Flew in some very gusty; wind all over the place type wind today. This wind chart doesn't even begin to show all the lulls and pauses and times when the wind would nearly disappear before a gust hit.




Flew from 2-8pm. Flew most of the day with a 5m Octane. Felt underpowered and just seemed to putt around. Only got really powered up during a gust. The gust though are why I was leary of the 5.5 Reactor. Finally got it out at about 6pm. First time out in that much wind with it. It was bit of a terror to fly in the gusts. Each gust would start to slide me sideways. Thankfully this kite isn't the least bit lifty(I don't like lifty kites to buggy with).

In the summer; this is the only kite I have that gets me around in the light wind. Today reminded me why 5.5m is the largest size I fly(the lulls and dealing with a kite during that).

The gusts had me thinking about the 4.4 size.

If a 5m Octane isn't moving me fast enough; is a 4.4m Reactor going to?



At 7 when the wind started to pick back up; I got the 4m Octane out instead of getting the 5m back out. Figured just fly it harder and more aggressive to make up for the meter difference. I have to say; the 4m was much more relaxing to fly.

I find the Octane tough to get going on grass which is where I fly most of the time. A 4.4 Reactor will run circles around the Octane...its a much more advanced kite.

I had the same situation again today. Putted around with the 5m Octane; then if I got out the 5.5 Reactor; each time it would gust; It would slide me sideways for a foot or two or three. The upwind of the Reactor is just unreal. It had no problems at all staying upwind. It at times seemed or felt like it was going straight into the wind. I'm going to have to try out the 4.4

I'll take those crummy octanes off your hands so you don't have to look at the disappointing kites anymore. :D

I feel like I'm properly powered up if the kite can slide me sideways a bit.

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I feel like I'm properly powered up if the kite can slide me sideways a bit.

I would rather be well powered as well. I'm completely worn out today from trying to work my viper in winds that were around 8-10 yesterday. At least I got a good workout.

Got the 4.4 today and tried it out. Works great. When the 5m Octane is too little and the 5.5m Reactor is too much; the 4.4m is just right. And yes; it would absolutely both outrun and run circles around the 5m Octane; but I supposed it's apple/oranges comparison.

That's such a nice looking kite!