Review Details

Ozone Reo V7 Ultra X Kite

Product Review (submitted on 15 February 2024):

The other day turned to crap and I was not able to test the Ultra X, but this week was good and I've now tested the Ultra x Reo 11m and 9m.
The first day last Tuesday the wind was about 16/19 knots and this was perfectly in the range for the 11M, good swell running from the southerly the days earlier. You definitely notice the lower weight from the moment you get the kite out of the bag. Once inflated there are many small changes that become obvious too, like the thin bridles (like the Ozone Edge), there are only 2 rear line attachments, the anti flutter battens are now moulded EVA and much lighter than the previous type, new moulded valve lock off clips with no neoprene covers, main valve cap too.
Once I launched it the canopy was noticeable smoother and tighter and the kite looked and felt light but solid in the air and was very reactive to steering inputs. Also very noticeable to me was how much better the canopy luffed when the bar was pushed out and I was excited to get this machine on the water.
Forward flight speed is fast and the kite generates a lot of power and quickly, turning onto my first wave the kite felt smaller than it was seems to turn like a 10 or 9m and definitely does not feel like a big kite. The drift is exceptional and the kite is lighter to steer too so one handed steering going downwind on my backhand it was much easier to keep the kite in the optimal position to link turns. I had a ball the whole downwinder and we milked it for 1hr 45 mins.
The following day we were joined by a mate with a 10M OR Roam. Wind was lighter and that was my mates biggest kite and he was confident he could go so I said I would test the bottom end of the 11m. There were 2 others on TT's with us and they were on 17 (Zephyr) and 19m (Edge V10) inflatables so thats how light the wind was. I'm sure it was no more than 15/16 and averaging a bit less than that, but I had plenty of wind to hold ground, my mate on the Roam was a bit under but still had a ton of fun, we were both on stapped surfboards, his was 28ltrs and mine was an evo style 24ltrs, he is 85kgs and I'm 75.
So the 11m Ultra X has plenty of bottom end and overall has an impressive wide wind range. I did not drop the kite so can comment on relaunch but its a mid aspect 3 strut Reo and they have always been easy and fast to relaunch.
The things I like the most are the smooth fast flight, tight turning, incredible drift and light one handed steering.

Day 3, I made a kite size error deliberately as I wanted to see what the top end of the 9m was like, the wind last Thursday up here was 22/23-27/28 and I was on a lower volume surfboard about 22ltrs. I was definitely not on the right size but it was still very good fun especially the second half of the run where the wind is more onshore. Waves were a mest mostly due to the strong NE short period wind swell mixed with the remnant S swell which was 14sec period and had some sets in the 3-4 foot range. I'm very keen to get this 9m out again in a bit less wind but still had a heap of fun. My other downwinderers were on 8m and that was the better size for the day.
Conclusion - The Reo V7 is still a Reo but this version is the biggest improvement in the history of the model.