Smart Feature
Review
Video

The Smart is a 2m starter kite from Didak, complete with a 6mm carbon frame and a set of Dyneema lines. It features a curved sail layout (using the common stick and stitch method) and an unusual swallow tail sail shape. The quality of construction is good enough - this a far eastern made kite.

The three point bridle uses an o-ring - which considering the lines are sleeved not clipped seems a little odd. There is no leech line, and no trick line - so we added one for the purpose of this test.

The sail shape is both curved and shallow, making this kite an unusual performer. Surprisingly the kite will fly in very little wind, however in light winds it demonstrates a large amount of over steer. Once the wind picks up or the kite powers up it is far more controllable, and flies very well. However as soon as the kite is stalled the oversteer kicks in and a lot of care needs to be taken to keep the kite from falling from the sky, and a good tug is required to power it up again.

As a freestyle kite the Smart has a lot of potential. Axles tend not to be at all flat, although nice flat axles are possible. The kite will flick flack, and backspin, but finds it hard to stay in a fade. 540's and Helicopters are risky but not unachievable. Lazy Susans are very quick. Recovery and oversteer are a problem, so long lines and a keen eye are recommended. When you do hit the ground the Smart is easy to handle, and loves spin take offs.

As a first time kite to fly in good breezes the Smart is great, to a fledgling freestyler it is probably too difficult to master the basics, however for the more experienced freestyle flier the Smart has its pleasures. If Didak could have another look at the bridle and tweak out the oversteer then the Smart would be a far better package.