A password will be e-mailed to you.

Sizes Available: 3.5, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15.5, 17.5m
Sizes Tested: 15.5m

Liquid Force Says:

Refined and evolved encompass the versatility of the Solo V3. A new leading edge to trailing edge canopy profile highlights the fine-tuned changes in the Solo V3 that brings maturity to the kite. This profile design improvement reduces flutter in the critical areas of the wingtip, increases stability in gusty wind conditions and creates an instant, engaged, power delivery upon sheeting in and smooth controlled de-power when sheeting out. The single strut platform, mid-range aspect ratio, and progressive leading edge arc moves the flying position slightly forward in the wind window offering superior low-end power making the kite a natural choice for lighter wind specialists and dynamic freeriding hydrofoil riders. The lightweight advantage of the single strut platform allows the Solo V3 to handle messy and difficult wind conditions with ease – offering exceptional drift in the lulls and extreme controllable depower in heavy gusts. A fresh approach to bridle configuration has created rapid turn initiation and aided in providing more wingtip pressure to lighting fast off the water re-launching. The ultimate control of the Solo V3 culminates into a kite that traverses all freeriding disciplines and wind chasing travelers.

For more info visit: https://liquidforcekites.com/product/kites/solo-v3

TKB Says:

The Solo, the kite that started all this single strut light wind business, is back for another year in another iteration as the V3. The Solo is a medium aspect canopy with a single strut design that offers the huge advantage of a lightweight airframe with a quality build. It features a single setting front bridle with a fixed attachment point that doesn’t use pulleys to change the angle of attack and offers two wingtip settings for adjusting bar pressure. The Solo’s canopy doesn’t make use of any battens and like all LF kites, it comes with one of the quickest inflation systems: the MaxFlow large diameter inflation valve which requires a proprietary LF pump nozzle (the Solo also has a standard 9mm valve if you lose the extra wide nozzle that comes with every kite and attaches to the standard pump hose). The Solo uses knots on the front bridle attachment point and the wingtip attachments end in loops, and for bonus measure, the loops have a knot feature and the knot has a loop feature for interchangeability with other kite connections.

The Solo has a fairly slim leading edge and a really nice lightweight build quality that you can definitely feel when the kite is in the air. With significantly less dacron and no battens, this kite still maintains good canopy stability within its wind range. The Solo seems to sit towards the edge of the window which really helps when you’re trying to earn some upwind points. The kite’s overall lightweight feel helps it move fast through the window with a reasonably swift and responsive steering response for a 15.5m monster. However, you will find a little bit of steering play and a little bit of a sheeting lag that comes with the single-strut category. When you get these kites above their wind range you feel the canopy luff in the bar a bit, but that is the trade-off for a super light airframe. As a result, it’s best to fly these kites where they’re meant to shine, and that is in their lower-end range. Do that and you will a enjoy nice progressive sheeting feel and intuitive delivery of power,  particularly for a single strut kite. The Solo’s bar pressure overall is medium-plus and the kite offers crisp steering response and decent turning speeds for the considerably large size. The 15.5 will get you going in the lightest conditions and gives you one of the best relaunches in the lightest conditions. For foilboarding, we typically could get away with a couple sizes smaller in the Solo quiver, but the 15.5m is an excellent weapon to bring to the light wind twin tip freeride battle.

The Solo came with the Mission Control bar which is packed with a ton of functional features while keeping the bar simple and lightweight. The Mission Control features an adjustable length bar (45/55cm), durable PU coated sheeting/throw line, no sliding stopper, a single center-line safety depower with a low V, and a stainless steel depower cam cleat with Velcro to keep the depower control toggle from tangling. The Mission Control comes with a new quick release design that features a below the bar hand swivel/release shield integrated into a push away quick release that readily clicks into an auto reset position that makes reassembly on the water super easy. The center lines end in a knot and the outside lines end in loops, but the knotted ends also have a loop and the loop end features a knot, so this bar can really be used with any kite setup. The bar’s throw length is no longer adjustable and its floats are no longer integrated into the bar ends for a more flexible connection between the bar and the outside lines. The tips of the bar are soft and this year the bar end color coding is a bit more pronounced with orange coloring to set off the left side. The outside leader lines allow riders to adjust the length of the outside lines for stretch or tuning. Our Freeride testers liked the smooth narrow diameter bar with rubbery grip and tapering that widens as your hands approach the center of the bar. Overall the Mission control is a well-thought-out bar that offers a good mix of features and safety in a very functional package that exemplifies clean bar design.

For more info on the bar visit: https://liquidforcekites.com/product/control-system/mission-control-bar-v2