I am trying to determine what would be the next kite to add in our quiver. To figure this out I thought why not ask the experts. I'm 5'7 165 lbs, and my wife is 5'2 115lbs. We have been kiting for a few years. Have no problem on snow. Most times in the winter I would be on the 9.5 and she on the 7.5 foils. And we are now starting to get up on water. Typical wind is between 6 and 20 mph. We have the following so far and has seemed to work.

Foil
1.5 slingshot
6m fs viron
7.5 flexifoil sabre 2
9.5 flexifoil sabre
10m fs psycho 2
12m fs pulse 2

Lei
7m ozone
8m gk sonic

We aren't really using the 10m psycho nor the 7m ozone too much. And could trade them out.

I'm thinking a large foil for both summer and winter something that will fly in 4 mph. Or a larger lei if the pulse 2 isn't enough.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

well obviously you need everything you don’t already own....and you certainly need to 2le up on some a 2nd job will help

If you are targeting the low end I would not be considering a LEI but rather something like a 19m Speed.

Second B-Roc on the Speed. Your quiver covers a good spread with the exception of the Psycho 10 and 7m Oz. There's overlap there as you've already figured out.

A 15/19m Speed (or Psycho 4 IMO cause I like the turn rate) will get you and yours a lot more riding on light wind days.

Thanks for posts, I'm just worried that a 19 will be too much kite. As well as is there a big difference from the standard to the deluxe in the speed?

Well you seem conflicted. If you want a kite that's going to get you moving in really low winds (4mph) it has to be big and powerful which means it will be too much kite as the winds pick up - there's no way around that. Either you get a 15m and take a bit of a step up or a 19m and really step up. I jump from a 6m to a 10 to a 14m so if you're riding a 12m P2 then a 15m is not really that big a jump which makes the 19m all the more attainable. You just have to decide how much power you're looking for and how low the wind is you want to ride in.

Good point. What about the deluxe vs standard? I'm almost thinking deluxe is the only way to go for getting the true light winds.

It makes more of a difference in the bigger 15-19m ranges than smaller sizes. The problem with bigger kites is that they get to a point where the weight that comes with thier size starts to offset the benefit of the kite's projected area.

So what you end up with, using standard materials, is a "fat kid's kite" that will work well in moderate to mid-low end for riders like me in the 200# and higher range but it's too heavy to really get off the ground well in true light winds.

You avoid this issue with the Silver Arrow material.

There are kites that excel in low wind, made out of standard material, but these are often fixed bridle, uber high aspect race kites, like Peter Lynn Vapors. Very good low end but narrow wind range and tricky when it gets gusty.

If you had a 15m or 19m Silver Arrow type wing strictly as your light wind option you would find it suits that roll perfectly. And you would find the those sizes are crazy fun in moderate wind on water or deep snow. Boosts to the moon!