wind range, good low-end performance, fast turning abilities, and smooth, forgiving loops.
REACTOR VALVE
The reactor inflation valve offers a high flow connection that twist locks the pump hose to the kite for an easy and super-fast inflation and deflation at the push of a button.
It provides a high air flow rate between the struts and leading edge.
| SIZE (M2) | WEIGHT IN KG (KITE ONLY) |
WIND RANGE (KNTS) | BAR SIZE (CM) |
| 3,5 | 1,65 | 40+ | 45 |
| 4 | 1,70 | 30+ | 45 |
| 5 | 1,89 | 25+ | 45 |
| 6 | 2,04 | 23+ | 45 |
| 7 | 2,23 | 20+ | 45 |
| 8 | 2,40 | 16 > 25 | 45 |
| 9 | 2,60 | 14 > 22 | 45 |
| 10 | 2,82 | 12 > 22 | 45 |
| 11 | 3,00 | 10 > 20 | 52 |
| 12 | 3,20 | 09 > 20 | 52 |
