So here I am.... I have my two little foil kites and I am always looking forward to what can push me to the next level...

Imagine you have $1000, what kite would you buy and why? (also: imagine if you didn't have any kites at all) LEI? SLE? Foil? Brand? The kite market is so overwhelming with all the options, even for hybrid kites to use on land/water/snow there are so many options and they are in general close to the same price brand new. Why do you buy your kites and not the other brands?

I bought mine becuase they were either what the local store carried or someone I trusted gave a deal on them over the net. I've never had a spare $1000 floating around so all my purchases are carefully planned. I know what I want and I'm patient so I wait and watch and look for the best deal at the right time and buy.

extras, such as adjustable bridles (a biggie) and dirt-outs, are what i am now looking for in a kite. adjustable bridle allows for wider wind range.
i am a beginner too so I like to try different brands but i have to go by popular opinon mostly.
Paul

what's good for me is not necessary good for you. may be yes may be no.

The goal is to try many different kites types and brands in the foils, depowers, high aspect, low aspect, LEI in the most occasions you can so at the end you can make a choice as what is good for you.

BUT I found that just trying a demo is sometime not enough to make a right decision. You need to fly a kite several times to get used to it, and like or dislike it.

So that almost means you gotta own them for a while.

BUT buying kites is expensive, so now I try to buy only used kites so my lost is minimal when I resell it.


The first kites (Ozone ) I bought was because the local dealer was selling that so as a newbie that was a good move since I could have support and coaching from the local shop.

Then I bought some Flysurfers because I knew I was going to hit the water, and closed cells sounded cool to me. I had been influenced by light wind videos on the Speed1.

Now I buy Flysurfer because I just know these are for me, and having tried 6-7 different LEI kites, it know what I like in a Flysurfer versus a LEI. The most important one is when you need the power, it just comes so fast (raw power).

I have owned few LEI kites such as Eclipse, Liquid Force, Best, Cabrinha. When I bought it was either because of a good price, or a marketing hype such as for Cabrinha.

IMO with modern LEI that have an hybrid shape, they are pretty similar with minor exceptions when you fly and ride them. Best feeling id probably the Cabrinha.

They all jump, they all turn fast, they all have good amount of depower, they all have to be PUMPed, they all lack in the low-end, they all lose so much resell value $$$ so fast (faster they can fly) and they all have to be flown up and down (like a sin) to get well powered up.

Gotta try, no choice.

"Kites are like a box of chocolate. You'll never know what you get until you try it." Forrest Gump.

Try before you buy is always a good idea.
Problem is, I fall in Love with just about every kite that flies well !

You need to ask yourself exactly what you want out of the kite. Things like, will I be riding on land and water, will I want huge wind range, gust munching , Lift etc.

Most peoples taste evolves. I started on C kites. Moved to low lift fixed bridles, then more lifty as I moved away from the buggy. Now I'm completely sold on depower. I like the closed cell for 2 reasons. It is more forgiving when I screw up and I can head out on the water if I choose.

Like Buzz, the depreciation of kites kills me ! I have always been big on buying the model that actually lived up to the Hype the previous year second hand in near perfect shape at 2/3 or less the cost. Too many kites don't live up to the Hype. Even the Psycho IV seems to have troubles with the new concept bar ?

If I had a $1,000 extra to spend on a kite right now I would wait for the Canadian dollar to go back up :piggy: Right now it would only be $840 U.S.

If I only bought 1 kite it would probably be an 8m Pulse II ?

maintenance free, wide range of use

by used

for a $1000 you could go many directions and have a good variety and sizes

frequency of use and application( conditions and your ride) should point you in the right direction

I make a list of what I plan to do with it what kind of wind I usually encounter and what features I want/need. Then compare that to kites that can be had for the cash and the list shortens a fair bit. Pick from what is left and ask advice. Everybody has ideas likes and dislikes but if you ask the 'locals' first they will understand the conditions where you fly and have ideas based on local knowlage. Ask here too but keep in mind what YOU want to do and what YOU need.

Right now I would buy a couple more Flexifoil Blade IV's both a 5meter and the 8meter. Adjustable bridle, extremely high quality excellent flying kite. Can be used for any traction sport. They hold their resell value-but who wants to resell them

Good luck-Scott

I have my sights set on one more kite and then I am done! I know it won't happen for a while and I am patient. In the meantime, I look for good conditions and some spare time to kite. Lately, I am just not getting out enough to get much kiting done and it sucks!

i'm a speed freak, so I follow what Euro Racers use ... if I got into Freestyle, i'd watch what the UK Riders use.