Which combination of kites is best for inland gusty conditions most of the time but some water in the summer and some snow in the winter?

I'm contemplating the three options in the poll for how to fill out my quiver best for my conditions.

I hit the wrong button damn :ticking:

My vote goes to a good Flysurfer or maybe an Arc. I flew my 10m Switchblade in crappy inland winds on snow yesterday for the first time and what a pain. Each there is a lull the kite just falls, and then it takes five minutes to relaunch. On the water this kite is a dream though...

A depower foil is just so much lighter and easier to relaunch on land.

Is the switchblade a C kite or a modern LEI?

A Switchblade is a modern Bow kite. Awsome kite in the proper wind range.
I honestly don't think you can have a one kite quiver even with a good crossover. I just bought a 12 meter Pulse 2 and have only flown it 3 times so I am just getting used to it but you would definetly need a smaller size for higher winds.
The suggested wind range says it's good to 29 knots. So far Iv'e had it in 16 gusting to 20 and it scares me a bit on the snow. Hope I just have to get used to it, but it makes a lote more power than an inflatable 12 meter.
I also have a 14 meter, 10 meter and had a 7 meter inflatable. I'm looking for a new 7 meter, but that covered me from the least amount of wind I wanted to kite in up to about 35 knots.

John

It's a modern LEI as in bow/hybrid kite. It's a Switchblade3 which is a 2008...

A C-kite would do worse

The Switchblade has got a delta shape which makes it very easy to relaunch on the water. But because of the terrible wind it relaunched so bad. It think the wind was at max about 12 kts, and lulls much worse.

I used it a few days ago on a farm field, where the wind was almost dead steady and it relaunched like a dream but the wind was 15-20kts...

Great kite though.

I voted one kite quiver but I don't believe that such a thing exists ?

You can never have too many kites

I'm in the same boat as you. Inland gusty conditions, etc... One 15m Synergy covers it!

But isn't it boring in low winds and then hard to handle in high winds? Yes you can fly it in a large wind range but is it preferable to?

I also voted one kite quiver. It really doesn't exist unless you live where there is a trade wind and can kite any day you want (a 2 kite quiver is about a minimal as most people can hope for). However, a 12m Syn could come close to a one kite quiver for you. This last year my 15 has come close for me. It's been used 80% of the time (10-25 knots). But the year prior it was used about half the time (this is more typical for me).

One thing that has not been mentioned in all this kite vs. kite chat. The "sweetspot". The area of a kites wind range that keeps you grinning. Not only do Syn's have a large wind range but due to their soft (smooth) gust munching nature they also have a huge sweetspot. Twinskins still feel smooth the more they are depowered. The bows /sle have a huge wind range too but the sweetspot is relatively small. The more you depower them past this sweetspot the worse they feel (some can feel like your holding on to a jack hammer). They are still useable outside of the sweetspot but most guys will come in and rig smaller or ride it out and complain that it was very gusty.

I can't compare twinskin to current depower foils as I have not flown any. Only older ones like original Sabers and Frenzys. I never liked them.

It would be great to have a wind range that would allow a 1 kite crossover quiver. I have gusty inland winds but want to be kiting in 3 -30 mph on snow, land, or water. Would 2 crossovers even do it?

Quote:

Originally posted by power But isn't it boring in low winds and then hard to handle in high winds? Yes you can fly it in a large wind range but is it preferable to?

If i had the same amount of money and had to choose between 3 mediocre older LEIs that flew pretty ok and had a little larger range or one really nice kite that flew awesome but a smaller wind range, I'd choose the latter. Obviously, cuz that's what I did.

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza You can never have too many kites

I didn't vote, you're missing my option!

13 at last count... So far I've resisted selling any.

3-30??? holy moley... is there anything good for 3-5 mph? 6 is where the big FS speeds begin to pull????

Seeing as how I live in the same area as you, and I rarely fly in DC, I have to say that I do not believe you can get away with a one-kite quiver. It just doesnt work. Even if you get a kite with a huger wind-range, you will still find days when you want something a little smaller, or a little larger. I have three kites now that I can use across a pretty wide range of winds, but I still find myself in situations where I need a smaller kite...

I'm currently looking at winds in the range of 20-40mph, and I dont really have anything I can fly comfortably in that range. Sure, in the buggy, I can handle up to about 25-30 with my 8m Outlaw, but it feels a little out of control. I want something a little smaller for that range, but what am I going to get that I can fly comfortably on land, water, and snow for that range of winds? Its a hard question, and unless you have a large budget, you are going to be forced to make a compromise somewhere.

I know Barnes rides with his 16m Scorpion in a large range of winds, but anything under 15mph, and he isnt doing very much. However, he can hang onto that thing until almost 30mph and still fly comfortably. That is about the best you can expect to get away with (in my experience). I could be wrong, but I think you will need more than just a couple kites to be able to ride in any conditions in our area...

I say, grab that 13 Venom. A small and large fixed bridle . You will be well covered and can go newer from there ?

well,as a Peter Lynn team rider i would have to say "ARCS BABY" but im not just a brand pimp for the sake of pimping. i ride arcs by choice and alway have. they give me what i want from my kiting.
as for size and model, well that is all down to budjet. if you have deep pockets then id suggest that you go 15 and 10 charger (btw there is no such thing as a 1 kite quiver) you will mainly be flying the 15 until you cant hold on anymore then switch down to the 10.
the other thing you need to consider when choosing your quiver is your riding style. do you cruise, freestyle or just like to jump big or small?
personally i wll not even bother leaving the house unless its blowing above 10-12mph so the low end of an arc doesnt really bother me, but if all you get is low winds then id suggest you buy fixed bridal kites instead of depower.