Nobile Kiteboarding T5 Koinobori 10m 2011
Reviews / Kites
39,091
At A Glance
We had to consult the Nobile website to work out what the strange graphic was on the kite, even now we’re not sure how you pronounce it! Koinobori is a new addition to the traditional T5 name and it refers to the team of aerodynamic engineers that they teamed up with to come up with the all new T5 kite. This year it has undergone some major surgery and the result is a new outline, arc and profile that combine to make the kite even better than it has been in previous years. They’ve even tweaked things like the thickness of the bridles and the flying lines to enable the kite to fly faster! As usual the construction is top notch, it is interesting to see that while some smaller brands are obviously using the same factory, Nobile is remaining ahead of the pack and the attention to detail and quality delivered in the manufacture of this kite is up there with the major brands. Plenty of stitching, segments and reinforcements adorn the canopy and this should ensure your kite lasts a good few seasons. The bar supplied is the new KISS bar which stands for Kite Intelligent Safety System, the chicken loop is really polished and one of the simplest to reconnect that we have come across. It releases easily under load and features a pull pull webbing trim system above the bar and a movable stopper ball. Overall the 4-line set up is really simple and feels good in the hands.
In the Air
Wow, we’ve always enjoyed the T5, but this year things have really moved up a gear. The kite is so direct and responsive around the window it is a joy to fly. Every little input from the bar is quickly relayed back to the kite and the response time is very impressive. Bar pressure is nice and light yet it still gives you decent feedback as to where the kite is in the window. The kite flies quite far round the window and this helps it to really pull the rider upwind. When it is powered up the speed and precision that it moves at lends itself really well to huge hangtime and air, the float in the jumps is really impressive too. This direct and responsive handling means you can ride in the waves with lots of confidence too. It is forgiving and easy to fly and plenty of riders out there will get a lot from it. Lastly we think it look pretty striking too, that’s a small thing but in the past we have accused Nobile of being a little “plain” with their graphics on kites. So credit where credit is due, this really stands out from the crowd.
For
Fast, direct, responsive and forgiving. It delivers blistering performance, great pop and awesome hangtime. The construction is well thought out and the bar is a lovely finishing touch.
Against
No real complaints from us on this one, the one pump tubes are quite thin and can easily get “pinched” when deflating, but this is the same on lots of kites. Perhaps the biggest issue will be learning to say Koinobori a lot and explain it to your mates!
Overall
Another excellent kite in the T5 range, the guys at Koinobori obviously know their stuff, as the progression from last years kite is quite startling. A truly great freeride machine that will no doubt put a smile on plenty of riders’ faces.
This review was in Issue 27 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit Nobile KiteboardingRelated
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!
