Good Afternoon Guys:

I am considering a wind meter and I can see using it to measure the wind once and then select a kite to fly. I have a handful of kites and am getting experience flying them in various winds but always seam to select a kite just a little too big. I own kites from small 42 inch stunt kites up to 6 meter power kites. Not looking to buy the bestest since this will be a minor piece of equipment. My goal is to develop a information table with windspeed vs kite selection. I fly power kites, flexifoils, and trick and stunt kites as well. Currently, I use a monster flag across the highway as a wind indicator but that is not working as a good guide to kite selection.

They are available from $15.00 to over $300.00. Not sure I want the expensive ones since this will be a minor piece of equipment, to measure the wind at the beginning and end of of kiting and recording the information with the thought to develope a wind speed/kite selection data tabel.

Of course the $15.00 Tomtop is attractive but have no idea if that will serve my purpose or last more then a couple of usages. The online owner recommendations are helpful but would like comments from my fellow kiters as to what they own, the benifits, the shortcommings, and durability in a kite flying high sand environment.

Regards,
Cranky

During 30 years with aerometric instrumentation if we needed a decent/simple indication of wind we used a Dwyer Wind Meter, a simple mechanical unit based on differential pressure that served us well, i.e bullet proof...no batteries, no electronics. They run anywhere from 20 to 40 dollars depending on vendor. Check 'em out.



Good luck!

PS I suppose I should add that I have one...

I have the little $30 LaCross meter and love it...
Been knocking around in my glove box for 2 years and no issues when I whip it out to check wind.

http://www.amazon.com/La-Crosse-Technology-EA-3010U-Anemomet...

Quote:

Originally posted by BDX During 30 years with aerometric instrumentation if we needed a decent/simple indication of wind we used a Dwyer Wind Meter, a simple mechanical unit based on differential pressure that served us well, i.e bullet proof...no batteries, no electronics. They run anywhere from 20 to 40 dollars depending on vendor. Check 'em out. i might suggest save your money. Prism included that Dwyer unit with some of their kites and i have two plus an expensive battery model. i very rarely(very very rarely...and i sail too now) use any of them. after a while (and enough experience i suppose) it's a matter of how much energy i wish to spend and how much excersise/fun i want that dictates kite size selection. wind speed/direction/characteristics just change far too often in an hour or two to make a wind meter real useful for me (inland). also the local weather networks are not too bad off in letting me know what winds to expect. looking at the trees/flags/whatever, the sound or feel of the wind on face is usually good enough aid to safely select a kite size

i don't know why double posted:wee:

I have this one. It works great but to be honest I mostly only use it for water temps when I travel now. I can pretty much read the wind w/o the meter but sometimes it's helpful in ascertaining the winds strongest direction.

http://www.amazon.com/Skywatch-Xplorer-2-Electronics-Weather...

I'd agree that eventually one probably wont need one Rev, but as you point out this might take some time for us new guys. Dino mentioned that himself when I was buying my kite. I mentioned I had one and he said you wont need it after a while but right now maybe not such a bad idea...but dont go crazy getting anyhting too sophisticated.

Until I can get "calibrated" something inexpensive and reliable isnt a bad idea in my mind. I would add that Prism does not seem to be including these now (...unless they snuck it in and I havent found it yet).

I think ?B-Roc? floated the idea of putting a golf driving range indicator flag up, that way you have an idea, at a glance!

http://www.directhitgolfflags.com/category.aspx?categoryID=6 Flags are weighted, and won't fly unless the min-spec windspeed is met.

Pretty cool idea, I always thought.

Quote:

Originally posted by BDX I'd agree that eventually one probably wont need one Rev, but as you point out this might take some time for us new guys. Dino mentioned that himself when I was buying my kite. I mentioned I had one and he said you wont need it after a while but right now maybe not such a bad idea...but dont go crazy getting anyhting too sophisticated. Until I can get "calibrated" something inexpensive and reliable isnt a bad idea in my mind. I would add that Prism does not seem to be including these now (...unless they snuck it in and I havent found it yet).

i hear you...Dino is on top of it and his opinion is always pretty darn good.
what R u doing with your "power" kites?
my brother and i are buggiers/skiiers and went years with out meter(s).
simple test of right/wrong kite size, for buggies, is launch kite and if it scudded us (and we could still walk backwards with kite at zenith) then it was good to go for buggying.
safest thing meter or no meter is size for gusts....right?
for skiing we'd need more power (way more rolling resistance)
i guess bottom line is be safe and have fun...if you like to use a meter then go for it and I'd agree whole heartedly.
take care
Paul

"my brother and i ....went years with out meter(s)..."

Lol, well Rev buddy the vagaries of youth and the ability to heal a lot faster than a sextagenarian may have something to do with the slightly more aggressive attitude of "...to hell with an anemometer CHARGE!!!" (safely of course!)

At this time of my life I cant afford to find out that what I think is a freshening breeze of about 6 knots is in reality a small squall of about 20!

Lmao!, I know I know thats an exageration but you get my drift. I'd like to calibrate myself and my kite to a number and then, after a while, let my face tell me its all good as opposed to my bustedass!

I have one kite (in the mail) and I'll be simply flying static for a good while learning how it handles and how it behaves in different wind speeds. When I explained this to Dino he gave me his blessing and said "Good plan now go forth and shred wind..." Well not really but I did feel as if the Pope had given me a benediction when i explained my approach. So Rev if your buggy ever gets off course and you end up in Calif you'll have to call ahead so I can meet you at the border...