F-One Bandit TEC Review: Eight Sizes and an Honest Range for Each

The Bandit has been in F-One's line since 2006. More interesting than the history, though, is that the manufacturer publishes a full table: weight and wind range for each size individually. Here is what follows from those numbers.

The short version

• Sizes: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 m².
• Weight: 2.06 kg (6 m) to 3.70 kg (14 m).
• Bar: 45 cm up to 10 m, 52 cm for 11 to 14 m.
• Price: from 1 075 € (6 m) to 1 527 € (14 m).

The range table and what it tells you

The manufacturer states, per size:

• 6 m: 30+ knots
• 7 m: 25+
• 8 m: 20–35
• 9 m: 16–30
• 10 m: 12–26
• 11 m: 11–24
• 12 m: 10–22
• 14 m: 8–18

The first thing visible: ranges narrow as size grows. The 8 m lives in a fifteen-knot corridor, the 14 m in a ten-knot one.

The reason is physics. Lift grows in proportion to area; depower headroom does not. A big kite reaches its upper limit sooner: what is "normal wind" for an 8 m is already too much for a 14.

The practical conclusion: the larger the kite in your quiver, the more accurately you must pick your day. Small sizes forgive.

Building a quiver without gaps

This is what the table is for. Look at the overlaps.

A 10 + 14 pair covers 8 to 26 knots, overlapping between 12 and 18 — the handover between kites is smooth and you never fall into a gap.

A 9 + 12 pair covers 10 to 30, overlapping 16 to 22. Shifted towards brisker wind.

An 8 + 12 pair covers 10 to 35, but the overlap is only 20 to 22 knots — narrow. That pair risks a day where an 11 would have been perfect and you do not own one.

An 8 + 10 + 12 trio covers 10 to 35 with wide overlaps. For anyone riding a lot in varied conditions.

Note how different this is from the usual advice to "take two sizes two metres apart". Here you can calculate rather than guess.

Weight: where it counts and where it does not

The Bandit TEC weighs 2.06 kg at 6 m and 3.70 at 14 m. The BRAINCHILD version weighs 1.98 and 3.26.

The gap: 4 % at 6 m and 12 % at 14 m. Not uniform, and that matters.

The reason: the bigger the kite, the larger the share of its lift spent holding itself up. On a 6 m in thirty knots weight barely matters — there is power to spare. On a 14 m in eight knots every hundred grams counts.

Hence the practical point: if you are buying two sizes and wondering where to pay for the lighter build, pay on the big one. On the small one it will not repay.

The bar changes at eleven metres

A detail from the table worth knowing in advance: a 45 cm bar is recommended up to 10 m, and 52 cm from 11 m up.

We covered the logic in our Contact Water V5 review: a longer bar gives more leverage and a big kite turns willingly. A short bar on a big kite means you work your arms instead of the kite.

In practice: if your pair is a 10 and a 14, you want two bars, or one 52 cm accepting that steering on the 10 will feel sharp.

Who it suits

Anyone wanting one kite line for a season. 8 to 35 knots across the range, eight sizes.

Anyone building a quiver deliberately. Full tables let you calculate rather than experiment.

A first kite after lessons. The Bandit is an all-rounder rather than a specialist tool.

Who it does not suit

Riders chasing height. For big air look at the North Orbit or Cabrinha Switchblade.

Riders who only sail strong wind. The Trigger sits four knots higher.

Anyone counting grams. Take the BRAINCHILD; the difference is real.

On the Bandit XVI 2023

The catalogue also holds the Bandit XVI 2023 from 1 118 € — the previous generation under the old name.

Its price nearly matches the current TEC, so last season offers little saving here. On when it does, see our separate article.

Common questions

Which two Bandit sizes should I buy?

A 10 and a 14 cover 8 to 26 knots with a wide overlap. For a brisk spot, a 9 and a 12.

How does TEC differ from BRAINCHILD?

Weight: BRAINCHILD is 4 % lighter on small sizes and 12 % on large, and roughly a third dearer.

Why do larger sizes have narrower ranges?

Lift grows with area while depower headroom does not. A big kite reaches its upper limit sooner.

Which bar do I need?

45 cm up to 10 m, 52 cm from 11 m. That is the manufacturer's own recommendation from the same table.

Bandit or Trigger?

The Bandit is more universal; the Trigger sits higher in the wind and is heavier. If unsure, the Bandit.

Where to buy

F-One Bandit TEC from 1 075 € and the Bandit BRAINCHILD from 1 381 €. The range is on the F-One page, and the brand in our review.