I think it would be interesting and even entertaining to hear from folks in our kiting world about kites, buggies, harnesses, whatever that they feel were better in their earlier compared to latest configuration.

On the flip side of this I'm a HUGE fan of the Re-Ride system found in the newest Ozone Access, Frenzy, and Summit kites. There I think the new outshines the old.

More to this thread's intent, there are folks that prefer the Flysurfer Peak-1 to the Peak-2 and those that like (or maybe just own) the Born-Kite NS2 versus the NS3.

What kite equipment is out there that was better before the were "improved"? :puzzled:

good thread. I'm quite certain I would like the ns3 as much or more than the 2's based on the feedback from John.

Another one that comes to mind is the pl venom. I think I owned the venom 2. And the synergy. those both seem to be highly sought after older arcs. And phantom 1 of course. Haven't flown either of the latter.

In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I purchased my venom from flyguy then sold it to 3shot who sold it back to flyguy
He must have missed it.

I'lll give you a Go on my NS3s at JIBE, Sean... if you come!

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

good thread. I'm quite certain I would like the ns3 as much or more than the 2's based on the feedback from John. Another one that comes to mind is the pl venom. I think I owned the venom 2. And the synergy. those both seem to be highly sought after older arcs. And phantom 1 of course. Haven't flown either of the latter. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I purchased my venom from flyguy then sold it to 3shot who sold it back to flyguy He must have missed it.

you are right in Venom series, it has alot to do with the unique bar feedback with these kites and autozenith feature, the bar has a solid balance point feel, like shaking hands with a giant always right above you. and a tunable , predictable reaction rate. simple, effective, durable. it has alot of c-kite like action, without the harsh rate gain of power, smooth power not machine-like. of course the high bar pressure has its price of fatigue but hey your playing with giants! get a grip.

Charger I

I turned away from arcs with my set of Guerila's . Too slow and troublesome to fill. I tried the Charger Demo at NABX and was won back. While waiting for the overdue release I used a 15m Synergy. When I got my Chargers I traded them out for Synergy. The Charger was just too high performance for my style.

I haven't had the opportunity to try newer arcs but am completely satisfied with my old gear! The 18m Phantom in particular. I seem to get more and more out of it on the low end the more I fly it still!

The Phantom and Synergy are fantastic kites. My 12 m Phantom II was amazing but the 6 and 9 would not do what I bought them for. I've recently repurchased my old 15m Phantom and also got a good deal on a 12m. I probably won't ever sell either of them.

The Flexifoil Blade seemed to be its best at version IV. That is a fabulous kite. Beautiful in the air and a joy to fly. A few of its teeth got pulled in the next version.

Everything else seems to get better as time goes on IMNSHO.

In a much more large scale example I started out on all around foils [Hornets] but soon "reverted" to NPWs in order to control my janky winds and refine my kite control skills. I still love to fly the NASAs and they continue to hold a prominent place in my quiver.
In a similar vein with regard to sticking with "older" kites I much prefer the PL Viper to the Reactors because I can never seem to get a good session on the Reactors due to the vagaries of my winds.

Always a spot in my quiver for my 2.6m Viper S.... still my high wind kite for sure and packs quite a punch!!

I only sold my 4m Core because it was redundant with my 4m NS3.. (plus I wanted to buy something else )

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

I'lll give you a Go on my NS3s at JIBE, Sean... if you come!

Thanks Spencer. That is my son's last week of college so I'll be moving him back on friday (first year so he doesn't have his car there). I haven't ruled out flying in for a couple days at the beginning of the week though. Not sure yet.

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I purchased my venom from flyguy then sold it to 3shot who sold it back to flyguy He must have missed it.

Sure enough Sean. Flyguy bought it back! Good thread here. I bought a whole quiver of NS2s. Of coure, one month later Steffen released the NS3s. If I would have waited Im sure I would have the 3s. I've yet to fly a 3 but have heard only good things about them. I am quite happy with the 2s though. I also really enjoy my Peak 1. I also haven't flown a P2 yet either so I don't have a valid opinion of them. With all due respect, I completely understand some of the frustration regarding the P2s. Some fly great right out of the box, and some require some extensive fiddling to fly as designed. Most everyone here is proficient with tinkering and tuning so its not a big issue. Thats a lot of coin to drop on a kite with 50/50 chance it will fly correctly (in my humble opinion of course). I am so happy with my P1, I really dont see a need to upgrade to a P2 except having more kite size options. Wish they made a P1 4m :evil:. Hope to score a 9m P1 some day.

Of all the kites I've peddled, I miss my old Bullets the most. They are an amazing buggy machine. Hope to buy back a quiver of those one day too. Really regret letting those go.

This is an expensive sport as we all know. I wouldnt have 1/2 the kites I do if it were not for the great peeps here upgrading gear. So a used kite is always new to me!

Quote: Originally posted by 3shot

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre   In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I purchased my venom from flyguy then sold it to 3shot who sold it back to flyguy He must have missed it. Sure enough Sean. Flyguy bought it back! Good thread here. I bought a whole quiver of NS2s. Of coure, one month later Steffen released the NS3s. If I would have waited Im sure I would have the 3s. I've yet to fly a 3 but have heard only good things about them. I am quite happy with the 2s though. I also really enjoy my Peak 1. I also haven't flown a P2 yet either so I don't have a valid opinion of them. With all due respect, I completely understand some of the frustration regarding the P2s. Some fly great right out of the box, and some require some extensive fiddling to fly as designed. Most everyone here is proficient with tinkering and tuning so its not a big issue. Thats a lot of coin to drop on a kite with 50/50 chance it will fly correctly (in my humble opinion of course). I am so happy with my P1, I really dont see a need to upgrade to a P2 except having more kite size options. Wish they made a P1 4m :evil:. Hope to score a 9m P1 some day. Of all the kites I've peddled, I miss my old Bullets the most. They are an amazing buggy machine. Hope to buy back a quiver of those one day too. Really regret letting those go. This is an expensive sport as we all know. I wouldnt have 1/2 the kites I do if it were not for the great peeps here upgrading gear. So a used kite is always new to me!

Glad folks are enjoying this thread! Does the P1 have the little ball that can be slid down to hold the bar in place on long runs as the P2 does? I don't get to use that much (if at all) zipping back and forth on my local soccer fields, but on the playa this is an AWESOME feature of the Peak2s. Choked in like this makes them fly rock steady like NASA Stars but with all their DP capability just a simple ball slide away.

I'm not sure what beyond tiny tweaks Steffen did between NS2s and NS3s, but by changing the layout of the kite fabric from vertical to horizontal he made the NS3s not hardly as pretty as the NS2s IMNSHO (thanks Bob!). I vastly prefer the look of the NS2s to the 3s but of course own 3s because I got into this game later than some.

No balls on the P1 Steve lol. I am used to strong arming so not an issue. But I'm sure its a nice feature on the P2.

I used to be much better than I am now. The latest model keeps breaking down and takes ages to recover. Wish I still had the '98 model.:D

Quote: Originally posted by John Holgate

I used to be much better than I am now. The latest model keeps breaking down and takes ages to recover. Wish I still had the '98 model.:D

I here that my Down Unda Brotha! I turn 55 next month. Ugg.

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

I here that my Down Unda Brotha! I turn 55 next month. Ugg.

HA!!!! Young 'un's. I'm 63 and just started mountain boarding a month ago and kite flying 6 months ago! It is my express intent to put you all to shame, too!

Well, someday, anyway... :embarrased:

Wish you could've seen the faces of the group of 16 year olds watching me shush-boom down the fall line of the grassy knoll on my Core 95 this past Sunday! They came up to me and asked "What kind of skateboard was that?" LOL! I REALLY blew their minds when I told them about the land board and how I intended to use my power kites as engines to pull me on the board! They were...in awe!

Frank

Frank

What about a comparison on the reactor II versus the new reactor? I've not flown either but the RII seemed very popular and I haven't heard all that much on the new one yet.

Everything I've heard is that the new ones are able to run faster than the R IIs.

I thought the Ozone Access 2 was a great kite but don't like how Ozone makes that kire more nimble and speedy with each new release. Same can be said for Gin. Eskimo III series was the best with one minor tweak to the break leaders and the addition of a landing strap. I didn't like it when Gin kept trying to make the kite faster and lighter on the bar with each new release.

I'm a fan of slower, grunty kites. As the kites speed up and get more nimble it really requires me to adjust my redirects in a way I don't like. Guess that's why I haven't upgraded my quiver in years.

Quote: Originally posted by John Holgate

I used to be much better than I am now. The latest model keeps breaking down and takes ages to recover. Wish I still had the '98 model.:D

Here you go John.....



ATB,
Sam

Before Angus closed down CWS, I bought an obscene amount of HQ Stakes.



While the Ozone Stake has a nicer sheath, I've always been a bit skeptical about it being a better mousetrap.



US dealers never seemed to have it readily stocked and it was never clear if the 316 stainless portion was "full tang," so the trigger was never pulled on it.

ATB,
Sam

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

What about a comparison on the reactor II versus the new reactor? I've not flown either but the RII seemed very popular and I haven't heard all that much on the new one yet.

I haven't flown a Reactor II, but I have owned the 3.5m Reactor 2013, and still own the 5.5m and 8.6m. I have heard that the Reactor 2013 was originally a Vapor proto, and they just trimmed its claws a little bit and decided it would be the new Reactor.

Come to JIBE and find out for yourself! You can fly the 5.5 or 8.6 in some good clean wind and see what they can really do.