Hey guys, I got hooked on kiting via my Prism Quantum. The first few times I was flying in low winds, however, I finally got a good windy day and i
realized what i loved most besides having such great control was the PULL a 6ft stunt kite gives you. I love leaning back into the wind...
That being said: I need some experienced advice to hlp me on my next purchase...
Here's what I'd like. (I'm 5'10, 230lbs) and I'd like to lose some weight and have some fun in the process.
Long story longer, with very little research I settled on Prism's Snapshot 2.5. Reasons being this. I love the quantum, good experience with their
products so far. Also, I want something big enough to have fun and small enough to not kill myself on the relativly small area i kite in. Also the
Snapshot has a 2 or 4 line set up, so if i want to use it as a trainer for a larger model I can. Price was also a factor, $150 seems pretty
reasonable.
Are the lower quality foils so bad? Do i need something larger to get a workout? I don't need to do jumps with the foil. I just want it to pull
hard...
Thanks, in advance, for your feedback... Much appreciated. abkayak - 20-9-2013 at 11:10 AM
you obviously have a kite problem....you are gonna need more......lots more and if you want to hang out w/ us break out the wallet and tell me what’s
really in thereFerrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 11:21 AM
Yeah. I don't really know how to respond to that. Was that a question or advice? Because it seemed like neither.
To answer your question(?), $300-450 is the most i'd consider paying. I dont have constant wind or wide open spaces around here so, unfortunately,
it's going to be rare for me to get a really good day... Unless a hurricane's coming *wicked grin*
So... I know i need more kite. How much more? Dual or quad? Cheap or expensive? Buy it second-hand or online?
You all have the knowledge! Impart it upon me, a poor miserable noob...abkayak - 20-9-2013 at 11:30 AM
sorry,, got a bad sense of humor or so im told...we all may have different opinions..i think if you really like getting pulled around you should get a
3m 4 line kite...what you picked out is fine and a good next step but i think 3m/4line will serve you longer...it is the kite i am always comfy with
and is used most often..im <160#'s ..its plenty of kite but not too much for phase2.....have lots of fun and welcome aboard..ohh yea, never tell
anyone how much is in the wallet:DDemoknight - 20-9-2013 at 11:41 AM
Ozone, HQ, Peter Lynn, PKD, and I am probably forgetting one or two other top brands with good prices and amazing quality. That is where you start
looking first. Also, I suggest about 3 meters to begin. Take it slow and get lots of practice. You will be wanting to move up to larger sizes after
a while.Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 11:44 AM
So what's a solid/well built 3m kite? Do you need a harness for a smaller/medium sized kite like that?
Anyone else have advice, feel free to lay it on me...Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 11:48 AM
Forgot to say: thanks demoknight, thanks abkayak...
Also: Best place to buy?Demoknight - 20-9-2013 at 11:48 AM
You don't NEED a hardness for any fixed bridle kite. A Harness will help you fly longer without wearing out your arms. A good beginner kite is a
3.0m Beamer. I don't think anyone here would argue that, but they might have other recommendations as well.abkayak - 20-9-2013 at 11:50 AM
no..learn to fly it real good first than we get harnesed when the flying thing is down pat... all those 3m foils are fine take your pick go used and
buy 2...thats how i rollriffclown - 20-9-2013 at 11:55 AM
I've owned Snapshot 2.5 and it's a fun kite to fly in both 2 & 4 line mode. If you already had one, I'd say fly it in 4 line mode for a while and
research a 3-4M. You will be wanting more very soon and the step to a 3M kite (HQ Beamer, HQ Toxic, Ozone Imp Quattro, , etc.) might cost you less in
the long run. Also keep in mind that a Snapshot 2.5 is a vastly different kite than a Rage or Bullet 2.5. A 3M kite is going to be a real handful
until you learn some of the control basics.
Find someone in your area that already has a larger kite and spend time with them instead of money if possible. It gives you a better insight into
what works for you.Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 12:06 PM
Thanks riffclown. I liked your symphony 2.2 4-line conversion. Looks like a great kite.
I appreciate the feedback. More please. You must know how this is. You can read all you want and watch all of the videos you can find online, but it
won't help near as much as a few well -informed opinions.
Best place to buy a used kite? This forum? (a 3.0 Ozone Flow just sold that would have been perfect for me)
Also, what i'm taking away from the new information so far is that 3m+ quad line kites are hard to fly and i might need experience with a smaller
kite... Any other thoughts on this.
Thanks for the responses...riffclown - 20-9-2013 at 12:09 PM
Let us know what area you are in. It's always good to meet fellow kiters and try new kites. I flew with 3shot one day and ended up buying 2 Flexifoil
Bullets. ssayre - 20-9-2013 at 12:23 PM
I was in your shoes not long ago and I bought the snapshot 2.5. Loved it but immediately wanted to to make it 4 line so I only had it a month before
I bought handles and lines. Flew it for another month then bought a 4 meter twister. I've flown that for a month and have wanted another kite ever
since I purchased it. Don't get me wrong, I love the twister. My point is that once your hooked your basically are always wanting another kite.
With that said, If I had to do it all over again, I would have bought a 4 line 3 meter on handles to start with and a 5 meter kite as my second kite.
You don't want a harness if you want a workout.ssayre - 20-9-2013 at 12:26 PM
As for the kite brand / type. My boss just bought a 4 meter hornet from Big Mike's as his first kite. We took it out in relatively light wind and he
learned to fly it the first day. I flew it as well and it is a great flying kite and very well made.Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 12:45 PM
I live an hour and a half north of Tampa Florida in Citrus County. In between the Crystal River/Inverness area. So don't get me wrong, i've got places
i can go. But i have to travel.
Anyone on the west coast of Florida? Hell... East coast? I could make a trip over...
Again, thanks for sharing any info you might think i'd need (or stuff you wish you'd known) starting out.shehatesmyhobbies - 20-9-2013 at 01:06 PM
Hello Ferrous, welcome to the forum and the fun! A 3m kite is not going to be hard to fly. It is the most recommended "beginner" size kite. Like the
others have said, HQ, PL, PKD, Ozone, all have great beginner size kites, it's picking the right version of kite. Yes you can buy used, but be careful
not to get something like a Pansh Ace, PL Vapor, Ozone yakuza, these kites are at the upper end of performance and will be more difficult to fly.
Feel free to give me a shout on the phone, my number is in my sig. Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 01:16 PM
I live an hour and a half north of Tampa Florida in Citrus County. In between the Crystal River/Inverness area. So don't get me wrong, i've got places
i can go. But i have to travel.
Anyone on the west coast of Florida? Hell... East coast? I could make a trip over...
Again, thanks for sharing any info you might think i'd need (or stuff you wish you'd known) starting out.abkayak - 20-9-2013 at 01:26 PM
you should get a couple of cases of Jai Alai and bring them to Wildwood,NJ for the bash......that would be great..you can fly all my stuff and i'll
drink..get a 3m/4line..do it today-tomorrow the latest..be impulsive..i would buy any 3m that i dont already own..havn't met one i didn't like
yet..been thru 5 already..jusayinFerrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 01:47 PM
Love to man. But i am tied to florida right now helping my mom through cancer and taking care of my little sister... No sympathy for my buzz-kill
skills please...
Jai-Alai beer good? Must be one of the few FL beers i haven't drank too much of...
Here's another question that may or may not be stupid:
What's the largest kite you would fly, on land, on your feet, safely? Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 01:56 PM
Also (sorry for all the questions) Does anyone have experience with the Prism Tensor Series? I was thinking 3.1...
I AM GOING ALL IN, TAKING ABKAYAS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-S ADVICE AND BEING IMPULSIVE!!! IN 48 HOURS OR LESS I WILL PURCHASE MY FIRST POWER KITE!!!
SUBMISSIONS AND ADVICE GREATLY ENCOURAGED!!!!!abkayak - 20-9-2013 at 02:07 PM
my last post for today...i like you..Mom/Sis 1st and than we kite..thats how to roll...dont worry abt the big kites they will come w/ time but 24m
biggest i've seen...and yea Jai Alai is the bomb..no experiance w/ Tensor but i'd buy one no second thought.....i've seen plenty in other peoples
hands..may you have a larger area to fly and the wind gods smile upon you...this wkend it's my turnDemoknight - 20-9-2013 at 02:42 PM
Also (sorry for all the questions) Does anyone have experience with the Prism Tensor Series? I was thinking 3.1...
I AM GOING ALL IN, TAKING ABKAYAS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-S ADVICE AND BEING IMPULSIVE!!! IN 48 HOURS OR LESS I WILL PURCHASE MY FIRST POWER KITE!!!
SUBMISSIONS AND ADVICE GREATLY ENCOURAGED!!!!!
I have a Tensor 5m and I love it. It is a super stable kite. Very easy to fly. It is relatively responsive to just pulling the power lines, and
also likes to be whipped around by the brakes a little. The largest kite you would fly on your feet depends on how much fun you have being dragged.
I frequently static(on foot) fly my 8.0m HQ Toxic just because it is a real monster to zoom around. I love me some barefoot sand-skiing Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 03:36 PM
Demoknight - Thanks for the response.
So I'm looking for a 2 line that can convert to a quad.
3m to 6m.
Peter Lynn, PKL, HQ , Ozone or Prism...
I've never seen anyone using a helmet while static flying but I'm sure i could figure out a way to smack my melon...
Any other accesories you *need* to have for this type of Kiting? Stuff I can factor into the final price...
Thanks again for the info. I'll post my decision in 2 days. Then pictures when i get it up in the air!Demoknight - 20-9-2013 at 03:47 PM
I would totally skip two line kites if I were you. Four line is the way to go. A four line kite can usually be flown almost identically to a two line
kite. That is, just by push/pull turns. Then, when you get some practice, you can slowly start incorporating some brake pressure in your turns for
tighter turns. You would be surprised how fast I can whip my 8m kite around. Plus, while learning, it is invaluable to be able to relaunch from the
nose down position. Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 04:05 PM
Peter Lynn's kites look pretty cool. The Hornet looks good. Thanks ssayre.
I don't really have any kind of reference point for comparing kites though... I'm kind of relying on your recommendations.
Demoknight - 20-9-2013 at 04:29 PM
I like Tensors, but they are probably the most expensive beginner kite you can get. They are excellent kites, but I wouldn't say that they are any
better than a Beamer. Take a look at the HQ Toxic line. I love mine.Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 04:34 PM
HQ Beamer looks pretty good too. Any suggestions?
I was told in this forum.that as soon as I got used to a 3m i'd want a 5m. Why would you want both? I'm assuming they do different things for you...
I think i want one. Honestly i can't afford 2. So my question is this:
I know this question might seem too dark and evil for enthusiasts such as yourself but here it goes:
If you could only own ONE power kite. Which one would you own? What's the best/most versatile kite you've ever flown?
It's probably not a good question since i dont have any experience, but go ahead and humor me if you don't mind...
Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 04:38 PM
One more thing for tonight and then i'm done!
Best online store for buying a kite?Demoknight - 20-9-2013 at 04:38 PM
That is a trick question. You cannot own only one power kite. You want different sizes for different wind speeds. The higher the wind speed, the
smaller the kite. The lighter the wind, the larger the kite. It takes 15-20 mph of wind to make my 5m kite pull like my 8m kite does in 10mph.Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 04:42 PM
Thanks demoknight.
That's why i thought getting a 5m or 6m might be better for me. Locally i'm lucky to get high winds, they just dont happen that often. So i figured if
i could lauch it in lower winds i would use it more often...Demoknight - 20-9-2013 at 04:46 PM
Do you know the exact wind speeds? If you are rarely above 15 mph of wind, a 5m kite might not be too much overkill.Ferrous_Hominid - 20-9-2013 at 04:49 PM
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE FEEDBACK! I REALLY APPRECIATE IT! I'M GOING TO SCOUR THE INTERNET AND COME BACK TO THE FORUM TOMORROW WITH A LITTLE MORE
KNOWLEDGE, AND HOPEFULLY A FEW MORE SUGGESTIONS FROM YOU ALL!
THANKS!
- John Christensen
Last thing, place you bought your kite? Suggestions in that vein...Bladerunner - 20-9-2013 at 04:54 PM
WOW you are excited !
Largest kite I fly on land is 19m . Smallest is 2.5m .
There is no such thing as 1 single kite that will do it all . SAD FACT ! I will be traveling with just 1 kite to Cuba this winter and it will be my
15m Synergy. ( confusion alert ) It is a depower, Peter Lynn arc .
We use different sizes of kites to fly safely in different winds. The stronger the wind the smaller the kite we need to produce the power we need to
be moved along. A smaller kite like a 3m will fly in very little wind because it is light and fast so you can fly it and create " apparent wind " .
The thing is that the 3m doesn't work as an engine until the wind is stronger. The fact it flies early but acts like a grown up kite when the wind
picks up is what makes it the perfect size to get going. You will desire more power in less wind once you are master of the 3m .
Go to www.coastalwindsports.com and look over the tutorials that Angus has put together BEFORE buying . He has everything in there that I would want
someone to know.
I have bought almost all my kites from the for sale section here. Kites lose value as soon as you take it out of the shop. 3shot - 20-9-2013 at 04:55 PM
Welcome Hominid. You can't go wrong with a good 3-5m 4 line kite as others have said. No matter where you end up in the sport, you will always have a
itch to fly the 3m. Ozone, Peter Lynn, Flexifoil, etc will not let you down. Buy good gear!! Always great deals HERE in the classified forum. Peeps
look out for one another here at PKF too. If you don't see it for sale, ask and someone generally will have one .And since abkayak didn't say it, say
good bye to your checkbook. Lol. Welcome again.3shot - 20-9-2013 at 05:47 PM
If you could only own ONE power kite. Which one would you own?
Easy, One that could be exchanged for other kites regularly.. Seriously, that question is often asked but nearly impossible to answer. Strong wind
days I'm flying my 2.2.4, if there's very light wind, the Crossfire 4M is getting some airtime. I don't have a 3M kite myself, I started out with a
2M and got a smoking good deal on the 4M (actually traded my Snapshot 2.5 for it.) My 2.5 Bullet is closest to a 3Meter that I have and if you are
solely static flying (like me) then the Bullet (or Rage) would be very fun "stuntable" kites. If you are going into buggies, ATB or jumping, the
answers would be very different.
As long as you start whatever kite you get at the low end of the wind scale and progress smartly, you'll be fine with just about anything within a
reasonable 2-4M range. Just don't try to fly a 3-4M kite in strong wind and expect it to be fun the first time. Dirt/grass/sand is not a dietary
supplement.. Fly smart and safe and you'll always have fun. Push the envelope before you are ready and you probably won't.
As for a specific recommendation, The 3M HQ Beamer is a great first kite that you will keep long after you purchased other kites. The HQ Toxic 3M
(I've only flown the 2M Toxic) would be a faster kite and a bit more high performance than the Beamer but less forgiving. Ferrous_Hominid - 21-9-2013 at 11:59 AM
Thanks for the help everyone. I think the Beamer looks good. Riffclown, what did you mean by the HQ 3m Toxic being less forgiving?
Thanks for the help everyone. I think the Beamer looks good. Riffclown, what did you mean by the HQ 3m Toxic being less forgiving?
Different kites have very different flying characteristics. The Beamer is a great starter kite due to its stability. However every kite (with
different aspect ratios) is literally a balance between stability and the sheer speed and performance with which thy fly through the air. Fly a Beamer
outside the wind window and there's a good chance you can maneuver it back into the window even with limited skills. Fly a HQ Crossfire or HQ Toxic
(or other higher aspect ratio) outside the wind window and it's going to take a lot more skill to keep it from folding up on you. The advantage to
higher aspect ratio kites is they simply fly faster and given the same amount or wind will potentially produce more power in the right hands.
I learned on the Symphony and once I modified it, it's literally the first kite I reach for in most wind conditions. But I'm 100% static flying. I
bought a Snapshot 2.5 to get more pull but the performance didn't meet my expectations. It was a blast to fly but not a fast as I wanted. I got a
sweet deal on the Crossfire 2M (Thanks Kent) and a friend bought the 4M at the same time. After watching the 2M luff on me a few times, I got
into the science of the foils themselves and realized, a higher performance kite needs a higher performance kiter. I enjoy my 2M Crossfire now but I
do have to fly it in a more limited window than many of my other kites. My friend that bought the 4M decided it was too much kite for him and offered
me a trade for the snapshot. I ended up with a pair of Crossfires including the 4M which is now my main low wind kite.
I'd still recommend the Beamer as your first kite. Learn all about the wind window and how to keep it stable anywhere within your flying area, once
you are wanting more then you should get more into the science of aspect ratio, performance.If you want to Jump, Buggy, ATB or ge Kiting Watersports,
then your choice would be based on those factors.
Get the Beamer. It's a great kite and I'm personally a little partial to the HQ brand. That's a personal endorsement, not a paid one. I'm sponsored by
no one. Demoknight - 22-9-2013 at 06:58 AM
I will second what Riff says. My first actual power kite was a 5.0m Prism Tensor, and I still fly it often. In fact I have more buggy time on the
Tensor than I do my big Toxic because my wind has been too gusty lately. The Beamer is going to be very similar to the Tensor in performance, and
equal or better build quality. Oh, and the Beamer is priced very well. Get the Beamer.Ferrous_Hominid - 26-9-2013 at 10:24 PM
I got the 4m Beamer V from Angus at coastalwindsports.com.
Then, I had this $50 gift card for amazon...
...so I used that to justify getting:
A Prism Snapshot 2.5
A Prism Nexus
Some Mechanix gloves
A pair of polarized sunglasses
And a big stupid boonie hat...
I've got the itch! But now that I've jumped in with both feet and everything's in the mail I'm hoping I didn't make any huge mistakes. I spent way
more money than I thought I would, but other than that, some last minute jitters and second-guessing I think I did good.
I think I've got all the gear I need besides some sunscreen but i was wondering (if anybody is still reading this thread) what you think about shoes.
Proper footwear. I have a pair of work boots with high ankle support, steel shanks, and steel toes. Unfortunately they have pretty good tread on them
and I gather you don't want your feet catching while you get pulled. I've heard old school canvas converse are great for skidding but canvas ain't
great support for the ankles...
Thanks for all the help! Angus, riffclown, abkayak, demoknight. Anyone else i left out. Thanks!riffclown - 27-9-2013 at 05:01 AM
That's a lot of stuff for $50..
If you don't have one, you might want to get a helmet as well. Ferrous_Hominid - 27-9-2013 at 06:17 AM
Riffclown, it was like $240, I just used the gift card as an excuse to spend *way* more money...abkayak - 27-9-2013 at 06:21 AM
i am very proud how quickly you have come to piss ALL your money away on kites....you will do well.Ferrous_Hominid - 27-9-2013 at 06:25 AM
Really? A helmet? I thought I was paranoid when I came up with that piece of equipment... Any cheap ones out there?
What do you think about the shoes/boots?
Bladerunner - 27-9-2013 at 06:37 AM
I think I would be worried about my head before my feet.
Look for a helmet that will protect the back of your head. That is what I seem to hit most. Many of those times have been with a small kite in hand.
Worried about breaking/spraining my ankles. That seems like the most common injury sustained...
Helmet... I guess I'll be pissing off my girlfriend a little bit more.
Cheap helmet that still protects your melon?
Damn... That means I can't wear my big stupid boonie hat.Demoknight - 27-9-2013 at 10:21 AM
The others are probably going to yell at me for this, but I have never worn a helmet while kiting. I wear my straw cowboy hat. If you are on a
beach, the type of shoes does not matter much. If you are on grass in a park, you want shoes that do not have really deep grooves or chunky soles.
The flatter the better. Lucky me I have a beach nearby that I fly almost exclusively at, so I wear whatever I want on my feet abkayak - 27-9-2013 at 11:06 AM
sorry imo...bad advise above..get a helmet, and get used to wearing it...and look for a correct one not a cheap one...you want no regrets on spending
that moneyjgorm - 27-9-2013 at 11:16 AM
I think a helmet is way overkill until you are moving fast, or catching tons of air.Ferrous_Hominid - 27-9-2013 at 12:07 PM
Thanks for the advice.
Anyone know of any other products like this? I love these, but the guy making them wants over $200, which probably isn't a bad price but it is too
much for me.
They look so bad-ass though!
I'm looking for something like this that would strap over my work boots. There has to be some kind of work boot/strap cover thing but i have yet to
find it. All the work boot covers I've seen have rubber soles, as you would expect, so you don't slip.
Can't think of any other situation where you need to make sure your feet slide besides dirt track racing...
