Ok, so now Im hooked. I have the two trainers, both tensors one on the bar and the other on handles. I love the turns and lift. Now Im starting the saving for the first big boy.
Heres my vitals, 6'1" 260lbs(solidsteel) wind is all inland and mostly choppy . I want to jump and ride some snow. Water will have to waite till next year. I am leaning twards a foil but i also like the closed cell neoii . I dont want to carry a pump or a leaf blower .
So what is the best for me? From what I understand a foil will give me the lift and pull I'll need to move my fat arse . Am I right? And what brand has the best turns and service. Basicly is there a kite that is just like a tensor only bigger and depowerable ?
Thanks in advance .

I'm partial to foils myself, but if you have aspirations getting out on the water perhaps a closed cell would be a good stop-gap. No big depowerable (in the 10m neighborhood) is going to turn as fast as your tensors, but there are some high performance lifty depowerables out there. Ozone Frenzy, HQ Montana or FLysurfer outlaw if you want open cell foil, or HQ neo or any number of flysurfers would do the trick for a closed cell. I'm a similar size to you and my 9.5m montana is my most used size, and would probably be a good place to start, plenty of lift and power and a nice wind range. Probably need something much larger to get going on water.

We still need to get together and Fly....I haven't had my kites in the air since wildwood.... :/

We need some wind. Im looking at the frenzy or the vapor . But the vapor looks hard to relaunch and easy to bowtie, doesnt look too lifty either . Im probably wrong cause I dont know jack .

Frenzy is a nice kite, I've only flown my 12m twice, static both times, but I was impressed. I'm looking forward to getting it onto the snow. Plus ozone quality is top notch. I see a lot of Frenzies (and Manta's & Access's) out on the snow.

The PL Vapor isn't a de-power, it's a fixed bridle high aspect buggy engine. The only PL de-power are the ARC's of various sizes.

If you are eventually looking to get onto the water, then the Peter Lynn Charger, HQ Neo or Flysurfers are going to be your best bet. These are the only true multi terrain kites that work exceptionally well on snow, dirt and water. All of these kites are depowerable so they will be the best choice in your gusty inland wind conditions. The Peter Lynn Charger would be the top choice for me for gusty conditions, that kite just eats up gusts and makes riding in those conditions a dream!

Now before this thread gets turned into a flame war, yes I realize that many people use LEI's on land just fine. They do work but In My Opinion not nearly as well as a crossover style kite as the ones I have listed above.

Hope that helps.

Plenty of lift in a Synergy!
The weight limit for the PL gear is 130kg :D

Everything is telling me to just go with the neo2 or frenzy. The charger looks nice but I want to drop the kite and pull the lines. The only thing I want to fill is my beer can helmet. It is more important to me to be easy to set up than water relaunchable . Hell I might not do the water. If I do, I know what I want . Naish . That can wait. Are the closed cell kites a pita to fill with just normal good old wind, or r they just about the same as open foil . Am I even using the right lingo? either way Im stoked .

Depends on the closed cell kite ... Flysurfers go up no worries with none to minimal pre-fill. PL's need a good prefill. Can't speak from the others.
If you're not going on the water - open celled foil

Its down to the frenzy, manta, or neo duce . The manta looks lifty and powerfull . the frenzy looks safe and quick, and the neo will serve me well but maybe not as lifty or easy to set up . Thanks for the help . My debit card is in the fetal position and is soon to weep.

Quote:

Originally posted by highstickenMy debit card is in the fetal position and is soon to weep.

Yours too huh? I believe there's a support group for Battered and Abused Credit Cards

This one is gonna hurt . 2 kites and 2 harness' . My soon tobe wife wants in, and she has qualified on the 5 meter . so shes due for snow kite too .
I may be dumb but I aint stupid . "WE" will get two kites . hers(myhighwind) and mine . She can use the 5 in the big wind . This is a 2 kite deal and the mantas look lofty as $#!t . Now its between getting an 8 and a 12 or getting a 10 and a 15 . the 8/12 combo sounds the most logical but the 10/15 makes my liver quiver. does my fat a$$ warrent the 10/15 ? or will the 12 do me fine in 12mph winds ? I am gonna get this right the first time .

8/12/15:evil::evil:

8/12/15 if you're 100% serious about doing it right the first time, 8/12 if you're 99% serious. Being a beginner you most likely won't be flying on days when you would use the 15...either too little wind and get frustrated or too much and possibly get injured.

Best of luck!

Quote:

Originally posted by highsticken This one is gonna hurt . 2 kites and 2 harness' . My soon tobe wife wants in, and she has qualified on the 5 meter . so shes due for snow kite too . I may be dumb but I aint stupid . "WE" will get two kites . hers(myhighwind) and mine . She can use the 5 in the big wind . This is a 2 kite deal and the mantas look lofty as $#!t . Now its between getting an 8 and a 12 or getting a 10 and a 15 . the 8/12 combo sounds the most logical but the 10/15 makes my liver quiver. does my fat a$$ warrent the 10/15 ? or will the 12 do me fine in 12mph winds ? I am gonna get this right the first time .

I ride mostly in thick grass but for me with my 11m Neo 12mph is about the minimum and I weigh 205lbs. On a smoother surface I can go with less but anything less than 12mph I use the 17m. A lot depends on your surface.

Yeah, it takes a fair bit more kite to get moving when kiteATB on grass. That may influence you upwards in size.

don't buy two, start with one. It will keep two people busy for a while when starting out!

Having flown both the 2010 Manta and the 2010 Frenzy, my advice would be that if you're new to big depower kites, get the Frenzy. It's a bit more stable and friendly, but just as capable of lift. If you decide that you simply must have the Manta, shoot me a U2U before you buy anything, we might be able to work a deal.