Hi,

I'm fairly new to power kiting. My mate gave me his unwanted present - a cheepo 2m x 80cm 2 line kite (I think that's the size - it's in the boot, I forgot)

I've taken it out a few times now in fairly calm wind (leaves and small twigs blowing) and absolutely love it.

Now I'm looking for something a bit more - I'd like a 4 line kite with some more power and i've been looking at the Flexfoil Sting. But the thing i cant decide is what size to go for, I'm torn between the 2.4 and 3.3

I want something with a fair bit of pull that i can lean back into and will drag me across the ground a bit in some higher winds. but i dont want to be overwhelmed first time out!

But i also dont want to get a smaller kite and be fed up of it after a while!

As i say, I usually go out in a light breeze and i'm a little over 13st

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking to spend around £100 - £150 if there are any other kites i should look at?

Thanks,

Tom

either one would be safe. Stings are the easiest flexifoils to fly. I got my wife the 1.7 in pink. Sometimes I use it to landboard in25-30 mph.
Good pick mate!
WG

I'd get the 3.3, it will start giving you the pull you want about 8 mph or so. The dragging would kick in around 12 or so, on soft sand that is, on wet grass you'll be sliding in 8 mph.

leaves and small twigs blowing is a bit more wind than that, though... sounds like 10-12 mph or so...

if you have many winds stronger than what you normally go out in, consider starting with the 2.4.

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=1985 - Lots of info to help close the knowledge gap!

What are the typical wind ranges in your area?

Just FYI - some others in your boat . . . . . .

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10747
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10772
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=9998

All, thanks for the info, i'll have a skim through the other threads!

Quote:

Originally posted by soccerflyer What are the typical wind ranges in your area?

I'm not sure what typical speeds are, i've never paid much attention before i picked up a kite. Usually fairly calm.

Looking on the met office website, this week they are ranging anywhere between 3 and 12 mph, usually being around the 5-8 mark.

So i think the 3.3 might be the way to go

Quote:

Originally posted by oOTomOo I'm not sure what typical speeds are, i've never paid much attention before i picked up a kite. Usually fairly calm. Looking on the met office website, this week they are ranging anywhere between 3 and 12 mph, usually being around the 5-8 mark. So i think the 3.3 might be the way to go

if they're like for a month or two more, then go for it!

but do have a look at your winter winds, with skills you could handle 20 mph+ after a few hours on the kite.

your previous two-line will be a big bonus, but most folks transitioning from two to four lines often mess up their brake line usage a lot in the first little while.

the sting is a stupid easy relaunch, you will love that aspect after dealing with your two-line....

Yea, it's always fun having my mate run around after the 2 line when I nose dive it into the ground!

Do winter winds tend to be stronger then?:embarrased:

Quote:

Originally posted by oOTomOo Do winter winds tend to be stronger then?:embarrased:

most areas, yes.

don't know where you are, can't comment further....

a loyal kite monkey is a very good thing, btw...

I'm in the UK - Yorkshire area

Hopefully my Girlfriend will serve as a kite monkey, usually take my kite out when we walk the dog..

if u r in the uk, u will def have very strong winter winds.... starting sooner rather than later. say a month at most, maybe two.

the uk is one of the windiest countries on earth.

but if i remember right, yorkshire is inland, so gusty and wiggly winds may be more of a problem than the actual wind speed.

do check your winter winds, mate...

Hmm, might have shifted a little more to the 2.4 side of the fence after that :puzzled:

I usually tend to fly in lighter winds though, it's too cold out if it's too windy!

One of my concerns would be the kite actually flying in slower winds.. would both actually fly in a gentle breeze, or would the 3.3 be better for that?

the 3.3 is better for gentle breezes...

some other kites are a LOT better, but that's for later...

too cold is bad yes, but flying kites hard can make the sport warmer than you might believe...

if you get into this sport, a quiver of kites for your breezes is inevitable.

but after a few hours of flying time, you'll be able to handle some pretty good winds with the sting.

it's the first few flights that need to happen in light winds, but with your 2-line experience (you do know what the wind window is, right?) you're well ahead of the beginner learning curve.

just don't forget to watch what you are doing with the brakes, be very aware of the slack / tension in the brake lines.

Do you have any examples of kites that are better in breezes?

I realise I'll probably end up with several kites, but, obviously I want to choose a first (proper) kite that will give me the most flexibility and enjoyment before I start expanding my range

I know what the wind window is.. It's the window I look out of to see how strong the wind is... right ? :bigok:

Quote:

Originally posted by oOTomOo Do you have any examples of kites that are better in breezes? I realise I'll probably end up with several kites, but, obviously I want to choose a first (proper) kite that will give me the most flexibility and enjoyment before I start expanding my range I know what the wind window is.. It's the window I look out of to see how strong the wind is... right ? :bigok:

backwards order...

I'm not sure if you're joshing me there on the wind window front... you being british, I'll guess you are...

"most flexibility and enjoyment before I start to expand my range" well yes, 3m stable kites are good for that, which is why we suggest them first. they also grow into a highwind kite later, stings are excellent for both roles.

kites better in breezes, well I was referring to big fixed bridles in the 8-10 meter range and the big depower foils in the 15-19 meter range... best not to fly those just yet, I fly an 8m FB regularly but I'm a cautious two years into the sport and uninjured so far. I've just ventured into depowers, can't say much more about that at the mo...

but actually the sting is quite a good early starter for kites in its size range.

good luck with your decision...

If your looking for a kite to fly in 5-8 mph winds then a 3.3 would be the smallest you would want to do. I would actually suggest looking at something a hair bigger like 4 meter.

My first kite was a Pansh Blaze 3M for $100 brand new. (great 1st cheap kite in my opinion). And I can't even get it to fly in less than 8mph winds. It is just your standard medium aspect ratio 4 line kite. Now in anything 10-30 mph it is a blasty blast!! In winds 20+ I have to wear pants I don't mind getting grass stained caues it is draggin me accross the field!

That's my 0.02 worth . . . . . . . . . .

try a sting sometime, soccerflyer. big vents, nice stable yet slippery profile, minimal bridle, and light in weight for its size. It gets off the ground a bit quicker than a blaze, and flies a wider window sooner.

like I've said elsewhere, i'm not trying to be snobbish when i talk about pansh.

but on the 4m idea. there is one fellow on here who got a lot of advice aiming him towards a non-lifty 3m but ended up getting a 4.1 after thinking about it and he is happy so far:

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10092

but yes it is very dependent on both your wind speed range year-round and/or your willingness to buy more kites to deal with that range.

Furbs, I wish soooooooo bad I could try a LOT of different kites, but the only kiters I have found in my area are kitesurfers and they only fly Best Waroos. And they have yet to offer to let me try em out. :-(

I am on a pass the Twister II thread so I am excited about that opportunity. You are right though - I am very limited in my actual use knowledge. I have only flown my two kites and they are both Pansh. I am excited to try something more expensive and high quality to feel the difference!!!!

I am just glad Pansh does make cheap kites otherwise I may have passed on this sport and chalked it up to the list of thing I would love to try, but can't afford.

Quote:

Originally posted by soccerflyer I am just glad Pansh does make cheap kites otherwise I may have passed on this sport and chalked it up to the list of thing I would love to try, but can't afford.

They got me in the sport too, mate.

You're going to love that twister, I'm jealous, I've not flown one yet but I'm sure they're hot!

I'll tell you another thing, though... you'll find out what's in the kite and what's in the pilot, and you find that out in a good way going from pansh to better... if you know what i mean... I still fly my aces a lot, my blade is bracketed nicely by my 5 and 8.

Furbs, I was joshing you about the wind window.. (I'm British, it's what we do :D )
Simplest way I can think to explain it.. stand with your back to the wind and you're looking at it.

Oh and my kite is 2.5m x 80cm ( I took it out last night ) again, fairly gentle wind, maybe 5-8 mph.. nowhere near enough power, need to wait for some more windy days

Just been looking at a 4m Hornet are hornets pretty much on a par with Flexfoil?

I've been reading a few threads that say you cant go wrong with HQ, Peter Lynn, Ozone and Pkd I had a quick look at an Ozone flow, but it's a bit out of my price range.

PKD Busters look OK? the 3 and 4m are both in my price range..

Are Flexfoil pretty much on a par with them?

Thanks for all your help

Tom

i'm new to this kiting lark too and have invested in a 3.0m hornet its ace had it aout yesterday in a steady 21mph north northeasterly and it was great with lost of drag also got a decent pull on sunday in a turbulent 10-12 mph wind

lol, i dream of seeing 21mph winds..

I'm kind of torn now between the 3.3 Sting or a 4.0m Buster, or maybe even the 5.0m buster (which is cheaper than the 4 :o )

I've also seen a DP Power kite ( http://www.edgepowerkites.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=86&cate... )

but I've never heard of them before, anyone seen these before.. they any good?

hey... you fly that 2-line a bit... how do your winds feel? are they nice and steady? can you hold the two meter at the edge of the window close to the ground with good control? or do you get the wind shifting around a lot so the kite continually collapses if you try that?

If you get the smooth wind, you could go for something with a bit more lift and juice, an ace 3.5m for example is cheap, you will get zero style points, but it's an early starter in low winds and an exciting kite to fly.

If you get the wiggly winds tho you'll like something like the hornet, apparently it's one of the more stable beginner kites out there. I don't know the brooza, but it's a more stable kite yet quicker than either a beamer or a hornet, by the looks of it's canopy and what little I've heard about it.

Flexifoil kites are generally very good, but they are not head and shoulders above the rest, and they spend too much money on their image for my taste. Which one were you interested in? Most of their kites are quite good, some (like the blade) might not be appropriate for you just now.

Here's a couple interesting viewpoints to consider (near the end of the thread):

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10855

In the end, you'll need to decide one way or the other...

Good luck!

the 5 meter buster is cheap because it is a very difficult kite to resell. It's a large stable traction kite best suited for buggy cruising. It might be an OK choice if your winds are wiggly, but it's a very big step up from your two-line. Most folks buying that size or larger are looking for something a little more focused.

I have a DP power 2.5, there's a review of it up on here I think... yep. wasn't much interest in the review...

(edit.. wrong link at first, fixed now, sorry)

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=8902

4.0 m buster or 5.0 buster might be the way to go, but only if you are certain about your winds and feel like you can be responsible about choosing nice low steady winds to learn in.

There's a lot of kites out there, it's a lot easier to tell between them after you've flown a few, but just get something workable in the 3-5 range, with consideration for the winds you have now and are likely to encounter this winter. That kite will teach you lots, nearly all the kites above will teach you well.

You're right to be concerned about the low winds, though... not all the kites above work well below 8 mph. most small foils fly great with more than 8 mph of wind, but not all keep flying well below that wind speed. Quite a few fly well into low winds if they are smooth, but kites that fly well in low and gusty winds are rare.

If you have access to empty flat spaces at least a few hundred meters in size with good wind, you can safely go a bit larger than you might otherwise.

It sounds like you are casting your net a little wider and thinking a bit more about the different kites out there, don't be afraid to do so.

how do your winds feel? are they nice and steady? - Tempremental, they are fairly clean while they are blowing, but then they stop.. and the kite falls out of the sky.. and I send my Girlfriend running after it!

can you hold the two meter at the edge of the window close to the ground with good control? or do you get the wind shifting around a lot so the kite continually collapses if you try that?
I've never tried holding at the edge of the window near the ground, i've held it near the edge at a sort of 40-50 degree angle to the ground and it stays fairly well put. (if the wind doesn't stop that is!)

I've yet to have any nice windy days to take the 2 line out in. there was one, but we had other things to do

I was looking at the Flexfoil Sting 3.3 - which I was now sort of swaying towards, mainly because the handles etc that come with it look generally better quality than the others, nice big padded grips etc..

I'll have a look at the Ace Do you think a 5m would be a little bit ambitious for a first propper kite?

I do most of my flying here... 53.912228, -1.682004 (put that in google maps) It's 4 football pitches next to each other width ways with empty fields to the north and east Prevailing wind is ENE (coming off the fields) So it has fairly clean winds

I am casting my net a little wider, I'd like to try and consider all possibilities before splashing out my 'hard' earned cash

The assistance you guys are offering with your extra experience is very much appreciated

So.. my wind is fairly clean, but I don't have very many windy days, most of the time the wind tends to be down below the 10-15mph mark occasionally dieing off to nothing lol

if your wind are consistently less than 10 mph, then the 5m Ace might work for you. I would recommend the Beamer over the Ace because it is a much more forgiving kite, but it is also a bit more expensive. I have a 5m Beamer III that I hardly fly, but it was a good beginner kite for me to fly in less than 10 mph of wind. The Ace might work though... Just make sure you understand when to NOT fly it (winds over 15 mph would be very painful with that kite...)

I basically went from a little snapshot to an Ace 5, but I did have a few hours on a couple of legends, the 2 and the 3 (only took ten hours to stretch the bridle out on the legend 3 BTW). Also I had soft sandy beaches and gentle onshore winds about 6-8 mph for many of my first flights, couldn't ask for better or safer conditions really. And the bridles on most of the aces are solid so far, mine has at least several hundred hours on it and it continues to fly as new.

You winds sound like you could fly a less stable kite. It may well continue to fly in the lulls where your other kite drops out of the sky, but not in as big a wind window.

Yes, consider an ace 5... a couple things to keep in mind tho, one is that it is lifty. An ace 6m once broke two legs within minutes after its new owner flew it for the first time. Lifty kites and strong gusty winds are nasty. Aces can be really nice in smooth gentle winds and you will definitely have a little scud on hot launching a 5 in 8 mph. Do it in 20 mph and you risk a superman or worse.

They demand respect, and will injure you to get it if you don't already have it.

They other thing to keep in mind is that you are on your own for set-up. If you are VERY lucky it will be almost ready to fly but you will still have to unwind the most badly wound lines in the known universe, check them for length, connect them up correctly, and monitor their stretch during the first few hours. There are good directions and help out there, but they sure don't come with the kite.

You could consider this kite, I know for sure it is set up correctly and flying well:

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10646

In my opinion an Ace wouldn't be the best first kite. It would work, but not your BEST option. All I have to go on is my own experience.

Reasons: #1 Ace is a very lifty kite. If your winds are as low as you say you should be fine. It won't lift you in 5-8 mph. BUT if a gust comes in it can and will lift you up quick and if you aren't good at redirecting you will come tumbling down. Like this guy . . . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oveLq6j4JUw&feature=PlayL...

That was a Pansh Ace, and that is why we say be careful. Now granted that was in stupid winds (high and gusty) and won't happen in 5-8 mph winds that aren't gusty.

#2 The Ace is a finnicky flyer. As you can see I have both the Blaze and the Ace. The Blaze was my first and it was easy and fun to fly, and still is. When I got the Ace I realized it was a whole new ball game. It is just harder to fly.

But if you respect the wind and are patient with it and practice a lot it can be a really fun kite.

Ok, Cheers for all your suggestions! I think i'll carry on keeping an eye on the wind speeds in the area and see what they are like.

Then maybe go for an Ace or Buster 5, or the Sting 3.3 if i just happen to be frustrated in a low wind lul ... lol

Is there some where I can look up historical wind speed data for an area?? I've tried a quick google but found nothing meaningful

try "meteorological normals" plus your location info.