Wainman Hawaii Punch 10.5m 2013
Reviews / Kites
22,708
At A Glance
The guys at Wainman Hawaii have been busy of late; the line up now includes a 7.5m Mr Green and a 10.5m Punch, shortening the gap between the 6, 9 and 12m kites already in the range. If you read the magazine you’ll know we are a really fan of the 9m Smoke kite, which flies beautifully and feels natural in your hands. The Punch follows the traditional Low Aspect design that has become synonymous with the Wainman Hawaii brand. It utilises three struts, which are not one pump, to give the canopy it’s shape. The leading edge is large in diameter and the profile of the canopy is quite deep. The bridle is beautiful in its simplicity and the Punch, like all Wainman kites can be flown without the bridle should you wish for a more traditional set up.
The Bar
The Carrot Bar is a fantastic piece of kit, so simple, very effective and it feels great in the hands. The depower line is encased in plastic to prevent wear; the floats are integrated into the winders. The chicken loop is easy to grab and release and very simple to put back together on the water. Safety is taken care of with a single front line safety system. For the depower there is a an above the bar clam cleat set up that works very well and is easy to reach.
In The Air
If you are a fan of the brand you will be familiar with the way these kites fly, and with the Punch you won’t be disappointed. The low-end power is excellent, the kite sitting a little further back in the window and offering plenty of juice when you need it. Depower throw is very short allowing you to handle and control gusts at your fingertips. The direct turning that we have become accustomed to with the Smoke is very apparent too, the Punch is a quick kite, lending itself well to light wind wave riding, in fact it almost makes the Boss, the 12m redundant if you own a surfboard as you can get going in the lightest of airs with this kite, yet still enjoy a very responsive machine. Best suited to the intermediate to advanced rider looking for a high performance machine that can get them going in 12 to 15 knots. If you ride a surfboard then this coupled with the 7.5m would make for a great two-kite quiver.
Overall
Very well built, excellent reinforcement and construction delivering high performance and great response to the rider. Good jumps and hangtime great in the waves.
Videos
This review was in Issue 35 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit Wainman HawaiiRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
