hondamon - 18-12-2011 at 04:33 AM
Hello fellow enthusiasts!
I'm only a couple months into this sport, but I'm going to group myself in with the enthusiasts anyhow. Great stuff!
I wasn't sure whether to put this in the review section of the PKF site or here, because I can't offer too many detailed specs and characteristics of
this new kite, and I haven't that much experience using many different kites as it is. I got my girlfriend an HQ Hydra 300. I decided to go with the
300 rather than the 350 (3.5m), because I already have a 4m Flow, so the 350 would have a similar feel, and with the 300 (2.5m), her 11 year old son
can use it as well.
Starting out, it seemed to take longer than I thought to fill with air, although wind was not strong today - 6-10kts with a couple higher gusts. Once
it was filled with air though, it responded very well. One thing we noticed was that beyond the air inlets (there are 2 of them), the wing tips
seemed a little flimsy, but not "disastrously" so. I felt it had a lot of power for being just a 2.5m. This is our first water-relaunchable foil, so
I wonder if other, larger crossover kites show these kind of characteristics.
My girlfriend was mostly using that while I was with my 9m Frenzy. Winds were usually too light, but enough to get me going on my board, although I
had to work the kite a bit to keep it powered - working it upwind wasn't easy and going downwind, the apparent wind was almost null. Still good fun
and good practice for a kiteboarding whipper snapper such as myself. Too bad my body isn't that of a whipper snapper. 
Anyhow, just thought I'd share, and maybe I can get some feedback on that Hydra 300.
Cheers!!
Damon
stetson05 - 18-12-2011 at 02:21 PM
with my Hydra in light winds it is slow to fill. Once I can get the kite in the air I fly it aggressively to get enough internal pressure. Once it
is full though it seems to to better in light winds than open cell kites because it holds its shape better in lulls. I haven't noticed a problem with
the tips but I haven't flown it for a while. I like the kite and recommend it often. It is a great starter kite for those near the water. I once
got an open cell kite wet on the beach in a puddle and I was amazed how much it affected it. Basically I had to be done flying the kite.
4mylifetime - 18-12-2011 at 02:37 PM
I have the Hydra 350.
It works this way: Hold it up so the wind goes into the two open cells. All you have to do is get enough wind into it to get the basic shape. If the
wind is about 10 knots you can even just pull it hard to launch it and it will fill as it goes up.
Once half filled just launch it and as it rises it will fill up completely.
It really helps to give it some hard pulls downward on the bar to assist in the filling up. This will ram air into the wingtips. Don't baby it, don't
be afraid to treat it with force on this step
Once up at 12 o'clock it will stay filled.
The beauty of the Hydra is it floats on the water on on land like a twin foil yet rises easily like a single foil.