Power Kite Forum

Do I need every size in a quiver?

bigkid - 20-6-2016 at 06:25 PM

Ever wonder why a kite company makes certain sizes in a particular kite model?
PKD Buster Soulfly Pro, 1.5, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4 and that's it. Why not any bigger like a 10 or a 12?
PKD Century Soulfly, 2.2, 2.8, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.7, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, why so many?

This is why, (I got this info from 5 kite designers and manufacturers), power kites are designed to be used with a buggy. Power kites were not designed to be flown static, but are to be used as an engine to propel a kite buggy.
As the 4 sizes of the Buster were designed as an entry level buggy engine. Anything larger would not be practical. The design does not allow for more power at lower wind speeds.
As for the Century, they are designed to fill every wind speed needed to move the buggy at its most optimum Power range for the wind speed and weight, with the fact that the designer believes he has created just enough sizes to fill all types of wind-weight combinations without overkill.

Depower kites are designed with the same criteria as the fix bridle kites.

How about a 12m Beamer? How about a 1m Vapor? It doesn't fit the need to buggy.

As for static flying, no rules. As for a leisure day of buggy riding, 2 or 3 of a 9 kite quiver is more than enough. A day of going Mach 10 with your hair on fire, I guarantee you'll want more than what is designed for that quiver.


RonH - 20-6-2016 at 07:45 PM

N + 1

That's all we need:thumbup:

BeamerBob - 20-6-2016 at 10:50 PM

It seems that race kites have a narrower range of top performance than intermediate kites. If you aren't racing it's likely you can have fun and be ok with the gaps in performance by skipping some sizes in a quiver. If you regularly race, you want the one kite that only sets some of your hair on fire it not all of it. But your kite has to be in its effective wind range. Also a racer can't just decide to sit in the truck when the wind gets low. They have to race and need to be well powered.

abkayak - 21-6-2016 at 05:40 AM

having a size of every kite is insane totally and not necessary...but rather cool i admit... i can understand someone having a complete matched quiver from a brand
you know your covered in all conditions and have familiarity w/ the kites...good situation...i like flying all the different type of kites...i naturally cover all the wind ranges with the purchasing addiction...it works for me, but to each their own just as long as your flying

















































































































































wow...big post



cheezycheese - 21-6-2016 at 05:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak  


























































































wow...big post




That's what she said.... :D

ssayre - 21-6-2016 at 06:23 AM

some complete quivers only have 2 sizes. Peak 6,9

that makes getting a complete quiver less daunting :)

BeamerBob - 21-6-2016 at 08:00 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
some complete quivers only have 2 sizes. Peak 6,9

that makes getting a complete quiver less daunting :)


Hey we're talking real kites here! Jk. I've heard about "Peak bias" but I've never read anything inflammatory about them. Just had to poke the bear.

shehatesmyhobbies - 21-6-2016 at 02:09 PM

As most know, I fly Phantoms. I used to have the complete set. After a while I realized that three was actually good enough. I rarely flew the 15m, as I was rather happy keeping the 18m in the air till I needed the 12m. The 12m held me long enough to go down to the 9m. Once the 9m comes out, it's all fast lines and pure excitement. We've had enough wind for the 6m, but by en around her and even at WW, it's usually to lumpy to even bother flying. So I parted with the 6m and 12m and am not sorry I've done so. I actually need one bigger size kite to really get me moving in the lower winds so I can at least have a blast in sub 8mph wind.

bigkid - 21-6-2016 at 04:00 PM

Out of all my Century quiver the 2.2 and the 2.8 are still brand new, never been used. I use the Busters at the point of high winds because they handle high winds with a lot better grace. I have played with the small Combats and unless your Superman and can stay one step ahead of them, you'll get bit big time. You've heard the saying, he brought a knife to a gun fight? How about, he brought a couple of rocks to a gun fight? Kind of the same as a 2m Ace in 30mph wind, death on a string.

Rich, need a 24m Synergy for those lite winds. It comes with a bar and lines. :evil:

ssayre - 21-6-2016 at 04:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob  
Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
some complete quivers only have 2 sizes. Peak 6,9

that makes getting a complete quiver less daunting :)


Hey we're talking real kites here! Jk. I've heard about "Peak bias" but I've never read anything inflammatory about them. Just had to poke the bear.


You are poking the bear. Usually just the mere mention of the Peaks insights chaos. I don't know if you've noticed but I've been referring to them as my depowers lately until this thread.

I did recently acquire my old viper so I do have one real kite. :-)

WELDNGOD - 21-6-2016 at 05:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bigkid  
Out of all my Century quiver the 2.2 and the 2.8 are still brand new, never been used. I use the Busters at the point of high winds because they handle high winds with a lot better grace. I have played with the small Combats and unless your Superman and can stay one step ahead of them, you'll get bit big time. You've heard the saying, he brought a knife to a gun fight? How about, he brought a couple of rocks to a gun fight? Kind of the same as a 2m Ace in 30mph wind, death on a string.

Rich, need a 24m Synergy for those lite winds. It comes with a bar and lines. :evil:


Gotta admit... I have never buggied with the 2.4 combat yet. I have got a lot of respect for the speed it has in high wind. I'm afraid I'll destroy it on the beach. I could see how it could get out of hand really quick.

Windstruck - 22-6-2016 at 01:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob  
Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
some complete quivers only have 2 sizes. Peak 6,9

that makes getting a complete quiver less daunting :)


Hey we're talking real kites here! Jk. I've heard about "Peak bias" but I've never read anything inflammatory about them. Just had to poke the bear.


A good bear can take a little poke now and then. Bob, you might have noticed at IBX earlier this year that Peak-2s were pretty much all I flew on the playa. I was the sole person out twice in the AM with my Big Lady the 12m and got as small as the 4m when things got busy. GREAT kites for buggying IMHO. Go Vols!

sand flea - 22-6-2016 at 04:23 PM

I used to think my 11m Vapor was as big and as light wind engine as I would ever need.
Until I got a 16m Vapor.
Now i want the 13m
There is a too large of a gap between the 16 and the 11 surprisingly

Good post Jeff

bigkid - 22-6-2016 at 04:34 PM

PKD produced the Century Soulfly (the latest version) with an extra kite originally but soon removed one and reengineered the ones around that one to make the transition between each kite a little less of a gap.
Originally there was a 6m that went by by. I have that kite and the reengineered ones also. Funny thing is I use those just as much as the new ones.

Different flying styles require different sizes of kites with the same wind. A very aggressive writer will use larger kites than someone who is just out for a ride. So when you are pushing the envelope I half of a meter in size makes a world of difference.
With the difference in handle positions, whether you fly with your hands on the power and of the handles, or on the break ends of the handles makes a huge difference in size of kite. Whereas someone flying with their hands on the Power and of the handles is not able to reduce the power input of a particular size where only operating the break end of the handles allow someone to fly a much larger kite with the same outcome.

XXL - 23-6-2016 at 01:44 PM

So many vapors so little time still working on my quiver

Windstruck - 23-6-2016 at 02:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RonH  
N + 1

That's all we need:thumbup:


So.... I am going to test the heck out of this theory.... I just got what I hope to be the "final" kite for my quiver, a stunningly beautiful and wonderfully constructed 4m Access V6 in striking red. I sort of shudder at the thought of what the day will be blowing like when that kite just seems like the safer choice than my 6m, but that's a tale for another thread.

I bought, sold, or gave away quite a few kites this past year creating just what I wanted in a quiver and now I think I finally have it. Done.

When Flysurfer comes out with a vastly improved Peak-3 (I know what a lot of you are saying, "Is it even possible to improve at all on the Peak-2s?") does it count if I swap out my P2s for P3s slowly over several weeks? That's N+4-4 right? What if Flysurfer comes out with a 15m Peak? Crap, N+1 again! I'm screwed.... :evil:

ssayre - 23-6-2016 at 04:49 PM

I could always use more kites, but I'm happy with my current quiver for traction. I would like to change it up and get a revolution and some more large single line kites. Weird I know, but what can I say, I'm a kite guy and like them all.

Demoknight - 27-6-2016 at 03:12 PM

I like to believe that I have a two kite quiver with my two depowers. My 19m Speed 3 and my 12m Charger 2 both have huge wind ranges. If it is too windy for the 12m, then I wouldn't have much fun on a smaller kite. If there is enough wind to launch the 19m, then there is enough wind to park and ride it. The 19m also safely goes way up into the middle range of the 12m. I have flown the 19m in winds that were blowing 17-19mph and felt completely safe flying, but at that point I would need someone to help me land the thing or else popping the safety is the only option. Closed cell kites are really hard to stick on the ground since they hold their shape for so long, especially in high winds.

soliver - 27-6-2016 at 04:36 PM

I'm thinking there may come a day where I'd like to add a 9m Peak... We'll see ... There's something in me that kinda wants a 2.5m NS3, but I am really content in kite-Dom at the moment.

ssayre - 27-6-2016 at 06:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by soliver  
I'm thinking there may come a day where I'd like to add a 9m Peak... We'll see ... There's something in me that kinda wants a 2.5m NS3, but I am really content in kite-Dom at the moment.


nah. save your money for the 12m.

Windstruck - 27-6-2016 at 06:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
Quote: Originally posted by soliver  
I'm thinking there may come a day where I'd like to add a 9m Peak... We'll see ... There's something in me that kinda wants a 2.5m NS3, but I am really content in kite-Dom at the moment.


nah. save your money for the 12m.


Gots to agree. I like owning the 9m but there is a ton of overlap in the Peak wind ranges. Check this out:

ssayre - 27-6-2016 at 06:49 PM

9 is a tweener. It's a little much in the decent breezes and not enough in light wind. That leaves it only gaining an mph or 2 on the low end of the 6