I'm fairly new to power kites, I've been reading up a lot on them in magazines and online, looking to buy my first kite but don't have a clue what sort of one to go for? I've been looking at one about 3 metres possibly? I'd like something thats not gonna be too hard going for a newbie but that will still keep me interested once I've got the basics mastered, I prefer something a bit challenging to keep me interested. I'm also looking for a kite that'll pull me along on an ATB, I'd like to purchase one at a later date once I learn how to fly the kite. I like the look of the Peter Lynn Pepper 2 and also the HQ Beamer 3.

Any advice please?

Both those choices are good and the PKD Buster II has a goo d rep, too. We are still waiting for the Pepper II's to reach the 'States, but the original Pepper is a fine choice so I'm anxious to see the II.

You are on the right track with your choices and line of reasoning. Any of those will be fine for a 'board, and as your skills increase, you can use the kite in higher and higher winds so the thrill will not wear off.

What I find is at about 3m you get a kite that performs like a power kite even in moderate to low winds. Smaller kites are less threatening but fly way faster than the grown ups and don't produce useful pull until it is so windy they buzz like a bee.
Of your 2 options I'ld go for the 3m Beamer ! It will pull you on a board in a descent wind. Peppers are good kites just 2m is a bit small.

I think he meant Pepper version 2, which is on the PL website but not fully distributed yet. I agree about the 3 meter size and like your way of explaining it.

I started out with a rage 3.5 which is a brilliant kite. If one is too expensive, you could probably find a second hand rage or a bullet on the net. I know that powerkiteshop.com has a few bullets but the smallest is 4.5 which i think is not the best size to start out with. Where about in scotland do you live, as i live a little way down from the boarder?

Hey cheers for the help guys, come back from work tonight to find all these replies Whoohoo!

I stay near Lanark, sort of south west/central scotland, about 30 miles south of Glasgow.

I think you can get the Pepper in a 3m version, if I went for that I think it'd be the 3m I'd go for, 3m sounds like a good sort of size for starting out with I reckon, like snowbird says, it'll pull me along on a board which would be great. I like the idea of flying it in lighter winds to learn then taking it out in stronger winds to increase the thrill factor!

My budget is about £120, maybe a bit more at a push depends on what I could find for my money.

http://www.powerkiteshop.com/kites/peterlynnpepper.htm

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Thats the Peter Lynn I was looking at, maybe the 3m one? The Peter Lynn seems to be the most expensive out of them all, is there much difference in quality and value for money in the different makes or are they all much of a much-ness? If I went for a Beamer III I could afford to go a bit bigger, possibly go for the 4m version if it woudln't be too much of a handful?

http://www.powerkiteshop.com/kites/hqbeamer3.htm

Sorry about all the questions, just want to find out as much as I can before spending to much money on one, make sure I make the right choice!!

Huh, the Peppers are a bit less than the Beamers here in the States. Build quality is quite good on both.

4m is top end for first time, I think, and even if your are a big guy, I'd be carefull.

I had a 4.5 m for my first 4-line, but I had a lot of time on 2-line and knew what to expect. Even then I learned that I would have been better off with a 3-3.5m.
I'm 200 lbs or 14 stone.