F.one Bandit 4 Review
I ordered a Bandit 4 size 12m from internet and it has finally arrived!
When I took out the kite from the bag I first thought that I got the wrong kite, it looked so small and felt so light, but when I pumped it up it got bigger, 12 squaremeter to be precise =)
Taking a closer look at the kite I see that the construction is great and the kite is overall very well made. The reinforcements are strong and there are two connectors on the backlines. Inflating the kite goes very light and the one pump system works perfect!
the new inflation system has a stopper ball, so you don’t have to worry about getting your thumb into the inflation hole as quick as possible when you release the pump.
There are no zips over the inflation connectors, just velcro and two struts are removed, so lots of weight are gone. Comparing Bandit 4 with Bandit 3 is like comparing a Ferrari with Fiat.
The wind is light the day when I have the premiere with this kite, only 12 knots, perhaps 14 knots in the gusts. No one is one the beach so I have to self launch by letting the kite drift into the power zone, then I pull the back line and the kite is airborn, peace of cake! So it´s time for the first dive and I´m afraid that I´ll sink to the bottom, my board is quite small on top of the light wind, but to my surprise I’m starting to cruise, faster and faster! The kite has a very good low end and generates a constant pull. The kite has it sweet spot when it´s parked at 11:15, compare that to Bandit 3 which has its optimal position in 11:00. The kite is turning fast and the bar pressure is low. I´m riding with the 55 cm bar, but still better than I expected. You have a very direct feel when you turn and if you´re turning to fast in the transitions the kite even generates some lift.
The wind was picking a little so I was able to jump and it’s now when you really feel the difference between Bandit 3 and Bandit 4. The lift is the same, but the hang time is way better!! Due to the kites responsiveness it´s easy to get the kite out of position when you’re jumping, but the long hang time gives you plenty of time to correct mistakes in the air.
A couple of sessions later. I made up my mind, this 12 meter kite will be my new light wind kite, it simply pulls harder than my 13m Bandit 3, perhaps will even a 11m make the trick!
F.One Bandit 3 – new delta kite 2010
A russian guy called Mikhail Soloveikin has this to say about Bandit 3.
Hello, I want to introduce you a new kite: F.One Bandit!
Appearance of the kite is very similar to the Bandit Dos. The main changes are in the kite settings. LE support is standard for the Delta kites. All 4 lines have equal length, so you can use any bar that you wish.
The new bandit bar has no remarkable changes, but the current bar might be upgraded in the future. The bandit 3 has a one pump system, which lets you inflate the kite quicker. Kite power depends on your speed, the Bandit will require you to ride faster to achieve better performance. I have enjoyed how the kite gives out power in a turn. When the Bandit Dos has started to turn its power came a little bit faster. Bandit 3’s power is more natural, and the 
kite passes through gusts better. When the power increases it won’t be unexpected to you and it will let you to control the kite better without looking on it. I have also liked the new Bandit’s depower configuration. I has a wider wind range than Bandit Dos. It won’t be a problem to depower the Bandit 3 in overpower conditions, even for a beginner rider.
I especially enjoyed how the kite performs when you are riding unhooked. Finally f-one has succeeded to adjust the kite for unhokked jumps. Pressure on your hands is insignificant and lets you jump on a high speed. After poping there is less pressure on your bar which makes handle pass and landing easier.
Bandit 3 is a good kite for big airs. Bandit’s hang time was significantly improved. Improved kite control will let you focus on your jumps. It’s also much easier to relaunch the new Bandit after it has fallen. It might be more difficult than on a classic bow kite, but it shouldn’t be a problem for riders who have experience with relaunching.
This kite is also good for waveriding. At last waveriding is possible not only hooked but also unhooked. The power of this kite is practically not changing when unhooked. Bandit 3 is a very stable kite if your speed is high enough. This kite is for advanced riders, it will let you jump unhooked on high speed and make handle passes easier than ever before. It perfectly fits aggressive waveriding, hooked or unhooked.
Review of Bandit 3 – 2010 edition
I thought it was time to try a different kite after 2 years with Cabrinha and Royal Era. I´ve been very happy with my Cabrinha and Royal kites, but I’ve always been a bit unsatisfied with the bars. The bar to the Royal Era has a huge safety bar cuff, (you know the molded the plastic piece above the chicken loop) which always make me a bit nervous since I might hurt myself if I crash and get the thing in my head, or even worse, ruin the glass on my water proof breitling watch. The lines are also very thick and I often end up swearing when the lines are all tangled. The Cabrinha bar is great, until it start to fall apart… The de-power strap tends to get worn out quite easily and when it brakes, then you have no stop and if you lose the grip of the bar, then you can hardly reach the bar when it’s hanging 1 meter above your head.
So, it was definitely time for a new kite with a good bar! My choice fell on F-ones Bandit III kite and it sure does have some qualities!
- The pull is very constant from the bandit 3 kite. Some kites lose their pull at 12 o’clock, but bandit 3 does not, which is an advantage when you jump. You get a smooth lift up in the sky and the ride through the air is under control.
- The turning speed. My bandit 3 kite is a 7m so even though it should be a fast kite, the turning speed is insane!
- Wind range. The low end on the bandit 3 is superb. I can easily go upwind in 9 m/s and also be able to ride kite in extreme wind conditions, 20 m/s is no problem as long as you depower as much as possible.
There are however a few less good things with the bandit 3.
- The lines are super thin and feel a bit crappy. I´m just waiting for them to snap, but I’ve been lucky so far. Perhaps did F-one use spider web or some other mega strong material, but I doubt that.
- Unhook issues. It’s hard to unhook when I’m riding with full power, the tension in the chicken loop is to strong, so I´m forced to de-power before I go unhooked. Another “bad” thing is that the kite is still very responsible when I’m unhooked. So the tiniest pull on the bar make the kite fly back to 12, or worse, in the water =P.
My overall impression about the Bandit 3 is however mostly positive. The benefits with the bandit 3 definitely override the few bad things. I can really recommend this kite to both beginners and professionals. My next kite will probably be a bandit 4, I just need to work my ass off for a while so I can afford it, but I´m pretty sure that it’s worth the effort =)
Bandit 3 Kites
What’s is so damn special with bandit 3 kites or f-one kites in general? If we ignore the fact that the design is totally awesome, then what makes bandit 3 kites better than for example Cabrinha kites, Royal kites, Naish kites, Liquid Force kites or any other kite? Many pros are kiting with bandit kites for some reason… let’s try to find out why.
F-ones bandit 3 kite was released in 2010 and the manufactures has really done some improvements if we compare the kite with the precedessor, Bandit (II) Dos.
Bandit 3 has not only a cooler design, but also a more c-shaped profile, also known as the Delta C-shape. You can call Delta C for a refinement of a hybrid-kite (a kite that combines the best parts from c-kites and SLE-kites). F-one put lots of effort in aerodynamic researches when they invented the patented Delta C-Shape.
Another advantage with the Delta C-shape is the “auto” relaunch function. The wing-shaped arc will make the kite to rest on just one point once the kite is in the water with the leading edge pointing downwards.
This construction of the arc will force the kite to roll over on one side and th ekite will rush to edge of the wind window once it gets into vertical position.
Another good thing with the new bandit version is the one-pump system which sort of is standard on kites nowadays.
The kite is connected to the bar with 24 meter long lines and the bar is of course improved. The bar delivers a lot more depower than the previous version and when you pull the bar the power comes immediately, but still smooth. The pressure on the bar is slightly above medium.
Above all, significant for the bandit 3 kite is its great stability in the air. Even during rough wind conditions the kite remains rock solid in the air, you can really tell the difference here if you compare the bandit 3 with other kites.
We end this article with a little trailer about Bandit 3 from F-one.