ok i've had the manta for over a year and just got the edge about 3 weeks ago. the other day i had a chance to fly them back to back in the same wind and heres what i found out.

the condenders

08 10m manta II
09 11m instinct edge

Both kites ozone, both kites the high aspect versions. So it should be a fair shoot out.

Wind is 8-15 knots or there about.

first up the edge.

set time is alot longer. pump up, unwind lines connect, attempt solo launch sle style. hmmm. wind is too light the edge won't lift up onto a wingtip. i have to reverse launch it like a foil. Its about 10 knots and the edge isn't liking it too much i have to keep it moving.

Edge has more depower and more power. there's more down wind wang when the bar is in. In this wind theres not much lift. The edge is fast. you can zing it around the sky and power/depower it at will.

i pelt off down the beach working the kites till i get up to speed then park it with the bar pulled in. with the huge power/depower at the bar its nice to easy to controll the power output.

i belt into some speed runs at this point the edge comes alive. it likes speed. needs speed to work. the wind builds more the strongest for the session and is just the right angle for my thin stretch of hard sand. i fang the hell out of the edge and manage a new pb of 60kph, 37.3mph. Alas that wind only lasts for a couple of runs and isn't repeated for the manta shoot out.

jumping is abit sad on the edge in these marginal conditions. it needs more wind more.....

Average speed is 29kph.

i decide to crank out some loops to see how powered they are. so i loop away. wheres the power? theres no Wang. The edge gets a better power stroke diving it down in the window and powering it at the bar than looping.

ok time for the manta.

i solo land the edge but doing the pull the power lines and front stall it technique.

Anyway. edge deflated and in the car i unfold the manta. put some sand on the trailing edge and hot launch straight into a floaty static pendulum.... oooh yeah theres the power. in this light wind the manta is the ruller of the float and glide.

Manta is noticably slower and more powered kite. it depowers less at the bar and you can feel the power instantly compared to the edge.

I pelt off down the beach. down wind pull is less than the edge and power delivery is smoother. The manta is way better in the gusts that the edge. On the manta you don't feel the gusts at all (unless they are henious)

The manta takes me upwind further and faster than the edge. I get to my speed spot and bust out some speed runs. but alas the wind is fadding and shifted and the max i can do is 43kph. i can't hit the same hard bit of beach i did on the edge. i decide to throw down some jumps. so i peel into some jumps at 40kph or the abouts. oooh yeah theres the glide. i take off like a jet plane get maybe 5-6 foot high and glide for maybe 15 meters..... touch down is buttery smooth. Sorry SLE converts but in this light wind the manta is king. The edge struggles to get any decent air while the manta is soaring.

Any way after about an hour of flying average speed is the same 29kph....

And the verdict?

Edge:
Faster
more depower
more downwind wang (except when looping)
easir to controll the power output

Manta
The glide master and ruller off low wind air time.
better upwind
more constantly powered (good in lighter winds)
superfast launch and land.

The winner on the day giving the biggest grin factor. MANTA! the winning factor the crazy glide in marginal conditions.

Now this was a low wind test. Had the test been 15-20 knots we may very well have had a different winner. I suspect the edge was too heavy and underpowered. it really does shine above 15knots.

Well it's not entirely fair. The 10m Manta is relatively a bigger kite than the 11m Edge. Had you compared it to a 15m Light it would be a different story except for the new speed.

But you are right, they are entirely different beasts. Wait till you pull a jump in +20knots on the Edge. I can promise you a new... erm... perspective on things!

I really wish for a break in this silly westerlies!

i think it was a fair test. They are comparable in power output. i've flown the edge up to 25+knots. but not fanged into a hell jump at that wind speed. 15-20 knot edge was pulling sweet jumps whne i first flew it. mind you 25knot jumps on the manta can be as big as you like.

find out the projected area of each kite, id say the manta has a good 2 m2 on the edge. Instinct light might be the ticket to compete with the manta, still i wouldnt be bothered pumping it up to find out, by then id be 20 km down the beach with the Manta II, and packed up and driving at the end of the session too and no bladder repairs during the week.

No, The edge is the comparable equivalent to the manta. i'd also suggest after 15knots the edge is more powerfull that the manta. but due to the light wind and the weight of the sle the edge was dissadvantaged.

instinct light, access = low aspect
sport, frenzy = moderate aspect
edge, manta = high aspect