The 13m Frenzy and 10m Access are due here any day. Guess I better do better than lick my finger and hold it up to determine wind speed or a spankin' I might get.

Any recommendations for a solid, dependable unit. Or have one for sale?

Oh that is what an anomomet@#$%er is :puzzled:

Save your money - get a stick, tie a ribbon to it for wind direction.

You need to learn the wind conditions from the feel of the wind on your face/body. Regardless of what the anemometer says, the wind will always be different up where the kite is flying and really, would it make any difference if the wind is blowing 12.4 mph or 18.3 mph? Most of the time you will fly the same kite in both wind conditions - and that is a 6-7 mph difference in wind which is extremely noticeable on your face/body.

Everyone in our group has an anemometer and the ONLY time they ever get dug out of the bottom of our bags/trucks is when there is an argument on whether the wind is blowing 12 or 15 mph - then the digital units come out - everyone stands around like the statue of liberty holding them up - and the argument is settled at 13.37 mph. After that - they all get thrown back into the bag / bottom of the truck - and we put the exact same kite that we were already flying back up in the air.

They are nice to play with when you are first starting out of if you have absolutely no clue as to what kite to fly in what winds but once you ride for a month or so, you will never use it again unless you need to settle an argument with your pals. Save the $100 bucks and just use that to buy more kites and gear. I would trade my wind meter in a heartbeat for a Go-Pro HD camera setup. LOL

As for your Frenzy / Access (nice kites btw) - for light winds fly the Frenzy (7-8 mph to 15-18 mph) - if the wind is stronger fly the Access (12-15 mph to 20+mph). There, I just saved you $100.00.

Just my opinion anyways - it is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There is something to be said for Kent's approach. I keep a pole of PVC pipe with a bright plastic streamer tied to the top and stick it in the sand. It is 3-4 ' tall and breaks int three sections to fit in the bag.

That said do keep a cheap LaCrosse wind meter to occasionally "calibrate" the senses that Kent speaks of.

http://www.ambientweather.com/lacrteeahawi.html

I use it so that I can accurately report on sessions when I am testing gear and so forth. I would not spend more on one. the level of error is less than even smooth coastal wind can vary anyway...

I have a kestrel 1000, nice meeter, but I find that I really don't need it. And infact it's sometimes a hinderence as I should be flying the kite I feel I should fly, not strictly by numbers. I've gotten used to looking at a "stick" or twirly windsock to guestimate the wind well enough. I do find that I use my wind meter more _after_ I come in to see what wind I was flying in

I've learned to judge the windspeed generally by watching the flags. When they're whipping pretty hard, it usually means 17 to 25 mph, as that's our regional average for high speed wind.

Of course where you are plays into figuring the normal range of the wind so you just need to practice a bit.

I am 100% behind what Kent has to say !

The wind is almost always different up where your kite is so knowing the wind speed on the ground is only so usefull.
Put up the smaller of your choices if in doubt . You can judge far better by looking at " Windicators " like the trees and waves etc..

If you want a gadget get a GPS. Tons of great info / value in owning one of them !!!!!

Question, are wind socks rated at a particular wind speed. Or are they just generic.

I got an $18 cheapo off eBay and now don't use it much either cos I got a bit of a feel for it. Well, for the foils anyway. If it's borderline, I end up setting up two different kites anyway depending on how much of a woos I'm being

Most wind socks are generic and not calibrated to any specific wind speed. They do however make a great tool for light wind flying and are very useful for wind direction - especially if you are in land and the wind changes from time to time. Mostly used for light winds for when you can't really feel what direction or how strong the wind actually is. For strong winds they just look pretty and spin like mad.

I usually don't get one out or even take it. But if I get spanked a little I'll look at the time then go to www.wunderground.com history when I get home and see what got me dirty.

Even then it won't be accurate but its in the ballpark.

Lowes has 48" fiberglass driveway markers in bright orange around 1/4" dia. with about 6" of reflective tape on the top. 2 bucks. Think I'll put a ribbon on one.

Great insight. Part of the challenge for this newb is that it's early spring and all the "organic" windicators are leafless.

I agree with the concept that I need to calibrate me. I think I will see if one of my buddies has an anemometer in the bottom of their pack that I can borrow until I get my senses dialed in.

Off to the field this afternoon for some blading.

I may be wrong ( wouldn't shock me) but isn't a windsock mostly just to display the direction of the wind for safety reasons?

Airport style, and higher end windsocks are often calibrated to stand straight out at a certain wind speed, say 12MPH, this is so that pilots landing at airfields on VFR only will have a visual cue to what the wind speed/direction on the strip itself. See, my homework on airfield windsocks paid off already!:tumble:

edit: I found that cheap Lacrosse meter at the same site I got the windsock, for $34.95, so I ordered it too, but it went on backorder. Maybe I'll just follow Kent's advice, I always bring my cheapo windicator anyway!

Another tell tale I used when I was a keen poley. Local sailing club had a flagpole with lines running to top no flag.

When wind kicks in it will make rope on flagpole clang against side of pole.

So when we heard lines clanging it was time to hit the water.

Still listen to flagpoles.

They're fond of flags around here for just about everything so I'm never far from one. Near where I work and where my park is though, there's a factory with 2 stacks that pumps out clouds of steam (at least I hope it's steam!) day in, day out ... good indicator of wind direction and strength

"I gave up on wind speeds... its either crappy, gravy, epic, or stupid... in that order"
--Drewculous

everyone knows my stance on wind speeds, lmao!

@drewculuous There you go, you have calibrated your senses.

I am curious, though, how you developed the nomenclature for the highest wind speed category. Bet there is a story there.

Quote:

Originally posted by Drewculous "I gave up on wind speeds... its either crappy, gravy, epic, or stupid... in that order" --Drewculous everyone knows my stance on wind speeds, lmao!

They'd better, given how long that quote has been in my sig :D.

Quote:

Originally posted by thanson2001ok @drewculuous There you go, you have calibrated your senses. I am curious, though, how you developed the nomenclature for the highest wind speed category. Bet there is a story there.

lets just say i found what winds NOT to fly my 15m phantom in

involved a good loft, a mediocre landing, bad newbie balance, and a 50' scud on my face... all in about, well what seemed like half a second.... very stupid

the thing is.. the line between epic and stupid... is VERY thin, lol
in my defense... it was a pretty epic crash, lol!
-good thing i had my helmet!!

i think that was the day i put tire marks on my helmet.... the board didnt come off my feet tho :puzzled:

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 Quote: Originally posted by Drewculous "I gave up on wind speeds... its either crappy, gravy, epic, or stupid... in that order" --Drewculous everyone knows my stance on wind speeds, lmao! They'd better, given how long that quote has been in my sig :D.

You don't have good winds where you fly?

It's hard to find anywhere that doesn't have gusty winds due to wind shadows. There are a couple of places that have good wind if it's coming from one specific direction, otherwise we have to drive a ways.