EILG Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I ve heard a lot of rumours about them changing managment or that there closing there doors soon. Also there haven't been any new products out of there in a while and they don't have many of there big name riders anymore. Does anyone know whats happening to the company? Would be a shame to see them go as they've produced some fantastic prices of kit. Despite being a few years old i think that the 2011 Hadlow pro was one of the best unhooked kites produced. Sucked at every thing else but still an insane pice of kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitesurfandy Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Flexifoil has been going down hill for a while ! dodgy blue valves on bladders and strut valves that crack, they know the issue as they gave me a free replacement LE-bladder once , but on the up side ! cheap kites ! I use ION 5 in quiver a 7m and 8.5m on 5th line set up .... a superb kite apart from the valve issue ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtz Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Seems almost like they are more focusing on the land stuff for the moment? The Shiva 3D and Skybar is all they've got going for the water side. The new Stings have aluminum handles now. The new Rage kites just came out and include the AAA adjuster. Also I noticed the ProLink handles are back in stock. I think the new Blurrs are next to be released. Browse through 13 pages here for misc spare parts and £5 shirts. Flexifoil might just need some influx of capital: Amazon.co.uk At a Glance: Flexifoil International Ltd The Sting is the best buggy kite for the most gusty of conditions. Use the 1.7m for nothing less than 30mph wind(it struggles to get upwind in less than 30). The 2.4m in the 20mph range, and the 3.3m for when the wind is awful and the 2.4m just isn't enough. I've buggied using Stings in unbelievably terrible winds. No other kite would do. Something about the shape keeps the kite inflated when other kites would collapse. Also the bridle really does absorb gusts. Hugely underrated kite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitesurfandy Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 RTZ i think your right , they know people dont like or buy flexifoil kitesurfing kites if you were them what would you do , stick to what sells , land kites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blast Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 It's such a shame that Flexi is not a bigger player in the kitesurf business. It was big many years ago with a large super strong team with many big names (obviously Hadlow but many others too) It's also a shame being a British kite company but there is no longer the loyalty that there once was with regards buying British or local for that matter. I don't think it helped offering the petrol colour (GREY) in all there kites and year after year too. I never did understand that, especially when most other brands were heading down the 80's garish mix up of colours? I think maybe Flexi will stick with one single "do-all 3 strut kite" for the time being. Not sure whats happening with Mutiny too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLiiCK Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 RTZ i think your right , they know people dont like or buy flexifoil kitesurfing kites if you were them what would you do , stick to what sells , land kites If they do this lets hope it keeps them going as a company it would be a real shame if they went under as they have been a big player in the British kite sports industry for a long time, I still have a 6m ion 2 as a high wind kite still a good kite and a few land based kites from early on when I got into the sport I hope they get themselves sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLiiCK Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 RTZ i think your right , they know people dont like or buy flexifoil kitesurfing kites if you were them what would you do , stick to what sells , land kites If they do this lets hope it keeps them going as a company it would be a real shame if they went under as they have been a big player in the British kite sports industry for a long time, I still have a 6m ion 2 as a high wind kite still a good kite and a few land based kites from early on when I got into the sport I hope they get themselves sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slide Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) well blade 6 was being tested at my local a few months ago but unfortunately I couldn't get there for a fly /test and I didn't hear any more ,but blade 6 would be great if it had the grunt and glide of the 3 but also had the ease of use of the 4 , now that is a big ask . I agree about their lei's being very good especially the ion5 - that is really grunty with lots of depower , and very easy to fly , and I have an ion5 8.5 for sale that I barely flew £175, and I have a stormchaser too, but that's not for sale as its a brilliant storm kite but I hope they don't stop trading, but I have lots of flexifoil kites , and flysurfers , and don't feel the need for any other makes, and I have never heard of the valve issue-brancaster has always been where flexifoil test their and develop kites and I saw lewis doing some amazing tricks with ion 5's while he was still riding for flexifoil Edited October 15, 2015 by slide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragnfly Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Hmmm, Flexi have had some unlucky breaks. I wonder if having Hadlow on their team actually made it worse for them. He must have been a very expensive commodity, and they must have spent fortunes developing a kite which was really only demanded by 1% of the kitesurfing community. They have also had some unlucky breaks in manufacturing, like Andys dodgy valves, and delaminating boards - but once identified, they have immediately replaced free of charge, with new and improved models. Like Blast mentions above - I'd like to see them produce a single LEI which is a great all rounder, like FX, Bandit, Catalyst etc - and make it really good. I'd certainly consider buying a flexi LEI if it got great reviews - the customer service we have all had from them it seems, has been faultless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitesurfandy Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 flexifoil have only themselves to blame, as they never changed crap parts blue deflate/inflates that go hard and crack and fail no fault to the user ... bridle ropes that perish were the pulley runs the total lack of safety system flags out on two front lines the chicken loop and center line parts last five minutes yes a bit harsh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtreme playboy Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Seems almost like they are more focusing on the land stuff for the moment? The Shiva 3D and Skybar is all they've got going for the water side. The new Stings have aluminum handles now. The new Rage kites just came out and include the AAA adjuster. Also I noticed the ProLink handles are back in stock. I think the new Blurrs are next to be released. Browse through 13 pages here for misc spare parts and £5 shirts. Flexifoil might just need some influx of capital: Amazon.co.uk At a Glance: Flexifoil International Ltd The Sting is the best buggy kite for the most gusty of conditions. Use the 1.7m for nothing less than 30mph wind(it struggles to get upwind in less than 30). The 2.4m in the 20mph range, and the 3.3m for when the wind is awful and the 2.4m just isn't enough. I've buggied using Stings in unbelievably terrible winds. No other kite would do. Something about the shape keeps the kite inflated when other kites would collapse. Also the bridle really does absorb gusts. Hugely underrated kite. I had my 1.2 sting out in a steady 60 mph wind on top of a Dorset cliff top , where it took all my strength with two hands to open the car door , I jumped in the buggy the smallest of inputs had the kite dancing around the sky faster than my brain could compute ,total overload in the end it was ripped from hands with one handle narrowly missing a group of walkers! Amazing the standard lines took such forces, one of the scariest days I ve ever had kiting on what essentially is a kids kite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy1599968740 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 [quote=Blast;2668433 Not sure whats happening with Mutiny too? Yep agree its a shame there's no appetite to support British.. There is in many other action sports - surfing and skating especially. A mate on here mentioned Mutiny are selling well somewhere overseas but all the hype surrounding them was great when they came out and all well designed but just fell by the wayside a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blast Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 It's just so hard to make a profit/living in the kite industry, the guys behind Mutiny are both super talented guys. Quite simply they can go work in a different industry and straight away reap the rewards of their design/engineering back grounds. Unfortunately we are all now focused on the cheapest price we can get any given product especially in the UK and less so on supporting UK manufacturers....that just doesn't really matter any more. Hopefully both Mutiny and Flexi will evolve and come out with more excellent kit soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitesurfandy Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 well kites were affordable expensive ! 600 quid now 1000 £ pound plus a kite is silly money , i cant believe for one minute is costs that much to a make a kite ! for the end price to be so high Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EILG Posted October 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 did anyone ride the hadlow ID what was that like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyGoat Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 The flexifoil force is a decent kite and cheap brand new (£370 for a 7m and £460 for a 9m), my mate owns a quiver and I rode them. Really good un-hooked, stable and boost big. The downsode of the foce is it's a heavy kite with loads of reinforcement and has poor low end, I would not buy bigger than the 11m. Funny no one ever buys the force, or talks about them. Kitesurf MagazineFlexifoil Force 11m 2012 - Kitesurf Magazine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitesurfandy Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 the force is mainly a black reinforced ion 5 in Black, and the ion5 is a heavy kite, built to last ,a kite in high winds needs to withstand gusts, and the weight wont a affect flying , as in lower winds , i had a ion5 12m it was err shite , been told plenty of times should have gone with the 10.5m . now bougth a cheap ion5 8,5m in the right wind a suberb piece of kite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slide Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 anyone else want a flexifoil ion5 8.5 metre K/O with only 4 hours flying time genuine , ask liam or anyone that knows the landboard brannie crew , and I never ever did get in to the water , but I can still landboard , but I now need a lift , bugger -get your medium/high wind kite here - I didn't fly it long , but I did really like it , it was punchy and direct and I got a few rotations that felt sharpe and they pulled you round real smart -this kite felt amazing in a good bit of wind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balugh Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 did anyone ride the hadlow ID what was that like? I preferred it to the Hadlow. Turned fast and was easier to use than the Hadlow c kite...very similar to Naish and Slingshot comparisons. 'Roughly' speaking.... Fuel / RPM = Hadlow / ID = Torch / Park. Difficult to identify any unique selling point of a ID over the RPM or Park...both the latter had / have better build quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blast Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Surely that should be hadlow = fuel / torch Id = park /rpm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broraboyan Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 I still love my flexifoil neutrons, I don't think I'd sell them now but I think flexifoil haven't evolved quick enough for this sport, I'm not saying copy what other people are doing but try and go down that same direction of setting goals ie, make kites lighter, stronger, easier to fly etc etc....same for the boards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 If smaller companies can make a go of it, why not Flexi? Guys like Dimitri get out there and do it. I don't know what his R&D budget is but surely it doesnt have to be a nuts figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtz Posted October 25, 2015 Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) Dimitri's kite designer(Momi) is based out of Israel: Maybe also does the Blade kites and who knows what else? [video=youtube;G0LDb-FgwvQ] Lot of Blade/Epic stuff posted: https://www.facebook.com/momi.kapoa Edited October 25, 2015 by rtz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewjohn Posted October 25, 2015 Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 Well I'm currently flying 13m Shiva, 9m proton, and riding an anarchist board. I have no brand loyalty to flexi, bought the Shiva cos it was a cheap new kite in the style I wanted. And apart from being a little on the slow side it's been ideal for me. Easy to fly, easy to relaunch, well built. Bought the Proton cos I liked the Shiva, and again easy to fly and relaunch. The anarchist is a nice board too compared to my learner board which is now my light wind board. Nice flex, so quite forgiving and I've had no problems with de lamination like the Hadlow boards have. So overall I'm very impressed with their products, but think they could do more to push the brand and maybe have a couple kites for each discipline instead of just the one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blast Posted October 25, 2015 Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 Epic are working with a new designer They don't have a huge budget but tbh Dimitri pretty much does all the testing/proto types anyway....with the benefit of living in one of the best kitesurf locations on the planet with a heap of both beginner/intermediate to pro riders to test them. He's a also pretty well rounded kiter so is able to get the best for most disciplines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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