The F-One Bandit XVI (2023) is now even more stable in the air, no matter what the wind is doing. From freeride to kite foiling, big Air or strapless, this kite can do it all and do it amazingly well. Its fantastic control and support allow you to ride at your highest level at any time, as it always translates gusts into forward pull.
For it's 16th edition, the team have worked intensively on making the entire profile amazingly sleek and implemented original staggered seams on both the leading and 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 have kept the fabric’s orientation towards tension as well.
On the back of the profile, F-One have reduced the overtensions thanks to the staggered seams. The two vertical panels have been changed to one, and on sizes 9m² and smaller a new Technoforce 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 10m² and above, Technoforce 52 has been kept 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.
F-One's original 5 points connections bridle and two pulleys also help keep the arc stable even in overpowered 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.
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 impressive instant steering response offers precision flying with the best balance between ease of input and feedback impulses from the kite. This results into a very linear feel with zero stalling.
Going upwind is easier and more comfortable than ever. This kite it will charge you back upwind after trying new tricks and jumps!
The jumping potential of this year’s model is absolutely insane. Offering explosive vertical lift the kite has plenty of float to chuck in some boards off or old school moves. Loops are fast and you will always find the line tension and pull you’re looking for. Just pull on the bar and the Bandit 2023 will generate power, fantastic kiteloops sensations and super smooth landings with no stalling.
The kite’s conception is exceptionally technical and the result whilst riding is impressive. We have reached new levels of stability making riding comfortable and safe no matter the conditions. We managed to get a way more homogenous experience from low to high wind range with each size of the range. It crosses over to disciplines like foiling and even wave riding super well.
After spending countless hours testing and developing prototypes, we are proud to release the new and improved 2023 BANDIT. Whether you are looking to send it, freeride for hours, or explore the waves, this kite will exceed all expectations.
The best selling kite on the market:
F-One believe the Bandit is the best selling model on the market thanks to its unique qualities and army of fans around the globe. Regardless of your riding style, the Bandit will appeal to you. F-One are proud of this success; it’s down to nothing other than pure hard work, time and effort. Working tirelessly with the testing team of Mika Fernandez and Raphael Salles. Each year around 80 prototypes are designed, built and tested in order to achieve the perfect kite. Testing in all conditions and disciplines, from twin tips, surfboards and hydrofoils.
F-One Bandit 2023 (XVI) Main Features:
- Top performances in all disciplines.
- Huge wind range
- Controled 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
- Prooved durability
- Delta C shape patent
Why the Delta C-Shape is the only choice:
- Get a fifth line effect with only 4 lines
- Its powerful and get the best depower around
- Get the auto relaunch effect. the Bandit Has a big projected area for a c-shape because most of the m² are in the centre of the kite. The tips are quite small and therefore allows easier relaunch
- The Delta C-Shape is so efficient that F-One has taken away some AR compare to the Tribal
- Get a lot of hang time
- Its incredible for unhooked riding with a better bar feeling than the F-One Tribal
- Get a new Force Frame construction
- Get a swivel on front lines so you never have twists
- Accept any lines length
- Can be use by any rider from school to pro level
- Lose and gain power really smoothly.
- Keep the control of the kite even fully de powered because the back lines always keep some tension.
- Get a perfect stop and go.
- Get an incredible stability on the wind window above you.
- Get a smooth handling because naturally the Delta shape likes to go straight and you have to make it turn.
- Works well and feels good even in the 12 or 14 m² sizes.
- Doesnt feel like a mosquito in sizes 7 m² or smaller.
- You dont need much time to get used to it. You don't have to change your way of riding.
**Prices shown for kite only - includes bag and repair kit**
F-One Bandit Linx Control Bar and Lines:
The F-One Linx bar takes all the best bits of the Monolith Bar and added some great features to create the ultimate connection to your kite.
The Linx bar is available in two sizes, 52-45 and 45-38cm; this allows you to choose the perfect size bar for your quiver. The new integrated floats on the rear line not only offer a cleaner look; they also house the mechanism to adjust the size of your bar too.
A new One Line Flag Out safety system features this year and is now the standard for all F-ONE kites. There’s a high-quality corrosion proof Inox steel hub on the front lines that allows one line to slide. The first 6m of the front lines are larger in diameter for durability, and there is a stopper to prevent the bar from travelling too far away from you when the safety is engaged.
F-One have also added a manual swivel on top of the chicken loop this year; it uses a high-quality ball bearing and is easy to rotate even when powered. This allows you to untwist your front lines after performing rotational tricks and is a feature every rider is going to fall in love with!
The Lifeline safety connection has an added swivel, so there is no danger of twists affecting the release of the kite, and the same goes for the leash too. The safety can be set up in suicide mode for freestyle riders while still retaining full functionality when the chicken loop is released as the loop can slide through the Lifeline safety connection with ease.
There’s a new Inox steel ring on the front lines; riders can choose to run the front lines through this ring to give the kite a short V on the front lines. Or you can run the lines outside of this ring to have a full front V. Kites like the Furtive perform better with the full front V, while the Bandit flies better with the short V. This feature of the bar means you only need one kite bar regardless of your quiver of kites.
F-One have retained the ability to tune the rear lines, so if a line does stretch, you can still tune the bar so all the lines are equal and the kite will still fly properly.
The LINX bar features a smaller diameter to make it comfier in your hands and reduce fatigue and, of course, we have new fresh colours!
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2-Kite Quiver! Review by Derek Gallacher
Well Worth Waiting For! After the hype surrounding the F-One Bandit 3 (III), I wanted to see what all the fuss was about... I took the plunge and ordered an 11m in Full Black on the Thursday and on the Sunday got out at Brancaster in great testing conditions. Base wind was 18mph, gusting to 30mph and dropping to 12-13mph with some cloud fronts coming through, so the full range for top and bottom end.
Setup was quick and easy, great pump and easy to inflate. Full Black with Silver graphics looks simply awesome on the beach and in the air. Never flown a Delta before but have to say it was very easy to acclimatise.
Excellent low end grunt and unbelievable turning ability for a bigger kite. In fact this 11m was way quicker to turn that my 8m kites! The upwind performance was incredible and my friend could get nowhere near me on his kite. Excellent jumping performance, so quick to send up and great pop off the water. Easy to control in the air and redirect.
Depower system very easy and reliable. I weigh 90kg and the wind gusted 30mph but it never felt like I needed to head to the beach for a smaller kite. Equally, when it dropped to 12mph, I still managed to keep going and remain pretty well upwind too.
The kite itself in great design, graphics, huge wind range, excellent in the air and really drives upwind. In short....loved it, and have ordered another one today (8m). After testing the 11m this weekend, I am confident that just a 2-kite quiver is plenty enough with this great kite.
Derek Gallacher
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Ideal for all seasons! Review by Victor McMahon
Went to visit Powerkiteshop which was a great pleasure and got great advice - bought the F-One Bandit 9m for kite buggying.
This is ideal for all seasons and great in all winds! The shorter bar when in the buggy makes it easy to manoeuvre and with its huge wind range it is so enjoyable!
Thanks for the recommendation - best wishes to all the staff!
Victor McMahon
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Ultimate in Performance! Review by Dan Eaton
I have flown, tested and owned numerous of kites but this one I am keeping!
Its a C-Shape kite but at the same time has SLE qualities in terms of safety but its wind range is huge.
This kite is really good in the gusty conditions, it turns really quick, has a very direct feeling and the kiteloops are just simply unreal.
The F-One Bandit currently holds the speed record for kiteboarding and is no surprise. It is the quickest kite I have ever flown and allows you to take out a smaller kite in reasonable light winds. I only use the 11m and I have used this from 8 knots to about 30 knots. It nearly is a one-kite quiver!
As for jumping - I've never jumped so high and you float there without too much carry downwind. You can work and redirect the kite 4 or 5 times before you land and ride away at speed.
Build quality is excellent and setup is so easy! Inflation and deflation is also very quick!
Relaunch of the kite is excellent - the best I have found! Pull on the side of the bar and up it comes out of the water. It really has no problems whatsoever.
Handling of the F-One reminds me of the C-shape and Peter Lynn ARC style kites with a very direct feel with some but not too much bar pressure allowing you to feel how the kite is flying even when you are not looking at the kite allowing you to concentrate on your trick. Unhooked riding is a dream!
Overall, this is a confidence inspiring kite for everyone! Whether you are just starting out or after a high performance kite with the safety of a SLE this kite does it all!
