I took out my 2m samurai the other day in strong wind and I thought I was gonna die, anyone know a good kite for when the wind is super strong, I dont have a wind gauge so I dont know how fast it was blowing.

How much wind?

I've heard that the Bego 200 and 1.7m HQ Crossfires are really good ballistic wind kites.

My 1.5 Bullet does pretty well. However, it's kind of like controlling an really angry Bee...

Or a small depowerable...

The Ozone 1.5 LD Stunt is an awesome high wind kite. Most of the people in our buggy group have that kite as their high wind weapon. If it is blowing too hard for the 1.5 your better off packing it in for the day and boarding up your windows.

The problem with high winds and small kites is that the kites can get moving real fast and become snatchy in their power delivery.

I really like my 2.5 jojo ET in high winds. I've skied with it in 30mph winds (I weigh 145#) - it is fast like a hornet on speed but it is controllable. I don't think I would landboard in those winds with it and I wouldn't fly it static but on skis it was good.

As DaVinch said, if the winds are real strong (and strong winds usually bring stronger gusts) your best bet is probably a small depowerable.

If that fails, and its blowing a hooley, bridle up a manhole cover and set it to a low angle of attack :wink2:

6m phantom good to 50+.......................aj

I found the 3m² Frenzy to be quite civilized when the 2m² Sams were getting unruly. I'd expect the Access would be even better for buggying, but I have only tried the 10m² in winds that were just strong enough to get rolling.

I'll second Kent on the 1.5m Ozone LD Stunt. Bought one last summer while at the Washington coast to get my 6 year old son off his Imps and onto a four line. Now my nukin' wind buggy kite and his ski kite in Minnesota. Quick steering, good gust recovery, and great construction.

krumly

Something freindly in the 1.5m to 2m range should do the trick, I've had to break out the 1.4m and 2m Buster I a couple times, better than going home.

A few key things to look for in a high wind kite. Must be super stable, freindly and good in gusts, low lift is a bonus. Reason for this is in high winds, usually the gusts are a fair bit more than in low winds, you really need something that won't bite when it gets hit by a strong gust.

small pro foils are great very fast very stable very fun!!

here is a challenge! take a profoil 1.5 out in a 25+ mph wind and see if you can keep your eye on it! they are super responsive. I suggest the handles that come with them other wise you have too much control.

hey dagon - were you flying last Sunday? According to my wind meter it was a constant 20mph gusting 32mph in Davis!

I was over at Grasslands park and there was a couple of other guys from Sac over there trying out their homemade buggy.

I was flying a Quadrifoil Q2002 which I think is a 2m - I hardly ever buggy with this kite because it doesn't normally give enough pull on grass, but with 30+mph winds it was giving some pretty good pull but still controllable and only felt overpowered a couple of times in the strongest gusts.

yeah, I was out there, a bit too strong of wind. the gusts had mee too nervous. send me an email with your phone number and I will call you next time I go out. dagonjones@yahoo.com

I would say if you can't hold your 2.0 Samurai it is time to pack it up and go home. Live to fly another day.
Hows that for simple.
I have to ask why did you go to a sami, they take a pretty good skill level to produce what they are capable of. Is this your first foil?

i might get a Eolo Radsail 145 for powerfull days at the sea... took my 3.6 out in 30mph other day, shoudnt have done that... first time aswell....tangled the lines took me 3 hrs to untangle them... perfect wind that day aswell......

are the radsail 145's a two line kite. I find two line foils to be deadly in super high winds. Ok maybe not deadly but definitely not safe!

Quote:

Originally posted by DaVinch How much wind? I've heard that the Bego 200 and 1.7m HQ Crossfires are really good ballistic wind kites. My 1.5 Bullet does pretty well. However, it's kind of like controlling an really angry Bee...

I was told the Bego 200 was a wasp on steroids--big winds forecasted for the rest of the week so I will let you know! The Pansh Legend 2.0 gets high mark/high wind reviews from the boarders and buggiers on RK. As Da V mentioned the Crossie 1.7 is a serious high wind engine! One of the buggiers on RK has a GPS top speed of 52 mph using the 1.7 in high winds! Thats cookin! Bang for the buck with good performance goes to the Pansh. The 2.0 is $89 RTF!

I have used an Ozone imp 2 line in 25 Mph or so with an ice buggy it worked well and not super uncontrolable it was a 1.5m version. It sounds like a bee...
Alex

I really like my 2.5m JOJO ET Instinct for high wind. The kite is super stable, extremely predictable and offers loads of power with great response to the flier. I'm 145#s and have flown that kite in gusts up to 28mph (on skis and wasn't overpowered). Its optimized for low lift so when you're out in that much wind or cranking along at high speed you can be confident the kite won't unexpectedly launch you. I haven't flown the 1.5m version but typically I find if the 2.5 is overpowered, its time to call it a day.

-Tridude, I'd like to hear what you think of the 200 Bego after flying it. I like my high wind kites to have lower A/Rs. A 4.5 A/R on a 2m kite :o that could be interesting.

B,

The 200 was awesome in 25-30 mph winds. Fast thru the window but stable at the edges. It is somewhat lifty but after flying the 400 you wouldnt have any problems. I didnt notice if break input increases hp because it has consistent but controlable power! All in all, very impressed with its performance. But remember, I fly my 600 in 20 mph winds!!:D as usual............stoaked!!!

If you're looking for a 4 line kite in the sub 2m size there's still some 1.4m Buster I's kicking around for cheap.

wolfwolfee; The samurai 4m was my first foil, I got the 2m for higher winds at nabx. I find the sami very easy to controll, maybe Im missing something here, what type of performance are you getting out of yours?
The samis are great kites for gusty conditions, I find them super stable, easy to turn to work up power when needed.

I think that Wolfee got the Yakuza and Samurai mixed up.

This is a Wolfee quote about the samurai from the racekites forum - it was a low wind buggy kite post.

"You have got to be the only guy who ever said they use their Sami for anything other than racing.
I too have one and wouldn't give it to a newbie, it kick your butt if you don't have the skills.
Just my thoughts, but I would go with a 7M Bullet, good low wind little slow on the turns but good steady pull."

Ive used my 1.2 mtr sting in high winds and have had a great time skidding along etc

So tell me I'm not the only guy that's buggied with a 0.7m Buster.

I buggied with a 2 line stunt kite (< 1m ) in a howling storm one time must have been 40mph+ ... not recommended though - the thing was zipping all over the place :-)

The Flexifoil Sting is a great high wind kite. It is built with a deep airfoil section to keep it from over-accelerating in a gust. The guys at Flexdifoil say they have flown it in 50+ mph (with upgraded line sets).
Just took my Sting 1.7m with me on vacation as it was so small and easy to toss in the bag. Had a blast with it. My wife, a self-proclaimed klutz, flew it easily with no problem (her first 4-line).