U-Turn Helium 5M

This is a short review of U-Turn's 'beginner' kite. I bought this primarily because the 9.5m Montana was a scary beast in gusty winds, and because I simply missed having a 5m in my quiver. Since buying it, it no doubt is my most used kite, certainly for inland flying.

The construction of the kite canopy is very simple, double stitched and few cell stiffeners and internal straps to reduce material stretch so the kite retains its shape over the years. The material feels light, and is u-turn's basic ripstop same as standard Oxigens with useful dirt-outs (velcro tabs near the wingtips to shake out sand etc), and sewn bridles to finish it off. In addition rings are in place to hold the brake lines near the power lines, I assume to stop drag from the D bridle. I don't think you need a higher quality for the audience this kite is aimed towards. It's up there with Ozone samurai, missing only the reinforced trailing edge, for all you kite draggers!

In flight it's as you would expect for a low aspect kite, slow, grunty and very stable. All this adds up to is a very easy going kite, no surprises. What did surprise me was the low wind performance and the upwind capability for such a fat kite. It became my low wind kite over the summer, where the 9.5m Montana would be a struggle, I could fly this and generate enough power to get moving. Using the brakes a lot to turn, it can be quite fast on the turn, better than the Samurai's (Mk1) I have flown. In 12mph and above this kite pulls nicely and I can keep returning to my starting position after a long downwind run, so not bad for you cruisers out there.

Who would this kite be nice for? If you are new to kiting, or just about to use a kite for traction with a board/buggy, this would make life a lot easier. The only negative for a complete newbie is that the kite is supplied kite only in a stuff sack with no safety system. This can all be bought along with the kite, but does make the buying and setting up experience a little harder for those with little knowledge, but fortunately you are reading this at Racekites, the fountain of all kiting knowledge!

If you are looking to get some air (although it can lift when the wind is quite strong, and nice a floaty on the way down), or an exciting static kite, or go faster than anyone else out there, obviously look elsewhere.

For me this kite has fulfilled a hole, an easy kite I can rely when I just can't get on with racier kites. Its stability makes it great inland, and I often fly it when in gusty between 10-20mph.

Price wise I think this is great value, £181 kite only for a high quality kite + £50-£65 for lines and handles, cheaper than a 6m Ozone Fury, and a lot cheaper than an Ozone Samurai which I would equate it to (although I love the graphics of the Sammi's).

These can be retro fitted with a depower system (UDS) which I shall try sometime. I'll report the results here when I do.

By : smegg