The 2023 Duotone Neo SLS Kite is the best wave kite on the market; stronger, lighter, and superior, with Penta TX and Trinity TX combining to make a super light and durable kite. With incredible drift, dynamic turning, and a huge range, the 2023 Duotone Neo SLS Kite is the only kite to take on the water if you ride a surfboard.
Our Take…
The 2023 NEO SLS continues it’s to build on its previous successes. In short, it’s a super responsive, stable, easy handling kite that also has power to spare, an unbelievable wind range, and bomber construction. It’s a great choice for any level, and suitable for lots of different uses. But where it really shines – on a wave. One handed steering (even with slack lines) and incredible drift make the kite disappear when you’re surfing and give you power on demand when you need it. They’ve been my choice for my personal quiver since they launched in 2020. Tip – Pair your NEO’s with the 2023 Duotone Click Bar. In addition to the awesome depower control and improved Iron Heart click in safety system, the new FLITE 99 lines and reduced drag pigtails make the kite even more responsive.
What We Like
- Great low end power lets you use a size smaller kite. Smaller kite = more smiles.
- Huge range. Depower and stay on the water. No need to head to the beach to re-rig.
- Unmatched drift (except for the D/Lab version) make the kite predictable and stable.
- Superb handling. More response from the kite with less bar input.
- Penta TX and Trinity TX construction make the kite light and durable
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than some other brands.
- The fill valve can be a pain.
- The bags could be bigger.
Who’s It For?
The 2023 Duotone NEO SLS is a great choice for beginners thanks to its stability and predictability. It’s also the kite of choice for expert wave riders worldwide. Don’t surf? No problem. The NEO SLS is a great all around kite that’s perfect for freeriding, strapless freestyle, and foiling too. While it may be slightly more expensive than other brands, the construction and materials make these kites hold up for literally hundreds of sessions. I’ve been flying the NEO SLS since it showed up in 2020/21. Living in the Gorge and traveling during the winter moths, I’ve put loads of sessions on my kites. When it’s time to sell them, they’re still crisp and looking great. Rick G – Resident Kiter and Web Guy
2023 Duotone Neo Features
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL WITH MASSIVE DEPOWER
THE RANGE OF THE NEO SLS IS LEGENDARY! IT HAS A HUGE BOTTOM END, MEANING YOU CAN GET GOING ON A SMALLER KITE BEFORE OTHER RIDERS; THIS, COUPLED WITH IMPRESSIVE DEPOWER, HAS YOU OUT RIDING FOR LONGER WHEN THE WIND PICKS UP, AND YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH A SMALLER QUIVER.
SLS CONSTRUCTION
THE SLS CONSTRUCTION HELPS REDUCE THE OVERALL WEIGHT OF THE KITE AND IMPROVES PERFORMANCE BY MAKING THE FRAME STIFFER. IN ADDITION, MATERIALS LIKE PENTA TX AND TRINITY TX MAKE THE KITE LIGHT WHILE OFFERING EXCELLENT DURABILITY.
GEOMETRY TUNED TO SIZE
THE LARGER KITES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO USE A WIDER ARC AND HAVE LESS SWEEP IN THE TIPS MAXIMISING POWER, WHILE THE SMALLER SIZES HAVE MORE SWEEP AND A NARROWER ARC WITH A FOCUS ON MANOEUVRABILITY.
INCREDIBLE DRIFT
THE NEO SLS IS FAMOUS FOR ITS INCREDIBLE DRIFTING ABILITIES; THE SLS VERSION IS UP TO 15% LIGHTER THAN THE STANDARD VERSION ALLOWING THE KITE TO FLOAT DOWN THE LINE LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
INCREDIBLY DYNAMIC HANDLING/HYBRID FLEX STRUT
THE TURNING SPEED OF THE NEO SLS IS EXCEEDINGLY QUICK, AND THE SLS VERSION TAKES THINGS UP A LEVEL. THE NEW HYBRID FLEX STRUT ALLOWS THE KITE TO TWIST AND CHANGE DIRECTION QUICKLY, AND THE LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION REDUCES THE KITE’S ACCELERATED MASS, MAKING IT FASTER AND MORE RESPONSIVE.
RESPONSIVE STEERING EVEN WHEN DEPOWERED
THIS IS ONE OF THE UNIQUE AND ENCHANTING FEATURES OF THE NEO SLS, ITS ABILITY TO BE DIRECT AND DYNAMIC, EVEN WHEN THE BAR IS PUSHED OUT, AND THE KITE IS DEPOWERED. THIS FEATURE ALLOWS YOU TO RIDE THE WAVE HOW YOU LIKE WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT BAR AND KITE CONTROL AS MUCH.
2023 Duotone Neo SLS Construction Tech
HYBRID FLEX STRUT The new Hybrid Flex Strut offers the kite its exceptional performance and leads to slightly smoother and more refined handling. The turning is faster and feels more dynamic. These features are controlled by the precisely tuned ratio of Penta TX and STW70 adjusted to each size. The percentage of flex material in the tip struts decreases as the size increases.
TRINITY TX
PENTA TX FRAME CONSTRUCTION NEO SLS
HEAVY DUTY LEADING EDGE CLOSING SEAM
LOAD DISTRIBUTION PANELS
KOOK PROOF CONNECTORS
2023 Duotone Neo SLS Overview
The Neo SLS has blown away the wave riding community, taking an already ground-breaking and market-leading kite, and pushing it to new heights. Penta TX combined with Trinity TX and a new Hybrid Flex Strut create an incredibly light and durable construction that weighs up to 15% less comapred to a regular kite, making the Neo SLS so responsive. and takes the drifting capabilities to new levels. When you may have dropped a traditionally manufactured kite, the Neo SLS will keep drifting, allowing you to pull off your moves on the wave easily. The new Hybrid Flex Strut ensures that the legendary dynamism of The Neo SLS is even further improved; new material combinations have been used for better performance. The kite has been tuned so precisely that the percentage of flex material in the tip struts decreases as the size increases. E.g., a 5m is more flexible in the tip struts,
comparted to a 12m; this gives more rigidity and stiffness to the larger kites where power is a priority and makes the smaller kites even faster. When the kite is depowered, and you have the bar pushed away, the kite still handles and steers, allowing you to ride the wave without losing any control. With multiple settings on the tips, you can also tune the kite to the day’s conditions; having a flatwater strapless freestyle session, set it for maximum pop and powerful loops if you dare. Shredding the waves, tune it for maximum drift and rapid turning speed. The Neo SLS is the epitome of a wave kite: fast, with incredible drift, instant relaunch, and very durable. If you want to ride a surfboard this year, the Neo SLS is the kite for you; no matter your riding style or the conditions, it will perform to the highest levels beyond your wildest imagination.
2023 DUOTONE NEO SLS SPECS
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