I generally completely take my kite down after each flight, by that I pretty much mean I disconnect the lines from the kite and handles and use the cardwinder to wind them back up. I don't mind it, it keeps things pretty tidy and tangle free.

Just thought I'd ask if there are any disadvantages (aside from time consumption) to a total take down and pack up of the kite after each flight as opposed to parapacking or just wrapping the lines on the handles. Do lines where faster when the LarS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head gets tied and untied so often? Thanks,

Seeger

The loops for the larks heads can get a little tired faster, no other real draw back though, just a time thing. If you leave the handles and lines attached, you can often pack up or set up in about a minute or two.

I can't imagine such tedium.

Handles with kite killers wrapped around them make great line winders. I hold the handles by the bottoms and wrap in a figure eight . When I unwrap with the same hands in the same way (reversed), they fall on the ground straight and true as railroad tracks.

A,

Might have to try that. Ive always removed the KKs and parapack.

I tried Angus's figure 8 around the handle method and did something wrong giving me some twists. It works for him but I messed it up somehow. I have had better luck with parapacking. It gets a tangle now and again but they are loose and easy to pull out. Last time I just wound the line around the end of both handles and then unwound just the opposite. No problems this time. This is a little better in case you want to take the kite out without repacking the lines. Also, there is alot to be said for keeping everything hooked up and ready to fly. This eliminates lots of the tangles that can happen with loose line ends.

I got the idea from someone here a while back. The times I get twists, I attribute to moving the handles around in the bag between sessions or at home when cleaning the kite. The key is consistency, I find. Use you hands to unwrap the exact reverse of how you wrapped.

When packing the kite, don't use the wrapped handles as a weight to keep the kite folds in place in the wind while you pack. You move them around too much and get twists. I bring water bottles for that. After winding, leave the handles on the ground near the center of the trailing edge while you fold and don't move them.

When the kite is folded to a bit more than handle-width, I pick up the handles in one motion and put them at the trailing edge, then roll it all up. Make sure all the bridle lines are tucked inside so you cannot pass the handles through a loop. That will really screw with your mind next time out.

Next time you fly, when you unroll, pick the handles up with the same hand and move them once in one motion a foot way from the trailing edge while you un-fold and secure the trailing edge of the kite. Just the reverse of how you packed.

When the kite is secured, first lay out the bridles. I find for most kites they lay better with the mains inside of the brakes. Pick up the handles in the same hand (always left for this south-paw), and immediately unwind with the other, walking backwards or sideways, the reverse of how walked when you wound. When they are unwound, they should have fallen on the ground in four straight lines. Often I can fly right there without a single trip back to the kite.

I got a chance to try out parapacking in my backyard. I packed it up and unpacked a couple times. I'm sold. How foolish I was.

Yes it works great and is easy unless you need to unpack between sessions for cleaning and so forth. Then time spent either way is a wash, I find, so I wind.

I'll still parapack when I have to get off the beach in a hurry- squall, etc..