F-One Trigger Brainchild Review – we all have been waiting for it!!
New Kite, New Concept – A True Revolution?
The new F-One Trigger Brainchild was designed by Ralf Grösel, the former Duotone designer behind kites like the Evo and Juice. Manufactured in Macedonia, expectations for this new concept are high.
I was lucky enough to test the kite myself. So here is my honest review, covering its strengths, weaknesses, and personal insights, making my F-One Trigger Brainchild Review objecive but as well personal!
First Impression – Lightweight with Surprises
For this test, I received the F-One Trigger 8m directly from our F-One dealer. Conveniently, the conditions were perfect: three days of strong south winds, massive waves, and over 40 knots of wind – ideal for a serious test.
What stood out immediately?
•The weight – The kite is extremely light, feeling about half the weight of a normal 8m kite.
•The material – Feels different: more crisp, almost plastic-like.
Negative first impressions:
•New inflate and extra deflate valve – unnecessarily complicated, requiring a different pump adapter.
•Attachment points changed – loops instead of knots in the middle bridles, making it incompatible with standard bars (can be fixed by adding a knot to the bridles or change the pigtails on the Bar).
•Big tails & high V splitter – more on that later.
What positively surprised me:
•Pulley-less bridles – less tangling, more direct bar feeling.
•Super thin lines & solid build quality.
Flight Characteristics & Performance
I love Big Air, Kiteloops, Hangtime, and powerful wind conditions – and that’s exactly where the Trigger should shine.
First Session:
•Launch & handling – Immediately noticeable: super direct, fast, and light on the bar.
•Bar pressure – Less than the old Trigger, but not too little – a perfect balance of control and comfort.
•Pull & Go – Bar in = power, bar out = instant depower – a super direct kite!
•Jumping performance – Immediate hangtime and precise lift, comparable to a Duotone Dice & Rebel mix.
•Low wind performance – Not its strongest point. The kite needs more wind to perform properly. If you’re hesitating between a 7m and 8m, definitely go for the larger size.
•High wind performance – Absolute weapon! Only when fully overpowered does the kite unlock its true potential.
Kiteloops:
I hadn’t looped much in two years because my old Trigger never caught me properly – that’s changed now!
•Loops are super smooth – the kite pulls cleanly through, catches you quickly and safely.
•Feels extremely controllable and direct.
•No backstall – The kite always stays perfectly in the wind window.
Technical Details – Materials, Bar & Bridles
1. Pulley-less bridles – A game-changer
•No flapping, no distortion, no uncontrolled reactions.
•Much more direct bar feeling than previous F-One kites.
2. New material – Crispy & light, but with some drawbacks
•Super stiff, no wind loss, very stable.
•The fabric makes a noise during downloops or kiteloops – something to get used to.
•3D print design looks cool, but… after a few sessions, small cracks appeared in the print.
3. Inflate/deflate valve – Why?!
•New adapter required – not compatible with old F-One pumps.
•More parts, more weight, more potential failure points.
4. High V splitter & new bar – Unnecessary?
•The kite is designed for a super high V, requiring the new bar.
•BUT: I used a universal V splitter from Harlem Kites and tested it with my old F-One bar – no difference!
•New SK99 lines? No noticeable advantage – but way more expensive.
5. Pro-Weld technology – Welding instead of stitching
•Stiffer leading edge = better shape retention, more direct response.
•Higher inflation pressure possible.
•Durability still unproven, as it’s a relatively new technology.
Final Verdict – Who Should Ride the F-One Trigger?
✅ The F-One Trigger Brainchild is perfect for Big Air, Oldschool, Kiteloops & Hangtime.
✅ It also feels extremely direct, safe, and stable in the air.
🚫 Unfortunately, the kite is very expensive, and the new valve system is unnecessary.
Final Thoughts?
Personally, I would buy this kite immediately – if it weren’t so expensive.
However, in terms of flight performance, the new Trigger is in a completely different league than its predecessor.
However, in terms of flight performance, the new Trigger is in a completely different league than its predecessor.
Ralf Grösel once said that windsurfing died because of overpriced equipment. I hope he sticks to his philosophy, and prices become more reasonable in the future.
A killer kite for Big Air & Loops – but definitely not a budget-friendly option! Doing this F-One Trigger Brainchild Review will leave me with empty pockets.
Check out our video from the test :
