Power Kite Forum

(Affordable) session saver...Pansh?

UnknownAX - 16-4-2016 at 01:09 AM

I've been eyeing a large flysurfer for quite some time now, to extend my wind range. I'm mainly interested in getting on the water sooner, but I'd probably be using the kite on the snow too.
I currently have a 12m Catalyst for water and a 11m Frenzy for snow. Weight 85kg.
Do you think I should be looking at the 18/19m foils or would a 15m be more appropriate? I doubt a 19m would make any sense for snow, but on water the extra power may be needed?

If we limit this to foil kites, the two main options are the FS Speed3 15/19 and the Pansh A15 15/18m. :puzzled:
I seriously never thought I'd ever even consider a Pansh, but according to the reviews I've found, the A15 actually seems to be flying even without any tweaking. Heck, some even go as far as to say the thing is more stable than a Speed!

I know that at least a few people here have the A15 and more than a few have the Speed3. What do you think about the A15's -depower, -wind range, -turning speed, and stability compared to the Speed3? Is it a viable option for me? Could I fly it on the 5 line bar of my Frenzy (2014)?

Hopefully I'm not asking too many things at once here!:smilegrin:

Kamikuza - 16-4-2016 at 01:29 AM

How about a cheap Psycho4 19?

UnknownAX - 16-4-2016 at 01:37 AM

I'm not sure why I would choose a psycho over the speed, the speed seems to be the obvious choice for light winds + I've never seen anyone ride a 19m Psycho let alone sell one. I might consider it if someone was actually selling one + the price was right.

mainekite2 - 16-4-2016 at 04:20 AM

I've got an A15 in the 18m size that I got this winter. Haven't had much opportunity to fly it but this is what I can tell you. I have flown it twice, once on skis and once in the buggy. On snow the flags were barely moving, a flutter really, and you could barely feel the wind. Right out of the bag, on a ozone bar I use for the aurora, it flew and flew well. I inflated with a leaf blower as the wind was that light, once airborne it was very stable and behaved well. Lots of low end grunt and when the apparent wind kicked in got moving quite well and seemed to keep building. The wind then died completely.

Second time in the buggy. Winds maybe 5-7, Ted struggling on a 12m peak, inflates well took awhile to launch as I forgot to close the deflate zipper in my excitement to get going. Once that was taken care of she went right up. Lots of pull, found myself being pulled sideways quite a bit, but with a better wind direction that would be better. Once again apparent wind just built and built. Kite was stable, easy to fly, well mannered and fun. For an 18m the turning speed wasn't bad, you just need to plan ahead a little as with any kite that size that I have flown. I put in 12 miles and got up to 25mph on a day that I would have been sitting around or struggling with other kites. I got mine on sale for around $400, custom colors, including shipping and it was here in about 10 days. Much better than the Aurora

I have never flown a flysurfer, so I have no comparison, maybe someday. Session saver-YES, Priced Right- YES, would I buy it again-YES

Feyd - 16-4-2016 at 05:02 AM

More stabile than a Speed? You be the judge.:o

https://youtu.be/r_BMmN30G_4

Would I choose it over a speed? Probably not if my budget allows for the Speed. I would choose a Psycho over a speed.

This A15 had to have the whole bridle gone through to remove some hanky twists and make it right. That said, even before that was done it did fly well out of the bag. But if you were to fly it a lot as it was there would eventually be issues.

It's a Pansh. So you have to come into it knowing that it may need some tweaking. If you are okay with that it can be a good kite on a budget. Mostly in terms of light wind kites. Can it compete with a Speed of the same size? Close maybe. R1, Chrono or Sonic? Nope.

Light wind flying is the most costly. These kites can be session savers without breaking the bank but I'm not sure, if all you have are light wind days, that it will last long term in terms of durability. This is based on the wear we saw on them from the snow and ice. Sand is a bit more abrasive.

But it is stabile. As you can see, it's nearly Arc stabile.




IFlyKites - 16-4-2016 at 09:17 AM

You can't go wrong with both kites. For the price though, you could find a 15m Speed 3 dlx used. I've never owned the Pansh so I can't tell you much about it.

In my opinion, 19 or 21 really limits you in terms of flying and once it gets over a certain point, you'll be packing up. With a 15m you have the wider wind range. I've never owned a Speed but I have had a Psycho 4 15m and loved it. It had good low end, but I felt overpowered at 70kg when it gusted, (that was land). The speed has the lighter fabric, so if you're looking for a session saver, possibly look into it. Good luck with your choice!

Bladerunner - 16-4-2016 at 09:25 AM

I wonder if the A15 is part of the 1/2 price sale of 2016 kites that Pansh have on now?

Kamikuza - 16-4-2016 at 08:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by UnknownAX  
I'm not sure why I would choose a psycho over the speed, the speed seems to be the obvious choice for light winds + I've never seen anyone ride a 19m Psycho let alone sell one. I might consider it if someone was actually selling one + the price was right.

I wa surprised by how good it was in light wind, but I prefer my Speeds too, although I'd like to try the Psychos with the foil board.

Yes, it'll be really cheap :D

Kamikuza - 16-4-2016 at 08:53 PM

Wow, $70 for line sets-- whats the quality like?

indigo_wolf - 16-4-2016 at 09:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner  
I wonder if the A15 is part of the 1/2 price sale of 2016 kites that Pansh have on now?


The promo page does say ALL products without any caveats.

http://www.panshkite.com/index.php?gOo=article_details.dwt&a...

ATB,
Sam

Great. I'm not even able to post a reply. All my text just vanished...

UnknownAX - 17-4-2016 at 01:57 AM

Edit. Apparently it was caused by the "euro" symbol in my text...:puzzled:

UnknownAX - 17-4-2016 at 02:00 AM

Yes it does. I added an A15 to my cart and the price changed to 360e, including shipping.:D

Thanks for all the info on the A15, it really seems to be an option worth considering.
Like I mentioned, the other thing I'm not quite sure about is size. The 21m would probably get way too big way too soon on water and wouldn't be of any use on snow so that leaves me with the 15m and 18/19m. Ideally I'd use the kite on snow in winds under 12 knots and on water until 14 knots or so. Of course I need to factor in gusts as well. The 15m seems to have a very good windrange, but is a 15m even a true light wind kite at all? Maybe the 18/19m would get me on the water on those really light days? Oh no....:(

Feyd - 17-4-2016 at 05:20 AM

21m is a dog IMO.Flies in nothing but falls out of the sky in a turn at low speeds. I prefer a smaller kite that I can work to get performance and can put where it needs to be when it needs to be. The 21m isn't that kind of kite. Survives on apparent and like most kites that do, any loss of forward speed is a real problem.

Feyd - 17-4-2016 at 05:23 AM

Like many kites in their largest sizes, the size is better suited to heavy rider weights, not added light wind performance. Sure there are a few exceptions but not many.

UnknownAX - 18-4-2016 at 02:20 PM

I actually stumbled upon a 19m Psycho yesterday. The guy is asking 950 euro for it. I think I'll pass...:o

PHREERIDER - 18-4-2016 at 05:36 PM

from my experience, 15m P4, durable powerhouse with decent range . i am 90kg and it gets a ton of use.

is it a session saver? not really , but close. if you already work alot of light wind it will definitely add a ton of punch in a nimble fashion.

not sure a session saver is the kite, i would put the $ into modality over kite , the right kite is like shoe size , when its right it will take you to your limit in the widest range esp. from the bottom of the range....of course there are limits as you go into heavy air but those days you don't need to save anything but your neck!

UnknownAX - 13-5-2016 at 11:36 PM

Since I'm not in a hurry, I've been kind of waiting for this: http://www.panshkite.com/index.php?gOo=goods_details.dwt&...

Nice to see that they've already fixed a couple things that people complained about on the A15, such as the magnets.

They've also added a ultralight version: " AURORA II ULTRALIGHT version made with the lightweight materials as the world famous Paraglider. "
Sounds like they've even tried to rip off the advertising from Ozone. :D

propylene22 - 16-5-2016 at 08:30 PM

Speaking of newfangled panshes. I see they are selling the Blaze III for stupid cheap. Anyone seen one of these in action?

PistolPete - 24-5-2016 at 04:44 PM

My 15m A15 flew good static on a 55cm 2:1 pulley bar and 25m lines. Hope to get out on the water soon.

Bigger 18m A15 seemed to work for this guy :thumbup:

mainekite2 - 24-5-2016 at 06:11 PM

I had the A15 18m out on the water with a spleen monster door in Hatteras and I was to only one out and riding. Just saying. For what I paid for it I'm happy and it worked well. Might lengthen the back lines a bit, flew better trimmed in some. Big guy, big board, light winds