F-One Trigger V3 Brainchild Review

Testing the F-One Trigger V3 Brainchild

The Brazilian Brothers have spent quite a bit of time testing the F-One Trigger Brainchild V3 in Cape Town, Mykonos, and Brazil, and are now ready to share a comprehensive, full-length review. As with all Brainchild kites, the Trigger V3 is at the forefront of innovation because it features ProWeld technology. It is digitally printed and uses top-of-the-line materials, making it one of the lightest five-strut kites on the market. It is also an extremely sustainable kite because of the way things are done at Brainchild.

A Complete Redesign

According to designer Ralf Groesel, the F-One Trigger V3 is much more than just an evolution of its predecessor. Major components have been changed, including the canopy material, the bridle geometry (which now features a pulley), the leading edge diameter, the profile, and the overall radius. Everything was done to ensure the kite not only jumps high and vertically like the V2, but also loops extremely easily and precisely, making big air moves easier than before.

Beyond the technical updates, it is very clear in the water that the kite performs differently than the V2. There are a few immediate things you will notice when putting the Trigger V3 in the sky:

• Aesthetics: It is one of the best-looking kites on the market with a purple and pink canopy.
• Zero Flutter Noise: The noisy helicopter sound from the V2 is fully gone. The kite is quiet, solid, and the noise has been eliminated.
• Incredibly Light Bar Pressure: The bar pressure on the V3 is much lighter. Right alongside the Reedin MasterModel, it is arguably the lightest bar pressure the industry has to offer.

Because the bar pressure is so light, for the first time in history, the Brazilian Brothers are riding this kite on the standard "B" setting. Normally, they ride all their kites on the "A" setting to get the lightest bar pressure possible, but on this kite, the pressure is so light that you will want to use the middle knot for better feedback on the bar.

Jumping Performance

The Trigger V3 performs really well when jumping, though it is not quite as "sheet and go" as something like a Rebel D/LAB or a Harlem Peak. However, it has a ton of vertical potential as long as you are able to hit the sweet spot. Because the kite is so fast, it is going to require an intermediate to advanced-level rider to make the most out of it. Once you get used to the kite and find that sweet spot, it delivers a ton of vertical lift as well as hangtime coming down.

One of the best things about the Trigger V2 was the reliability of the hangtime, and this has remained on the V3. It does not really matter where the kite is in the sky; as long as you are able to nail a heli-loop, you will always gain that nice, sustained heli-loop and second lift.

Looping Performance

Looping is where the Trigger V3 really shines. It has become one of the easiest looping kites on the market. Being incredibly light on the bar really gives you the confidence to pull those loops, and it is very mellow through the loop itself. There is little to no yank on the kiteloops, giving you the confidence to go for kiteloop board-offs and rotation variations. In fact, this kite allowed the guys to become really consistent with kiteloop board-offs because it is so easy to loop one-handed.

Ease of Use & Who It's For

When breaking down the ease of use, it helps to split it into two categories: jumping and looping.

Jumping

As mentioned, the kite has a ton of vertical potential and hangtime, but you need to be an intermediate to advanced rider to make the most out of it. If you are already jumping 10 meters and want to take your jumps to the next level, you cannot go wrong with this kite. However, if you are struggling to jump 5 - 7 meters and haven't hit that 10-meter mark yet, you might want to go with something a little more forgiving when it comes to hitting the sweet spot and getting that bonus vertical lift.

Looping

This is where the kite absolutely thrives. You could effectively be a complete looping novice and you would be stoked on this kite. It is highly recommended for anyone, even if you have never done a loop before. Because of the light bar pressure and the lack of yank, it is incredibly forgiving for learning your first heli-loops and your first kiteloops.

The Unfiltered Feedback

Here is the honest, unfiltered feedback on where the Trigger V3 shines and where it falls short.

The Upsides

• Stability and Smoothness: The V2 was quite twitchy and made a helicopter sound. The V3 is much smoother, has no sound as it flies through the sky, and features a much more refined profile. The recommended 10 PSI of pressure has really improved its structural stability, particularly in gusty and strong wind conditions. The kite is a lot more mellow and manageable in nuking conditions.
• Light Bar Pressure: This light bar pressure is an absolute favorite for the Brothers. It is what allows riders to dial in one-handed kiteloop board-offs because it is so incredibly light.

The Downsides

• Wind Range (Struggles in Low Wind): The kite does not have very good low end. The lack of grunt means you basically have nothing to pull against in lighter wind. It shines in overpowered conditions, but you are going to need 25 to 30 knots on the 8-meter to really tap into its top performance.
• Bar Pressure Adjustment: While the light bar pressure is an upside for some, it might be a downside if you aren't used to it. If you are coming from a kite with moderate or heavy bar pressure, it might take you a few sessions to get used to the V3. It will initially be slightly harder to know where the kite is in the sky. Once you get over that learning curve, the light bar pressure opens up a wide range of new tricks and makes strong wind conditions much more comfortable.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Trigger V3 is an impressive release. The V2 was already a favorite, and the V3 is a more refined version with even lighter bar pressure. If you want to progress and get into your first kiteloops, this is one of the best kites on the market to help you do it safely and confidently.

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