hi everyone!! this is my first post.. im hooked on kiting now and am ready for my first power kite! I can fly decently on two lines and want to get something bigger on quad lines to get now. Eventually I think I'd like to get into buggying but for now it will just be for playing on the beach and some scudding etc... I have narrowed down my choices to the beamer iii 4.0 and the imp quattro 3.5 but i just can't decide which would be better for me... seems like a lot of people here have beamers and like them a lot, so i am leaning towards that, but just thought i'd see if anyone would suggest the quattro instead.. or anything else for that matter! (they are both around $250).. Thanks ahead of time for any advice!

Welcome Reefro,

As I was told when in your position, the 3m Beemer will give you a larger usable wind range. In other words, too much wind for the 4m would still be ok for the 3m. The 3m has plenty of pull, but will be more forgiving than the 4 in the same wind conditions. Rest assured, you WILL buy other kites later and you will have the experience to use a larger kite after putting in some safe respectful hours in with the 3m. I weigh a solid 230 lbs and my 3m has picked me up off the ground and landed me over 20 feet away on my belly when flying in too much wind. All that before I managed to let go of the handles. How far would I have gone with the 4m? And which bones would be broken? Months from now, when you are an ace veteran, you will still appreciate the smaller kite on days the wind is really howling.:singing:

As always, im a flexi-freak, so i'll suggest a Rage, or a sting if your budget really doenst wana go any further (patience is a virtue).

But i'd go for the beamer rather than the IMP.

Personal opinion there, everybodys different! :D

that sounds like some really great advice actually.. i know im hooked already and the beamer 3m seems like a good choice - the only reason i was thinking of something a bit bigger is because sometimes the winds around here lag somewhat and i thought that the 4m would allow me to fly in lower winds.. although i saw the 4m advertised for 'beginner and medium winds' versus the 3m advertised as 'for high winds'..

but i agree - i am the same weight as you so you now have me leaning towards the 3m!

also, anyone reccomend a DVD or anything like that to get as well or will i be fine on my own?

Thanks 5m1FF - I was really leaning towards the flexifoil stuff earlier in my researching... i have changed my mind about 809345 times, i am bad enough with decisions and this is near impossible for me.. i just need to decide otherwise i will just be waiting forever! The Sting does seem like a nice choice as well, the rage a bit out of my price range for now.. this week looks like the wind will be picking up around 15mph so hopefully i will have something picked out and ordered today!!!

I still enjoy flying my Beamer, and my 12 year old son can fly it in sub 12 mph winds as well. It is a fun forgiving kite to fly and looks good in the sky. It also comes with a somewhat informative dvd but use the manual for advice on hooking everything up. The Beamer also comes with good lines, kite killers, and a stake. You will be set on your first day with only one purchase. My recommendation is only from personal experience and the same thing being said by many on this and other forums over and over. If you have difficulty making a decision, remember, if you tried every kite out there you might find a better one for you, but no one ever comes back and says they were disappointed with the Beamer. I have other kites now but didn't see that coming when I came up with my user name. Good luck, and go buy a kite!

OK i did it!!! went ahead and ordered a beamer iii 3m... i think i will be very happy!!

im curious though - i have seen a few people mention 12mph - is that the minimum i'll want to take the kite out in?? the specs list from as low as 4mph, but i figure that wouldnt be much fun.. thanks again!!!!

nahhhh, 12mph will be when the kite gets exciting. You can fly as low as 4, which will be good to get your control up

Good choice on the kite. 8-12 mph will be a nice sweet spot for the first time out. 5-6 mph is a more realistinc low end for that kite, but will require some finesse gained from practice. The trick in low wind is to keep the kite moving so it creates its own apparent wind.

oui, particularlly fun with bigger kites and <4mph winds.

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob I still enjoy flying my Beamer, and my 12 year old son can fly it in sub 12 mph winds as well. It is a fun forgiving kite to fly and looks good in the sky. It also comes with a somewhat informative dvd but use the manual for advice on hooking everything up. The Beamer also comes with good lines, kite killers, and a stake. You will be set on your first day with only one purchase. My recommendation is only from personal experience and the same thing being said by many on this and other forums over and over. If you have difficulty making a decision, remember, if you tried every kite out there you might find a better one for you, but no one ever comes back and says they were disappointed with the Beamer. I have other kites now but didn't see that coming when I came up with my user name. Good luck, and go buy a kite!

funny - i am realizing now that i have read your reviews on a few different places about the 3m beamer iii

thanks again everyone im sure ill be posting more once my toys arrive!

I too recently bought a 3m Beamer. Its been very windy here over the weekend and I've found out how hard it can pull in strong winds

Still waiting for some Good winds here again... to Really FLY my new ProFoil 1.5m, but wouldnt you know it all those winds blew away BEFORE it arrived...

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfell I too recently bought a 3m Beamer. Its been very windy here over the weekend and I've found out how hard it can pull in strong winds

what kind of winds were they? just curious! i can hardly wait but it will be a few days before the beamer arrives, and hopefully it will stay windy! this weeks forecast is looking good (i live in arcata, in northern california).. there are some windier spots north of here so i may have to go visit!

alright i got the package already! thanks to corey at windpowersports for the quick delivery and help! todays forecast is looking like up to 20mph winds, i dont think i should try my first flight in that, but looks like it will be pretty nice the rest of the week... thanks again everyone!

NO, definitely don't take it out in that the first time. Picture Superman doing a takeoff. That can be you.... Except the landing isn't vertical, you land on your side/belly/back. After you put in some time, you can get away with that, but with no experience, you won't know what hit you. Unpack it today INSIDE and get your lines and kite killers all hooked up so you don't have to do that in the wind.

should i wait until i have someone to help me? i was thinking about going out on my lunch break today but then i would be solo... not sure if i need help at first or not, any suggestions? not sure i will go, right now its forecasting 9-12 but i think its more like 15 where im gonna go.. anyways we'll see