HEllo! Ive been thinking about what kite to buy as my second kite - having thought a lot ive decided to stick to FB kites for various reasons. I already own a 3m HQ scout 2 so figure 5 m would give me a good range.

I've narrowed down my choices to (all 5m)
HQ Scout 2 - because i really like the 3m - it what i've learnt with, i can fly it on the bar with one hand and i like the way i can fly it on my harness

HQ Beamer 5 - I've been told to give handles a go as it will give me greater control and i have been told that the Beamer is in essence the quadline version of the scout

Ozone Octane - I hear its got a good build quality (though may not stand newbie style abuse as well) and have heard people say that it flys well and is a lot of kite for the money -

I got to these choices after a half hour conversation with the folks at a well known kite shop in the uk on the phone - they did recomend the Scout 2 5m as i already now the design and like how it flys on the bar, but would really like to here views from people who arent trying to sell me stuff!

Cheers

imo....buy some handles 1st...cold, i know sorry.

I've got an Octane and had Beamers - can't see why the Ozone wouldn't stand up to anything the beamer could take. My Imp Quattro has survived plenty of beatings. I don't think there's a huge difference between the Beamer and the Octane - Octane might be a little faster maybe and it's certainly more 'high tech' (mesh covered openings, thinner bridles) A std bar would make both kites very slow to turn but a turbo bar works really well with both. Never flown a Scout.

But they still will be more forthright and better deals!:P

Beamer or Toxic would be great choices.

dont buy the Scout II buy the Scout III if you do decide to go with the Scout. I have a Scout II also but know the Scout III is now available. Scout II 4M is what I have and it flies great.

I also have the HQ Beamer 5M it can take a huge beating its very sturdy strong robust quadline kite and a great kite to have in the quiver.

If you are looking for a more precise kite with greater precision and handling go with the HQ Toxic. Extremely stable powerful kite that holds its form well and relies on break pressure more then power lines.

The 5m Scout would be a good choice if you are fairly new to landboarding and want to give yourself a bigger wind range to fly in.

Handles will give you more fine control but to be honest you don't really need it landboarding - in fact when you are learning you want the kite to turn slow!!
You can get any 4 line fixed to fly on a bar but often you will need a long one for kites 5m and over. It becomes a bit more of a lottery though. I'm sure someone on here will hook you up with the best bar for a particular kite if you did want to change from the Scout. You do want to stick with a bar for boarding though and I would not bother with the Turbo bar - just get a depowerable kite if it comes to the point when a standard bar is not doing it for you!

Ozone Method, Flexifoil Balde and Peter lynn Twister are slightly more Perfomance oriented Fixed Bridle kites for landboarding you might want to look at if you havn't already.

So my advice is stick with the scout to learn the basics and at the point where you start thnking "I need more performance" switch to a depower set up.

get some handles...become a pilot

Thanks for the advice all! Ive just ordered the Scout II. The Scout III wasnt going to be in stock until all the Scout II were sold, and i'm impatient. (i have a week and a half off after i finish my stint at work on saturday and want the kite waiting for me when i get home!)

My reasons for Choosing the Scout, was firstly i cant fault my 3m scout except it doesnt have enough power! - I like the way i can fly the scout 1 handed and can clip in to a Harness - which put me off buying a kite with handles - i've read about using a strop to 'strop in' but not sure about a quick release saftey system with out forking out for more gear.
I also got a good price on the kite.
I'm use to the bar on my other scout so i will be able to concentrate more on getting use to riding on my board.

I know some folk will say i should have gotten a kite with handles but i dont know any better at the moment but i have had no problem with the 3m scout being slow when turning and as it so yes i agree i probably loose some of the finer in flight adjustments that can be made when using the brakes on the handles...but well i've paid for it now - i know i'm going to like it! Cant wait to get it and get out on the board!
Thanks again for the advice!

yo skutter sent you a U2U message!

First off, what are you trying to do? Buggy? ATB? Static for fun? What is it you do man? It makes a difference. That's all I had time for . I am shutting down and going to WWBB.:D

weldngod - i'm just starting out really. I've clocked about 10 hours static flying including a day when the wind was verging on being too strong and on days when there was just about enough to get the kite to fly meaning i had to work it fairly hard. Ive been out on the board twice - for a couple of hours each time. Originally the plan was Kitesurfing - I bought the 3m scout firstly to use as a trainer to save money and time on flying lessons when i decide to get in the water. After a coulpe of hours flying the 3m scout I knew i had to get myself a landboard (also i live in Sweden and the water is rather cold and figure this is a cheaper and warmer way to get introduced in to kite sports). I ordered a land board - and I soon figured I needed a kite bigger than 3m for when the wind isnt so strong. If i could go back in time i'd probably just have bought a 4m straight out but I was told for my first ever kite go 3m or less. I chose the Scout as my first kite because I liked the look of it and watched some videos of people using it for snow kiting and seeing as i live in Sweden (albeit the southern part which incidentaly is well known for being windy) that is something i want to try when the snow comes. I spoke to the guys at a well known kite shop in the uk and they considered the scout 3m to be a good starting point, and again when i spoke to them 5m was decided to be a better option for my second kite than just getting a 4m. I know they are trying to get rid of the last of the scout II's which could be why they swayed me a little more towards it, but it also had quite a bit of money off probably for the same reasons. Thing is I know how the Scout II flys (at least the 3m) and i like it, i dont find it turns too slow unless you adjust it at the bridle, so by getting the scout in the 5m i can concentrate more on gettng use to the board rather than relearning how a different set up works. I know the choices i've made wouldnt be the same that other people would make but every one is different.

weldngod - i'm just starting out really. I've clocked about 10 hours static flying including a day when the wind was verging on being too strong and on days when there was just about enough to get the kite to fly meaning i had to work it fairly hard. Ive been out on the board twice - for a couple of hours each time. Originally the plan was Kitesurfing - I bought the 3m scout firstly to use as a trainer to save money and time on flying lessons when i decide to get in the water. After a coulpe of hours flying the 3m scout I knew i had to get myself a landboard (also i live in Sweden and the water is rather cold and figure this is a cheaper and warmer way to get introduced in to kite sports). I ordered a land board - and I soon figured I needed a kite bigger than 3m for when the wind isnt so strong. If i could go back in time i'd probably just have bought a 4m straight out but I was told for my first ever kite go 3m or less. I chose the Scout as my first kite because I liked the look of it and watched some videos of people using it for snow kiting and seeing as i live in Sweden (albeit the southern part which incidentaly is well known for being windy) that is something i want to try when the snow comes. I spoke to the guys at a well known kite shop in the uk and they considered the scout 3m to be a good starting point, and again when i spoke to them 5m was decided to be a better option for my second kite than just getting a 4m. I know they are trying to get rid of the last of the scout II's which could be why they swayed me a little more towards it, but it also had quite a bit of money off probably for the same reasons. Thing is I know how the Scout II flys (at least the 3m) and i like it, i dont find it turns too slow unless you adjust it at the bridle, so by getting the scout in the 5m i can concentrate more on gettng use to the board rather than relearning how a different set up works. I know the choices i've made wouldnt be the same that other people would make but every one is different.