Like the Neo, as I pull the kite off its back, I pause for a bit before launch to let the kite pre-inflate some.

Anyone used the modded Hydra 350? Any pictures or video links?
I really like the idea. Seems that it would give a true kite feeling, but I'd sure love to hear from some of you that have used them. Thanks

I have a depower hydra mod. Mine is the 300 but it is not much smaller than the 350. I mainly got it for a depower for my son. I wanted something he could start to fly that was a depower and give him a larger wind range. It flies well in low wind because it stays inflated. The kite does slow down with the turns because of the brakes. It has offered him a larger range of flying. He says it pulls a lot harder powered up. It is difficult for me to tell because I weigh 195 lbs and he weighs 48lbs. It does work well as a depower trainer and once he flies it more I hope to get him rolling on a board. As wind speeds increase to about 20mph it does pull even depowered. I look forward to trying it on the beach in higher winds this spring. I got my kite from Powerzone. I contacted him directly.

http://www.powerzonekitesports.com/pztrainer.html

I have the 350 thought i'd just add to the conversation... it takes a little bit to inflate but it's not too bad, flies nicely, nice and stable. I was teaching people to use it in about 20mph of wind, not much verticle lift but decent traction.
The safety release around the arm thingy works but it doesn't go down quite like a open celled trainer, a bit more fidgety and bouncy on the ground but it does work fine.

I'd recommend it, good trainer kite to keep my friends occupied while i'm out having fun :D

Has anyone flown the 300 and 350 side by side? The specs say that the 350 is only 0.2 meters bigger, but can you even tell the difference when flying?

I wonder how the Hydra compared to the PL Waterfoils - anyone who used both?

I agree with the positive feedback on the Hydra. After 5 minutes of flying it at NABX (in a buggy ha!) I came back and the first things out of my mouth... "It's like flying a pillow case". I don't mean that negatively, but that is the best thing I could think of for flying it.

As far as launching, yes... do a 45 degree launch to the edge of the window or borrow from stunt kiters. (btw this takes more practice and skill and soft ground) Do essentially a leading edge launch where one side of the kite comes into the air and you bring it across the window to the edge along the ground before bringing it up. This allows for the kite to properly inflate while moving. I found this solved all of my inflation problems even in 5mph wind.

if you have never done that maneuver tho... I suggest trying it on a kite with handles first.......it is a different beast on a bar.

Back to the kite, this has by far been one of the best 'trainer' (god i hate that word) kites that I have used for people that actually want to start moving over to depowers.

I play with my hydra 350 at least 2-5 times a week its just plain fun. My kid loves it as well. We slide around the high school soccer field or the dunes at the beach. Ive found if you grab the 2 bridle points on either side of the filler holes and let it flag it pumps up close to full in very little time. I almost always launch straight down wind as it doesn't build much power till its full, like a pillow (lol flash) Just make sure when your zipping it closed you reach in and uncrumple the filler tubes so the air can get in other wise it can take a couple of passes to get it full.

It seems to do well in most winds from almost none to to mid to to upper 20's. A word of caution in those upper 20's if its gusty it can and will go from just hovering around 11 to 1 to yarding you into the air with little notice. and since it has very little float you had better be good at landing.

Gusty mean winter winds aside this kite is just down right fun. its what i hand over to any friend i can drag out to fly kites, every singe one of them end up smiling ( after they learn how to steer) and since it has a 3rd line safety its nice to be able to say say just let go if your scared. Just have to make sure and tell them to steer it up before letting go. If you let go while powering down the center of the window it speeds up and pulls harder. My kid was the one who figured out that nifty trick, that was my first lesson in kite repair but id have to say i did good.

Hope to get it out for some body dragging on our local lake some time soon. Also plan to try it out in the kayak but im not so sure how good it would be for that, haven't seen any good kite kayaking footage and all stories Ive read about it did not inspire.

Well that's about as good of a review as i can do on my limited knowledge, id have to say if you are thinking about it you would more than likely enjoy owning one, + Green is cool.


dont have any input on your other kite sorry haven't flown one.

hi as a fairly new kiter how much power from the HQ 350 will I experance if I weigh 9 stone. is it possable to tell me???? thanks.:singing:

what the hell is 9 stone? Im a light weight and my Hydra 350 will pull like a train! Had that badboy out in like 30+ gusts and woo hoo :wow: pulled me on the mtn board

9 stone is 9 x 14 pounds= 126 lbs (pounds)

Great kite and good for dragging about in the water. Just not the best upwind engine. Great choice for kiteboarding schools and for recreational flying, especially in the surf. My customers love them.

Do you use the 300 or 350 for your customers?? is there much differance??? :puzzled:

In the water with an adult you can enjoy the slightly added grunt of the 350. My customers choose the 300 for their kids playing on land and water. It's a small difference in size. 300 = 2.6 sq meter; 350 = 3.5 sq. meter
...or you can let the budget choose...

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell In the water with an adult you can enjoy the slightly added grunt of the 350. My customers choose the 300 for their kids playing on land and water. It's a small difference in size. 300 = 2.6 sq meter; 350 = 3.5 sq. meter ...or you can let the budget choose...

I thought they were a 2.6 and 2.8 but if you are looking for one for yourself sylvo I would recommend the larger one. I got mine for my son.

Ok great thanks. could you suggest a website to get the 350 from??

would this be a decent depower for an 90lb. boy to learn to ride atb with...?

Quote:

Originally posted by sylvo Ok great thanks. could you suggest a website to get the 350 from??

Did you want it modded for depower? Or just the normal Hydra 350?

If you want one modded for depower, try Power Zone

If you want a regular one, you can buy it from A Wind of Change

cheezy - the standard hydra is not depowerable, only the modded versions from PZ are. That said, it looks to be an excellent kite to get a 90 lb lad into kiteATB!

http://www.powerzonekitesports.com/pztrainer.html

Quote:

Originally posted by sylvo Ok great thanks. could you suggest a website to get the 350 from??

I am guessing you are from England but if you want to buy from the states I would suggest.

http://www.dakitez.com/servlet/StoreFront
http://www.coastalwindsports.com/servlet/StoreFront
www.powerzonekitesports.com especially if you want a depower hydra
www.awindofchange.com
www.bigkidkites.com


I am sorry if I left someone out. You can always check the good trader thread

i meant the modded one, i am aware the standard is not depowerable. thanks guys...

Quote:

Originally posted by cheezycheese i meant the modded one, i am aware the standard is not depowerable. thanks guys...

My nephew is 85-90lbs and he was able to do downwinders on a core 90 with the hydra 300 depower mod. I would guess the winds were between 15-20 and we were on soft deep grass. On a better surface he could have done great. I would try for the 350 to get the slightly larger size for a larger kid. I don't know if powerzone has those but call him and I am sure he will work something out. It might take some time though because development and testing for a different size.

Yes, we can do the 350 size, but it will take a bit longer to develop a new size....

i think the overall size difference between the 300 and 350 is something small like 0.2m

Quote:

Originally posted by powerzone i think the overall size difference between the 300 and 350 is something small like 0.2m

.9 m (2.6 vs 3.5) if the HQ specs are right, FWIW

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell Quote: Originally posted by powerzone i think the overall size difference between the 300 and 350 is something small like 0.2m .9 m (2.6 vs 3.5) if the HQ specs are right, FWIW

You are correct. I remember it differently but
http://www.powerkites.de/index.php?option=com_content&vi...
verifies you are correct

My son with the hydra in thick soft grass. Wind was about 15mph. He has gotten several down wind rides but he hasn't progressed any further yet. Sorry about the quality, it was shot on my phone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c_Py8jV4tk

Just flew my new hydra 350!! Its the best ever exactly what I wanted. :roll: all I've got to do now it workout the reverse launch, any tips??

Just pull in on the center line if I remember correctly. When the kite lifts high enough, let the center line go and crank it into a turn at the same time.

Been so long sense I flew the hydra but I think that should do it.

You'll get you preference figured out with in a short time.

ok great thanks very much. really quick response time

to reverse launch can send it slamming back into the ground if it does not turn fast enough after releasing the center line.

so i usually pull the center line while pulling the side i want to flip the kite to.

this way the kite just flops over to one side landing nose up ready to launch.

hope it helps