At A Glance
The CORE Nexus 3 is a 3-strut all-around kite designed for riders who want a versatile kite that performs well in a wide range of conditions. The big headline for the new Nexus is the material mix to create the kite. Using ExoTex 2 in the leading edge alongside ExoTex Light for the struts creates a lighter, stiffer airframe, improving the handling. The canopy is CoreTex 2, a proprietary triple ripstop with a special coating designed to be exceedingly durable while saving on weight; it is also stiffer and helps the kite keep its shape in strong gusty conditions. In terms of the design, the team have focused on the arc shape, aspect ratio and tip shape to get the maximum in terms of performance and handling. Pitched as a versatile all-rounder, it's perfect for freeride, big air and wave riding.
Sizes: 4m, 5m, 6m, 7m, 8m, 9m, 10m, 11m, 12m, 13.5m
In The Air
CORE are known for their exceptional build quality and attention to detail; construction is second to none on this kite. Once you've pumped up and launched, you'll find a very stable kite in the sky. Regardless of the conditions, the kite feels very well balanced and tuned. It has a smooth power delivery when you sheet in, and the control is right at your fingertips.
Engage the bar, and the turn is smooth and direct; it's fast through the window, and it's easy to generate a lot of power and apparent wind when you need to. When the wind increases, the power delivery is constant and gusty winds are smoothed out by the kite's impressive handling.
In terms of power, the CORE Nexus 3 has a moderate amount of grunt, meaning that it can generate enough power to get you up and riding, but it's not so powerful that it feels hard to control or overpowering. The bar pressure is light with good feedback, and the well-behaved nature of the kite means there are no surprises with it drifting where you don't want it to in the window.
One area where the CORE Nexus 3 really shines is in its upwind performance. Thanks to its efficient design, the kite is able to generate a lot of forward drive, allowing you to ride upwind with ease. Jumping on the Nexus 3 is easy; the kite changes direction quickly, and it is easy to send it back in the window and get a good lift on pretty much every jump. Hangtime is good, and the C shape nature means it's more of a boosting machine rather than an airtime provider. The jumps are aggressive, though, with plenty of lift on take-off.
In the waves, the Nexus 3 is fantastic. The direct handling and speedy turns allow you move the kite on the wave with ease. When the conditions are offshore, the kite is happy to drift, too. Wave riders will love this kite and get a lot out of it, no matter the conditions. Relaunch, as you would expect, is impressive, too. A simple pull of the back line is all it takes to get the kite up and out of the water.
The Nexus 3 is an impressive all-rounder, perfect for the kiter who has a twin tip, surfboard and foil in their quiver. It's the perfect tool for the rider who lets the conditions define their sessions. With a lighter, stiffer airframe and incredible handling, there is a lot to love here!
Overall
Overall, the Core Nexus 3 is a highly versatile kite that's great for riders of all skill levels. Offering you smooth and predictable handling, stability in gusty wind conditions, and excellent upwind performance. With smooth power delivery and responsive handling and manoeuvrability, the Nexus 3 is a joy to ride in any conditions. If you're looking for a kite that's easy to fly, well-built, and capable of performing well in a wide range of conditions and across different disciplines, the CORE Nexus 3 should be on your radar!
The beauty of the Nexus is that it really is 3 kites in 1.
By simply switching the pig-tail knots for the front-line bridles between 3 settings – “Wave”, “All-round” and “Freestyle”, the handling characteristics change so that the kite can be used for any style of kiting.
And it just takes a few seconds to undo a larkshead and switch it’s position at both sides – job done!
So the Nexus allows me to do everything I want with one set of kites.
The Nexus 3 is a 3-strut kite with a profile that is biased to the new trend to “Modified C” shape. This gives it the turning speed of a C kite but with the forgiving nature of a hybrid.
The 3-strut design makes it lighter for a bigger wind-range but also gives it a faster turning speed to make it easy to loop and move around to generate power through any lulls or simply to whip across the sky for fast transitions.
But this doesn’t mean it feels twitchy or unpredictable. In the middle CIT (Core Intelligent Trim) setting at the bridle, the kite feels responsive yet stable and simply goes and sits wherever you place it.
And the bar pressure is enough that you always know where the kite is, without giving you tennis elbow after a couple of long, hard sessions.
Re-launch is never a problem either as the squarish wing tips allow the kite to sit nicely on its side after a crash, ready to relaunch with a tug on the bar.
Boosting airs with the Nexus is easy and great fun. The responsive feel of the kite means you don’t have to think too hard about steering it through the jump – a useful feature once you move from your first stages to learning new tricks.
The Nexus might not give you the simple send and boost character of the XR7 or new XR8 – you do need to get the timing a bit right – but the bigger wind range compensates for this in my opinion, as you can get out in bigger winds without feeling as though you’re being ripped off the board.
And the Nexus is not shy when it comes to hang-time and initial lift. Local rider Peter Jakobsen jumping over 20 metres with the Nexus – that’s impressive enough for me!
Build-quality is among the best on the market. I’ve been riding my Nexus 2’s hard for 2 years and they all still look and feel as good as new.
The main difference on the Nexus 3 is even further improved material on the canopy and leading edge, which sees them using their own patented versions of Dacron on the canopy and leading edge.
The material was good on the Nexus 2, but feels even better on the 3.
The canopy material is now Core Tex 2, which has already been used and proven on the XR7. The material is stiffer and more tear resistant, which improves even further its stability in the air, but also re-sale value.
The Leading edge is constructed in a new material, Exo Tex 2, which, again is stiffer but also 80% more tear resistant than the material previously used.
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