Greetings all, I'm new to the forum, not to kiting. I've been flying as long as i can remember, my dad built big box kites when i was a kid and thought it was funny to watch me get draged around by them. I started flying fixed bridles about 3 years ago, (HQ crossfires) and like them for land boarding. Last season I flew a barrowed 10 M Frenzy for snowkiting. Im going to purchase a new kite and have narrowed it down to a 12 or 15M PL Charger or 11M neo 2. I live in New Mexico and average winds are 10 to 20 mph. and im moslty on land or snow but have several good lakes around and want to cross over. Any info would be appreciated.

15m charger...

personal bias, and i think PL makes a better kite, and the 15 seems to be the "all wind go to kite"
plus auto zenith

both are good... but if i had the dollar laying around... i'd but the charger... green/yellow/white

This is like the Ford/Chevy debate. You will find fans of both with equal zeal. Both are great kites. Use the search function here to evaluate strengths and weaknesses to see which way you lean. The Charger will work better with gusty wind but the NEO would probably do better with winds that are going from low to high, like 4-15. Some issues with NEO 1's safety release but users report that is much better with the NEO 2.

Thanks guys, forgot to add I,m 195 lbs. no gear.

If you get an arc, you'll definitely want the 15.

Hey Jsnowdog, where in NM do you live? I'm in ABQ and there are a couple of guys that enjoy flying on the weekends if you wanna come out?

Brian

PS: I have a 15m Synergy and love it

i'm 200lbs. and CH15 would be my go to kite, just did the review last weekend for the water for both 12&15. For the bigger guy its gonna be your all terrain kite.

I'm in Farmington. Next week I'll be in Alb. but I'm taking my wife and three daughters to Explora and Natural History Museum so probably won't be kiting. but you never know, I'll pack a kite.

If you are mostly on snow and land you might want to consider an open cell foil. After flying open cell foils and then flying a Synergy a little bit this year I think the open cell foils are a whole lot easier to launch, land, relaunch, etc. I would have had a hard time with the Synergy if I didn't have a friend helping me figure out the set-up, launching, etc. I flew an Ozone Access back to back with my Synergy last time out and just found the Access to be a much friendlier kite. I don't have any experience with the Neo.

Yeah, I love my open cells too, but Ive watched too many youtube videos of ARCs in flight, I can't stop looking, It's like "kiteporn"

Alrighty,

We fly mostly at Balloon Fiesta Park, but for the next couple weeks its closed off, so we fly at ADO park.

HERE

That link should work

Brian

Thanks folks, gotta go. Back tomarrow.

Quote:

Originally posted by brplatz Alrighty, We fly mostly at Balloon Fiesta Park, but for the next couple weeks its closed off, so we fly at ADO park. HERE That link should work Brian

Small world. I made friends with a guy this weekend that is an FAA inspector that is working at the balloon festival there. I told him I had friends that flew kites there. He was intrigued about my Synergy and how it worked. He is a retired commercial pilot, and retired military pilot before that.

LEIS!

*open palm to forehead*

Quote:

Originally posted by power LEIS!

Doesn't make much sense for a guy in New Mexico.

Of course it does, you can get 3 new LEI's of different sizes(plenty of cheap brands) for the cost of that charger 15.....(but I'd choose the CHARGER!...no pump for this chump)

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 Quote: Originally posted by power LEIS! Doesn't make much sense for a guy in New Mexico.

You'll understand why I prefer them over foils if you ever get a chance to fly an LEI someday, I'm not suggesting them for ease of use, I just think LEIs feel much better when you're flying them because of their rigidity.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 Quote: Originally posted by power LEIS! Doesn't make much sense for a guy in New Mexico.

Dude has already got a F.B. + a Frenzy and wants a crossover kite. Why on earth does being in New Mexico rule out an LEI ?

I would say it has more to do with budget. I was going to get a 15m charger this season and after doing the same debate you are going through i went with the neo2 11m. The reason boiled down to the charger cost about 500 more. While i truly do believe is a notch above the neo but is that notch worth 500 more? The answer is all up to you. It boils down the the 80% rule- a ten dollar burrito taste about 80% as good as a 45 dollar steak on fine china , both get you feed. If ya have the extra to waste sure go for it but id rather invest in more later. Besides when the charger 2 comes out next year there will be used chargers.

My 2 pennies

Pah, it's only money - made round to go round ... made of paper to burn buy the best one and enjoy!
And welcome J!

This question always seems to come with a double edge sword for answer. My advice is if you have the time and a little patience then go out and test out as many choices you can get your hands on. Closed cell foils are great for all conditions plus they come with the no pumping feature, and no worries of blown bladders. LEI definitely have their place in the world. I have very little experience as I've really only flown one inflatable that was in the middle of winter in sub -30c conditions, so it wasn't very fun for me. Up till now I've been keen on the foils and love them, Arcs are amazing kites, Autozenith never ceases to amaze me. A buddy of mine loves his inflatables and just purchased a Naish Cult, and claims it to be the cats meow, from what he has told me I am interested in giving it a try.

Basically what I'm trying to say is explore all options before buying and always be open minded when speaking of something you haven't tried, who knows one day you might like it. Either way get what ever works for you. You can have the best reviewed gear in the world but if you aren't happy with it then you ain't having fun!!

Good Luck
Shaggs

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner Quote: Originally posted by Maven454 Quote: Originally posted by power LEIS! Doesn't make much sense for a guy in New Mexico. Dude has already got a F.B. + a Frenzy and wants a crossover kite. Why on earth does being in New Mexico rule out an LEI ?

I agree.
@Jsnowdog- Because you already have a couple of kites for land, you might want to just think about what kind of kite would be best for the water and not worry about how it will do on all three mediums, but that's just one approach you might want to consider. The best advice I can give you is to TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!! There are so many good kites out there; deciding which kite is best for you is mostly a matter of personal preference, and you won't know what you like the most until you get out there and fly everything.

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob This is like the Ford/Chevy debate. You will find fans of both with equal zeal. Both are great kites.

I prefer the AMC Gremlin. Easy to find in any parking lot. Cheap to insure, and nobody ever steals them! :wee:

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner Quote: Originally posted by Maven454 Quote: Originally posted by power LEIS! Doesn't make much sense for a guy in New Mexico. Dude has already got a F.B. + a Frenzy and wants a crossover kite. Why on earth does being in New Mexico rule out an LEI ?

He doesn't have a Frenzy. He borrowed a Frenzy.

And I somehow missed his comment about having several lakes around and wanting to cross over :dunno:. Ignore my anti LEI comment.

OOPS ! I missed the borrowed bit !

Doesn't matter , I would get the Charger but I am biased in my purchsaes !

Power said it best. Be patient and try to fly / feel what is best for YOU ! Arcs, foils and LEI all react to your inputs different. Try before you buy!

Quote:

Originally posted by Drewculous *open palm to forehead*

Drew, I laughed out loud for a minute or more with that one! Awesome!

Everyone, Thanks for all the good input. I think I can speak for many of us when I say I truly love kites, from a dowel and paper diamond to the new tech, something about them is good for my soul. If I was wealthy I'd get some arcs, a flysurfer or two, some more little trainers for my girls, some LEIs for every possible wind range. Reality is I have THREE daughters and my purchases not only have to be justifiable, they come after soccer, orchestra, horses, etc. I used to find pennies on the floor when I was cleaning house and suck em up with the vacum, now I save them. As you all know this wont be the last kite I buy, but which one I buy this time. Again, thanks for the support.
Jason.

What kind of trainers are you after for the girls? I've got a pair of Prism Stylus I could let go for a good cause... They're on two lines by default, but they can be used on four. I even have a set of HQ lines and handles that I could throw in, you'd need your own kite killers though.

[EDIT] I should clarify, a good cause and a little bit of cash. [/EDIT]

3m or smaller. I've got killers.