The Dice is around for 7 years now and most people will know its nature just by watching any kite video from Lasse Walker. The Dice 2021 -to our relief- hasn’t changed much from its previous version. The shape seems the same and the only real changes are to be found in the weight and the lines. If we would have guessed upfront we would have said the ’21 is the same as last year. But after using the ’21 version a few months we tend to disagree on that. But don’t worry. It still is a brilliant responsive kite. Perfect if you look for something to keep you awake. The perfect kite to up your mega looping game.
High end fun kite
The Dice comes alive with the least of effort due to its very low bar pressure. And yes it can bite. It isn’t build to maximize your air time but the best way to describe its unique feeling is the moment you take of for a jump. An addicting feeling. The perfect uplifting g-force a kite can give. landings needs some active steering since it comes down the way it went up; rather quick.
The difference to comparable kites like the Enduro, Union, Pivot or Bandit is in its advanced way of delivering the power. Controllable but capable of giving quickly that bit more. Not as uncomfortable and difficult as a GTS. The best part: made for doing a mega loop the proper way. If done properly it will deliver this typical powerless -scary but in the same time addictive- split second moment mid way in a mega loop. Some of us really love that moment and will forgive it for not being the biggest boosting WOO-record-breaking kite out there.
’21 vs ’20
We always fear any big changes for the Dice. For those 25+ knots days it is our favorite kite. This year the weight has been reduced by a few hundred grams down to 2.85kg. Not by using any new materials. But by reducing the size of the protection parts and the amount of stitches. Main question; how does it fly compared to its previous version?
The direct feeling makes the Dice susceptible for unstable winds. The low wind capability -not its strongest aspect- and its roughness both went a notch the right way in 2021. Smoother. Milder. Fuller. It results in a bit less extreme g-force boosting. Which is contra intuitive knowing both the bridles as the lines on the bar have become 15% stiffer. It can be explained possibly by two reasons; we missed some changes in the design or the removal and downsizing of stiches and protection parts are the cause. Resulting in more confidence when going for extreme moves. And -important- it is still like a hot knife that cuts through butter when you throw it around.
The differences are small and only noticeable if you know the Dice well. So take our remarks with a grain of salt and if you liked the 2020 version you will certainly love the 2021 one.
The next change? Our hope is on the inflate. Ohw and this year Duotone managed to come up with the worst bags we have ever seen. You will get better at origami though.
List Price
Duotone Dice 9m (kite only) EUR 1479,-
Hello, thanks for this review. I bought a used one at the end of last year, q3m and I am quite heavy, 200ish lbs and it did work fine in 10-15knots with holes in the sub 10 (48cm wide board). I used it when there were 21 fly surfers on the water so not a huge day. Good news I read a thing from the designer and he said they did not change in 2022 (SLS is different but not the standard construction).
HI Bruno,
Although the low end of the Bandit is not so much different from the Dice you do have a point. 7-9-12 sounds like a dream!
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi, Dave,
Thanks for your quick answer!
I am a bit afraid of the wind range of the Dice: I am used to having a simple quiver wher my Bandit 7 can take me from 18 knot to 40 and my Bandit 10 can take me fro 12 knots to 25 (I’m a light rider). Then, with a 15m, my quiver is complete for all kind of whether. I am afraid that with Dice, there will be a gap between 7 and 10, or between 10 and 15 (15 would be a juice…). Do you think that Dice has improved on this aspect? OR would you advise a quiver like 7-9-12?
Hi Bruno,
We did ride the first version of the Nexus. It has a wider spectrum for what it can be used. But certainly not for freestyle. It has too much of an elastic feel when powering up.
It rather can be compared to a Eleveight RS. A Bandit vs a Dice means less bar pressure on the Dice but also more excitement.
Dave
How come you never compare a Dice with a Core Nexus. I am currently an owner of bandit 6 and want to renew my quiver, and cannot decide between both. I do a few back loop kite loop (donuts?), and try sometimes to unhook, but my unhook finish often at zenith or loosing all my power. I’d like to have something a bit better for unhooking and waves, but without loosing the thrill of a fast kite and easy big air. I’m hesitating a lot between a 2019 bandit, a new Dice or … a Nexus, but what’s wrong with the Nexus: it looks like it never get compared with bandit or Dice…
Yes, they are smaller. Nobody really likes them.
Dave
I wish they would make better bags. Its so hard to get my dice kites in the 2020 bags. If the new bags are worse?? ugh…
Nooo, not yet another review about the Dice!
I appreciate your efforts every time and its a nice review again but I see Rebels and Evos hanging in the air like everywhere, would be nice to read about these!