In the air the X Lite feels perky and nimble, but the turning speed is predictable and not twitchy. The result is a well-built 9m kite weighing in at 2.14 kg on our scales, which is very comparable to other mono struts on the market. The bridle system is also slimmed down a touch to minimize drag and weight. This is a special lightweight version of the ExoTex fabric used in their standard models, but still seems to remain extremely stiff. Where the kite has been on an obvious diet is evident in the Dacron used for the leading edge and struts. The usual CoreTex three core rip stop canopy is in place and implemented almost everywhere but the inflatable sections of the kite. Weight reduction has been a clear design focus with the X Lite. Presented in the traditional CORE kite colors, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this kite as a Nexus or Section from their product range, and the profile and span shape certainly look like a mixture between the two, however it is clearly missing a couple of struts. Foil wings are getting larger, kites are getting smaller, and the light kite revolution is well and truly upon us.
It is for those who have no intention of racing and don’t want the hassle of a foil kite, but want a great deal of the benefits of a lightweight kite – early flying, light handling and stability when drifting are the order of the day. It’s a kite dedicated to freeride hydrofoil use, which let’s face it, is most of the feed in for the kite foil market. With the popularity of hydrofoiling literally soaring, the mono-strut concept continues to spread through the kite industry like wildfire, and the X Lite from Fehrman Island’s most famous kite brand is a solid debut.