Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

No jacket crammed under my harness all day today but that's only the half of it. I was able to....get this.......USE MY POCKETS!!!!

Where to put the GPS?

My Pocket!

Where to put the "emergency stuff" (hook knife, 'biner and a chunk of rope)?

My other Pocket!

Where to stash the camera as I pack and unpack?

Yet another Pocket!

Brilliant. Thanks for the motivation & inspiration rudeboy. I even had two spare pockets. Anyone need me to carry anything?

Yes, I have to agree! The Kite panel went over well this weekend at the Tug Hill Festival. The guy that won the door prize panel was from PA. I took a pic. of both panels zipped into coats before the giveaway. Thanks again, Aaron. btw Patrick said hi!

Thanks guys! Glad you're enjoying them! I had to get out this weekend and do some "R&D" also! Great winds for the 15 Charger. I sent my latest panel out to James Brown for a Drift Snowkiting mag review. I told him it should be more of an inspiration to make your own type review, but we'll see what they have to say about it. I put a pocket in that panel for a safety hook knife since your jacket could cover a spot on your harness for it. Turned out pretty sweet.

Seems like a hit everywhere I go, so I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing alot more of them around soon!

Hope to see Patrick at Kitestorm and hang out in his new ride!

A.

I hope everyone leaves it in the open source world......or at the very least cuts you in on their success with it. You KNOW what a solid idea you had on your hands.

+100 Karma

What about adding a sewn-in knife pocket to the panel? Good optional idea?

I'm getting a lot of blank looks when I ask snowkiters where their emergency knife is.

Yup......agreed. Definitely a must-add to version 2. I had it in a chest pocket with the loop hanging out for quick access. I'll rip a pocket zipper over getting hauled any day.

I put up a post about this and included your link for Kite panel on another forum used predominantly in Ontario Canada - you may get a few emails about making some more.
I might have to do an email to you about doing a group purchase, the replies on thechickenloop.com forum so far are all impressed. It would be nice to support you first.

It would be more work/cost - have you thought of a short V shaped zipper at the top so when it's all done you can zip the top 8 inches up tighter with a gusset shape folding inward (maybe velcro but it would likely peel open)
Mark

My 2¢

No need for the short zip. My wedge shaped panel worked spot on. Just over an inch at the top (could go narrower), about 2 1/2 - 3 inches where the hook pokes through and an inch and a half at the bottom or so. Ends up kinda pear shaped? Works like a charm.

Pic of the panel in progress. I'll get some pics with the "h" shaped hole.

Just wanted to add that my total cost was $15. The fabric store I got the stuff from sold me the water resistant ripstop in a 10cm strip rather than a full yard and the zips cost me $4.75 each. I had an old glove that had a velcro wrist "belt" that I stitch ripped the velcro off of to sew into the "H" slot flaps and I just cut up an old fleece pullover I had (we canadians must all have about a hundred of them?).

Quote:

I'll get some pics with the "h" shaped hole.

I hope you didn't work on the hole shapes alphabetically - got rid of the first one right away!

okay it's late - I'm tired

I just use the storm flaps on my jacket to close it up at the top if I need to. For me anyway, I get so hot out there I almost enjoy the extra space up top to vent out heat. That's why everyone with a sewing machine should just make their own. I don't really have the time for a full on custom market. I started trimming zippers to exact size and thinning down the shape and it just takes too much time. Like Macboy said.. it cost him $15 in supplies. Then $6 shipping. Paypal takes their cut. In the end charging $40 a crack I'm only left with about $10 for the time. Not tons of reward for fabricating exact user spec'ed items. So, open source is where it should be. If you want an exact item, it's always best to make it yourself or you end up paying for it. I still enjoy making them though and seeing others out there with them. Makes me feel cool!

Here's a pic of the knife pocket I made for the Drift Panel:



It's a seam pocket and it's more work to sew, but certainly worth it.

Better get back to it. Got more to sew today. I'll be glad to see it stay an open project for all kiters. I got to give it it's name, so that's cool with me! If you guys discover nicer ways to make them, share the love so we can all have sweet panels. I'll see if I can put pattern plans for a pocket up sometime.

A.

James put a review of the panel I sent him online the other day. Good honest review of The Ktie Panel. Check it out:

http://www.driftsnowkitemag.com/2010/03/11/new-product-the-k...

A.

Good to hear that your idea has hit the ground running. Is there anyone on the forum that works/knows someone that works within the industrial design field that may know of a way for rudeboy to licence his idea to either clothing or kite manufacturers? I like the open source idea but I also like someone to get compensated for their ingenuity, besides retail for the kite panel would go for about $15 to $20 - not much when it comes to our gear. Just throwing that out there in appreciation for a good idea.