Airush Lift V3 Kite

You’re powered up, send the kite, edge hard, and pop… but your jumps feel more like a hop than a flight. If you’re struggling to get the height and hangtime you crave, your all-around kite might be what’s holding you back.

That’s where a specialized tool makes the difference. The Airush Lift V3 was engineered specifically to convert wind power into explosive lift. This review connects the Lift V3’s design to on-the-water confidence and control, skipping the jargon to focus on what you’ll actually feel. Ready to start flying?

Is the Lift V3 Your Next Kite? A Reality Check

The Lift V3 is a perfect upgrade if you’re past the beginner stage, ride upwind confidently, and want to focus purely on jumping. It’s designed to turn your current ‘hops’ into proper flights. However, its raw power can be challenging for absolute beginners still mastering board control, making this a progression kite, not a first-time kite.

Choosing the Lift V3 means understanding a trade-off. An all-around kite is like a forgiving SUV, good at everything. The Lift V3 is a performance machine, exchanging that relaxed feel for one job: launching you skyward. This specialization makes it a beast for big air but less ideal for other disciplines like wave riding. If your goal is boosting high and you’re ready for a powerful, direct kite, it’s a top choice.

The Secret to ‘Floaty’ Jumps: The Lift V3’s Shape

The secret to the Lift V3’s hangtime is its long, slender profile—a high-aspect shape. Think of it like a glider’s wing rather than a fighter jet’s. This efficient shape is engineered for maximum hangtime, translating into a powerful upward pull followed by a slow, controlled, and floaty descent. It’s the key to turning a quick boost into a genuinely long flight.

This powerful shape is supported by a 5-strut design. These five inflatable ribs create a rock-solid skeleton across the canopy, preventing it from deforming or fluttering when you’re fully powered or hit a gust. For you, this means unmatched stability and predictability, giving you the confidence to edge harder and send the kite with total commitment for a bigger, cleaner launch.

Taming the Gusts: The Airush Load Frame

In addition to the struts, the Airush Load Frame tames sudden power surges. This hidden harness of high-strength fibers is woven into the canopy, distributing tension evenly across the kite’s surface. It’s designed specifically to prevent the kite from fluttering or warping in heavy gusts—a huge advantage for boosting big in strong winds.

On the water, the Lift V3 remains incredibly solid, converting wind into smooth, manageable power. Because the kite maintains its perfect aerodynamic shape under pressure, it provides a more consistent and explosive launch. This rock-solid feel builds immense rider confidence. When you trust your kite won’t misbehave, you’re more willing to hold your edge longer and turn intimidating gusts into pure rocket fuel.

How to Tune Your Lift V3 for More Pop or Faster Loops

You can fine-tune the Lift’s handling using two simple connection points on each wingtip for your steering lines. Changing between them takes less than a minute but allows you to shift the kite’s behavior from a hangtime machine to a looping powerhouse.

Here’s what the bridle settings do:

• The Big Air Setting (Forward Pigtail): This factory setting makes the kite sit slightly deeper in the wind window, providing more powerful upward lift and maximizing that floaty, extended hangtime.
• The Kiteloop Setting (Rear Pigtail): Favored by team riders, this setting allows the kite to pivot more quickly and tightly, making kiteloops faster and easier to catch.

For most riders focused on boosting, the default Big Air Setting is perfect. As you advance and want to experiment with faster loops, the Kiteloop setting is a fantastic option to grow into.

Choosing Your Weapon: The Right Size Kite and Bar

Choosing the right kite size is crucial. As a rule of thumb, base your choice on your weight. For an average 175 lbs (80 kg) rider, a 9m or 10m Lift is often the perfect engine for classic 20-25 knot days.

To unlock that performance, the Lift V3 is designed to be flown on the 5-line Airush Unit bar. While a standard 4-line bar works, you would miss out on the stability and control the kite was engineered for. That extra fifth line adds structural support to the kite’s frame, preventing it from deforming in strong gusts. It also makes relaunching practically effortless—if the kite lands face down, a simple pull on the 5th line rolls it over and gets you riding immediately.

Your Verdict: Is the Lift V3 the Right Tool for You?

If your jumps have hit a ceiling, this review shows how a kite’s specific design—its rigid frame and powerful shape—is the tool that can shatter that limit. The Lift V3 is for the rider who has mastered the basics and is now hungry for more.

It’s engineered to deliver explosive big air and hangtime with a stability that inspires the confidence to send it, knowing a slow, controlled descent is waiting. But words only go so far. Find a local Airush demo day and ask to try one. A single, soaring jump will tell you everything you need to know.