Favorite Kite Size to Fly

Quote: Originally posted by MotoFoo86

Really though, my favorite kite size to fly is the one that appropriately matches wind speed. Flying overpowered is sketch.

Yeah I definitely meant without being over/under powered and matched to wind. More if you could choose the wind (and subsequently your favorite kite).

I like your choices. Be interesting to see what ends up outliers. I'm guessing people with the want for air/jump time and height, where bigger kites give a bit more (while safer)

Depends, Kite speed can be a big factor in jump height. For example anyone megalooping is almost always doing it on a 10m or smaller and there's not question those guys are getting some MAJOR height.

I guess my point more was that unfortunately i end up on certain kites more than others due to prevailing winds. Those kites tend to end up to be my favorites just because i have so much time on them.

Certainly interesting to see what people say!

With those criteria i'm def sticking with the M8 10m. 10m north rebel. 6.5m toxic

I know Beamerbob will probably have my back on the montanas

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

arc: only flown 13m but could tell it was a nice size for average winds depower foil: Complicated as I have flown depower but not foil. I would say 6m single skin depower which roughly equates to 9-10 dp foil so they say fixed bridle: mid ar 2-4 meter static and 2-4 meter nasa style fb for traction lei: No experience

I knew I was forgetting something when I posted this. NASA Stars! I always just group the Peak/Peak 2 in with depower foils, despite realizing it's its own breed/category. Now the debate of whether to go back and edit the top post to add those separate or leave them in FB/Depower foils (anti-respectively) as I did.

Arcs: Nope - I don't fly them; that much nylon kinda' scares me. I've been knocked over by one and it was like being pushed over by a big pillow. :roll:
Depower: My (new) favourite in the buggy. 7m is my favourite for handling and parS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-n'ride; I can throw around the 5m a little faster, but it just doesn't have the same "smile effect".
FB: Now almost only for static... I have an orange 2m pansh that I keep in my car for any chance I get. In the bug, the 4m Core hits the sweet spot for me (but I also love the 3m Core for static).
LEI: Nope. Too much work and I don't do the water (unless I'm stuck in a puddle .

But overall, the best kite is the one that I happen to be flying at the time :wee:

Quote: Originally posted by volock

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre   arc: only flown 13m but could tell it was a nice size for average winds depower foil: Complicated as I have flown depower but not foil. I would say 6m single skin depower which roughly equates to 9-10 dp foil so they say fixed bridle: mid ar 2-4 meter static and 2-4 meter nasa style fb for traction lei: No experience I knew I was forgetting something when I posted this. NASA Stars! I always just group the Peak/Peak 2 in with depower foils, despite realizing it's its own breed/category. Now the debate of whether to go back and edit the top post to add those separate or leave them in FB/Depower foils (anti-respectively) as I did.

nah I like your categories. after all nasa is fixed bridle although rarely referred to in same category.

Quote: Originally posted by hiaguy

Arcs: Nope - I don't fly them; that much nylon kinda' scares me. I've been knocked over by one and it was like being pushed over by a big pillow. :roll: Depower: My (new) favourite in the buggy. 7m is my favourite for handling and parS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-n'ride; I can throw around the 5m a little faster, but it just doesn't have the same "smile effect". FB: Now almost only for static... I have an orange 2m pansh that I keep in my car for any chance I get. In the bug, the 4m Core hits the sweet spot for me (but I also love the 3m Core for static). LEI: Nope. Too much work and I don't do the water (unless I'm stuck in a puddle . But overall, the best kite is the one that I happen to be flying at the time :wee:

Howard, sounds like we have similar winds. my 4 meter twister hit the sweet spot for me in the buggy and 3 meter and below were almost exclusively static because I rarely had the wind for traction.

do you have a 5m and 7m lynx? what winds are your target for 7m? always curious of open cell ranges since I haven't flown one.

still curious about lei and buggy but too lazy to pump

Great topic!

Warning to newcomers! The best all round kite ISN'T the best 1st kite!

My favorite all round kite hands down in my 15m Synergy! 1st and foremost because I have so many hours on it that it feels like an extension of myself. A great kite is only a great kite if you have enough time together that you are one. I struggled with my timing learning to jump. Small foils, too small and fast. Large foils too slow, too little range. The Synergy seemed perfectly matched to my reflex speed. Soft skin kites seem to allow me 1/2 second to make corrections and cancel a bad move. The 15's sweet spot is exactly my favorite wind speeds. 10 - 20 kts.

10m seems a sweet size for depower foils.

Generally I have found that 5m is the most versatile size of FB foil. Small enough to spank around and create apparent wind and just big enough to get some air. If you are out for fun flying and not the power component then a 3m allows you a wider wind range.

All that said, I am getting to stage that my perfect day is a steady onshore ( or winter wind ) at about 10kts and my 18m Phanny or SA. I LOVE a big kite day when it doesn't include chasing sucker winds.

Hmmmnnn..? Probable favorite... would also happens to be most used....

Happens to be my FB 4m Jojo RM+...older racing kite.

It fits in a good wide wind range(~8 to 18+ mph) of the more steady winds I get to enjoy on the East coast of New England.

I also do a lot of jumping with it- even though it's only 4m. This adds to my liking it a lot.



If talking winter...? It might be different choice on snow and ice....

I get a lot of fun out of my PL Twister 5.6m. It may even have just a slightly bigger wind range -using on smooth very low friction ice...... to deep heavy snow.

Hard to commit. It's like picking a favorite child -That's not right!

Quote: Originally posted by skimtwashington

Happens to be my FB 4m Jojo RM+...older racing kite. It fits in a good wide wind range(~8 to 18+ mph) of the more steady winds I get to enjoy on the East coast of New England. I also do a lot of jumping with it- even though it's only 4m. This adds to my liking it a lot. If talking winter...? It might be different choice on snow and ice.... I get a lot of fun out of my PL Twister 5.6m. It may even have just a slightly bigger wind range -using on smooth very low friction ice...... to deep heavy snow. Hard to commit. It's like picking a favorite child -That's not right!

If you need to expand that JoJo Quiver to include a RM+ 5m in brand new condition, let me know!

Loving the variety so far, thanks everyone so far for sharing and keep it up! And the best kite is so much easier to answer than favorite, the best is whatever kite you have in the air to play with currently.

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd

This is a tough one. Arc: 15m Phantom 2. The kite that literally saved my life and the one I will never sell.

As I've never heard this story, care to share with us Feyd? I'm guessing breaking through ice, and it pulling you to safety.

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd

Arc: 15m Phantom 2. The kite that literally saved my life

That is funny! When I read this, all I could think about was how my kites are mean and always try to kill me.
I want a kite that Is nice and looks after me!

19m Venom II - jank wind eater that can get my fat @ss in the air without critical redirect timing - the perfect "lazy man" kite.

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

Quote: Originally posted by hiaguy   Arcs: Nope - I don't fly them; that much nylon kinda' scares me. I've been knocked over by one and it was like being pushed over by a big pillow. :roll: Depower: My (new) favourite in the buggy. 7m is my favourite for handling and parS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-n'ride; I can throw around the 5m a little faster, but it just doesn't have the same "smile effect". FB: Now almost only for static... I have an orange 2m pansh that I keep in my car for any chance I get. In the bug, the 4m Core hits the sweet spot for me (but I also love the 3m Core for static). LEI: Nope. Too much work and I don't do the water (unless I'm stuck in a puddle . But overall, the best kite is the one that I happen to be flying at the time :wee: Howard, sounds like we have similar winds. my 4 meter twister hit the sweet spot for me in the buggy and 3 meter and below were almost exclusively static because I rarely had the wind for traction. do you have a 5m and 7m lynx? what winds are your target for 7m? always curious of open cell ranges since I haven't flown one. still curious about lei and buggy but too lazy to pump

Hey Sean (sorry about the delay),

I'm always impressed by you guys that can say that "X" kite is prefect in "Y" wind - I can't do it. I look outside to see if the trees are moving. If they are, I know there's a chance that there's enough wind at my local park.

How much wind? I don't know... I feel the wind, and decide what size to put up - generally the smallest that I thinS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-ll stay up with enough power to move me. "janky" generally describes a normal day; from there it goes downhill. There are very few days at home that have light enough gusts to let me feel comfortable with my FBs now (maybe it's old age?), hence the move to the DP Lynx'. Typically, gusts are 2.5 to 3 times base wind speed.

I have the 5,7,9 & 11. For sure, there's a lot of overlap, but I'm not a fan of flying overpowered and since trimming in the kite also increases its speed - I wind up worrying about setting up for the next turn. The 7m gets the most air time locally. It's got to be pretty windy for me to pull out the 5m, but when I do, I still feel safer than when I pull out a small foil.

I don't have a wind meter, and the readings that I get from sites and apps really don't seem to be accurate around here (when Windfinder says 8mph gusting to 15mph, and my 11m won't stay in the air, I'm pretty sure it's wrong) so I just pay attention to gust sizes.

When I'm at WBB I ask Rich, Rian, or any of the "more talented than me" pilots (basically - everyone else) what he/they suggest, then I step down a size :o

Sorry I can't directly answer your question, but come on over and try 'em out!

Quote: Originally posted by pongnut

19m Venom II - jank wind eater that can get my fat @ss in the air without critical redirect timing - the perfect "lazy man" kite.

Out of curiosity what line length do you like with it / wind do you normally use it in? I was always scared of mine in higher wind (mostly just so much fabric), but hated having to inflate with a fan/blower, and didn't ever get comfortable with it as we didn't get the right low wind often enough.

Arcs: 13m (Venom or Phantom -- floaty + grunty, but not terrifying and still turns fast)
Depower Foil: 10m (Speed 4... hand's down my favorite depower foil on the planet... tons of range.)
Fixed Bridle: 3m (I love my old Beamer III and my Hornet 2... flies in anything and fun as hell to this day)
LEI/On Water: 10m for LEIs, but I'd really REALLY like to have a go at my 14m on water. It's just so... stable and predictable, but lifty with tons of grunt. I've just never really had the right conditions, but I really look forward to it (it's a 2012 SS Rally, in case you're curious). As it is, though, my go-to kite for like the last year has been the 10m size. I recently replaced a 2011 Rally in that size with a 2016 Wave SST. And yeah, I'm pretty pumped

As for least favorite sizes:
Arcs: 19m Venom (I had to throw away those pants)
Depower Foil: 15m (bowtie machine here in CO)
Fixed Bridle: 5m (blegh)
LEI/On Water: 12m (I just always feel like I'm either under- or over-powered)

All that being said, I'm a total water noob, so I expect this to change significantly by next year