Ozone Reflex vs Core NXS: which all-round kite should you buy in 2026?

Quick answer: both are brilliant one-kite quivers, and we're the only shop in Ireland where you can buy either. Pick the Ozone Reflex if your riding leans twintip and big air — jumps, hangtime and learning loops. Pick the Core NXS if you split your time between freeride, waves and foil and want one kite that genuinely does the lot.

Full honesty, as always: we've ridden CORE's all-rounders plenty; the Reflex and NXS both only launched recently, so our take is based on the designs, the brands' briefings and years on the kites they replace. We'll update this as demo stock hits Galway Bay.

What they have in common

Both are three-strut all-rounders aimed at the same rider: someone who wants one tough, forgiving kite that does everything well and progresses with them for years. Both are built to survive Irish beaches and Irish wind. You genuinely can't buy wrong here — this is about which flavour of "does everything" suits you.

Ozone Reflex — the big-air biased one

The Reflex replaces the much-loved Enduro, but its DNA comes from the Vortex, Ozone's big air machine. That shows in how it flies: easy lift, addictive hangtime, and a tight turning radius that makes kite loops learnable without fear. Ozone's own line is "Vortex possibilities with everyday accessibility" — softer and more playful than the Vortex, but a clear step up in excitement from the Enduro. The Teijin Triple Ripstop Dacron airframe takes beach abuse better than exotic lightweight cloths. Sizes 5m–13m from €1,559. Full sizes and Irish prices here.

Best for: twintip riders chasing bigger jumps, first loops and progression, who still want a kite that can handle the odd wave or foil day.

Core NXS — three kites in one

The NXS is CORE's clever new all-rounder — and the name tells you the recipe: it merges the Nexus, the lightwind XLite and the wave-focused Section into a single three-strut kite on an entirely new platform. "One kite. Wave. Freeride. Foil." is CORE's pitch, and it's earned: lighter and more agile than the old Nexus with noticeably higher performance and a more harmonious feel, it happily covers your twintip session, your surfboard wave day and your foiling. Sizes 5.0–13.5 from €1,799. Our full NXS review here — and remember, we're the only Approved CORE dealer in the Republic of Ireland.

Best for: riders who genuinely mix disciplines — waves one weekend, twintip the next, foil on the light days — and want one smooth kite for all of it.

So which one?

Ask yourself one question: what does your dream session look like? If it's boosting over the pier at Silverstrand, get the Reflex. If it's a clean wave day at one spot, a flat-water blast at another and a foil session in between, get the NXS. Either way it'll be the right kite for years — and either way, we can match the size to your weight and your local spot first time.

Read next

• Core NXS review — three kites in one
• Ozone Reflex first look — the Enduro's exciting successor
• Launched: the all-new Ozone Reflex — sizes, prices and who it's for