Liquid Force Kites NRG Light Breeze 14m 2013
Reviews / Kites
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At A Glance
The NRG is aimed at the rider looking for big jumps and a powerful freeride machine. The NRG Light Breeze is offered in the larger sizes, it differs from the NRG in that the arc has been flattened and the aspect ratio has been made higher to help it perform in lighter winds. The kite also ships with 7m flying line extensions to give even more power to the kite, allowing it to develop immense amounts of grunt in the lightest of airs. The Light Breeze version is a 4 strut kite with no centre strut, this opens up a larger section of the canopy to increase the power generation capabilities.
The Bar
The CPR control system from Liquid Force is very well thought out, and fans of below the bar depower systems will take to it quickly. It features integrated bar end floats for a sleek look. A front line spinner to stop your lines getting twisted and an adjustable stopper ball on the depower line. The CPR release system works really well and is very simple to re-attach. The unit has been moulded and designed to work in harmony with the trim system and you can operate the release from any side of the chicken loop.
On The Water
The NRG Light Breeze is a powerhouse of a kite, make no mistake, in the sky it develops impressive pull as you fly it around the window. It’s a little higher in aspect ratio (the width of the chord of the kite) than some of the other kites on test, and this makes it more of a kite that likes to be flown. It’s definitely not a kite for a novice, but the experienced rider with good flying skills will be able to get a lot out of it. The high aspect nature does lend itself well to the performance aspect however and the kite fires on all four cylinders when you want it to. Upwind and jumping is fantastic on the NRG, the kite really pushes forward in the window to create upwind drive and the nimble nature of the beast allows you to send it back in the window aggressively to generate lots of lift. The bar pressure on the kite is medium, not too heavy and not too soft. Riders will enjoy the responsiveness too. In lighter airs the kite really comes alive with the extra line extensions, this puts the kite much higher in the sky and allows it to generate more power as you move it across the window. It increases the low end range of the kite considerably to around 10 knots for the average rider. The top end is also very good, high aspect kites always have a decent top end wind range as they can physically fly further forward in the window than lower aspect machines.
Overall
Liquid Force have been brining some fantastic products to the market in recent years and the NRG Light Breeze is no exception. This isn’t just a light wind tractor though, it packs in plenty of performance both upwind and in the air and should be one to consider if you’re a competent rider.
Videos
This review was in Issue 38 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit Liquid Force KitesRelated
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!
