Power Kite Forum

4m kites?

Bladerunner - 3-10-2012 at 06:33 AM

Looks like a new fleebay kite is out.

Has anybody got 1st hand experience with these kites? They look like a typical China kite. They come in some larger sizes so you might think they are designed as an engine?

At the prices they are sure to attract interest from a certian # of new kiters. Is this a kite we should give the go ahead to buy or will it just frustrate a newcomer?

As you would expect it doesn't appear they come with kite killers or instructions.

Pansh has managed to move up from this kind of product. It was only a matter of time for somebody to try and take the bottom rung.

cheezycheese - 3-10-2012 at 06:53 AM

Links...? Haven't seen it...? :dunno:

bobalooie57 - 3-10-2012 at 07:11 AM

Here's a link to their e-bay.ca site. Looks like the recurring Chinese knockoffs. Remember the "Albatross" kites? It looks like they even do Revolution knock-offs, too.

EDIT: I took that link out, don't want anyone getting the idea that I support these guys. Anyway Marc, you get the idea... :thumbdown:

bigkid - 3-10-2012 at 07:41 AM

not sure I would be interested in this, must be a new sport,

4m˛POWER/TRACTION KITE 500/400Ib DYNEEMA LINE HANDLE ALBATROSS BUDDYING KITES

4 lines control kite, can be use with quad handle or control bar. Easy fly easy re-launched.e lift in the wind, ex-- Can be use for traction, buggy, snowboarding, kite board, skiing kite.....
or just as kitesurfing trainer Kite drag you around the grass/beach to prctice kite control .
Perfect for Intermediate ~advanced fliers. Strong recommend for you.

400lb brake lines, must be a tough one to slow down.:lol:
Those Chinese are good at google translate :duh:
drag me around the grass to prctice kite control. Strong recommend for you. Always good for a laugh:bigok:

BeamerBob - 3-10-2012 at 08:17 AM

The fine print is telling. Signature required for delivery. Signature indicates all was delivered in good condition. Can you imagine asking the ups guy to wait while you open and inspect everything? At $200 this looks like a huge risk on an unknown product.

bigkid - 3-10-2012 at 09:33 AM

I still want to know what a Albatross Buddying Kite is.:lol: I can only imagine....could get me in trouble, at least I wont be alone.:lol::lol::lol::lol:

indigo_wolf - 3-10-2012 at 02:24 PM

Kind of get leery when the only listing for the kites are on eBay and you can't find the product through any other retail methods. Not necessarily a bad thing but gives me pause.

If you are just looking to work with a lower budget, I would think you are better off buying second hand or there are other basic/budget brands to explore:

Eolo Radsails, Elliot, DP, Cross (new brand being carried by BigMikesKites and Dakitez).

YMMV.

ATB,
Sam

Bladerunner - 3-10-2012 at 04:56 PM

Albatross is yet another China kite . I guess they are trying to say they are a step up from them yet they look pretty much the same? ( haven't been watching Ebay since Jonesband wasn't banned.)
All these sellers seem to also sell knock off Rev's. :flaming:
I was expecting less than positive feedback but didn't want to be alone in my opinion.

I am expecting somebody to come on the market and give Pansh a run at their own game. Looks like 4m isn't even bottom rung ? :dunno:

pyro22487 - 3-10-2012 at 06:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner
( haven't been watching Ebay since Jonesband wasn't banned.)


I liked the jonesband posts. They were awesome.


Yea I don't look at any kites on ebay if they aren't from a known company.

You talkin' 'bout the 'Airstream' ones?

skimtwashington - 4-10-2012 at 05:06 AM

Noticed handles have no strop line attatchment.

Yes... and line weight/strength seems a little overkill.

Could help seller by contacting and suggesting he donate one to PKF to pass around and try. If It's crap( you think? :yes: )we'll tell him. If I't actually good it would be best advertising he could get. Likely, he doesn't want to know. I agree w/ suggestion he's trying to grab new unknowledgable kiters.


Quote:

Is this a kite we should give the go ahead to buy or will it just frustrate a newcomer?


Unless we get one free to try...that's not going to happen- because no experienced kiter is going to buy and try these kites. And why would we recommend an unknown kite?

Likely....only a former noob who bought one and who later gets well experienced (has flown many hours using popular real brand/quality)will be able to definitively look back and be able to comment /recommend or not.

Til then the general 'stay away from no-brand chinese kite rule' is in place.


But... anyone can reach seller thru FleaBay- 'contact seller' link- on any of his items to suggest the freebie idea. I'm not. I have my kites. Have a Noob do it.

Noobs always have to be initiated..

bobalooie57 - 4-10-2012 at 05:55 AM

Good luck with that, ski. I tried contacting them when they were Albatross. They weren't interested in a critical evaluation by experienced kiters, as I offered to conduct a "Pass the Albatross". Chances are, these kites are direct design copies of name brand kites, but with graphics changes, to confuse the buyer. They told me in an e-mail that they were going to step back and re-think their marketing strategy. I guess this is it.
By the way, that Schaefer commercial really hit home. I grew up in southern CT, near RI, so I probably heard that one when it first came out! :puzzled: Well, maybe it was a re-run, but i doubt it... :crazy:

So you already did exactly that...(contact/suggest freebie)!

skimtwashington - 4-10-2012 at 10:30 AM

Good for you B'b'looie. Good Chutzpah! Yeah the albatross logo is still featured in ad. I'm sure the kites are not great. Their marketing stratergy is go after the unexperienced and cash flow scared.
Hubris can hurt the company thet doesn't listen- or pretends to...but probably not in this case understanding their target consumer.

If you grew up in the 60's you saw the original Schaefer 'jingle' commercial. That one stood out for it's soft sell and human touch. This is a time when cigarette ads were still allowed on TV. Here's an earlier cig ad from that decade from the 'Stones'





Lets get the new WBB attendees to sing a kite song




OMG! That is bad i'm sorry. I've never hated any kid's character as much as Barney........ please substitute with a very cool kite song here:




see you at the WBB Nasa Kite group fly...(ohhh...yeah the group activities aren't up yet :wink2:...)

MC PREZ - 9-1-2013 at 09:09 AM

I bought the Pansh 3m kite 2 weeks ago after seeing someone kite ski in the Omaha area. You are supposed to "inspect" it if it had been inspected by customs. It didn't have any customs tape on it so I signed and it was fine. This in not a ready to fly kite, I had to attach the lines. It comes with handles and I did have to adjust the brake lines by adding another knot to the bridle. It wasn't hard to adjust and being my first kite I was rather proud of myself. For the price I think this is a great entry level kite. But I don't have any experience with other trainer kites to compare it with.
I strapped on some skies yesterday for the first time and was skiing in 12 to 18 mile an hour winds. I found out it's not as easy as I thought. I have sore muscles today that I didn't even know I had. I have a Montana VII 12m kite coming at the end of the week. Hope I haven't bit off more than I can handle. I have flown the Montana VI 12.5m last week in light winds of 4 to 7 mph and didn't have any trouble. By the way I will be 60 years old next year, so you're never to old to teach an "old" dog new tricks.

cheezycheese - 9-1-2013 at 09:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MC PREZ
I bought the Pansh 3m kite 2 weeks ago after seeing someone kite ski in the Omaha area. You are supposed to "inspect" it if it had been inspected by customs. It didn't have any customs tape on it so I signed and it was fine. This in not a ready to fly kite, I had to attach the lines. It comes with handles and I did have to adjust the brake lines by adding another knot to the bridle. It wasn't hard to adjust and being my first kite I was rather proud of myself. For the price I think this is a great entry level kite. But I don't have any experience with other trainer kites to compare it with.
I strapped on some skies yesterday for the first time and was skiing in 12 to 18 mile an hour winds. I found out it's not as easy as I thought. I have sore muscles today that I didn't even know I had. I have a Montana VII 12m kite coming at the end of the week. Hope I haven't bit off more than I can handle. I have flown the Montana VI 12.5m last week in light winds of 4 to 7 mph and didn't have any trouble. By the way I will be 60 years old next year, so you're never to old to teach an "old" dog new tricks.


MC PREZ - I suggest you start a new thread with this info so that the advice given to you doesn't get lost in an old obscure thread.
Good luck with that Montana. Do you have a helmet and harness...?

caleb - 20-2-2013 at 09:51 PM

I actually have a kite from 4m kites. It's not that bad.
Here's a video of it. You can have it for $120 if you like just let me know.
http://www.youtube.com/v/UMclzn3ATVw

stetson05 - 20-2-2013 at 11:50 PM

Caleb, glad the kite is working out for you. I like the field you use to kite. Looks like a great place.