Somehow this kite has never really been on my radar.

How does it fly or compare to say: Flow, Core, Viper, Reactor, Beamer, Hornet.

Is it grunty? Is it a truck? Is it fast? Is it a pleasant, relaxing kite to fly?

http://www.powerkites.de/Products/Kites/Handle-Kites/Toxic.h...

I do not have a ton of hands on experience with the toxic but the few runs I had on it I would put it something like the core. faster than Flow, Beamer, Hornet. Not as fast as reactor and close with the viper as well. Has a bit more lift than the viper.

I remember when the toxic came out I was under the impression it was a jumping kite, but from my experience this is not the case. I think I may of assumed it was a jumper since the crossfire went away and this filled its spot. I guess it would compare more like the crossfire on the low lift setting .. more buggy engine.

I might have a little more experience with them and agree with Dino. No real lift unless you just force it. I would put it a notch above the Viper even as nice a kite as the Viper was/is.

Agree with both Dino and Bob here. For sure a nice kite in the buggy but I think Drew would tell a different story about its jumping characteristics. I saw him get some decent air with the 6.5 at JIBE 2011 then again, if it flies, Drew will jump it

Let me get home, i'll fill ya in (phones dying)

Is the Toxic like the Rage/Blur or Method? Does it have any low end or does it need speed before it gets going?

Glad you asked this RTZ I've been wondering the same thing recently... I'll soon be in the market to fill my low wind spot and was debating between the 8.6m Reactor II and the 8m Toxic...

By all its specs, it looks very compatible to the RII, ... but y'all say RII is faster?

I read a review (here on PKF) that it did well even in down to 4mph wind!:o

You would really have to compare same day same conditions. I had been without an RII for awhile before getting the Toxics. The differences between the RII and Toxic might be small. The Toxic would be more different than the Method which is a more stable kite without as much speed IMHO. The Toxic might compare similarly to a Blurr but now I'm reaching back further in memory.

Bottom line is the Toxic is a kite that won't surprise you badly, and will have enough speed to have a great time. For riding on sandy beaches, I don't think anyone will have a bad day with a Blurr, Toxic, or Reactor. The lower aspect (my perception) of the Method would have me suggest it more for its stability rather than its speed. This is complicated enough that a test flight to see which one matches the pilots skills would be quite valuable.

The toxic is a well put together kite, I've got an 8, a 6.5 and a 4.

It's quicker than a method, not particularly lifty at all, great buggy engine

running my 8m http://vimeo.com/38823574

A little bit of the 4m http://vimeo.com/67639629
Only ran the 4m for a little bit in 20-23 knot winds, it went just over 70 Khr, I put it away after that and just used a depower, as where we kite the wind picks up as you go down to the point. mind you cris used a 3.4 m prodigy for 77 Khr this is HQs race kite.

It's a mid range kite, quicker than a flow or method, but certainly not a vapor. Good value for money.

Great looking kites I must say again!
By far the best looking HQ graphic designs IMHO
The 8m colors are pure freakin' sexy!!!

I saw Dodd flying his set out at Ivanpah in 2012 and when I could barely move with my 5m flow he flew past me on his 4m. It was a higher aspect than the flow too. I would assume it probably is a little more testy than the other kites you listed.

I was informed of a mistake and wanted to clear it up. It was not Dodd on the toxic it was someone else with the toxic Dodd blew by me on a sky dog 4m kite.

The Toxic is most similar to the Twister out of the kites I own. The twister pulls "up" a bit more and the toxic flies further forward in the window.

I have had lots of success with the 8.0m for light wind buggying and its quite fun for static jumping. Its not a lifty kite like a blade but it does generate good lift if you send it.

I have not done much land boarding with it yet. I will rig it up on a long bar at some point and see how it flies.

Flew a 3m Toxic in 10-12 knots yesterday. Nice kite. I would say it was a good beginner kite. Not too challenging, but not so dull you want to get rid of it after a few sessions like some many of the recommended "beginner" kites.
S

I wouldn't call the Toxic a beginner kite at all, but I would not be scared to let a beginner try mine. I let my girlfriend fly my 8.0 the other day. The wind was very light and she is not used to having to work a kite to keep it in the air so I was running around resetting her a bunch. I think it was more frustrating for her to see it dragging me around in the same wind that she could hardly keep it off the ground for stalling.

I say it is a good beginner because it is a good kite a beginner can fly and will keep him/her interested. It's not something slow and docile that they will be looking for something punchier in two weeks, but not so challenging that they hurt themselves or so intimidating that they put it away. I'm told the price won't intimidate the beginner either.
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S

Very true on both counts. Going for bang for your buck, the Toxic is the best I know of. What other awesome performing 8.0m buggy kite can you get for barely over $500? None come to mind. It has all the newest technology like diagonal supports for skipping cells on bridles, high aspect ratio, stitched bridle loops, etc. Not to mention some of the best looks of any power kite.

I'm considering one for my low wind engine (8m) my other thought would be to hunt up a used 8.6m Reactor II.

Scuds, which would you recommend over the other?

I have 2, 5, 6.5m and Im not a dealer .
I mean , flies calmly steadily pulls and turns well...
Sorry but , this is the max. for your buggy -on sandy beach !
Beyond a grassy bumpy filed a lot....

R

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

I'm considering one for my low wind engine (8m) my other thought would be to hunt up a used 8.6m Reactor II. Scuds, which would you recommend over the other?

I haven't flown or even seen an 8m Toxic, only the 3m. My impression was that it was a good beginner kite, but limited by a tendency to collapse when flown hard.
Given a choice between those two kites, and only those two, I think I would go with the Reactor ll. There are other kites I'd would like a lot more than either of these.
S

On beginner kites: I think most of the kites you see recommended here for beginners are pretty dull and will not hold your interest long. People say you will use your 3m beamer/hornet/Pansh/etc as your high wind kite, but most seem to end up in the used section pretty fast with the owner looking to get some money out of it for something better. That really nice $500 3m costs you $850 if you bought the cheaper "beginner kite" first. The learning curve will be a little steeper with the advanced kite, but not that much.

I've only flown the 2M but comparing it to the Beamer and the Crossfire, I think it sits nicely between the two in flying speed, stability and pull and is a pretty good balance on all those front. Not as fast as the Crossfire but more stable. Faster than the Beamer but a little more susceptible to excessive input.