Hi all,

I've decided to buy myself a power kite for Christmas, but even after reading up on the subject, I'm still not quite sure what to go with.

I own a stunt kite and fly fairly regularly, so I feel like I'm pretty adept at two-line flying, and wouldn't have any trouble with four-line handles.

I'd really like to get something I can jump with, as I recall using a friend's traction kite in the past and having a lot of fun with it. I was planning on buying something in the 3.5m range, but I just read that perhaps 5M+ is the way to go if one is planning to do any jumping.

I live in the middle of the desert, so I'll be using this kite in and around dunes, and while wind speed ranges all over the place here, I'd like something I can use in lower winds more often.

I'd like to spend under $400, ideally, but I'm just totally at a loss looking at all these different kite brands -- HQ, Peter Lynn, Ozone, etc. Is there a big difference between them? Does anyone have any solid suggestions?

Appreciate any help or advice y'all can offer!

A 5m isn't going to serve you well for either low wind conditions or for jumping IMO. Are you going to be riding something or static flying? Are you looking looking for a depow or fixed bridle?

One single kite will not work out for all conditions. Like trying to use one golf club...(almost ..but not exactly).

A kite that is perfectly powered on one wind speed day can have little power on another, or way too much power. Besides going great, you could go nowhere holding it, or set yourself up to be seriously injured. If you have the same narrow range(less than 5mph difference or less between any historic wind readings) of wind speeds all the time, then this rule doesn't apply to you(having more than one kite)..but I doubt it.

This is the first understanding you should have.

The first powerkite is usually on the smaller 2-3m size to perhaps 4m.

Flying two line is different than 4 line. It's not a given that your abilty can be swapped immediately as equal. Nope.
What experience you had flying your friends( size?4-line?2-line? bar? Static flying? Pulled on something?) is worth understanding to define your ability at this point.

Jumping? Your `jumping' ahead on this thinking...if you have little powerkiting experience. If you buy a kite to learn on that's good for jumping...you may have too big a kite to learn on except in low wind conditions and a kite that may easily hurt you in just average or higher winds.


I'm stopping here. Others can give their even more experienced thoughts.

Otherwise WELCOME! Be smart and safe and have fun.

Hey Casualslyce!

Well, I was in your same position a couple of months ago and even though I'm still a beginner in all this power kiting stuff, I will chime in on this thread to give a little bit of my thoughts that may help you, too.

I also came from a freestyle kiting background and was quite familiar with 2-line flying and how to work the window, but never worked with a 4-line kite before... especially a power kite. As others have posted, not one kite with work for all conditions and finding the sizes that will gain you the most "coverage" of wind range is the key here. Also look at the aspect ratio. That makes a key difference as to how they fly and how they're handled during flight.

I ended up going with a Prism Tensor 5m. A couple of reasons I went with this kite:

1. Prism has always offered great freestyle kites IMO, and I trust their construction, durability and they offer great customer service in the event that you need anything.

2. The Tensor has a bar/handle combo that gives you the option to try both styles without extra expense, as most other kites only offer one or the other.

3. The wind range where I live isn't the most ideal all the time. Generally I'm looking at 2-8 mph, which is why I chose the largest of their models. In 8 mph winds, the 5m definitely gave me some good pull and even lifted me up a few feet when doing some light jumps.

As to the depower kites... I was looking at those, too. But after talking with alot of experienced power kiters, they persuaded me to stay away from a depower for now being that I wasn't moving over land as of yet with a buggy or board. They informed me that depower kites rely on forward movement to be effective to their designs. As a static land user, they recommended a fixed bridle 4 line power kite.

Overall, I was also looking for a kite that can build experience and be safe for me to learn on. If I was around 15+ mph winds regularly, I wouldn't have picked a 5m, but something smaller. There are alot of great kites out there, so no matter which way you go, I'm sure you'll be getting a quality kite, but just try to think of safety when choosing the size you feel is right for your wind range. That's priority #1 in this sport.

All great information above...JeffMTB pretty much hit it with fixed bridle....I too was in the same boat....My first kite was a 1.8 and after about 2 times out with this kite it got real boring. That kite now is in my quiver for really windy days...I actually went out about 2 weeks ago with this kite and a buggy and had a blast.

As for a very first kite I couldn't be happier with my 3.5 rage...I flew this thing for almost a year static (with a helmet on) like a stunt kite. I can't tell you how much this made me a better pilot...I was extremely comfortable after a while in all kinds of conditions and how the kite reacted. Then when the time came to jump in the buggy, I didn't have to worry about the kite so much...or what to do if a gust came or if the wind seemed to just stop...I was always able to keep it going in the air.

From here expect to start buying a whole bunch of kites to fill a quiver. You will see and hear from others that this is hard to stop doing. That's why you see some of these guys/girls (sorry) have a ton of kites.

Try to get to some events near you and meet some people...JOIN NAPKA....it takes some time to fill quiver unless you've hit the lottery. Nice thing about the events are people are so helpful..You may get to try other peoples' kites before purchasing...there may also be some demos to try too.

This is where you start getting really hooked on the sport. DID I MENTION GET A HELMET! and be safe around others...extremely important.

Enjoy

Welcome,

Good advice so far.

You are facing the same issues most folks do coming into the sport. As you see we all have a number of kites mostly because we have to. The first thing you have to accept is that no single kite does it all.

Notice how we nearly all still have a small 3m'ish fixed bridle in our quivers. This is because it is the perfect place to start. We all hold on to our small foil for big winds and teaching friends. Learning the ropes on about a 3m is the fastest and safest way to progress. Too often people start out with too big a kite. They end up defending themselves from the power and being tossed around. The REAL learning happens when you are in control of the kite. You gain that control with a 3m much faster. Don't be fooled. A 3m in a good wind will serve up plenty of power !

You can jump with almost any kite in the right conditions. It is floating and landing soft that don't happen without a large canopy. Jumping takes a good bit of kite control. I don't suggest trying until you can fly the kite without looking at it. Something you build up to if you want to do it safely.

Get a good quality 3m kite and learn to fly it blind. Once you are master of that kite you will have a much better idea of what you want for a larger kite . FB or depower. Starting with that 3m is an important 1st step in a fast progression !

+1 for Helmets !

Here's why a smaller kite is a great starting point and like Bladerunner said; we all have them in out trunks.

My 1st powerkite was my 2.5m bullet- flew the piss out of it- still do! Flying a smaller kite lets you see "how far" your skills will let you progress. You will fly in no wind to nukin winds and both these conditions will improve your skills.

Little wind lets you work on spins, using your brakes to 100% potential, backwards flying and whatever tricks you can master.

Nukin winds gives you "respect" for Mother Nature. No respect equals injuries. You MUST fully understand the wind window, gusty winds, emergency moves to kill power to the kite. Once you get to the point all of these come 2nd nature.

Keep a log of the wind as you progress- go up in wind speeds slowly- flying in 10mph winds and 20mph is an entirely different experience.

I vote for a 3m kite for you- master it then move up in size. Guarantee you will never sell it.

Thanks for all the replies guys. It's really helpful!

I just checked the average annual wind speeds in these parts, and it seems like 10mph is the daily average over the year.

I feel pretty confident that I'm going to get hooked, and that it's likely I'll add other kites to my quiver down the line, so I'm perfectly content starting with something in the 3m range.

What I'd really like from you guys is some brand and model suggestions in that size range. Thoughts?

Quote:

Originally posted by casualslyce HQ, Peter Lynn, Ozone, etc. Is there a big difference between them? Does anyone have any solid suggestions?

Since no-one else has answered this question I will.

You can't really go too far wrong with kites from any of HQ, Ozone, PL, Flexifoil or PKD...

BUT...

Make sure you start with a kite that is specifically designed to be easy to fly.

Ozone has the Octane, which has just replaced the Flow (I personally recommend the Flow as a great beginners kite)
HQ has the Alpha or Beamer
Peter Lynn has the Hornet, or if you can find one the Viper S are popular
Flexifoil has the Sting or Rage
PKD has the Buster Soulfly, which looks great and seems to be popular with everyone who flys them.

Ozone and Flexifoil have great reputations for quality. PKD and Peter Lynn have kites that fly great and are also good quality.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Every beginner should be required to own a Beamer- Stable, yet powerful and forgiving.

U2U sent

Quote:

Originally posted by beachrights I've said it before and I'll say it again: Every beginner should be required to own a Beamer- Stable, yet powerful and forgiving.

I would have to say that Beamers aren't exactly alone in that category, but ya, a quality stable kite is very helpful to begin with.

I have a HQ Beamer 2.0 and a PKD Buster Soulfly 2.2 and my son who has been flying stunt kites prefers the Buster over the Beamer, I have flown them both and both are great kites! but the buster is way better on the wallet without jeopardizing the performance here I am with the 3.3 Buster buggying at Alvord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-EAShq20zo

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

I think I'm going to go with the PKD Buster Soulfly 3.3. It's super inexpensive, and if this is as fun as I think it'll be, I know i'll add another kite to my quiver soon!

Will post an update on my thoughts when it arrives!

Great choice! fly safe!

Quote:

Originally posted by sunset-Jim Quote: Originally posted by beachrights I've said it before and I'll say it again: Every beginner should be required to own a Beamer- Stable, yet powerful and forgiving. I would have to say that Beamers aren't exactly alone in that category, but ya, a quality stable kite is very helpful to begin with.

I have an older (version III I think) 2m beamer. My wife and I don't like it much, it is not a very smooth flier. We bought a 2m Flow which is better in every respect.

Quote:

Originally posted by casualslyce Thanks for all the replies, guys. I think I'm going to go with the PKD Buster Soulfly 3.3. It's super inexpensive, and if this is as fun as I think it'll be, I know i'll add another kite to my quiver soon! Will post an update on my thoughts when it arrives!

Good choice !

:wee: