Eleveight Stratos+

A few weeks before writing this review, we heard some insider news that Eleveight was about to launch a new Big Air kite model. Naturally, we thought how great it would be to get our hands on one for testing, especially since we absolutely loved their previous dedicated Big Air kite, the XS. Well, believe it or not, just a day later, without any prior notice, a couple of large boxes showed up at our door. We weren’t expecting any additional gear for this issue, so you can imagine our surprise when we checked the packing list. And there it was: the brand-new Stratos+ from Eleveight, complete with the new CS bar and a couple of new boards (stay tuned for the next issue!).

The Stratos+ arrives to replace the XS in their lineup as the dedicated Big Air/freeride model, and it couldn’t have come at a better time given the back-to-back storms we’ve been having in Tarifa lately: the kind of conditions this kite was built for. We wasted no time and took it straight to the beach the very same day. As we pumped it up, the first thing we noticed was its 5-strut delta-hybrid design. Being part of the “+” segment, we expected premium materials throughout and it didn’t disappoint. The leading edge is thinner than expected and built with XTC Tex 2.0, a material that feels a touch lighter and stiffer than standard Dacron, while the struts utilize XT 2.0, providing a bit more targeted flex. As with all Eleveight kites, one of our favorite features is the canopy construction: a durable 4×4 ripstop yarn with an impressive 6×6 ripstop in high-stress areas. Beyond that, the Stratos+ retains the brand’s signature build quality. New additions include a SUP valve for faster inflation and a six-point bridle with trimming options, allowing riders to fine-tune the kite to different riding styles and conditions.

For our first session, we rigged the 8m and it was properly nuking, with gusts well over 40 knots. From the moment we launched and fought our way to the shoreline, one of the kite’s standout traits became immediately clear: its exceptional high-end control. It feels like it has a built-in “kill switch” – when we pushed the bar all the way out, the power essentially disconnected, offering a sense of virtually limitless high-end range that proved itself throughout the day. Once we finally made it onto the water, it only took a few meters before a perfect kicker lined up ahead of us. We couldn’t resist. We sent it hard. The result? A massive, ultra-vertical yank, so vertical that it actually caught me slightly off guard. I had to fight for balance mid-air, but a couple of well-timed downloops here and there saved the landing… more or less. The kite sits very upright in the window during jumps, delivering explosive lift. On bigger sends, it does tend to overfly slightly, which means we often needed multiple downloops to control the descent. Hangtime is huge and even better, each downloop delivered a noticeable secondary lift, keeping us suspended longer than expected.

Over several consecutive days of tough, gusty conditions, the Stratos+ remained impressively composed. It holds its shape beautifully, even when heavily loaded and maintains light-to-medium bar pressure that never becomes tiring. In lighter moments between gusts, the kite still felt grunty, with a solid low-end pull that kept us planing comfortably. While the Stratos+ doesn’t feel like a twitchy, lightning-fast kite at first, it is surprisingly quick the moment you pull the bar for a kiteloop, a characteristic that deserves its own paragraph…

In flight, the Stratos+ gives the impression that its loops will be brutally powerful and aggressively “yanky”. We have to admit, in those extreme conditions, we hesitated before sending the first one. But the reality was completely different. The kiteloop is surprisingly tight and controlled and the kite climbs back to 12 incredibly fast. On the 8m, it even felt like doubles were within reach. It quickly proved to be an easy and highly predictable kite to loop. The steering is precise and direct, giving you the confidence to push lower and lower kite angles. In fact, once we realized how reliably it would catch us, it almost turned into a game seeing just how low we could send it before pulling it back. We could clearly feel the XS DNA in the way the Stratos+ rides, boosts and flies. But it’s in the loops where the evolution is most noticeable. The recovery is quicker, the arc tighter and the overall sensation far more controlled without sacrificing aggression.

As a freeride kite, the Stratos+ is excellent. As a Big Air kite, it’s superb. The lift is explosive, the hangtime exceptional, and the looping performance about as accessible as it gets. While it does require proper technique to truly unlock its full potential at the top end, it’s also forgiving enough to help riders progressing into the Big Air discipline. Getting high is easy. Staying up there feels effortless. And looping becomes something you look forward to rather than fear. And with that, it’s time to wrap up this review. We can see the sea from the window and the storm is hitting, it’s clearly another Stratos+ kind of day!