The true partner to the surfboard rider, the F-One Bandit S4 follows your every move in all control. You can manage the power at any time. The kite never surges in power if you throw the kite in the window, it simply allows you to kite smoothly in the right position and ride by feel. It provides a more subtle ride as well as a constant connection with your board. You are not being pulled away, nor are your trajectories being disturbed. Highly responsive, intuitive, and capable of super drift, the profile of this kite is incredibly smooth and brings about sharper performances and more stability and efficiency than ever before.
For this version, the F-One team worked intensively on making the entire profile amazingly sleek and implemented original staggered seams on the trailing edge. The seam’s tension line is thus broken, which means the entire profile of the canopy is leveled when the kite is fully powered. F-One kept the fabric’s orientation towards tension as well.
On the back of the profile, they have reduced the overtensions thanks to the staggered seams. The two vertical Technoforce 52 panels have been changed to one, and on sizes 8m² and smaller F-One have developed a new Techoforce 66 panel. It is stronger and more resistant on elongation to offer a better control of the profile on smaller sizes for higher winds.
On sizes of 9m² and above, F-one have kept the Technoforce 52 to guarantee lightness, as well as the two layers of Technoforce 52 canopy with staggered seams on the trailing edge.
This all leads to more efficiency. Overall, this perfectly even canopy profile brings a greater sense of stability without feeling disturbances or the bar moving and leads to incredible performances in the high end.
The struts’ reinforcements are now super sleek as well thanks to the Kevlar strip on the top. This improves the kite’s steering and maneuverability, reduces the aerodynamic disturbances, and decreases the overall weight of the kite once wet.
4 points connections bridle and two pulleys also guarantees manoeuverability and control in all conditions. The new CNC-shaped, anodized aluminum low friction “pulleys” are super lightweight and increase the kite’s reactivity. They also raise the bridle’s resistance to abrasion and its overall durability.
This kite brings an amazing handling and a super crisp steering response that delivers immediate reaction from inputs on the bar. It’s easy to keep the Bandit S4 ahead of every move and ready for the next input. Power delivery is clean, and although quick, very intuitive in feel to adapt to.
Thanks to its legendary Delta C-Shape, the only still-patented kite design, this kite offers incomparable bar feeling, the best relaunching ability and exceptional stability.
The bar pressure on the Bandit-S4 is very light; you never really feel the kite pulling or any fatigue on the arms. With just small input from your fingertips, you can engage the incredibly responsive steering. The leading edge is thinner, allowing the kite to twist, and the wingtip shape further enhances the response. This is perfect for onshore riding conditions where you need to steer the kite around the wave as you ride. The turn is pivotal, meaning you can quickly redirect the kite for a powerful bottom turn, allowing you to follow your surfing lines with precision.
Power is nothing without control; when you push the bar out on the Bandit-S4 you can completely dump everything in the kite. This instantly releases any pull from the kite, allowing you to truly surf the wave from top to bottom. It’s impressive how it changes the feeling of your board; suddenly, you will find yourself totally free on the wave. From sharp snaps in the pocket, to cranking a bottom turn at Mach 10, the kite will deliver the exact amount of power and response you need the instant you demand it.
For strapless riding, the Bandit-S4 is designed to jump high, which will help you score points with the judges or the crowds on the beach. The loop it delivers has a small radius in the turn and won’t pull you sideways too much, so you can stay in control of your board. The instant depower also allows you to stay connected when throwing front and back rolls too. All this control at your fingertips leaves you to work on your next big trick rather than thinking about the kite.
These qualities make the Bandit-S4 is also a phenomenal kite for foiling, the fast turning nature means you can generate lots of power early on to allow you to ride a smaller kite and allow easy carving. Its lightness and stability are essential features for foiling, and it’s great for gentle breezes, with a big wing and small kite you can have endless hours of fun.
If you want to boost some jumps on a twin tip, the S can do that too, it’s a very easy kite to jump around on and is packed with performance. It’s easy and forgiving when learning strapless airs, and for the freerider on a twin tip, this is true too. Whatever board you are riding you’ll find the Bandit-S intuitive to get airborne.
F-One Bandit-S4 Main Features:
- Effortless manoeuverability - steer the kite exactly where you want it
- Excellent drift - Focus on your surfing, not on the kite
- Power on demand: Switch it off and re-engage it with fingertip control
- Fantastic stability: Enjoy a smooth ride whatever the conditions
- Predictable: The Bandit-S responds immediately to every rider input
- Top performances in all wave and foil disciplines.
- Huge wind range
- Controlled lateral pull for improved comfort
- Original auto relaunch
- New Reactor Valves for faster inflation.
- New Linx Bar with one line flag out safety system
- New Materials and colour coding for reinforcements
- Proven durability
- Delta C-shape patent
**Prices shown for kite only - includes bag and repair kit**
