Force Six
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Older Reviews >
      • 2009 North Vegas Review
      • 2008 Nobile NHP Review
    • 2010 >
      • 2010 Nobile NHP Review
      • 2010 Slingshot RPM Review
      • 2010 Takoon Chrono Review
      • 2010 Takoon Furia Review
      • 2010 Takoon Lux Review
      • 2010 Takoon Pure Review
      • 2010 Xenon La Luz Review
    • 2011 >
      • 2010/2011 Wainman Smoke
      • 2011 Slingshot RPM Review
      • 2011 Slingshot Rally Review
      • 2011 Slingshot Fuel Review
      • 2011 Takoon Chrono Review
      • 2011 Flexifoil Hadlow Pro Kite Review
      • 2011 Xenon Infra Review
      • 2011 Xenon LaLuz Review
      • 2011 Flexifoil Hadlow Board Review
      • 2011 Takoon Reflex Review
      • 2011 Slingshot Turbine
      • 2011 Epic Oxygen Review
    • 2012 >
      • Slingshot Joint Review
      • 2012 Slingshot Misfit Review
      • 2012 Slingshot Darko Review
      • 2012 Cabrinha Switchblade Review
      • 2012 Cabrinha Nomad Review
      • 2012 Flexifoil Hadlow ID Kite Review
      • 2012 Dakine Renegade Harness Review
    • 2013 >
      • 2013 Slingshot Turbine Review
      • 2013 Slingshot RPM Review
      • 2013 Slingshot Fuel Review
      • 2013 Slingshot Rally Review
      • 2013 Flexifoil Force Kite Review
      • 2013 Flexifoil Hadlow Board Review
      • 2013 Slingshot Asylum Review
      • Ocean Rodeo Soul Drysuit Review
    • 2014 >
      • 2014 Flexifoil Hadlow Wakestyle Board Review
      • 2013/2014 Hadlow Pro Kite Review
      • 2014 Flexifoil Shiva Kite Review
      • 2014 Shinn ADHD Wakestyle Board Review
    • 2015 >
      • 2015 Airush Razor AP Kite Review
    • 2016 >
      • 2016 Airush Razor Kite Review
    • 2019 >
      • Airush Ultra II
      • Airush Union V4
      • Airush Vantage V3
    • 2020 >
      • 2020 Shinn ADHD Distortion Board Review
      • 2020 Shinn Slicer Board Review
      • 2020/2021 Airush Lift Kite Review
    • 2021 >
      • 2021 AK Phazer Review
  • Top Video Picks
    • Kitesurfing >
      • All Time Favourites
      • Old Skool
      • Feature Films
      • Stunts
      • Humour
      • Personalities >
        • Aaron Hadlow
      • Bring on the Girls
    • Other
  • Weather (NE)
    • NorthEast Beach Webcams
    • Beadnell Area Weather
    • South Shields Area Weather
    • Redcar Area Weather
    • Newcastle Area Weather
    • Walney Island Weather
    • Allonby Area Weather
    • Gullane Area Weather
  • Wingfoiling
  • Trick progressions
    • S-Bend to S-Bend 3
    • S-Bend to Front Mobe
    • Raley to Blind Judge 3
    • Raley to 313
    • Shifty to Shifty 3 Airpass
    • Backroll to KGB
    • Backroll to Low Back Mobe
    • Backroll to F16 Airpass
  • Bio
  • Links

2010 Slingshot RPM (10m) Review

Picture
Slingshot RPM 2010 (10m)
Looking for the 2011 Slingshot RPM Review? Click Here
Out of the Bag
The RPM is what Slingshot call an “Open C” hybrid kite with a medium diameter leading edge with 3 struts. It has a 2 pulley bridle which gives the kite good support and allows it to pivot well for good depower. The kite is very well reinforced in all the usual places, and comes with Slingshot’s usual attention to detail with the stitching.
Like all Slingshot kites, it’s a one-pump affair – which gets you out on the water quickly, and is quick to pack away also. There are two front line attachment points on the leading edge, allowing the kite to be tuned for freestyle or wake-style and four rear line connections to adjust bar pressure and response.

The slingshot bar is a meaty affair, and is a product of real quality. The bar itself is weighty with a rubberised grip which looks like it will stand the test of time. The safety system looks up there with the best of them – a push away release which flags the kite onto a single front line and a ‘suicide’ attachment point to cover all bases. The flying lines are exceptionally good also – 800lb front lines with thinner rear lines to reduce overall line drag. The bar comes with a clam cleat beneath the bar which will please anyone who normally struggles to reach above the bar sheeting systems.The larger kites in the range come with a 23 inch bar and 27m lines, mid-sized kites use a 20 inch bar with 23m lines, and the smaller sizes use a 17inch bar with 20m lines.

In the air
The RPM feels similar to the Fuel in flight, direct steering, good power in the turns and with a medium light bar-pressure. Jumping seems very good due to the lift generated when working the kite and loops are a lively affair.
Launch and re-launch are very good too – a pull on the back line will cause it to pivot, and can also be reverse launched with ease.

On the water
The bottom end of the RPM is impressive due to the large projected area coupled with its ability to generate power by working it through the window. It flies mostly off the front lines and the bar pressure is light-moderate and adjustable. The bar needs to be steered assertively in order to induce a quick turn, making it perfect for wake-style. It’s a great kite to free-ride on, boosts well, but its real strength lies when you unhook – it generates bucket loads of pop, with decent line slack for passes, whilst patiently sitting stationary in the air for you to land – a wake-styler’s dream kite. 
Similar to the Fuel, the RPM needs to be worked a bit to get good air-time, but can boost very well indeed once you get the hang of it.
 
Conclusions
The RPM is a kite which will be very attractive to a wide audience – a great freestyle kite which will blow the socks off intermediates all the way up to pro’s, without the inherent weaknesses of a hardcore C kite. Its wake-style performance is outstanding, but is also a great all-round performer, ticking all the boxes for wind range, relaunch, hangtime and powered kiteloops. 

For more info, check out Slingshot's Site, view on S2AS Kitesurfing Shop, or compare on Wisekite

Kite Style
Struts
Inflation
Front connection
Rear connection
Tuning options
Depower
Safety


Low End
High End
Bar Pressure
Turning
Unhooked
Upwind
Hang time
Relaunch

Open C Hybrid
3
One pump
2 Pulley bridle
Direct
2 options for front line connection (freestyle/wake), 4 rear options
Clam cleat (beneath the bar)
Mini 'fifth' line to single front line

Very Good
Very Good
Light-Medium 
Medium-Fast
Excellent
Very Good          
Very Good
Very Good

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.