Tkb Review: 2019 OZONE Reo V5

Sizes Available: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12m
Sizes Tested: 9, 12m

Ozone Says:

Since its introduction six years ago the Reo has been the reference for pure wave riding, setting the benchmark in performance and feeling. The Reo’s unique flying characteristics allow you to maximize the potential of every wave, giving you the freedom to smash the lip, clear a section, carve turns or snap in the pocket. Fast direct handling and perfect drift combined with amazing de-power and the ability to absorb gusts means you can choose exactly where you want to place yourself on a wave to make that next move. The Reo V5 features our innovative Variable Bridle Geometry (VBG). The new bridle settings extend the kites operating range, bringing another level of versatility to this already outstanding design. SETTING 1: The way we know and love the Reo – a balanced and refined feeling from the kite with good forward speed perfect for most conditions, and excelling in cross to cross-off winds. The kite can sit further to the edge of the wind window when de-powered, drifting as you ride down the line. Setting 1 is the upper knot on the VBG Pigtails. SETTING 2: A new feeling and characteristics – the kite sits a little further back in the wind window and tackles onshore conditions with ease. Increased bar pressure improves feeling from the kite when a wave is pushing with the wind. If you prefer a slightly heavier feel this could be the setting for you. Setting 2 is the lower knot on the VBG Pigtails.

The Reo V5 features our new stronger and lighter strut construction. The wingtip shape has also been refined with our new tapered tip and slim line deflector. We understand the importance of aerodynamics and weight saving especially on a kite where drift is imperative, so every detail has been refined to be as light as possible while maintaining the strength and integrity you expect from an Ozone product. We’ve maintained the quick and easy re-launch – by turning the bar or using the Re-launch Balls on the leader lines, the Reo V5 will roll over and take off from the water in an instant. This is especially helpful if you’re stuck in the impact zone and need to get out of there fast!

Visit for more info: www.ozonekites.com/products/water-kites/reo-v5

Our Testers Say:

“Easy to fly, medium bar pressure, quick turning speed, fast downloop turns, stable and delivers power quickly.” // Chris Myles

“Solid kite in and out of the waves ”” fast turning, great drift and easy to steer and very responsive. This a great wave kite with drift and hang, but makes it also great for kiters learning to jump (as they often end up under the kite).” // Kristin Vincenzo

“Solid build, felt instantly comfortable with its stable and responsive handling. As long as you aren’t a big air junkie you will love this kite ”” it is fun to fly and delivers great grunt power and turns quickly.” // Marko Bartscherer

Meet Our Testers

TKB Says:

The Reo is a 3-strut lower to medium aspect kite featuring the fifth iteration of Ozone’s magic formula for a surf kite. The Reo inflates easily with a high flow Boston valve that requires the larger inflation nozzle, featuring a fixed front bridle that has two settings and three steering settings on the wingtip. Much like years past, the Reo features boxier wingtips and less sweep in the leading edge which makes it a little more C-shaped compared to the Catalyst. The newest feature for this version is the adjustable settings on the leading edge bridle. You can adjust the length of the front bridle attachment near the inflation point, which allows you to move forward/aft the pivot point of the leading edge bridle which changes the way in which the kite flies in the window. With the upper knot the kite flies farther forward in the window and has a little less bar pressure and by moving to the knot farthest away from the leading edge the kite sits back a little deeper in the window and you have a little heavier bar pressure and more bar feel on the wingtip. Like previous versions, testers commented on the Reo’s overall highly responsive flight, with its highly reactive turning speed. Simple inputs into the bar transfer immediately into the canopy and the turning path tends to feel a little bit more like a pivot and turns in a fairly tight arc. The Reo doesn’t generate a ton of power during the turning but with that said this kite does generate a fair amount of power when it strokes through the window. Testers found the bar pressure to be a nice middle of the road medium weight and the relaunch is excellent. When the kite was in the water nose down in the middle of the window, it pretty much doesn’t want to stay in that position. The Reo rocks side to side waiting for some small input to roll onto a wingtip and launches out of the water from the very bottom of the window with very little effort. The Reo gets 5-stars for its relaunch. In the boosting department the Reo generates some really good lift for a surf kite, which is easily accessible because of its direct steering response. Hangtime is good but not on par with dedicated performance big boosting freeride kites. In the drift department the Reo works really good in terms of keeping the lines under tension while traveling with the wind. Using the longer front bridle attachment pigtail helps to put the kite deeper, which we would recommend for onshore surf conditions where line tension is always a challenge. Moving the front bridle attachment closer to the leading edge will give you extra depower and lighter bar pressure, which we’d opt for in side-off waves or foilboarding where pulling power isn’t as desirable. One of the most noticeable qualities of the Reo is its overall reactive feel which combines a durable but lightweight construction with a shape that is remarkably responsive and easy to fly.Ozone released the new Contact V4 control bar this year which is a 4-line bar that has received significant updates from Ozone’s previous bar along with one massive upgrade in the quick release department. The Contact V4 features Ozone’s new ”˜Seat Belt’ technology which offers a completely new quick release design that features a groundbreaking mechanism that allows you to effortlessly reconnect your trim loop after a safety release by simply pushing the loop into its recess and it automatically clicks closed. There are a number of these systems on the market, but Ozone’s by far is the easiest mechanism to reassemble. This is a colossal improvement, as it is simple and surefire in the way in which this system works. The scenario goes like this: there’s a problem, you push the quick release, the kite depowers, but then you want to reconnect the quick release in the water and resume. Normally this is a 10-finger/two-handed struggle to hold the release open while you stick the loop back into its mechanism and close the gate apparatus to continue. Some models try to keep the release open upon release, but the Seat Belt design doesn’t require you to hold the release open to reconnect the loop into its locked position.

Ozone  tested this system extensively for three years with its schools, team and every day riders before it was released but as it is a new design, we had to see for ourselves whether the mechanism would behave under normal operating conditions and abuse with the usual sandy saltwater wear and tear. We’re happy to report that we were quite satisfied with its reliable functionality.  The quick release has the standard push away handle, a hand swivel above the release that also doubles as a travel guard and a molded locking finger to prevent accidental unhooking as well as a safety attachment point with suicide option. The Contact is a fixed length bar (available in 38, 45, 50 and 55cm sizes) that features a single center line safety depower with a low V. The center lines end in grey color-coded pigtails with loops for rigging purposes and the outside lines end in knots color coded with red and blue pigtails. The Contact features above the bar tuning with a cleat and a small carbon toggle that uses a bungee built into the tuning line to keep things clean in depowered situations. The bar has a plastic coated/PU throw line with no sliding stopper or adjustable length throw. The padded bar ends are tunable (three knots stock is on center) and feature integrated floats and retractable bar bungees. The bar ends are soft in the event of accidental face contact. This year the bar got a significant color change with much less obvious colors; there is no longer red on the left side of the bar grip although the leader lines coming out of the floats are color coded for red and blue. The grip indents have very subtle red highlights for those that are looking closely. Testers gave the new bar solid praise for its comfortable grip that is both wider with a nice raised pattern and smaller indentations for a fairly dense grip.

Visit for more info on the bar: www.ozonekites.com/products/control-systems/contact-water-v4-control-system