GONG Kites: Six Models from 469 Euros and What They Share

Six models form an almost even price ladder: 469, 519, 589, 599, 629, 649 euros. Here is what sits behind each step.

The ladder

• Strutless — 469 €. No cross struts.
• Unik — 519 €.
• Elips — 589 €.
• Display — 599 €.
• Vertigo — 629 €.
• Ayto — 649 €.

All share one size grid — 10, 11, 12 m² and onward, in identical colourways. A sign of a shared platform: the brand separates models by canopy shape rather than by size ladder.

What to grasp before picking a model

The base price is not the whole price. Each model also exists in two further materials:

• Dacron — the base, at the prices above.
• Aramid — Elips 799 €, Vertigo 879 €, Ayto 929 €.
• Aramid DP — Vertigo 939 €, Ayto 989 €.

The practical consequence: the gap between models (180 € end to end) is smaller than the gap between materials within one model (340 € on the Ayto).

So choose the model by job first and the material by hours second — not the other way round. On materials, see our canopy material guide.

Strutless: what "no struts" means

The cheapest item and the most unusual structurally.

A normal kite has a leading edge tube plus cross struts holding the canopy's shape.

A strutless kite has only the leading edge. The cloth between sections is held by line tension and airflow.

What that gives:

• Less weight. No struts, no strut mass. Hence better drift and an earlier start in light wind.
• Faster setup. One bladder instead of five or six.
• Smaller packed size.

What it costs:

• Less stiffness. The canopy deforms more in strong wind.
• A weaker top end. Storm sessions are not its territory.
• Harder water relaunch in some positions.

Who it suits: riders in light to medium wind, wave riders, and anyone who values low weight. The same logic that makes strutless kites popular with foilers.

How to choose a model when descriptions are thin

An honest method for when a brand does not spell out each model's purpose.

One: read price as an indicator of structural complexity. Within a range, a dearer model almost always has a more complex canopy shape aimed at a more demanding rider.

Two: ask us. We check the brand's stated purpose and wind range against your weight and spot before payment — a normal part of the job rather than a favour.

Three: do not chase the top. In a range spanning 180 € the temptation is real. But the suffix rule applies here too: while learning, technique is your limit.

Sizes: what to buy

The grid is standard and the rules are the usual ones:

• under 70 kg: 8 and 11 m²
• 70–85 kg: 9 and 12 m²
• 85–95 kg: 10 and 13 m²
• over 95 kg: 12 and 15 m²

The full table is in our weight and wind guide.

A separate thought on price: at 519 € a kite, a pair of sizes costs roughly one mid-brand kite. That changes strategy: instead of one all-rounder you can buy two sizes outright and cover the range honestly.

What else a kite needs

A bar. Check whether it is included — in a modular range it is often separate.

A harness. If you lack one: fitting one to your back.

A board. Separate.

A pump. Usually included, but confirm.

The rule: budget the whole setup. A cheap canopy does not mean cheap entry into the discipline.

Common questions

How does a strutless kite differ?

It has no cross struts: less weight and better drift, but less stiffness in strong wind.

Model or material first?

Model by job first, material by hours second. The material gap within a model exceeds the gap between models.

Which two sizes at 80 kg?

9 and 12 m². At these prices a pair costs about one mid-brand kite.

Is a bar included?

Check per item — in a modular range it is often separate. We confirm contents before payment.

Should a first kite be the top model?

No. While learning, technique limits you rather than canopy design.

Where to buy

Strutless 469 €, Unik 519 €, Ayto 649 €. The section: kites.