Airush Lithium v14 review

Airush Lithium V14 Review — Reider Decker’s Take

Introduction

The Airush Lithium V14 is the latest iteration of Airush’s all-round freeride kite. In the review, rider Reider Decker walks us through its performance across key metrics: turning agility, bar feel, depower, relaunch, and general handling. Using his perspective and ride footage, we get a hands-on feel for how the V14 compares to prior models.

Key Features & Design Changes

Before diving into ride impressions, here are some design highlights and updates:

• Longer center chord — This gives the kite more “parked” power and strong bar drive. airush.com

• Increased sweep in the wingtips — Helps with more reliable relaunch. airush.com

• Airush describes the Lithium as an “all-around kite” — meaning it aims to balance performance in freeride, wave, and general use. Facebook+1

• Independent reviews note that the V14 “turns super fast, very pivotal and tight, without being too big or sweepy.” airush.com

Reider Decker’s Riding Impressions

Here’s what stood out in the video and supporting sources through Reider Decker’s ride:

Turning & Pivot

Decker emphasizes that the V14 has excellent turning responsiveness. He describes it as “tight and pivotal” — meaning when you push it, it reacts sharply without too much lag.

Bar Feel & Depower

He highlights a clean bar feel with good depower range. You sense solid control through the bar, and there’s room to pull back when needed. That lines up with other reviews noting “excellent depower.” airush.com

Relaunch & Recovery

Because of the increased sweep on the wing tips, relaunch is more dependable. Decker demonstrates relaunching from the water, which looks smooth and intuitive. This is one of the more critical tests for many riders, especially in choppy or gusty conditions.

Overall Balance

What impresses most is the kite’s all-round balance. It doesn’t feel extreme toward any one style — freeride, wave, or cruising. It handles well in different conditions without compromising too much in any single category.

Pros & Cons (Based on Review + External Insights)

Pros:

Cons / Potential tradeoffs:

• In pushing for balance, it may not outperform hyper-specialized kites geared toward only waves or racing.

• As conditions get extreme (strong gusts, high wind), some riders might push it to its limits (though I didn’t see obvious weaknesses in the video).

• The long center chord might make it feel a bit more “parked” (i.e. holding in power) — good in many contexts, but possibly less snappy in transitions for some riders.

Conclusion & Recommendations

The Airush Lithium V14 comes across (via Reider Decker’s review) as a refined, versatile kite that doesn’t force you to switch models for every condition. Its strengths lie in its balance — strong turning, dependable relaunch, solid bar feel, and enough power control to satisfy both casual and performance riders.

If you're looking for a kite to handle a wide spread of conditions without needing multiple setups, the V14 is a compelling option. If your focus is highly specialized (e.g. pure wave riding, speed/racing only), you might compare it with models geared specifically for that niche to see which pros/cons matter more to you.