RIDER REVIEW - EVO SLS 2024

Hi Reno, first off, tell us where the Evo SLS kite sits in the range and for what type of riding you would recommend using the Evo SLS?

The Evo SLS is the most versatile kite in the Duotone range. You can use the Evo SLS for any type of riding; it’s great for free-riding, great in light-wind, and for big jumps as it has really good hang time. It’s also amazing for riding with a foil board because of its amazing upwind abilities. The kite sits further forward on the edge of the wind window, which gives you a great upwind angle. It's an easy kite to fly, very forgiving, and the handling is very good. It’s a kite that everyone will enjoy.

How does it compare to its predecessor?

I would say the new Evo SLS is a little mellower and has more depower, which is nice, especially when riding in extreme conditions. Everything feels calmer. It transfers less pressure through the bar and isn’t so reactive. In my opinion, the previous Evo SLS was a little too much in that regard; every input on the bar was creating a reaction and it almost felt too rough. For this model, everything is smoother, more predictable, more sheet and go and this makes for a more relaxing experience, especially if you are kiting in very extreme conditions.

You have been involved a lot in the testing for this and other kites. Tell us a little about the prototype phase and some of the points the team were trying to achieve with this new model.

When we were testing the new kites, we tried prototype new kites, other new designs, and also the current model. The goal is always to improve and produce a better kite than before. This time, we had the entire R&D team, testing with the new prototypes and the current one, and focused on the performance especially in strong winds. Everybody agreed that the current Evo SLS was a little too extreme; you felt the gusts a lot and the kite is pulling you all the time during loops. We agreed that the kites which were a little bit more mellow but still with the same abilities and performance for jumping, de-power, and loops were what we liked, so giving us the performance without feeling so much on the edge. It was a better feeling for every rider and for all riding levels, from beginners to the pros, we all had the same feedback.

The benefit for less advanced riders is a kite that is more forgiving; it allows you to make a mistake without being punished, and the riding in general is more comfortable. And for the pros, we found out that being less extreme in feedback gives you even more confidence, especially in situations when you're going for huge jumps with extreme loops, for example, you're upside down on a kite-loop and you don't see the kite. With the new model, it's something that you can rely on, and because the kite feels a bit more relaxed at the bar than the previous model, it actually allows you to push the level even more.

There are 3 versions of the Evo shape: the Evo, Evo SLS, and Evo D/LAB. How does the Evo SLS stack up against the Evo and Evo D/LAB?

I would say the D/LAB is a little more precise than the SLS, and being lighter, every aspect is slightly enhanced—the speed and power generation is slightly more, which is especially noticeable in light winds, for example, but there is, of course, a price difference. Compared to the Evo, I would say the Evo SLS has a larger usable wind range and it’s still a kite that is easy for people at a more novice level, but the added performance and wind range are really impressive.

What type of rider would benefit the most from this kite?

I think the Evo SLS sits in the range as one of the most complete and all-around performance kites in the range. So, for riders doing free ride, those who like to catch some waves, do some big jumps, and board-off moves, it's a kite everyone can enjoy at any level. With the SLS, you gain a lot of wind range. You can start to kite in light winds as it's very lightweight, and you can hold the kite comfortably in very strong winds. So, the range is amazing. I think this is one of the best advantages of the SLS. I think I would look to buy the D/LAB if I'm a rider at a level who can extract the possibilities that the D/LAB kite can provide, but for beginner or advanced riders, I would recommend the SLS because it's slightly more affordable while offering really amazing performance.