I would have picked up my 1.7 here at the time had this been around:

http://www.windpowersports.com/kites/flexifoil/sting.php

Price compare:

http://www.flexifoil-usa.com/collections/traction-kites/prod...

The 1.7 does look nice. Only till monday though!

are they sting 1 or II? 1s have mesh on the inlets, IIs do not . And it makes alot of difference. SEK(Nick) and I did a downwind comparison a couple of weeks ago. And we came to the conclusion that they are NOT the same kite. The 1 has more power and speed.

would this be a good kite for a 8 year old? he has a vibe II 1.6 which he flies well.. and he wants to learn to land board.. what are the pros thoughts

Quote:

Originally posted by WELDNGOD are they sting 1 or II? 1s have mesh on the inlets, IIs do not . And it makes alot of difference. SEK(Nick) and I did a downwind comparison a couple of weeks ago. And we came to the conclusion that they are NOT the same kite. The 1 has more power and speed.

I believe that these Stings are demos from the most recent NABX, so they would be IIs. Contact Corey to confirm, but that's my recollection/understanding.

As to power and speed, what the Sting IIs give up in edge of the razor speed and power, they make up for with a progressive/predictable power ramp and exemplary gust munching (for an open cell foil) manners.

Older Flexifoils tend to be more... visceral. I got a chance to fly a Sting II 2.4 back to back with a similarly sized SkyTiger. I found the latter tired me more quickly. Power was on-off like a light switch. Gusts took you along for the ride.

If you are concerned about the mesh, check before putting down cash. I pulled some (didn't get to all of them) of my Sting IIs and this is the breakdown for them.

• Sting 1.2 Bar Midnight - No Mesh
  
• Sting 1.2 Handles Petrol - No Mesh
  
• Sting 1.7 Handles Petrol - No Mesh
  
• Sting 1.2 Handles Punk - Mesh (the Punk was a special edition which also included a bag similar to the larger Stings so that might explain that).
  
• Sting 2.4 Handles Petrol - Mesh
  
• Sting 3.3 Handles Petro - Mesh

Note from feline counsel: I probably have too many Stings and too many kites, in generally in a lopsided quiver. Money that would have been better served by buying more.... cat toys... and a cat Jacuzzi.

I am fine with the way the Sting 1.2s fly in most conditions and ditto for the 2.4s and 3.3s. The 1.7 seems to to really be in need of the mesh. Without it, it flies a whisker on the squirrelly side in gusty/shifting winds. The LE deforms with gusts and upsets the flight trajectory.

Someone reported that their 1.7 had mesh, so that might have changed during production runs and not just generations.

FWIW: I think the speed and power differences were more a result of profile changes to the canopy. There might have been some detuning to improve stability and make the kite more beginner friendly with an easier transition from the Buzz/Big Buzz to the Sting.

The addition of the mesh from what I understand had more to do with debris maintenance and canopy shape integrity in dicey winds.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by lucky_13 would this be a good kite for a 8 year old? he has a vibe II 1.6 which he flies well.. and he wants to learn to land board.. what are the pros thoughts

Thoughts from an innocent bystander...

The Sting 1.2 is probably going to be too small. By the time the winds are enough to get some steam it turns into a Springer Spaniel on a squirrel hunt.

Depending on winds and terrain (hard pack, low cut grass, etc) the 1.7 and 2.4 should be good.

Some footage of a 1.7 with a landboard:


I am leery about the 3.3 in anything but moderate winds for an 8 year old. That being said:

6 year old on a Sting 3.3 (notice how the questions in the comments are all about what the winds were like that day):


BigKid did have a little 'un flying a 7M Brooza (in very light winds)


FWIW: There's nothing to stop you from starting your son on downwinders with the Vibe:


ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by indigo_wolf Quote: Originally posted by WELDNGOD are they sting 1 or II? 1s have mesh on the inlets, IIs do not . And it makes alot of difference. SEK(Nick) and I did a downwind comparison a couple of weeks ago. And we came to the conclusion that they are NOT the same kite. The 1 has more power and speed. FWIW: I think the speed and power differences were more a result of profile changes to the canopy. There might have been some detuning to improve stability and make the kite more beginner friendly with an easier transition from the Buzz/Big Buzz to the Sting.

That is what i was thinkin' Sam. And my sting actually belongs to my wife. And it's a 1.7 PUNK sting w/ mesh.

here's a vid from Todd with me kitebuggying w/ a pink sting 1.7m in some pretty strong 25+ winds, and gusty too. the only time I did not have enough power was trying to go back upwind and when a wave swamped me and I sank into the sand a couple inches (liquifaction sucks)lol http://vimeo.com/32014125