10m Roam Aluula Foiling Review

The Roam is Ocean Rodeos Surf kite and if you kite foil, you know up until brands started developing foil specific kites like the UFO, Surf kites were a popular choice among foil enthusiasts. You might be surprised to hear that Surf kites are still the most popular choice at the shop among the team.

Mostly because they give you options from surf performance to high-end kite foil performance. For reference, currently, I weigh 185 I was using the Slingshot Infinity 76 and I tested the Roam Aluula 10 in 9 to 14 knots.

Why the Roam is epic

Getting right to the point, the Aluula Room is extremely light so you can make a 10 meter work in threshold winds. It’s common for advanced foil riders to use as small as 5 or 7m to generate apparent wind and not overpower them in aggressive manouvers.

The benefit of the Roam is

• The extra power you can generate in extremely light wind
• The ability to shut that power off
• The added drift from the lightweight material
• The extra response from the Aluula material.

The Extra power and ability to dump that power

The fact that the 10 flies in extremely light wind is very beneficial. Concerning the Aluula material, I’ve had 17s up in as light as 6 knots flying like a normal kite. I’ve also mentioned the larger aluula kites turn much faster due to the lighter material. I found the 10 Roam to be super responsive. Essentially, I had the power of a 10 with a snappy response. If the wind kicked up to 13 or even 15 at times, I should sheet out and dump all the power to adapt.

In comparison, the NEO by design has a ton more low-end power. We all know that kite tends to fly a size larger. The biggest difference is the Roam has a more gentle feel that won't pull you off the board if you accidentally forget to depower the kite. I do think the Neo SLS has the power advantage but it's a bit rougher on a foil as opposed to a surfboard.

Extra Response

The fast response of this kite allowed me to create the apparent wind I needed in the lulls and was appreciated when doing download transitions. Other Surf kites, I’ve used like the SST or the NEO have just a bit more power in the downloop. With the Roam, there was next to none. The kite simply positioned itself where I needed it. Granted this is like a 5% difference. I only noticed because I was so focused on figuring out the differences.

Drifting

The obvious benefit riding downwind or transitioning on your foil, the kite will drift. This also applies

to riding small swell with your kite foil. The light response and easy drift make these the obvious choice.

The Drifting is Similar to the Neo. So in comparison, I would say the Cabrinha Drifter does have better drift than both these kites in spite of the light material. Something about the design of that kite just makes it drift too well. So the Roam is close but I did drop it by mistake on a turn.

Relaunch

On that note, the relaunch in light wind is exceptional. This stands true for all the light material kites including the large ones. Launching this 10 in 9 knots was next to effortless. In comparison, my SST being a bit heavier takes more work in 9 knots to get up. It’s still doable but not effortless.

Foiling with a 17?

On a side note, when I reviewed the 17 Flite I mentioned that I thought a heavier rider could foil with it because it was faster and flew well in 6 knots. I did test this. At 185 It worked until the wind gust past 10 knots. Any more and I was overpowered as you might expect. But under 10 it downlooped and actually worked better than any 17 I’ve foiled with before which is normal nonsensical haha.

In Summary

The Roam Aluula is obviously a prime choice for wave enthusiasts but a hidden gem light wind kite foiling. 

Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic

Many people dream of quitting their job, traveling the world and pursuing their passions. Rygo is one of those people who pulled the trigger. A few years into his career, he decided to change everything and travel as a kiteboarder, freelance videographer & writer. His mission is to share the stoke & help people put the boarding into their kiteboarding. Get outside and kite!

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Producer of: Ride with Blake I Sessions I Versus I Destinations I Foil Fridays