Duotone Juice D/LAB tested by Fanch
Juice D/Lab (2022) 13m² kite test: North East wind 7-15 knots.
In summary
- Unpacking the 1200 cm² foil, you'll notice the Leading Edge and struts are crafted from ALLULA, a unique material. The wingtip reinforcements are lighter than those on a "classic" kite, and the lines and bridle are made from super-thin Dyneema. This is clearly a kite built for light wind.
- In the air, it floats effortlessly. You'll immediately feel how the kite's lightness and shape keep it airborne in even the lightest wind. Even at the edge of the wind window on the beach, it easily hovers 10 cm off the ground without a struggle.
- On the water, it's a pure joy. The kite turns incredibly well without needing aggressive steering. It feels light on the bar and is super responsive. Gusts are a breeze to manage with just two clicks of my click bar. Not once did I worry about the kite stalling during launches or when exiting maneuvers.
- I even pushed its limits, bearing away towards the kite to see how it would react. It simply stayed calmly in the air, waiting for me to take control again!
Juice D/Lab (2022) 13m² kite test:
Test conditions: North East wind 7-15 knots. Foil 1200 cm².
Unpacking the kite, you'll notice the Leading Edge and struts are crafted from ALLULA, a unique material. The wingtip reinforcements are lighter than those on a "classic" kite, and the lines and bridle are made from super-thin Dyneema. This is clearly a kite built for light wind.
In the air, it floats effortlessly. You'll immediately feel how the kite's lightness and shape keep it airborne in even the lightest wind. Even at the edge of the wind window on the beach, it easily hovers 10 cm off the ground without a struggle.
On the water, it's a pure joy. The kite turns incredibly well without needing aggressive steering. It feels light on the bar and is super responsive. Gusts are a breeze to manage with just two clicks of my click bar. Not once did I worry about the kite stalling during launches or when exiting maneuvers. I even pushed its limits, bearing away towards the kite to see how it would react. It simply stayed calmly in the air, waiting for me to take control again!
I've never ridden previous Juice versions or foil kites, so I can't say if this ALLULA vintage is a revolution. This kite definitely boosts my confidence in conditions where I used to avoid foiling, fearing a long swim back to shore.
Like many, I'd pushed the limits of light wind foiling and wanted to avoid those dreaded "natakite" sessions. But this kite completely changes my perspective on lightwind. It opens up more possibilities. Its greatest strength is how forgiving it is in critical light wind situations. When you'd normally dread the kite inevitably falling into the water, especially without expert kite steering skills, this Juice D/LAB is incredibly kind to its rider. It perfectly tolerates rider inexperience by gently staying in the air.
It feels like you get the benefits of a foil kite without the tangled bridles (and perhaps without the ultimate racing performance).
I'd even love to try it in waves, but I worry about the slightest tumble...
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