Hi all,

I have a good deal on a 2015 twister 5.5 for 200 usd and a blade IV 4.9 for 280. Both are used kites but are still in very good condition.

I have looked into the separate threads discussing the kites, but have become none the wiser when it becomes between these two kites together.

Currently flying a Uniq Quad 3.5 and a Twister 4.0. But when it comes to static jumping I feel that I need to go one size up regarding the twister, so I'm gonna sell that kite.

Which kite would you recommend, or should I get them both to get some jumps in lower wind as well?

If you are wanting a fixed bridle kite specifically for jumping, you should look in the 7-8m range. I have done a ton of jumping on my 8.6m 2013 Reactor and it is so much easier and safer than trying to jump a 5m kite. If you really want to jump, go depower. I have gotten 15ft+ of air flying my 19m Speed 3 static.

Thanks for your reply. I'll take it in into consideration.
Everyone on the board is raving about the blade, so I thought I shouldn't miss out because they're hard to come by over here.

I am looking into depower kites but that's because of wanting to start kite surfing next year.

The Blade IV has a built in Angle Of Attack adjuster on bridal set up- I believe -which gives options for catering to jumping or riding, and perhaps even stability.

Twister 5.5 is more stable in general..... larger wind range too.

Consider your regions particular winds.

i have 4.9blade3 and 5.6twister2...i think the blade will go up faster and higher, but i try not to let that happen
...im not looking to jump but know this..i weight 170 and for what i consider "jumping"...id want bigger
also if it's blowing 20...i've already landed these kites and thats where real jumping begins
so yea...buy them both, then get something bigger in a month or so

Small kites like the 4.9 Blade have plenty of lift and getting off the ground is easy.

The catch is that unless it is blowing super strong and steady you will lose ALL lift and drop to the ground even with the kite parked overhead. The only way to come down soft is to keep flying the kite aggresively to maintain lift. Mess it up and you drop or worse, get slammed into the ground.

If your ultimate goal is to go to water why don't you go straight to a decent depower? You should be able to do so with the cost of those 2 kites combined. Jumping with a depower and bar is different than Fixed Bridle. Maybe not as fun to free fly but safer for jumping and progressing to water.

Straigt to depower is true after some mulling over it. It's easier to spend a little bit here and there than to go 'all-in' at once.

One thing I know for sure it's a spendy hobby...
Here we have great winds for kite-surfing and atb/buggying so it's tempting to get gear for all of them to try it out.

I wouldn't say this is a spendy hobby at all once you get the gear you are happy with. The last kite I bought was something like two years ago, and nothing has broken or been damaged on any of my kites or buggies in that time. My only expense as far as kiting is concerned is travel and lodging for JIBE.

This sport can seem spendy at 1st. Especially if you don't have the advantage of a local crew so you can experiment and find the gear that works for you. Buying and selling quality used gear is the best way to offset that.

I am like Demoknight. Now that I have found my perfect quiver I have only purchased 1 kite in 3 years and it was about 2 years ago. I have had some minor breakdowns like a lost top hat but otherwise my only expense has been travel.

Funny thing. I thought going in, how nice to ride the wind and be reletively carbon neutral. Thruth is, I burn at least 1/2 my gas bill chasing the wind. Throw in air flights to IBX etc. and I should almost be embarrased!

So, here is your catch 22. For learning on water nothing beats an LEI + they are reasonably cheap second hand. Unfortunately they don't stand up to crashing on land well. Closed cell foils are water relaunchable ( yes B'Bob I know that's not a real word ) but are not simple or goof proof. Not ideal for learning on water.

You may want to not worry too much about closed cell or LEI and look for a depower foil with the intension of selling to buy an LEI when you are rarely crashing and ready to transition to water?

Luckily the closest beach is 45 mins out, but fuel is expensive here.
Even then, I try to go at least once a week during summer time.

Finally I bought the blade, just to scratch that itch :o
Though I catch myself looking at used buggies too, because they're quite affordable at 150-200 euros.

To make matters worse, I found a legit kite surf instructor through my local shop. So I might get that out of the way as well and then slowly start looking at used kites and gear.
Although my shop recommends me the new PL Aero's because of longevity and durability...

I suggest you hold off on actually getting lessons until you can also afford water gear.

Lessons aren't cheap and you want to get the most out of them that you possibly can. The ideal situation is you go in for lessons already owning a good kite ( and board ) or with money to buy one with your instructors blessing for your location. Stagger the lessons and practice what you learned at each step between lessons. Taking lessons and then taking months off before you go back to the water isn't money well spent.

Your next best purchase will be a harness. Get used to flying hooked in. When hooked in think about how you can make similar moves to controling a depower kite. Hold the handles with brakes horizontal like a bar. Try to fly with minimal Push Pull control and mostly brake turns. ( clean wind is required )
When you are flying straight off the harness with no brake input it is similar to flying with the bar out. Flying on the kites front lines.
When you add some brake to one side only you do a " brake turn ". This is similar to pulling on one side of the bar.
Add equal tension to both brakes and the kite will slow through the window and sit farther back until stall point. This is similar to what happens pulling in the bar.

Having worked out in your head what is happening to the kite when you trim it with the bar and experienced what it means by translating it to experience on your FB will be very valuable when transitioning. DON"T get stuck on the term depower. Instead think about when and why you want to be flying on the front lines or adding tension to the back.

i understand the blade itch
8/10 1st time out and respect the snot out of that kite
it is a great buggy engine...but it will try to kill you someday

I sat down with the recommended instructor and he said as well to either spend at once or do bit by bit aiming to go on water.

So I'll save up and stick with static and buggying first for this year.

Thanks for all the advice. It easy very helpful!