Ozone EXP Kite

The EXP V1 was built for the snowkiters who go furthest: high mountain missions, long-distance crossings and expeditions pulling loaded sleds. Ozone developed it with its adventure team — Jonas Lengwiler, winner of Vake and Ragnarok, and Greenland expedition guide Håkon Mæland — and the brief was to be as light as possible without giving up durability.

Safety where help is far away. The leading edge is partially open-cell, and the kite carries Ozone's Internal Re-Ride Release system. Its job is critical in the backcountry: it lets you land the kite safely on your own in extreme conditions, then relaunch and carry on.

It is a lightweight double-surface kite with a mid-high aspect ratio and 38 to 44 cells depending on size. The high cell count puts the ribs close together, which gives a very smooth surface, low drag and efficient flight. Ozone also designed the bridles to be easy to sort and handle in freezing temperatures — a detail that matters when your fingers are numb. Other features include Ultra Light materials, a double-pulley speed system with Ronstan Orbit pulleys, leading-edge battens, sheathed Dyneema bridles that Ozone has used on its snowkites for over ten years, Velcro dirt-out wingtips for emptying snow, and a snowkite compressor bag.

Who it is not for. Ozone pitches the EXP at intermediate to expert snowkiters, with expeditions in mind. If you are new to snowkiting, the single-skin Explore V3 is far more forgiving. It is not a water kite. And like every Ozone snowkite, it is not designed for flying or soaring — keep your skis on the snow.

Sizes. 7m, 9m, 13m, 15m and 18m. Ozone recommends packing it concertina-style and never storing it with the leading-edge battens bent. If you are planning a trip to the Khibiny or the tundra, we can help you choose the size and the setup.